FL81 ranks Video Game Music again (Rankings)

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Board 8 » FL81 ranks Video Game Music again (Rankings)
FL81
12/29/2024
10:27 PM
#51
#121 Fire Emblem Engage - Bright Sandstorm
Rating: 5.3/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @Hbthebattle (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm-MWCPctjg

Hey, a song I remember from BOST23! Fire Emblem music is another thing I should like, but have always had a bit of trouble doing so, and if I'm being perfectly honest, I think FE:E is actually a small step down from what I'm used to from this series. This song leans heavily into its world instruments and creates a Bright (heh heh) melody, but then the more FE-style symphonic section jumps in a minute and a half in and the sound here kinda clashes. I dunno, it just doesn't engage with me in a way I'd expect RPG music to. But it does at least sound "nice".
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
FL81
12/29/2024
10:43 PM
#52
#120 Driller - Loader Theme
Rating: 5.3/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @tazzyboyishere (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UzJUCPkCjo

This is simultaneously both really cool, and really, really, really long. With classic C64 VGM like these, you gotta have some level of patience, and generally speaking these are the type of songs to go in with a long buildup, and have a really strong payout. Rob Hubbard's Monty on the Run theme is a perfect example of this. But this song takes what, 4 minutes of buildup to really go somewhere, and then it just stays on that idea EVEN LONGER. So then we finally get to the "cool" part 6 minutes in, and it's quite good. And then right in the middle of this song's climax, it just kinda ends? The big picture here is that it's a song with a six minute intro, and an okay payoff. All-in-all, mixed feelings on this one.

this truly is the loader theme of all time
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FL81
12/29/2024
11:37 PM
#53
#119 Silent Hill 4: The Room - Fortunate sleep - noone disturb her dead -
Rating: 5.3/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Snake5555555555 (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tNkTKQ_yoM

shhh
no one disturb her
she dead

Chill lo-fi beats. This is a short piece, but it's exactly as long as it needs to be and accomplishes in what it set out to do. It's calm, but also eerie, setting quite the somber tone. I think I like this side of Silent Hill music.

#118 Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards - Quiet Forest
Rating: 5.3/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Haste_2 (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6CAW0HpCl0

Quiety Foresty music. This is exactly the kind of music I'd expect from this game and from a song with that title. For better or for worse, this one does not leave a strong impression, but it is relaxing to listen to. It's just nice. Good usage of N64 instruments here.
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FL81
01/02/2025
02:46 PM
#54
#117 Rez Infinite - Butterfly Effect
Rating: 5.5/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @tazzyboyishere (2/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmqcdK0TMkY

This is a very "stock music" Trance beat here, but a solid one nonetheless. For what it's worth, I definitely see what you were going for with this nomination here lol. It has that same kind of epic melodic trance sound from the Suguri/Sora soundtracks that I have consistently showered with praise. Give this one a little more oomph and it could realistically jump a couple dozen ranks. (Yes, this was a better pick than Preserved Realm)

uh-oh, looks like we're down to our first participant with only one song left

let's see what happens next!
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Arti
01/02/2025
03:06 PM
#55
I didn't know FL81 hated tazzyboyishere so much
http://backloggery.com/articuno2001/sig.gif
tazzyboyishere
01/02/2025
03:09 PM
#56
Haters gonna hate
http://i.imgur.com/l7xxLh1.jpg
PSN/Steam - RoboQuote ; NNID - TazzyMan
tazzyboyishere
01/02/2025
11:27 PM
#57
Anywho I'm a big fan of Hydelic's uber-cheesy stock synth, and it certainly feels more impactful in-game with the VR. It's not as good as some of the bangers in Tetris Effect, but it's great nonetheless.

Truthfully I don't remember nominating that C64 theme. I like it, but I think I was going for a weirder pick. Don't even have that one saved to my music drive.

