Lurker > rwlh

Caravan Stories - Muddy Warrior: 3.5. I like the percussion here a lot, it's probably my favorite part. The rest of it doesn't really appeal to me. Parts of it are interesting at least, like the section before the loop. If the whole song was like that, then we'd be in business!
vs.
Dariusburst - Good-bye my earth: 8. Desperate heroics call for desperate songs. I genuinely enjoy those vocals (though I'm sure there are comments in this very topic decrying them, which I will read after I finish my post).

and

Zakuzaku Actors - Battle of Mao: 5.5. Sometimes I like the Mozell fake piano but this isn't one of those times. It overpowers everything else. There are parts of this I really enjoy and parts I really don't.
vs.
Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland - Dark Domain: 7. more like dork domain lmao

real writeup: I really like this! It's always a nice surprise when I find an Atelier song I enjoy, probably because what's popular here isn't always what I enjoy. Like, why couldn't this have gotten into VGMC?

and

Tekken 7 - Infinite Azure 2 (Siren's Call): Despite this song doing a lot of different things, I really have nothing worthwhile to say about it. That's the definition of a 5!
vs.
Iridion II - Spiral Bliss: 7.5. This is super poppy. Super lemon poppyseed. This melody sounds ripped from Ristar, and I love Ristar.

Votes:
Good-bye my earth
Dark Domain
Spiral Bliss

"Today's" songs to rate:

Sonic's Schoolhouse - H -
iS Internal Section - select What's the deal? -
Toy Story 2 (GBC) - Stage 1 -

And today's songs to rate:

Dragalia Lost - BANG! (Summoning Remix) -
Melty Blood Actress Again - Fairy Tale Transparently -
Pokemon Art Academy - Main Menu -

Terraria Calamity - Feral Amalgamation: 1. The beginning feels very slow and plodding. So does the rest. This is the song equivalent of a school dance. I don't like anything about this. Maybe the transition into the mixed meter part (but not the actual mixed meter part itself).
vs.
VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action - Every Day Is Night: 6. I've yet to hear a song from this game that's really stuck with me. I guess this is the closest? I wish there was more sax and fewer high-pitched synths. Decent energy though. I enjoy the main melody.

and

Undertale - Dummy!: 9. Okay can I just say I love this song. It's so playful and charming. It keeps doing interesting things all throughout. I love that breathy vocal synth thing that carries the melody. Very...ragtimey?
vs.
Killer Instinct (2013) - .execute: 2.5. A dubstep version of the KI main theme, huh. I want to like this more than I do. Maybe I'd like it more if it weren't quite so dubsteppy. Too many glitch effects that sound like spiders laying eggs in my eyeballs. Really drags by the end.

and

Rewrite - Raised Bed: 2. This is the kind of KEY music I don't like. It's the Hallmark Channel meets the Weather Channel.
vs.
Guilty Gear X - Blue Water Blue Sky: 8. blue blue skies blue blue skies i see

Votes:
Every Day Is Night
Dummy!
Blue Water Blue Sky

And hey, have today's actual songs while I'm at it.

Today's songs to rate:

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- - Ride the Fire! -
Super Paper Mario - Francis Battle -
SimCity 4 - Floating Population -

Today's songs to rate:

The Great Ace Attorney/Dai Gyakuten Saiban - Pursuit ~ The Great Turnabout -
Hyper Light Drifter - The Midnight Wood -
Final Fantasy XIV Online - The Tycoon -

Celeste - First Steps: 8.5. Nice and inspirational. Some really cool glitchy things. I really like this, love the way everything flows together nicely, from the nice "sweeps" in the background to the piano to the glitchy stuff.
vs.
REFLEC BEAT colette - Following Flow: 8. Hello Nekomata Master. This is, at least on paper, a very similar song to First Steps, albeit a more upbeat/driving melody. It's standard Nekomata fare, which is to say it's very good.

and

Eschatos - Survive: 3. I find this unexciting, which is sad, because it's clearly meant to be very exciting. Nothing about this really sticks with me except a vague sense of liking some elements of the FM synth.
vs.
Spark the Electric Jester - Ultimate Final Boss: 6.5. Now this I find exciting. The heavy guitar parts remind me of Servants of the Scourge (but I like this much better). Lots of energy and I really like the melody, particularly the chorus.

and

Etrian Odyssey V - Battlefield - Activation: 4.5. Another bombastic Etrian Odyssey song with loud guitars. I would much rather this was one of the FM synth songs. All these big epic guitar pieces sound the same to me (with a few exceptions). I like the piano runs near the middle. The brass near the start of the loop is actually pretty compelling. So basically I like the things in this song that aren't loud guitars. >_> Overall the song exceeds my expectations.
vs.
Total Distortion - Setup: 6.5. I think there are slight differences between the verses here. Maybe I'm imagining things. I actually find this legitimately engaging - it held my interest the entire time despite being incredibly repetitive. I would easily vote this over a number of songs thus far in the contest.

