Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 80! R4!! SecretForest/KazeNoNe, DragonFeed People/EndlessDesert +Tie

(+) 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

Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest
Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda
Loop Point: 2:14
Genre: TANGLED MYSTIQUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DUJWMEUAiI

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - Kaze no Ne
Composer: Kumi Tanioka
Loop Point: 3:34
Genre: SOUND OF THE WIND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b6mkTELUGU

Match 2

Mr. Driller: Drill Land - The Dragon's Feed is the People
Composer: Go Shiina
Loop Point: 5:35
Genre: HORROR NIGHT HOUSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8EhgyJbces

Alto's Odyssey - An Endless Desert
Composer: Todd Baker
Loop Point: 5:37
Genre: ETERNAL DUNES
https://youtu.be/Ia4CTx-Zi7o

Match 3

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Theme of D

Secret of the Forest
The Dragon's Feed is the People
NARWHAL

Kaze no Ne
Endless Desert
NARWHAL

-
Dragon's Feed
D4

will decide on a match 1 vote later

Kaze no Ne
The Dragon's Feed is the People
NARWHAL

just realized D4/NARWHAL's r4 opponent is dance with the shadow i literally want all three of these to retire with a passion fuck

Kaze no Ne

Secret of the Forest
An Endless Desert
Theme of D4

Forest
Desert
Filthy Acts at a Reasonable Price

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - Kaze no Ne
Alto's Odyssey - An Endless Desert

Punishing: Gray Raven - NARWHAL

Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
Theme of D4

Secret of the Forest
An Endless Desert
Theme of D4

Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Theme of D4

Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
Theme of D4

trying something new this round based on some recent conversations I was thinking about; this will also probably push me to vote a little earlier, since I can't really pull this off on short notice. basically: vgmc is a nice resource to look for more vgm-- tracks that you like might spur you to look more into a soundtrack or composer. to that end I'll take a look at another track in the same soundtrack or by the same composer that I liked for every* round 4 track and briefly talk about it. I'll generally try to avoid previous vgmc entrants (but will probably make at least one exception).

*non-guaranteed, subject to mood and occasional sloth

Legaia 2: Duel Saga - Fight, Then Riot! (Yasunori Mitsuda)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os5HkWALhuA (why are there no regular-length yt uploads of this)

Thought about using Ruined World from Chrono Trigger here (never realized how much of a VLR vibe that track gives to me now; wonderfully atmospheric track that highlights Mitsuda's ability to set mood). Mitsuda's discography is huge and there's a lot of things I could have picked here; this was a relatively early thing I ran into when digging more into Mitsuda stuff back in 2007. This is a very 'intro' track that still showcases Mitsuda's ear for melody and pretty arrangements; I always used to swoon at 0:36, especially the way the guitar interacts with the piano line.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - Within the Dark Sorrow (Kumi Tanioka)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdInlV1aHok

Was sorely tempted to use Departure here, though it's been in VGMC8. I really like the moods Kumi Tanioka sets in this soundtrack with her choices in instrumentation; while a lot of it is playful and foresty this is darker, more cave/night-like. The pads and echoing percussion really hammer this home, while the cello plays a somewhat languid tune. When the flute comes in to accompany it's a beautiful contrast. Unlike a lot of 'cave/night' tracks this doesn't aim to be eerie or sinister; it's remarkably relaxing, a leisurely exploration of an unlit space.

Mr. Driller: Drill Land - Caballero Night Area (Go Shiina)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-zIV8RDqEk

I love how eclectic Go Shiina is willing to be. This is another darker-sounding track with cello, but much more energetic-- the opening synth lays out a cool vibe and it goes from there. There's a bunch of stuff he throws at this and it's a lot of fun-- hard panning, stuttering and gating at unexpected times, several different electronic elements, while still maintaining a really enjoyable overall feel.