Surprised at the one I do have remaining! Feel like it would've dropped already on many other user lists.
http://i.imgur.com/l7xxLh1.jpg
PSN/Steam - RoboQuote ; NNID - TazzyMan
FL81
01/03/2025
12:40 AM
#58
Arti posted...
I didn't know FL81 hated tazzyboyishere so much
I remember back in my first year on B8, tazzy probably had the closest VGM taste to me back then!
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
FL81
01/03/2025
11:50 PM
#59
#116 Mega Man 5 - Dark Man
Rating: 5.5/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @Janus5k (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cuDFYZXw0c

Man I'm going to sound like that Peter Griffin Drowning Confession meme, but I did not care for Dark Man's theme. At least compared to other Mega Man series chiptunes anyway. Just by virtue of being "Mega Man music" it's already automatically good, I mean this is above average at least. Being an old NES tune, this relies on having a catchy earworm melody since that's realistically the best the NES soundchip can manage, but other classic tunes just accomplish that a lot better. This is no MM2 Wily Stage 1. Actually, this is the second example in this ranking where I feel a remix of an 8-bit tune ends up being an improvement (hi SSBU arrange).
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FL81
01/04/2025
12:24 AM
#60
#115 Bomb Rush Cyberfunk - I Wanna Kno
Rating: 5.5/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @rwlh (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbogUmJkeBI

Ah yes, the music genre known as "Jet Set Radio music" (I honestly don't know what else I can classify this as). I was never the biggest fan of this kind of stuff, but I never really hated it either. This is actually pretty catchy. It's got some real funk here ( too much funky ? ). I kinda wish this was a bit shorter though, it seems to overstay it's welcome and hearing I WANNA KNO UR NAME every two seconds starts getting annoying about halfway through this.

#114 F-Zero X: Expansion Kit - Rainbow Road
Rating: 5.5/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @-hotdogturtle-- (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOQ8JcH3HLk

Here we have the only song that was nominated for my list twice! Unless I somehow missed one like I did with Demonic Drive in my first VGM ranking . I like F-Zero music, and I like Rainbow Road, but

F-Zero X: Expansion Kit - Rainbow Road is the musical equivalent of putting pineapple on pizza.

That crusty SNES guitar just does not work for the ethereal melody of Rainbow Road. And listening to this again, just now, I've realized two new things. One: this isn't a SNES game, this is an N64 game! And Two: this is actually missing a good chunk of the melody that made me like the other nominated Rainbow Road more. How much more exactly? Well, you'll just have to stick around for the rest of the ranking!

On a slightly-ironic side note, the Mario Kart 8 rendition of Big Blue is actually my #1 favorite version of Big Blue
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-hotdogturtle--
01/04/2025
12:31 AM
#61
FL81 posted...
the Mario Kart 8 rendition of Big Blue is actually my #1 favorite version of Big Blue
Oh my god, as if we needed any more evidence that we're not compatible at all.
Hey man, LlamaGuy did encrypt the passwords.
With what? ROT-13? -CJayC
FL81
01/05/2025
02:50 PM
#62
#113 Pokmon Battle Revolution - Main Street Colosseum
Rating: 5.6/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Hbthebattle (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLtCthQlRv0

This is just Mario Kart music. Crazy that we have two Mario Kart songs in a row! I cannot hear this as anything else. Like, this is what'd play in one of those really short tracks that takes exactly 42 seconds to complete a lap. (Jokes aside, we will eventually get to an actual Mario Kart song in this list, I promise!) Listening more deeply, I hear some of that funky synth sound Genius Sonority used in the other two games of theirs I've played. It's catchy at least!

#112 Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Final Mix - Master, Tell Me the Truth
Rating: 5.6/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @GavsEvans123 (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5FVCNtHSXo

This sits in the average tier because it sounds cool, but doesn't really do anything special. It's the average Yoko Shimomura experience condensed into one song (don't worry, there's another Kingdom Hearts song that'll show up later!) Epic strings are always a safe bet for RPG battle themes, it's not bad.
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FL81
01/06/2025
03:49 PM
#63
#111 Honkai: Star Rail - Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Rating: 5.6/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @Arti (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyt41nnM0k

This is one of a few songs that falls into the category of BOST23 entrants that I've listened to in-between the intial nomination of this song for my topic, and having actually listened to everything for the ranking. Otherwise, I wouldn't have heard this before. Now this song here, is in a bit of a tragic predicament. Of all 136 songs that were nominated for this project, this one has suffered the harshest drop in placement in terms of my initial opinion versus where it eventually ended up. I was originally going to rate this somewhere around a 7/10, but my feelings towards this song sour every time I listen to it . I like the upbeat melody and sound of the singer's voice, but how overwhelmingly "pop music" this sounds and that "whoa-oh-OH" interspersed frequently throughout the song leaves me unimpressed.
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Arti
01/06/2025
05:22 PM
#64
:(