Votes:
First Steps
Ultimate Final Boss
Setup

also

Undertale - Battle Against a True Hero: 10. An old favorite of mine. Really great in every way.
vs.
Killer Instinct (2013) - Village of Whispers: 7. I never quite know where this song is going to go, and I like that a good deal. Evil demonic chanting and creep metal are a good combo here. Runs a little too long for me, but I really appreciate it.

and

Final Fantasy IX - Melodies of Life: 0.5. I don't like anything about this, from the singing to the composition to the lyrics. If it wins here I'll be very sad.
vs.
Vision Soft Reset - Chronic Duel: 5.5. My favorite song from this setlist already got played. This is cool too though, a nice "pursuit" theme. I wish the main instrument was a bit stronger.

and

Rewrite - Philosophyz: 7.5. What a nice surprise this is. A nice blend of guitars and otherworldly synths and expressive vocals. Would definitely listen to this again (and in fact I did, after it ended!).
vs.
Guilty Gear X - The Original: 7.5. This is good too! Drums are a little quiet (actually the whole production feels sort of muddy) but that rockin' Guilty Gear guitar really shines, plus sax! Shame one of these has to lose.

Votes:
Battle Against a True Hero
Chronic Duel
Philosophyz

Hey, I remembered!

Today's songs to rate:

Wario's Woods - Time Attack - (upload is 9 min but it's the only good quality upload)
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5DX+ - Still Alive -
Waterworld - Diving -

Thousand Memories - Lord of the Returners: 7.5. I'm not typically a huge fan of this sort of orchestral flair, though this has way more personality than, say, your average Radiant Historia song. The fact that it's in 5/4 makes for a neat ride. One of those songs I appreciate objectively more than personally. The song grows on me during the second loop, so I'm bumping it up more.
vs.
Drakengard 3 - Black Song, White Scales: 9.5. Hey now, calm down, song. This song is ALL OVER THE PLACE and I love it. It always keeps me guessing. Very dark and evil, with a little bit of tortured hope thrown in throughout. And then it ends with a very effective music box. Pretty top tier.

and

YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of This World - Fate: 9. One of my absolute favorite YU-NO songs. The slow build to menace is executed perfectly at the start, and then the drumbeat kicks in and it turns into, like the best YU-NO music, this dreamy otherworldly aural scape. So good. I will say this is the rare song (for me at least) that actually feels less effective after the loop; I don't feel like I discover anything new about the song.
vs.
CrossCode - Temple of Thunder: 8. Ooh, I really like this too! Some real Klonoa vibes going on here. Nice immersive feeling, lots of really interesting textures. Feels very exploratory. My favorite part is around :45, when it feels like the rocket is blasting into space.

and

Phantasy Star Online - A Longing to Ancient Times (Premium): 7.5. Wow this is also cool! Normally I find PSO music too "busy" but this works really well for me; there's a lot going on but it doesn't get too overwhelming. The melody is nice and the instrumentation is solid. I also like the breakdown near the end and how the music sort of swirls back in like a time warp.
vs.
La Mulana 2 - Fallin' Tower (Ancient Chaos theme): 3.5. Not digging this one as much. The melody is fine but the...production quality I guess feels a bit muddy. It gets a bit interesting near the end. I'd be down with hearing an arranged/remixed version of this to see what they could do with the composition.

Votes:
Black Song, White Scales
Fate
A Longing to Ancient Times (Premium)

Dire's taking a break. I was always the other person in charge, but Dire always posted the songs to this topic. Now I just have to remember to do it! Sorry in advance if I forget, lol.

Sorry, someone else (who doesn't have an account here) put up yesterday's songs and I didn't think to post them here. My bad.

