Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 69! Fogbeasts / Glessing / Butterfly / Explosion / Pressure / Kohri

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 15, an annual celebration of the best of the best video game music according to the voters!

Important Links:
Bracket: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=474630
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16XAaBMDuUnQ4c5AxQNL9ZhvD7VG5kQyrXWWZxnkrn-o
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/79443554
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0xt7lOF1eB-H4NpAaF1yAnU
Compatibility sheet (courtesy of Haste!!): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iGYWo_ifr_p2uYpD_I6TwBQS2tm7zJtPCxYZfRJcG8I
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VNrPnFRI7nJ4PqFiURBW0NWqxvXiuasoq8Sn_O169ss
VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o
Discord: https://discord.gg/WDvMS4a

Rules:
- Listen to both songs in a given match, at least through the loop time provided (to make sure you don't skip before you've heard the whole thing!)
- Please consider the loop point listed when judging the song; if a video loops one minute 5 times, don't treat it as if it's a repetitive 5 minute song
- If it's a match between your favorite song ever and a song you despise, still LISTEN TO BOTH! Votes can and will be disqualified if there is suspicion songs are not being listened to, and you may be discounted for the rest of the contest for repeat offenses.
- No alt accounts, no rallying or begging, etc., etc.... You only get one vote! Swapping votes is alright, just make clear that you've already made a vote and are swapping.
- Make clear what your voting options are! Please keep votes separate from any comments, and use the titles given in the topic post.
- Voting in all matches is not mandatory, feel free to skip matches you do not wish to vote in.
- Vote based on the links provided, and not other sources of audio. Links are specifically chosen for best quality and the like.
- Don't discuss vote tallies in this thread, or in other threads, as they may influence votes. Likewise, please refrain from looking at the running tally before voting.

Voting Period:
- Today's matches will last 24 hours from the time of posting, or 24 hours from 10pm Eastern, whichever is the later time.
- Please note this may mean that two to

Glessing Way!
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker
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Glessing Way!
The Butterfly's Temptation
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Glessing Way!
Cladun: This is an RPG - The Explosion
VVVVVV - Pressure Cooker

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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Glessing Way!
Cladun: This is an RPG - The Explosion
VVVVVV - Pressure Cooker

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Fogbeasts
Butterfly's Temptation
Kohri

Rankings done! Will do /256 and /64. I'll also include the past two days. (Not doing the tiebreaker)

National Park: [6] - 218/256 - 63/64
linkage-alter: [9] - 15/256 - 8/64

Soaring Through Azure Sadness: [8.5] - 42/256 - 18/64
Planet Wisp (Act 1): [7.5] - 106/256 - 43/64

Heartless Being: [7] - 147/256 - 52/64
Class::CIEL_N_PROTECTA: [10] - 5/256 - 3/64

Ryoshima Coast: [6.5] - 185/256 - 58/64
Fairfrozen: [7.5] - 126/256 - 47/64

Rose-Killing Carmilla: [8] - 98/256 - 38/64
One Night In Kobe City: [8] - 82/256 - 30/64

Fogbeasts: [9.5] - 10/256 - 5/64
Glessing Way: [7.5] - 109/256 - 44/64

The Butterfly's Temptation: [9] - 30/256 - 14/64
The Explosion: [8] - 87/256 - 32/64

Ice-Covered Love ~ Kohri: [10] - 3/256 - 2/64
Pressure Cooker: [8] - 103/256 - 42/64

Yes. I liked that many songs if Pressure Cooker somehow ranked that low despite being an 8. Crazy good year.

Glessing Way!
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

Pogbeasts
Pladun: This is an RPG - The Explosion
Phantasy Star Online 2 - Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

feel very strongly about match 1 and 3, especially 3 even though i actually like pressure cooker; kohri is just like...my 2nd favorite left in the contest, and i feel like it has a better chance than anything else near my favorites zone to actually do well for the rest of the contest so i'd hate to see it die here
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Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

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Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

Match 3 is definitely one that flipped on me over the course of the contest. I don't like Pressure Cooker any less but damn, Kohri is good.

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Glessing Way!
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

All close matches wow.
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beasts / Explosion / covered Love
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Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

.