It isn't my favorite final boss theme of an arc in HSR but I still enjoy listening to it when doing the rematch.
http://backloggery.com/articuno2001/sig.gif
FL81
01/06/2025
06:25 PM
#65
Arti posted...
:(

It isn't my favorite final boss theme of an arc in HSR but I still enjoy listening to it when doing the rematch.
That was a final boss theme ??
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FL81
01/08/2025
04:03 PM
#66
#110 Super Paper Mario - Pit of 100 Trials
Rating: 5.7/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Haste_2 (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnqg0n0zDRg

This has the composition of a gen 3 Pokmon song, and the instrumentation of a Kirby song. This one has a weird melody, in a good way, it's kinda grown on me to be honest. It may be a bit short, but it's sufficiently unique in its sound.

#109 Gran Turismo 4 - GT Mode Course Selection 1
Rating: 5.7/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @Snake5555555555 (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCbBpwK-sa4

Gran Turismo 4 is a game I've played a bit, but nowhere near as much as GT3. I don't really remember this specific track all that well, and it's not exactly the track I'd pick to best represent this style (hi Light Velocity). It's another "chill" piece and really the whole selection of jazzy soundtracks from the PS2 GT games are always a nice treat.
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UF8
01/08/2025
11:31 PM
#67
i wonder where the other versions would've placed tbh. i have a lot of nostalgia for this one but it's the kind of arrangement that doesn't entirely surprise me would see people bounce off it somewhat. the slightly quirky combination of acoustic guitar and keyboard synth here that doesn't entirely go together is an acquired taste for sure. also shame it didn't use its official From The East To The West title here, that's like the best part lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=innnfSEPi1M
FL81
01/10/2025
01:28 AM
#68
UF8 posted...
i wonder where the other versions would've placed tbh. i have a lot of nostalgia for this one but it's the kind of arrangement that doesn't entirely surprise me would see people bounce off it somewhat. the slightly quirky combination of acoustic guitar and keyboard synth here that doesn't entirely go together is an acquired taste for sure. also shame it didn't use its official From The East To The West title here, that's like the best part lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=innnfSEPi1M
GT1 is my clear favorite here
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FL81
01/10/2025
01:08 PM
#69
#108 Gravity Rush 2 - Lei Colmosna
Rating: 5.9/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @GavsEvans123 (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w36N8Ir8kS4

This song is the strangest combination of Professor Layton and Super Mario Sunshine. The happy tropical island music with the ominous violins creates a sound that I don't quite know what it's trying to represent, but hey, I kinda dig it. This is not at all what I was expecting from Gravity Rush 2, but its excellent sound design carries over into this piece too.
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FL81
01/12/2025
08:54 PM
#70
new milestone, 6/10 and up reached

#107 Octopath Traveler II - Toto'haha
Rating: 6/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @Hbthebattle (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqFhsXPoo0Q

I got a bit of flak for saying this was the "weak" song on the OT2 BOST setlist, but that was more of a testament to how much I liked the battle themes, this one is nice in its own way. This has that typical sound you'd expect from the theme for a "peaceful location" in a JRPG, perhaps a village. It actually kinda reminds me of some of the town themes you'd find from the Trails series (which I find myself comparing a lot of things to, it's the last big RPG series I really got into! uh oh this won't spoil any of the later rankings will it? )

#106 Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call - Special Arrange Medley
Rating: 6/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @GavsEvans123 (2/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isyc-LUTaoM

Yep, this is definitely a callback to Final Fantasy. Being a celebratory arrangement of everything Final Fantasy, in a sense, this makes this the most vanilla RPG music ever. Not saying that's a bad thing though, Nobuo Uematsu is one of my top (3?) JRPG composers for a reason. I actually forgot I owned Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, thanks for the reminder.
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FL81
01/15/2025
04:48 PM
#71
#105 Limbus Company - The Time Ripper
Rating: 6/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Pirateking2000 (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttseuC1uY7Y