Today's songs to rate:

Super Smash Bros. Melee - Targets! -
Anarchy Reigns - Play for Keeps -
A High Fiber, Japanese Empire Cereal - Elegy For Old Identities and Nostalgia - https://htch.bandcamp.com/track/elegy-for-old-identities-and-nostalgia

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru - discolor: 9.5. A song that makes you feel like you're drowning in an endless waterfall without a bottom, and you can't swim upstream so you just try not to swallow too much water and you hope the ground comes soon and breaks your neck. Very powerful song.
vs.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land - Sky Tower: 5.5. Modern Kirby, which isn't really my thing. It's fine I guess. Kind of catchy.

and

Deltarune - Rude Buster: 9. One of my favorite Deltarune songs. This is a song for punching life in the teeth. So fun.
vs.
Chrono Cross - People Imprisoned by Destiny: 1.5. When I can't wait for a song to be over, then I know it's not doing to score highly.

and

Etrian Odyssey IV - Battlefield - Faith Is My Pillar: 3.5. Loud guitars and strings no thanks. I like the Etrian Odyssey songs that are FM synth-based much more than these (though I do love Battlefield - Storm so hey, not a hopeless cause). Ooh but I do like the part before the loop, when the melody changes up; that bumps it up a few points.
vs.
Pokemon Card GB2 - GR Challenge Cup: 3. The instrumentation in this game sounds like a Commodore 64 doing a Donald Duck impression. Some of these songs are virtually unlistenable to me as a result. This one is okay I guess, salvaged by a decent melody.

Votes:
discolor
Rude Buster
Battlefield - Faith Is My Pillar

NieR: Automata - Possessed by a Disease (Vocals): 8.5. God this song is good.
vs.
Cloudbuilt - Cloudbits: 2.5. Fancy modern chiptune. I find this particularly unengaging and repetitive. The chiptune instrumentation prevents it from being even lower.

and

Pokmon Super Mystery Dungeon - Tree of Life: Roots: 8. God this song is good.
vs.
Off-Peak - Revealed: 9. But this. This is an amazing song.

and

Acceleration of SUGURI 2 - Begins: 6. Fun trance number. Doesn't do anything exceptional but it's still a pleasure to listen to.
vs.
Dusk - Run: 7.5. This is really great! Nice energy. It keeps mixing things up while still maintaining its solid base. Very cool!

Votes:
Possessed by a Disease (Vocals)
Revealed
Run

Changed my vote from the alt showdown.

We're back! Today's songs to rate:

Devil May Cry 5 - Devil Trigger -
Rhythm Heaven - Lockstep 2 -
Octopath Traveler - Cyrus, the Scholar -

VVVVVV - Predestined Fate: 8.5. Very underrated V6 song. One of my favorites from the soundtrack.
vs.
Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe - Cooking Caves (World 4): 6.5. This is good! Nice FM synth crunch.

and

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - A-to-Z: 8. Hey, a modern Ys song I like! I really liked this in the last VGMC. Strong melody. I like the piano part in the start, and the rest of it is no slouch.
vs.
Granado Espada - Far Eastern Romantica: 6.5. Pretty cool.

and

beatmania IIDX 24 SINOBUZ - Magical: 3. Really don't like that scrunchy squeezy sample that carries the melody. Nothing else really sticks out.
vs.
Muv-Luv Alternative - War Preparation: 8. Aww yeah. I've always liked this song. Great military march, perfect at getting you pumped up. Some great FLOW in this. With stronger samples this would be a 9 or higher; as it is, the tinniness holds it back a bit.

Votes:
Predestined Fate
A-to-Z
War Preparation

hey

We're still on a break, but I just realized the last three songs never got posted here. Here they are!

Virtue's Last Reward - Lounge -
Etrian Odyssey IV - Labyrinth I - Cerulean Woodlands -
Touhou: Concealed the Conclusion - Eastern Judgment in the Sixtieth Year - Fate of Sixty Years -

Sonic R - Super Sonic Racing: 6. My least favorite song from the Sonic R set, oof. This is when the blissful cheese of the soundtrack spoils over into stinky territory. Maybe it's because the lyrics aren't about anything meaningful like the other songs? That being said, this still isn't what I'd call bad - it's still catchy as hell. I'm still giving it a 6!
vs.
Ripple Dot Zero - The Oxygen Plant, Pt. One: 2. The beginning of this is way too shrill for me. Unfortunately the shrillness keeps going for most of the song. Pretty unappealing.

and

The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki Evolution - Silence in the Sunlight Filtering Through Trees: 2. Stereotypical Falcom-ish mysterious forest theme (going off the title) with those Falcom strings I don't like. Why do I like the "forest themes" that probably aren't forest themes more than this forest theme? I really really dislike that echo effect on the strings.
vs.
Super Paper Mario - Floro Sapiens Caverns: 5.5. Nice stuff swimming around here, like algae in the primordial soup. Nothing really hooks me and keeps me invested, but it's still kind of interesting.

and

Mega Man 5 - Intro Part 1: 5. I didn't support Mega Man 5, despite it being one of my favorite soundtracks, because I didn't like the setlist. This feels like such a random song to include. Like, it's fine, but surely there are stage themes that are better selections?
vs.
Human Fall Flat - Don't Leave: 3. sad...whateverkindofgamethisis...piano.mp3. Feels pretty straightforward. Not my thing.