Xenoblade: Definitive Edition Fogbeasts Battle
Non-normalized rating: 8
Ranking: 10 of 16

Unfortunately for Snatcher, Fogbeasts is a definite match-up nightmare. What some are referring to as Torna part 2 has certainly lived up to the hype so far after mostly going the distance in Supras 2020 contest. Love Psalm had the unfortunate placement to get doubled in R1 and Altered Genos fared only marginally better. The quick right hand of the piano drives the opening of Fogbeasts before the other instruments jump in as well, giving this song a blend of casually-listenable and unpredictably-interesting that very few songs can match, alongside strong presentation and production. Its hard to foresee a match in bracket A where it wouldnt be seen as the favorite other than maybe against Gurumin.

.

Ys IX -Monstrum NOX- Glessing Way!
Non-normalized rating: 7.5
Ranking: 12 of 16

Getting this far wasnt a major accomplishment against the likes of Mission 5 Spaceship and Sanctuary-SHU. Not saying it was unearned or that those opponents are fodder, but we know the board at large loves Falcom. Winning round 3 here will definitely put the exclamation point on the title here, though. TBH, its a longshot. Glessing Way is an uptempo, driving, energetic track with guitars and synths that do the Falcom thing that works so well in general. I dont think this is top tier Ys, though, and this is going to be one heck of an uphill battle.

.

God Eater 2: Rage Burst Butterflys Temptation
Non-normalized rating: 10
Ranking: 2 of 16

Its no secret I love this track. Brought to the board by Nio #1 Go Shiina Fan raptH, Butterfly made the field 4 straight years, never failing to reach round 3, before dropping out the last two competitions. Its a divisive song and usually has a bunch of folks that are driven batty each time it wins a round, but while its not for everyone, it does do its thing very well. A strong opening backed by incomprehensible singing is the first wedge, and the dubstep guitar solo at 2:54 makes that an irreparable divide. So far, more of the voters have been on Butterflys side of that split, doubling Underwater Prom Queens and surpassing Inevitable Struggle by 10 votes, which the bracket placement suggests our hosts didnt see coming. That was a slightly painful match for me, albeit never in question.

.

ClaDun: This is an RPG The Explosion
Non-normalized rating: 9
Ranking: 4 of 16

Speaking of nioI wonder if I can convince her to swing by and vote on these matches, because shell have some really torn loyalties. Bunnyslug go boom?

The Explosion had one of the most dominant performances of the contest against Planet X and didnt have too much trouble with Lucky Charm. Its a song I like, usually just not quite enough to put it over other tracks that I favor, so it ends up being a in the absence of other options track for me, which is unfortunate, because two of the songs left in A4 are tracks I favor. Still, I think Explosion has a reasonably decent chance of breaking through. Its certainly been here before in two previous appearances, so A4 gives the impression of being a stacked final four.

.

VVVVVV Pressure Cooker
Non-normalized rating: 10
Ranking: 1 of 16

Perhaps the last great unretired VVVVVV track (Predestined Fate says hi), Pressure Cooker fell shy in retirement last year, which was tragic. Easily the songs strongest performance after 2-1-2 prior, but its back to try again and I certainly will be voting for it here. Theres really nothing I need to say about why this song is great beyond telling you its from VVVVVV. Its destroyed two very unfortunate victims, Psycho Soldier Theme and Fly to the Leaden Sky, and might go through a couple more before this is over, but its hard to be disappointed with those results.

.

Phantasy Star Online Ice-Covered Love ~ Kohri
Non-normalized rating: 3
Ranking: 16 of 16

Im not really sure what to say about Kohri. Its not a track that appeals for me. It has a strong driving pulse, and listening to it objectively, I can appreciate why other people would like it. Its simply not for me. The non-normalized rating is working in most songs favor here, but it actually makes Kohri look a lot worse than I really think it is. Ill be very sad if it beats Pressure Cooker, and Ive been a sad a lot this year as the brackets played out, so Im fully prepared for it to happen. Kohri already defeated my surprise favorite, 14.3 Billion Years, and followed that up with a win over Subuta.1.

uh-oh, looks like I need to listen, rate, and write up more songs now. I thought we'd go to 4 songs a day and I'd have a little more time. =x

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Fogbeasts (3/64) / Glessing Way! (15/64)
The Butterfly's Temptation (40/64) / The Explosion (53/64)
Pressure Cooker (34/64) / Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri (48/64)

Ys IX OST mod but it just replaces Desert After Tears with Anka and Glessing Way with whatever beats it
anyway first match is sad, but not difficult

Was worried I had underranked The Explosion, but after re-listening I actually might have underranked its opponent instead. Just sort of really liking how all the different instruments come together in Butterfly today, it's a lot of fun

Kohri is a very hard song for me to pin down; it certainly doesn't bother me and it has cool sounds, but there's not much in it that I really latch onto.