Whenever I see "Limbus Company OST", my mind immediately jumps to all the songs Mili made for this game, then I remember Limbus Company has an entire rest of the soundtrack that sounds nothing like those! In fact, I never know what to expect with Limbus Company music, least of all heavy wub Electro-Swing! I like this one, a real room shaker. Battle music that doesn't follow the conventions of what one traditionally expects from battle music is pretty cool.
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FL81
01/19/2025
10:11 PM
#72
#104 Arknights - Arsonist
Rating: 6/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @dowolf (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZNa9uT_REg

My first impression of this was that I wasn't sure if I loved or hated this. I'm leaning a lot more towards liking this, it's very different . I actually feel like the rap sections in this are the high point. The pop sound is a bit "ehh", but it has enough of a dark, ominous sound that I end up liking this. (Also like how they rhymed "pirouettes" with "silhouette")

#103 Yakuza 5 - The Battle for the Dream
Rating: 6/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @NFUN (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79SJsgHjEwE

Last few years it seems I've seen everyone talking about the Yakuza series, like it's had a big resurgence in popularity (never played myself). This song (and most Yakuza music I've heard) is alright, nothing special, gets the job done as a boss fight theme. Bodhisattva Kill from VGMC several years back is still my favorite Yakuza music by a long shot.
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FL81
01/20/2025
01:21 PM
#73
#102 Nobody Wants to Die - Deeper into the Subconscious
Rating: 6/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Snake5555555555 (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGpZn56gt8M

My listening notes (spreadsheet comment) for this one just says "Short and cinematic". Which is fitting for what I think is the shortest song on my ranking! Movie trailer~ish music.

#101 Hyperballoid 2 - Main Menu
Rating: 6/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Fluttershy_Pony (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08XOdhZWfaY

Just kidding! This one's even shorter! (Yes it is 100% a coincidence that these two songs are right next to each other on the ranking.) This has a cool "Y2K sound" synth lead melody, but there's not much else to comment on here because it is so short! It would've placed higher if longer!
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FL81
01/21/2025
04:07 PM
#74
top 100 get

#100 Mega Man Unlimited - Cyclical Rampage (Yo-yo Man Stage)
Rating: 6.1/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @banshiryuu (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpFcfSU2OI0

This one's a pretty catchy, if standard, Mega Man chiptune. "Fast bleeps and bloops" are a safe pick, albeit I wish this one had a little more "character". I'm finding myself more attracted to the backing rhythmic melody than the main lead. It's fun, it's energetic, it's not bad.

#99 pop'n music 8 - 100sec. Kitchen Battle!!
Rating: 6.1/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @cakophon (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIQpaE6zzU

My comment for this one reads "Quirky WarioWare music", and I think that fits this pretty well. Actually, I like this one a bit more than just standard WarioWare music. Even though it's 100 seconds long (oh hi the song title is accurate for once), this is a very unique musical experience that provides a nice sampler plate of ideas.
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FL81
01/29/2025
03:05 AM
#75
#98 Blue Reflection Sun - Soul on Fire
Rating: 6.1/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @dowolf (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQu_T8fTciw

This doesn't sound like any other Blue Reflection music I've ever heard. Which I guess is kinda a good thing? (I'm not too crazy about Blue Reflection music ;_;) Another early 2000s style rock song, but with a catchy tune and the EDM synths give it a pretty unique sound. Actually kinda dig the vocals here too.

#97 Wyvia - Monster World Arena
Rating: 6.1/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @azuarc (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj8vXKejj9c

I love that super clean synth/keyboard intro sound this song has. This *sounds* cool, and just based off of that, this is the one song in the ranking that I most wish I could give a better placement than it has, but otherwise it's short and doesn't really do anything too special. Mostly a fun novelty.
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azuarc
01/29/2025
08:45 AM
#76
I completely forget what I even gave you, except that I picked the first few tracks I thought you might like because I assumed the nomination topic would close much faster than it actually did. At least I gauged the sound correctly as something you'd enjoy even if, as you said, it doesn't really go anywhere.
Only the exceptions can be exceptional.
FL81
01/29/2025
02:50 PM
#77
#96 Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage - icedrop
Rating: 6.2/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Arti (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-VZct-x3fA

When this first started playing and the vocals came on, I was worried this was going to be another one of those "Hastune Miku" game soundtrack songs that didn't actually have any Vocaloid in it. There is at least some in this one, but Vocaloid with real singers feels like it is cheating ! The song itself at least is good, pretty standard J-Pop with some Vocaloid sprinkled in, very "anime".