Votes:
Super Sonic Racing
Floro Sapiens Caverns
Intro Part 1

Charge Cycles - Charger Insertion: 7.5. One of my favorite Charge Cycles songs (maybe my favorite?). In addition to the fun glitchiness, it's got a really great energy. This is some sort of robot discotheque. I also really like the brief minimalist parts.
vs.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe - Beautiful Prison: 4. I just can't get into instrumental Kirby music. Would I like this more if it were chiptune? Maybe. I don't know. Not really my thing.

and

Theresa - cirropod: 6. I supported Theresa but I don't remember this particular song. It's neat, but it doesn't stick out to me that much. I do like some of the nifty metery wonktastic stuff but the specific composition doesn't really appeal to me. But then I listened to it a few more times and bumped it up from a 5 to a 6.
vs.
DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label - Desperado (Final Boss): 4.5. This is another setlist I supported despite a few weak spots. I don't remember this song either - I was expecting a seizure song. This is...fine. I typically prefer songs with melodies but I'm open to songs without, but this doesn't come together for me all that well. Which is a shame, because there's a number of songs from this setlist I'd vote for here.

and

Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure - Battle! Chevalier Diabolique: 5.5. I really like how this starts. Then it pulls a Hat in Time and totally changes, and I like this new segment less. If this was more of the first, shorter part, I'd like it considerably more.
vs.
Hollow Knight - Greenpath: 9. This is really really cool, wow. Love the atmosphere and the aura and the KI BURSTS of flowing energy. Feels like I'm wandering through clouds on a lake with a raft made of pollen. I love the last section when the strings start frantically plucking away. All of a sudden there are rapids. And a waterfall. And we're floating.

Votes:
Charger Insertion
cirropod
Greenpath

Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star - Class::EXPAJA: 9. Love the surge (pun unintended) in this - it's an overwhelming song (in a good way). Production feels a little muddy though - maybe a link issue?
vs.
Mega Man 10 - No Turning Back: 5. One of the weak links in the Mega Man 10 set. Feels fairly uneventful.

and

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky - Wandering in the Darkness: 7. Hey, a Trails song I like! Love the accordion here. Feels pastoral and a little sad, like shuffling down a country road during a light drizzle.
vs.
Einhnder - Madness: 6.5. Whoa nelly. Really funky opening, but the rest of the song doesn't hold up for me...at least until 2:15, when neat stuff starts happening. That section keeps me on my toes.

and

Plok! - Cotton Island: 7. rock out with your plok out
vs.
DJMAX Respect - Groovin Up: 5.5. I feel like I should like this more than I do, and I had that exact feeling during noms. It's catchy but kind of empty, like a taco made of gummy bears.

Votes:
Class::EXPAJA
Wandering in the Darkness
Cotton Island

Chrono Trigger - Frog's Theme: 7. A classic. Not my favorite song from this soundtrack, but it's very heroic and inspirational. Uses the CT trumpet samples to great effect.
vs.
Project S-11 - Planet Cephei: 9. The Project S-11 soundtrack is full of these amazing chiptune soundscapes that pop out and dance around like beepy fireflies. This song has that crunchy GBC percussion that I just adore in tracks like this. If this were remade with modern instruments it could easily be some sort of hard techno piece. Love it.

and

Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism. - Satori Maiden ~ 3rd Eye: 3.5. This isn't a Touhou song that makes me want to cover my ears or dunk my head in a bowl of horse feces, so that's a plus. The song is simply uninteresting to me. I don't feel attached to it at all. It just sort of happens and then it loops and then it ends. Which, hey, if that's the worst a Touhou does to me, I'm happy.
vs.
Dandara - Golden Fortress: 8. Dandara was my favorite new discovery from nominations. Such unique, atmospheric tracks that really transport me to another world. This song is piano-centric but has a great beat too.

and

Murasaki Tsurugi - Flask of Loyalty: 7.5. Ooh I like this. The melody is very strong, and so are the instruments. Ooh and there's a tempo change. The song evolves throughout to make a neat picture. Very cool.
vs.
All Our Asias - Yuito and His Mother: 8.5. This was my nom that almost wasn't in the Snubs Bracket, but I was convinced to put it in. All Our Asias is a very ambient/atmospheric soundtrack that conveys a number of emotions, from sadness and desolation to nostalgia to hope. This track opts for the sadness/desolation route. It's absorbing in a way that the best ambient tracks are: powerful, a little minimalist, but incredibly evocative. Even if this song doesn't win, I'm happy to have introduced some people to such a fascinating soundtrack.