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

match 3 very close

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Glessing Way!
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

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Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

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Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

Fogbeasts [18/65] > Glessing Way! [19/65]
The Butterfly's Temptation [21/65] > The Explosion [41/65]
Pressure Cooker [32/65] > Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri [62/65]

First match is strong and basically a coinflip. I like them practically evenly. Went with Fogbeasts because it's more varied and unique.

Fog
Explosion
Pressure
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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

Glessing Way!
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker
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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Glessing Way!
Cladun: This is an RPG - The Explosion
VVVVVV - Pressure Cooker
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28. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - Fogbeasts
Fogbeasts is very well-made, lots of elements blending together effectively - piano, guitar, drums, and strings all working together very well. As is standard for me, I especially like the part at 1:50, where some of the layers cut out; I feel similarly about 2:20. All that being said, it's a 7.5, but it's never really something I'd go out of my way to listen to. Do you have songs like that? Songs that score highly on whatever personal metric you use, but they're not returning favorites? That's Fogbeasts for me. Solid enough track - still a 7.5! - but just shy of being a keeper.

vs.

59. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Glessing Way!
One of lifes many cruelties was seeing Animorphs fed to this. Im not super up on differences between Falcom composers; to be honest, a lot of these Ys rock songs feel fairly interchangeable to me. There really isnt much positive I can say about it. I dont normally go for these big guitar-heavy battle-type themes; if you do, hey, more power to you. This one is not my favorite.

and

29. God Eater 2 - The Butterfly's Temptation
I go back and forth on this one a lot. Sometimes I listen to it and its hovering below a 8; sometimes it lands around a 4. (Right now its a 7.5.) Theres a lot going on here, and not all of it always lands. I normally like the bouncy vocals (feels like a weird word to use in a song like this), less so the wubby parts (2:55 can often give me a headache). Im not typically a big fan of stringed instruments in VGM, but Go Shiinas usage is typically fine to me, if not outright enjoyable. The end result of all this is a song with a lot of musical ideas that...mostly come together, I think? I like it...for now at least.

vs.

31. Cladun: This is an RPG - The Explosion
This track opens with piano, which I normally like, then some sort of flute, then it segues into a, well, an explosion of sound. I genuinely like this song I like its flavor and its overall feeling of intensity mixed with wistfulness (see my writeup on Sad Blue Skies for more about my feelings on this combination!). I think it wears out its welcome a bit for me by the end, which is why it isnt higher (still a 7! This year has plenty of songs I like!). I do really like the last third or so.

It seems like a choice between more exciting but less consistent, and the reverse. Hmm.

and

17. VVVVVV - Pressure Cooker
One of my favorites from a soundtrack Ive sort of cooled off on over the years. VVVVVV satisfies my itch for retraux chip in a way few other soundtracks can, and Pressure Cooker is emblematic of that aspect. Plus its just a fun song. When that minimalist percussion opens up into the chippy bits at the start, its a wonderful moment. Stellar melody, excellent presentation what more could you want?

vs.

57. Phantasy Star Online 2 - Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri
This song has a very interesting opening I can never quite tell what meter its in. Ice-covered is a good descriptor for the rest of it, as there are lots of crystally sounds that evoke a sense of moving through a wintry wonderland or any icy cave. I like the part at 1:20 when the song does a u-turn and turns into something very different for a few measures. Kohri keeps me guessing. Its not a song I actually, well, like (hence its low ranking), but I can respect it for being different and offering a lot of variety in its runtime.

Votes:
Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

Glessing Way!
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

It's all starting to fall apart.

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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Glessing Way!
God Eater 2 - The Butterfly's Temptation
VVVVVV - Pressure Cooker
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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

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Fogbeasts
Butterfly
Pressure
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Fogbeasts

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

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Fogbeasts
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

Match 1 is very mean. I hope you can forgive me, Glessing Way!

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Glessing Way!
The Butterfly's Temptation
Pressure Cooker

It's easy to compare Fogbeasts to Battle!!/Torna by contest strength, but its style has always reminded me more of Battle!! from regular XC2. I could never nail down my feelings on this song because each section is so short with very abrupt transitions, plus some of them repeat so it gets very confusing where I am in the song! I think I can at least say it has some flashes of brilliance like 1:52/2:21/2:49, but the other parts just have too many things going on too quickly for my poor brain to process...

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Glessing Way!
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker

The glessy gladiator


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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri

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Fogbeasts
The Explosion
Pressure Cooker