Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 33! AliceMstra/Daredevil, Shevat/FieldLate, LUCID/MixedMelody

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 16, 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=475935
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_IU5iCFTM_4WEx8ZWKwznMz5v2tarCKh1Ag0mxIgAes
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80027411
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0xxfgkmGKvEyWfHvNZ53Kbn
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16XAaBMDuUnQ4c5AxQNL9ZhvD7VG5kQyrXWWZxnkrn-o
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 topics will be active at the same time!
- If you anticipate being unable to vote in a given day, please send an absentee vote to @banshiryuu, or post your absentee vote in the discussion thread!

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Match 1

Touhou 4: Lotus Land Story - Alice Maestra
Composer: ZUN
Loop Point: 2:39
Genre: MUGEN
https://youtu.be/ES1HeQph1Pg

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - Daredevil
Composer: Keiki Kobayashi
Loop Point: 4:58
Genre: ARSENAL BIRD
https://youtu.be/-kVdCaczLE8

Match 2

Xenoge

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
LUCID NIGHTMARE

ARSENAL BIRD
LATE NIGHT
CRUEL AMBITION

yeah. Match 3s pretty tough though.

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
Field (Late Night)
LUCID NIGHTMARE

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Touhou 4: Lotus Land Story - Alice Maestra
Xenogears - The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
DoDonPachi Blissful Death Black Label Extra - Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Touhou 4: Lotus Land Story - Alice Maestra
Xenogears - The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
GITADORA HIGH-VOLTAGE - LUCID NIGHTMARE

Lucid is a 9.5, same with Shevat

I wonder how people who haven't played xenogears think about Shevat

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
Mixed Melody

Match 2 is fucked.

Alice [8]
Daredevil [8.5]
Shevat [8.5]
Late Night Field [9]
Lucid Nightmare [5]
Mixed Melody [7]

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
LUCID NIGHTMARE

Match 1: Touhou versus "that song that reminds me way too much of an orchestral arrangement of Mass Effect 3." Which is not a bad thing for the latter.
Match 2: Shevat doesn't really do anything for me. Neither does Field, but at least it's a bit more interesting.
Match 3: Mario Kartn't?

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - Daredevil
Xenogears - The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
DoDonPachi Blissful Death Black Label Extra - Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Well, Alice Maestra is definitely a Touhou song. Definitely not my thing. Not much else to say about it.

Daredevil is quite possibly my favorite Ace Combat song in general, which is saying a lot, considering how consistently good it is. Fantastic orchestra, fantastic melody, the choral vocals (along with the solo vocalist) are great, just everything about it is great. The drop at 3:14 gives me chills every time. One of the easiest matches for me in VGMC thus far.

Shevat is some great Mitsuda stuff. Not one of my favorites from Gears, but it's still pretty great. Really good basswork, and the basis on the descending bells is pretty cool. Good melody too.

I like some aspects of Field (Late Night). Particularly the specific synths used and the usage of gamelan in the middle, creating a pretty neat soundscape. I do not like the inclusion of the outro on this though. It takes me completely out of it tbh and it's very unfitting. Definitely won't stand a chance against Shevat.

LUCID NIGHTMARE is some fun fusion. The big issue with it is it's too short, so it has insufficient time to really flesh out its ideas. Still a pretty good song though.

Mixed Melody is pretty cool, especially in the drums and guitars. I appreciate the accelerando utilized in the second half. Good stuff. Pretty close match, but I think I'll favor this one.

Pretty good day, then there's Touhou...

Votes:
Daredevil
Shevat -The Wind Calls- (from the superior version of the tracklist)
Mixed Melody - Stage4

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
LUCID NIGHTMARE

moons posted...

I wonder how people who haven't played xenogears think about Shevat

It's really good

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
LUCID NIGHTMARE

Not really feeling any of these songs tonight. Match 3 is definitely competent though, Lucid is cool.

DREAM OF FRAIL GIRL
APHEL AURA
VIVID PROG

unhealthily stacked day, match 2 is just flat out evil and wrong bracket design and i hate the rest too

Daredevil
Field
Melody

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

What a dull day. I'm always up for voting for a Touhou song, but this is a pretty low-tier one and it managed to be #2 on the day. At least Mixed Melody ended things on a high note.

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
LUCID NIGHTMARE

match 2 zzz

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Match 2 is pretty good, would be oddly happy with Night winning even though I clearly prefer Wind.

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
LUCID NIGHTMARE

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Touhou 4: Lotus Land Story - Alice Maestra
Xenogears - The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
GITADORA HIGH-VOLTAGE - LUCID NIGHTMARE

would have voted for DDP if it was the original version, not too fond of the basiscape arrange

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
LUCID NIGHTMARE

It's surreal how well the match 2 and 3 songs segue into each other...

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

M1 and M2 are super easy, but M3 I feel bad voting against either track.