Votes:
Planet Cephei
Golden Fortress
Yuito and His Mother

Aurora Memoria: Philosophical Data Session 2093 - Prelude Bedroom: 9. Nice and chill. Love the instruments. Grew on me a lot as it went along. This is the second 9 I've given out so far (first was League of Legends - Irelia, the Blade Dancer).
vs.
Final Fantasy VII - One Winged Angel: 10. My favorite Final Fantasy song. I love everything about this. What an experience. Kind of sucks that the second highest song I've rated so far has to go against a 10, but that's the way things have gone so far.

and

Fire Emblem Fates - Road Taken: 5.5. Fairly uneventful sad piano-based themes. I like some of what this does, like that nice woodwind instrument, but not a huge amount.
vs.
Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Game Corner: 7. I had to listen to this twice to form an opinion on it. I have decided that I like it a lot! It's quirky and weird and fun. Lots of neat stuff going on.

and

Gravity Rush - Pleasure Quarter: 7.5. This is an example of a strings-based song I like. It helps that the sax is probably of greater focus. This is a bouncy little tune that does a lot of interesting things.
vs.
Soul Nomad and the World Eaters - Requiem of Gemini: 3.5. Noisy epic choir song. I kind of like elements of this but I'm also put off by more of it.

Votes:
One Winged Angel
Game Corner
Pleasure Quarter

ding

Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea - Sweep ~ Part 3: 5.5. I just can't get into much Atelier music. It's all so unengaging to me. Like this is fine, the production is good, but I don't care about it at all. There are actually a few parts near the loop that bring this above a 5.
vs.
Gurumin - Rainbow Colored Phantom Can't Swim!: 6.5. I really like the forest/tropical vibe here. Fun percussion, nice and varied.

and

Xenoblade Chronicles - Mechanical Rhythm: 2.5. Guitars.
vs.
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - A Requiem's Melody: 4.5. Forgot I was listening to it as I was listening to it. It's pretty I guess?

and
Zero Divide 2 - Power Glide: 8.. The mixed meter and interesting instruments (try saying that three times fast) kept my interest all the way through. This is a fun type of music I could see myself wanting to get more into.
vs.
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 - Fantastic Theater (Odeum of Illusions): 8. A very bombastic song, one of my favorite new discoveries from noms. This is a lot of fun to listen to but doesn't excite me as much on subsequent listens. Still great though!

Votes:
Rainbow Colored Phantom Can't Swim!
A Requiem's Melody
Power Glide

Umineko no Naku Koro ni - Hope: 8. I've always liked this soothing, kind of peaceful/wistful piano piece, though there are many Umineko tracks I prefer over it (and it's still an 8!). The melody is very captivating. Normally I can take or leave these sadvnpiano.mp3 songs, but Hope really does it for me.
vs.
Fez - Knowledge: 8. Nice atmospheric track, lots of fun things going on. I'm brought into the world of the song immediately and kept there all throughout. It's exciting and I really enjoy listening to it. Kind of funny that this starts and ends with a crashing waves effect and Hope ends with seagulls. Aren't you LAUGHING it's FUNNY

and

Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (PCECD) - The Strongest Foe: 4.5. I was really excited that a non-guitar-heavy version of a Ys game was nominated, as I am no fan of the instruments in Oath in Felghana. The PCECD version is still guitarcentric, but as they're synthesized, they're less abrasive to my poor little ears. The Strongest Foe was never my favorite Ys III song anyway, regardless of which version I'm listening to; I'd much rather listen to several of the other songs in the setlist. I know I shouldn't judge based on number of loops, but this really starts to drag by the end.
vs.
Final Fantasy VIII - Liberi Fatali: 5. It's Liberi Fatali. It probably needs to be on a setlist for this game. I don't love it though; like, it's fine and all, and that's good enough to earn my vote, but yeah. The singing/chanting is actually my least favorite part, as it sounds like it's been transplanted from a different song. I like the composition though. I actually really really like the ending, those piano notes held out for a bit.

and

Pokmon Gold and Silver - New Bark Town: 2. Not my thing, like lots of other Pokemon music. I've heard some Pokemon music I like but this definitely isn't an example of that.
vs.
No More Heroes - Mach 13 Elephant Explosion: 6.5. I adore the percussion here, the loud thumps that fill up the song with sound. It's a shame the rest of the song doesn't really add much, with a fairly uninspiring traveling guitar. The percussion is what carries this for me.