#95 Flowstone Saga - Overture
Rating: 6.2/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @dowolf (2/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzPGcUhf4cg

How is it that every single instrument in this is so LOUD?? This is some of the strangest audio mixing I tell ya hwat. Very "adventurousy" song here, fit for setting out into the world (kinda Zelda music or even Maple Story, but more bombastic with all those loud horns). Very bright and empowering.
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dowolf
01/29/2025
06:36 PM
#78
dropping like flies ;_;
Nonsense. "Testing" is for when you're still guessing--and now, I have no need to guess. -- Agatha, Girl Genius
Arti
01/29/2025
06:43 PM
#79
FL81 posted...
There is at least some in this one, but Vocaloid with real singers feels like it is cheating !
that's (almost) every song in this game, fwiw
http://backloggery.com/articuno2001/sig.gif
FL81
01/29/2025
11:47 PM
#80
Arti posted...
that's (almost) every song in this game, fwiw
where miku
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FL81
01/30/2025
12:52 AM
#81
#94 Beat Saber - Escape
Rating: 6.2/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @azuarc (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DAZwsSbaqM

Here's another song that I just tagged with "generic trance", but this one I do like a good deal more just because of how upbeat this is, like, this is pumpin' . The main melody is catchy, the vocals layer nicely with it, easily something one can dance to.

#93 Void Stranger - ... ad astra
Rating: 6.3/10
Have I heard this before?: Was this in BOST23? *looks it up* Apparently not!
Nominator: @tgs2 (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAU2fztSODQ

This is very atmospheric, with a cool bass! I'm also appreciating that electric guitar sample, sounds very PS2/GameCube era. Like, specifically the guitar used in the Pokmon Colosseum OST (or maybe even Mega Man X6?). Anyway this whole song is a real mood. Vibes all around.
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FL81
01/30/2025
02:33 PM
#82
#92 Tsugunai: Atonement - Spirit Tower
Rating: 6.3/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Snake5555555555 (2/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2V41LcvKU

This one is a very somber piano piece. I'd dare even say it's spooooky~ (Huh, reading the description on the box, is this really about a ghost man after all?) This one is pretty simple, only utilizing a small handful of instruments, but it manages well to create a haunting ambiance.

#91 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Erythia Sea (Day)
Rating: 6.3/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @hombad46 (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhrLXWcTRB0

Whoa, calming New Age music in a Xenoblade game? Y'know I've said this before, but I think I actually prefer Xenoblade music when it isn't doing hard rock. This would make really good shopping music for when you enter the hippie store at the local mall. My favorite thing is that guitar (I think?) instrument playing occasionally in the background. This is really just the kind of tune I can leaving looping on in the background.
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hombad46
01/30/2025
02:49 PM
#83
I throw in one non-battle theme and it comes last of my noms lol
It's tempting to linger in this moment, while every possibility still exists. But unless collapsed by an observer, they will never be more than possibilities.
FL81
01/30/2025
11:15 PM
#84
#90 Genshin Impact - Irresistible Force
Rating: 6.4/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @azuarc (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDmE9taqiVs

The eastern instruments playing in this are pretty cool. Also, I remember you saying something about trying to gauge which Genshin songs I'd like based off of the example I had used (Caelestinium Finale Termini) and that neither of these sounded particularly like that one, but I feel the strings here do create a similar~ish backing rhythm! I like the climactic buildup around the middle of the song.
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pyresword
01/30/2025
11:24 PM
#85
Aw yeah let's go not-hard-rock Xenoblade music. Best Xenoblade music.