Alto's Odyssey - A Moment of Tranquility (Torin Borrowdale)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyqOQnQmFrE

Torin Borrowdale worked on both Alto games' Zen Mode tracks. I overlook this a lot-- it's tough when Endless Desert is possibly my favourite track by one of my favourite VGM composers-- but it's a lovely composition in its own right. It really is, well, tranquil. It has its moment of grandeur about halfway through but my favourite part is just after that, when the xylophone shows up and just goes for it, and the piano joins in soon after-- it carries a playfulness and energy that elevates the track.

Secret of the Forest
An Endless Desert
Theme of D4

Secret of the Forest
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - Kaze no Ne
Mr. Driller: Drill Land - The Dragon's Feed is the People
Punishing: Gray Raven - NARWHAL

Kaze no Ne
The Dragon's Feed is the People

Maybe because it's just woke up (don't worry about it) but wow Secret of the Forest actually gave me a headache today. The melody in the second half is just overpowering and kills the general ambience of the track. Kaze no Ne continues to be very pleasant.

Incidentally "I have a headache" is probably the ideal headspace for listening to Todd Baker because of how subdued his style is. Unfortunately it's still a very hard sell for me and Dragon's Feed is cooler than I remember.

I feel weird flipping on tiebreakers nowadays but NARWHAL is really clicking with me now. This is the only match that's even kind of close so I think I'll relisten when I don't have a headache and see how I feel about it.

Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest
Alto's Odyssey - An Endless Desert
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Theme of D4

Today's reclamations:

[9.0] An Endless Desert
[9.0] Secret of the Forest
[8.0] Kaze no Ne
[8.0] The Dragon's Feed is the People
[7.5] Theme of D4
[7.5] NARWHAL

Secret
Endless
Theme

Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

Secret of the Forest

Secret of the Forest
An Endless Desert
Theme of D4

kaze no ne
endless desert

Kaze
Dragon's Feed
D4

kaze no ne
endless desert
Narwhal

Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest
Alto's Odyssey - An Endless Desert
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Theme of D4

Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest
Mr. Driller: Drill Land - The Dragon's Feed is the People
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Theme of D4

Kaze no Ne
The Dragon's Feed is the People
NARWHAL

Secret of the Forest
The Dragon's Feed is the People
Theme of D4

The first match doesn't do much for me at all. The second is much better, I'd be happy if both of those could retire. I'll listen to them again later as it is very close.

Secret of the Forest
The Dragon's Feed is the People
NARWHAL

Flipping votes on the rematch... strangely more into NARWHAL this morning than usual.

Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

For round 4, I was going to post my overall ranking numbers (currently out of 4301) but there are a sizable number on the low end and I don't want to be negative; this is also why I'm not posting ratings. Instead, I'll post general rankings for the remaining field (out of 33). Interpret them however you like.

Secret of the Forest (30) / Kaze no Ne (8)
The Dragon's Feed is the People (26) / An Endless Desert (13)
Theme of D4 (23) / NARWHAL (7)

Votes:
Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

Secret of the Forest
The Dragon's Feed is the People
Theme of D4

Secret of the Forest
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest
Mr. Driller: Drill Land - The Dragon's Feed is the People
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Theme of D4

Secret of the Forest
The Dragon's Feed is the People
Theme of D4

Kaze no Ne
The Dragon's Feed is the People
NARWHAL

Secret of the Forest
The Dragon's Feed is the People
Theme of D4

Kaze no Ne
The Dragon's Feed is the People
Theme of D4

Kaze no Ne
The Dragon's Feed is the People
Theme of D4

Kaze no Ne
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

Secret of the Forest
An Endless Desert
NARWHAL

NARWHAL

yeah I think I just undersold how much I like this because "whatever it's just a trance song" but it has some really cool sounds. almost feels like something I'd have expected to hear in DDR Extreme a couple decades ago. may have slightly overrated D4 as well but either way both of these songs are really good!

Secret of the Forest
Am Endless Desert
Theme of D4

I was a lot more torn on match 3 today than I was the last time I listened to them. Ultimately sticking with D4, though

Kaze no Ne
The Dragon's Feed is the People
Theme of D4

Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest
Alto's Odyssey - An Endless Desert
Punishing: Gray Raven - NARWHAL