Votes:
Knowledge
Liberi Fatali
Mach 13 Elephant Explosion

Caravan Stories - Waterling Main Road: 4.5. Not a fan of the main instrument here and it throws everything off for me. (Hey, didn't I make a similar comment about another song from this game?) I like the melody though.
vs.
League of Legends - Irelia, the Blade Dancer: 9. Looove this song. There's a lot of emotion packed into it. Everything works really well here; it swells up and climaxes nicely. My favorite song in the contest so far.

and

Dariusburst - Shining Eyes: 5.5. Not really feeling this at first but then it opens up and becomes interesting. But interesting isn't enough here - I don't really connect with anything the song does. It's a bit too aggressive for me, constantly throwing out loud glitchy sounds, which I'm not normally opposed to, but the whole package doesn't coalesce for me here. Still gets an above average rating for being unique.
vs.
Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness & Sky - Quicksand Pit: 3.5. Pretty uneventful.

and

Spelunky HD - Ice Caves C: 3.5. I like the odd meter but the rest all blends together for me.
vs.
Undercover Cops - Redtailed Cat: 6. From what I remember of this setlist, every song has these tinny HUH vocal samples. Everything else is nice and fun and funky and fresh though. Definitely a nice surprise.

Votes:
Irelia, the Blade Dancer
Shining Eyes
Redtailed Cat

Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge: 5.5. I wrote about this song often in VGMC, so I don't really feel like treading the same ground. I'll just say the intro is at least 8/10, but then the individual parts aren't nearly as compelling to me. This is actually half a point lower than I rated it during VGMC; chalk it up to song fatigue.
vs.
Zakuzaku Actors - the witch under a blue sky: 5.5. Hey it's Mozell hey it's bagpipes. Honestly some of these bagpipe notes are too shrill for me. But then the rest of the song is very lovely. Kind of torn on this one. At least it's interesting.

and

Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland - Silent Undersea Ruins: 6. Speaking of shrill instruments, ouch that flute. This does some kind of neat things but never really hooks me; I wish it stayed in the pseudo-ambient style after the flute solo at the start.
vs.
VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action - A New Frontier: 4.5. I've listened to music from this game several times over the last few years and I can't recall a single thing about any of it.

and

Hypnospace Outlaw - Millenium Anthem (2000 New Years Eve): 6. Quirky song from a quirky soundtrack. IIRC this was one of my least favorite tracks from this setlist, but it's still fine. Gets a little repetitive near the end. Tail ending bumps it up a little.
vs.
Final Fantasy II (PS1) - Imperial Army Theme: 5.5. Pretty uneventful march-type song.

Votes:
the witch under a blue sky
Silent Undersea Ruins
Millenium Anthem (2000 New Years Eve)

Eschatos - Extermination: 3.5. I don't love most of what I've heard from Yasui; it all sounds very samey in an unappealing way. I will likely forget this song as soon it ends. (I was right!) It's like existentially dull. I question whether things matter when I listen to this.
vs.
Celeste - Mirror Temple (Mirror Magic Mix): 5.5. Sultry nightclub music with a neat kick. A little repetitive but I like the overall feel, very evocative and mysterious. Makes me feel like sledding in the city. I wish it did more things though; by the end I'm much less interested.

and

Spark the Electric Jester - vs. FARK: 7.5. Aww yeah here we go. Love the melody here, very ass-kicking fist-pumping excitement. Pretty "basic" tune, doesn't really develop much, but for what it is it's pretty solid.
vs.
REFLEC BEAT colette - L'avide: 8. I really don't want to like this song because I think songs of this style are overhyped in this community. But it wouldn't be fair of me to vote based on that. I like a lot of what this song does, from the echoey vocals to the folksy, playful/mysterious melody. Very cool.

and

Pharaoh Rebirth+ - Stage 5: Sinai Mines (Mine Cart Ride): 3. Feels too busy, which is generally a surefire way for a song to get on my bad side. There's fun Egyptian stuff going on here but it's all drowned out by other things. When the melody has room to breathe, I like it much more.
vs.
Super Meat Boy - Fast Track to Browntown: 7.5. I'd not heard this Super Meat Boy track before, but it's pretty easily one of my favorites I've heard from the game. Bouncy, fun melody with somewhat abrasive "fauxtro" sounding instruments that creates a nice sense of urgency. Very cool.

Votes:
Mirror Temple (Mirror Magic Mix)
L'avide
Fast Track to Browntown

chime

Okay let's go.