I liked the Eryth Sea themes in Xenoblade 1 more, but these are nice also.
I didn't do guru this year but azuarc can be in my sig anyways.
FL81
02/02/2025
09:29 PM
#86
#89 Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth - Fine del Labirinto ~ Completion
Rating: 6.4/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @TunnelScene (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceJXnuq-_-0

Huh, seeing a title like "Record of Lodoss War", I was expecting this game to be something like an SRPG, but it turns out it's more of a Castlevania clone! There's a very technofuturistic sound going on here with a VERY ANGRY KEYBOARD ! Actually beyond that, there's a nice variety of other instruments too! I'm even getting some vibes of that ethereal "Falcom final dungeon" sound too. Pretty cool!
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
FL81
02/09/2025
03:54 PM
#87
#88 Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance - Battle -Beelzebub-
Rating: 6.5/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @hombad46 (4/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK72sfCwkOo

If Hope is the Thing With Feathers is the song that has dropped the most in terms of initial ranking versus now, then Battle -Beelzebub- is the opposite, having grown on me more than any other song compared to where I initially ranked it (I had this maybe in the 5.5 ballpark?). This is both groovy and industrial, with a pretty catchy melody to hook me in. (While nowhere near the top of my list, this one got stuck in my head more than nearly all of the others).
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
FL81
02/16/2025
01:16 PM
#88
#87 Octopath Traveler II - Partitio the Merchant
Rating: 6.5/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Fluttershy_Pony (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23F7lA8jbTE

The one thing I really remember from my early days on B8 is debating on the merits of saxophone in VGM. I love saxophone! Very upbeat song here, nice usage of the "four chords of pop" 40 seconds in. Simultaneously empowering and relaxing tune.

#86 Atelier Shallie - Stop The Sand Dragon
Rating: 6.5/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @Haste_2 (3/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FZp2LFSJE8

What I really love about Atelier soundtracks is that they can take something akin to Celtic folk music but also pump it up with all the energy of a hype boss battle theme. I'd likely have never even learned of Gust as a company and all the music they do if not for B8. One weird thing I've noticed about this specific song (maybe it's just me), but it sounds a lot like the music you'd hear from one of the SoulCalibur games lol.
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
FL81
02/23/2025
02:00 AM
#89
#85 Touhou Sougetsuki - Shanghai Alice of Showa 17
Rating: 6.5/10
Have I heard this before?: No
Nominator: @UF8 (5/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIMK-wKAy54

Y'know when I saw this nominated, I thought this was going to be an arrangement of Shanghai Alice of Meiji 17 (one of my favorite EoSD tracks). Instead, it's an entirely original composition! Even more interestingly, it seems this soundtrack was released all the way back in 2006. The Touhou fandom was still kinda newish back then, and still a good deal of time before the Touhou-style original music trend really kicked off big time. This is some really crusty MIDI instrumentation, but I guess that just makes it sound more "authentic" (EoSD for as good as its composition is, sounds rough ). Rough around the edges as it is, this has charm. Pretty melody too.
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
UF8
02/23/2025
03:08 AM
#90
darn, my personal goal for viewing my noms as a success here given the circumstances was top 60 for all of them but i guess i fell short
FL81
03/01/2025
12:48 PM
#91
#84 Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Rose - VS Lancastrians
Rating: 6.5/10
Have I heard this before?: Yes
Nominator: @GavsEvans123 (1/5)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFpclHgMaZw

Despite it technically being a sequel to Forbidden Memories (one of my all time favorite video games, and also the single hardest video game I've played), I've never actually played The Duelists of the Roses. Everything I know about this game sounds really weird. But weird in a good way, I think early Yu-Gi-Oh media back before everything was fully established was when the franchise was at its peak (hi Season 0). My favorite track from this game is that one that subtly makes use of motifs present from Kaiba's theme in Forbidden Memories:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7qTL-Xex88

As for this song, I really like how all the YouTube comments are about how this sounds like some classy harpsichord rap battle backing track. Really catchy, and absolutely subverts my expectations of anything I know about Yu-Gi-Oh (like DotR in general).

And with that, we have our first PLAYER ELIMINATION!

All-in-all some mostly safe picks, but nothing to break into the top scoring set. We have some strong competition! I really dig that VS Lancastrians was chosen for this ranking, mad respect for classic Yu-Gi-Oh VGM. Thank you for playing!
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
Board 8 » FL81 ranks Video Game Music again (Rankings)
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