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
LUCID NIGHTMARE

1. PowerOne
2. You Were There
3. Scroll Stage
4. ???
5. Staff Roll (Super Mario 64)
6. Dreams in a Pie
7. ???
8. Abstract Map
9. CHAMPION RITUAL
10. Passing Through the Forest
11. ???
12. ???
13. Frantic Aspic
14. Field (Late Night)
15. A CYBER'S WORLD?
16. ???
17. ???
18. Kusanagi Village
19. ???
20. Calling
21. LIN NE KRO NE
22. Egg Reverie
23. Battle! (Arceus) ~ Phase 4
24. ???
25. The Glittering City of Yusnaan
26. ???
27. ???
28. Sky Tower
29. Indignant Divinity
30. The Elephant's Foot of Obnoxious Music
31. Time Moves Slow
32. The Apex of the World (Rain)
33. Radical Dreamers ~Unstolen Jewel~
34. Interwoven Stories
35. ???
36. ???
37. Blue Orb
38. Home Sweet Home
39. The Wretched Automatons
40. It's Dangerous to Go Alone
41. Move Me
42. ???
43. xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
44. Yggdrasil
45. stg_travel_2_3
46. ???
47. SaKuRa
48. The Rain Formerly Known as Purple
49. ???
50. Kaze no Ne

I need to listen to more of the Arceus game. I've heard like three or four songs and I really like all of them.

Votes:
Alice Maestra
abstain
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
LUCID NIGHTMARE

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice
Shevat
Melody

Early Touhou huh. It's okay. Daredevil isn't my favorite Ace Combat but it's still good.

Shevat sounds like a cool CT song. Late Night Field is cool in the game, but it's not something I want to listen to on its own.

Lucid Nightmare's a fun rhythm game song, though I wish it had a bit more to it. Mixed Melody's solid, and gets better as it goes.

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
LUCID NIGHTMARE

The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky > LUCID NIGHTMARE > Mixed Melody (Stage 4) > Daredevil > Alice Maestra > Field (Late Night)

Alice Maestra
Field (Late Night)
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra is definitely in my top 5 favorite Touhou songs, and it comes from my overall favorite ZUN soundtrack. It's really amazing how adding a fex extra channels can make a song sound so much fuller, and for that reason I'm very grateful that the Untouched Score releases are allowed this time around. My love for this track can be summed up to the combination of intense drums (1:53), and the more sinister melodies of earlier Touhou games which the signature sounds and limitations of the PC98 really help accentuate with their characteristic harshness.

On the other side, I didn't really enjoy that Ace Combat track. Maybe it's because of my bias against most orchestral music in games. To me it sounded cheesy and bland in a triple A movie trailer kind of way. I haven't heard a lot from this series, but what I have heard from it (a few select tracks from 3) sounded a lot more interesting.

I don't specifically have a lot to say on the other matches other than that DoDonPachi doesn't miss.

Alice Maestra > Mixed Melody (Stage 4) > Field (Late Night) > The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky > LUCID NIGHTMARE > Daredevil

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

This isn't my fav toehoe but it's better than rftm! I like the song's overall progression, it never ascends to greatness but it remains pleasant throughout. My fav bit is probs the very beginning of the loop when the bass shifts down.
I'm starting to think I might not be a big fan of Ace Combat music. This surprises me as for a long time the only song from the series I knew was 'Zero', which I really like! But I don't feel much towards Daredevil, for the first half I keep waiting for it to kick in, then when it does I just think... that's it? That might be a bit harsh. I do like the vocals and the backing strings are nice, but there's not much of a melody here for me to grab onto.

I like the bells in Shevat, and the melody is nice and gentle. Perfectly decent, nothing groundbreaking. It reminds me of Chrono Trigger.
This contest is making me very curious about Legends Arceus's OST, from the couple tracks we have here it seems pretty out there. This one is pretty interesting, I like :30-:45 and 1:38-2:01 more than the rest, but I can see this growing on me.

Lucid Nightmare doesn't do it for me, I can't really get a handle on the song. Mixed Melody isn't really for me either, but I like the guitar solo at 1:20 so it gets the vote.

Alice: 3.5/5
Dare: 2.5/5
Wind: 3/5
Field: 2.5/5
Lucid: 1/5
Mixed: 2/5

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Touhou 4: Lotus Land Story - Alice Maestra
Pokmon Legends: Arceus - Field (Late Night)
DoDonPachi Blissful Death Black Label Extra - Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Not the best PC-98 Touhou, nor the best Ace Combat here. They're okay though.

Shevat is a song that sounds like it got lost heading on its way to the Chrono Cross soundtrack. Field (Late Night) has similar vibes to Shevat, but also has that unique sound design like the other Arceus songs I've heard and liked.

match 3 sounds very "R-Man" (this is close)

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Daredevil = The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky >> Alice Maestra > Mixed Melody (Stage 4) > Field (Late Night) = LUCID NIGHTMARE

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat Soaring Through the Sad Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

I really, really wish LUCID NIGHTMARE had a longer version

Touhou 4: Lotus Land Story - Alice Maestra
Xenogears - The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
DoDonPachi Blissful Death Black Label Extra - Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

2hu
this is the same song twice
this is just fucked

where is REVOLUTION in today's poll I demand a recount

Daredevil
Field (Late Night)
LUCID NIGHTMARE

Daredevil
The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)

Alice Maestra
Field (Late Night)
Mixed Melody (Stage 4)