Undertale - Undertale: 7.5. This is a very context-heavy song, but I think it works outside of that too. It builds nicely and is very emotive. It's repetitive but it's the kind of repetition I like. I love a song that builds well so this is definitely my thing. I don't exactly love the key change, but that's par for the course with me. I do love the tail end though; that's one of my favorite parts. Hovers between 7.5 and 8.5 for me but mostly evens out at a 7.5.
vs.
Final Fantasy IX - Assault of the Silver Dragons: 7. Slowish build leads to a very intense, brass-heavy melody that I absolutely love. That FF7-esque metallic percussion puts in work. I love the instrumentation a bit less as it goes along, but the overall rumbling feel of the piece hooks me and doesn't let go - some bad stuff is about to go down.

and

Vision Soft Reset - Floatlands: 8. This was my favorite song from this setlist during noms. I love the static and the echoes. The song creates this very compelling ambience; I feel like I'm simultaneously exploring a cave and a forest and also watching clouds float by. Pretty neat stuff.
vs.
Killer Instinct (2013) - Enter the Battletoad: 5.5. Weird fake chiptune beginning that turns into metal. I'm not always the biggest fan of metal, and this song doesn't do much to hold my interest after the chips largely go away. The chips also feel a bit separate from the main thrust of the song? It's still somewhat compelling, like a drill through my brain. Ooh and then we get to 2:20, now this is more like it. Much more interesting, with ups and downs and pivots. But then it goes back to the standard. Not really for me, but I appreciate what it does.

and

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Guile Stage: 2.5. This version of Guile's theme feels devoid of personality. I think it's the uninspiring instrumentation the song starts with. It feels bland to me, like candy that's been left in the sun and is now swarming with ants. If a song has disagreeable instruments/samples/whatever to me, I have a hard time getting into it. When that guitar comes in, it all just feels...fake. I don't normally mind "fake," but here this feels like a paint by numbers song. Also those high notes are very shrill, which doesn't help. Gets by solely on the strength of the original melody.
vs.
Lineage 2 - Magma Town: 7. sadmmopiano.mp3. This is also not my thing but it's very pretty, with a nice strings/piano combo and some classy aaaah's. The more this goes on the more I get into. It's kind of the total opposite of Guile Stage, which was all bombast and no substance; Magma Town is quieter but more impactful. And it doesn't overstay its welcome, which is nice. I listened to it again and it's grown on me considerably more. Neat find.

Votes:
Undertale (song)
Floatlands
Magma Town

I also like Hornet, which IIRC wasn't in your list but was an HM.

Now that my SVs are done, I wanted to post a list of songs I really liked from setlists I didn't support. This might be of some use to anyone considering nominating any of these for a VGMC. It might also be interesting for you to see which tracks stuck out to a random observer. Or you might not care! That's fine too.

Not every setlist is represented here. Also, this is only songs I wasn't familiar with beforehand; there are other solid tracks I liked that I already knew (or that I already knew but needed a refresher on).

Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland - Devils Tango
beatmania IIDX 24 SINOBUZ - Seaside Labyrinth (Long Version)
Bloody Roar 3 - Dino Museum
Celeste - Reach for the Summit (Final Area)
Cloudbuilt - Initial Entry
Copy Kitty - Dragonfruit Doomsday
DEADBOLT - Heynong Man
Deemo - YUBIKIRI-GENMAN
Eschatos - Stellar Light
Etrian Odyssey V - Labyrinth II - Shrine Road of Monoliths
Etrian Odyssey V - Labyrinth V - Primeval Forest Ring
Gravity Rush - Downtown
Hollow Knight - City of Tears
Hollow Knight - Greenpath
Kirby: Triple Deluxe - Moonstruck Blossom
La-Mulana 2 - From Nibiru (Anu, Ancient Chaos Boss)
Make A Good Mega Man Level 2 - Galaxy Man Boss
Make A Good Mega Man Level 2 - Neon Man Stage
Mekazoo - Sinful Syncopation
Persona 3 - Wiping All Out
Plants vs. Zombies - Graze the Roof
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - Battle! Azelf/Mesprit/Uxie
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon - Fire Island Volcano
Prinny: Can I really be the Hero? - First Impression
Rabi-Rabi - Truth Never Spoken
Rewrite - Deep Forest
Rewrite - Scattered Flowers
Tangledeep - Mirai the Heroine
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 - Fantastic Theater (Odeum of Illusions)
Terraria Calamity - Roar of the Jungle Dragon
Thousand Memories - A Sisters Story
Total Distortion - Saw It Off And Ship It
Touhou 11: Subterranean Animism - Heartfelt Fancy
Umineko: Golden Fantasia/Ougon Musou Kyoku (CROSS) - Ougon Musou Kyoku ~Konjiki no Chi ni Somaru mae ni~
VA-11 HALL-A - Digital Drive
Zakuzaku Actors - Shell Pass ~Long Version~

One more SV from a game I totally missed before:
Hypnospace Outlaw

Additional supports!

SVs:
Vision Soft Reset
Spark the Electric Jester
Gurumin
Final Fantasy VIII (still dont like Eyes on Me but its only one song and its the alt no less, Im happier with the setlist overall)

Aaaaand DONE.

SVs:
Sonic CD [JP/EU OST]
Kirbys Block Ball
Kirby Super Star Ultra
DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label (though the seizure songs hurt my brain)
Sdorica -sunset-

On the fence, might come back to later:
Mega Man 5 (I love the soundtrack but I dont love the setlist)
Umineko no Naku Koro ni and Umineko Chiru (really dont like either extended vocal song here, but dont change on my account youll never please everyone with an Umineko setlist)

Day 6 defeated!

SVs:
Mega Man 10
Final Fantasy IX
Super Smash Bros. Melee (there is a seemingly endless amount of combinations of songs you could put in this setlist to make me support it; that said, Opening is a bad pick imo due to sfx)
Guilty Gear X
Off-Peak
Secret of Mana

I held off on posting a Day 7 nom until now because I was torn between a number of options. In the end, I went with this incredibly unique soundtrack. Hope you enjoy!

Note: some of these links are extended versions. Hopefully, if the soundtrack gets in, someone will be able to upload normal versions without alerting the Taito Police.

Game: G-Darius:
1: KIMERA II -
2: Adam -
3: Future Perfect From 7 -
4: B.T DUTCH -
5: G Zero -
6: H.G. Virus -
Alt: invivo -

Up to Day 5!

SVs:
Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe
Undertale
Axelay (Bio-tech feels like the weak link here have you thought about Colony?)
Dandara (holy crap this blew me away, my favorite new discovery so far)

On the fence, might come back to later:
Rabi-Ribi

PIayer_0 posted...

Already gave this feedback in the first thread, but Inkwell 3 would add a slower-paced track that's fairly easy to get into. Still feel Introduction works better than King's Court because it shortens the "drum solo" sections which are kind of empty. And Carnival Kerfuffle is a personal pick that I haven't thought too much about otherwise.

Whoops, forgot to record your feedback but I thought I remembered it. Guess I didn't! I prefer Introduction to The King's Court anyway, and I can swap in Carnival Kerfuffle for Honeycomb Herald.

So Update:
- swapped in Introduction, Inkwell Isle 3, and Carnival Kerfuffle
- swapped out The King's Court, Dramatic Fanatic, and Honeycomb Herald
- moved Murine Corps from 6 to 5

Game: Cuphead
1: Floral Fury -
2: Aviary Action -
3: Botanic Panic -
4: Introduction -
5: Murine Corps -
6: Inkwell Isle 3 -
Alt: Carnival Kerfuffle -

Okay, I got through Day 4!

SVs:
Chrono Trigger
Fez
Ragnarok Online II

On the fence, might come back to later:
Spark the Electric Jester
Gurumin
Final Fantasy VIII (really dont like Legendary Beast or Eyes on Me, enough to not support the setlist)
Tetrisphere
Persona 5 (listened to the new setlist and I dont like any of the new songs, so I wont be supporting this after all sorry!)
Gravity Rush
Pyre (half of this is cool and half of this I dont like at all not sure which way the scales will tip)
Make A Good Mega Man Level 2

A bit later, but here's my nomination for Day 6!

Game: Cuphead
1: Floral Fury -
2: Aviary Action -
3: Botanic Panic -
4: The Kings Court -
5: Dramatic Fanatic -
6: Murine Corps -
Alt: Honeycomb Herald -

I'm not the biggest Murine Corps fan, but it's one of the more popular songs from the game. Also, Honeycomb Herald seems like a weak pick, so I'm open to suggestions!

Game: All Our Asias
1: Help Them Out -
2: Interworld 55 -
3: Innovators Campus -
4: Proposal Hearing -
5: Advent Station -
6: Yuito and His Mother -
Alt: What Will He Retain -

Day 3 defeated!

SVs:
League of Legends
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game (I also really like Gideon Wrath Part I, for what its worth)
VVVVVV

On the fence, might come back to later:
Final Fantasy VIII (really dont like Legendary Beast or Eyes on Me, enough to not support the setlist)
Tetrisphere
Persona 5 (listened to the new setlist and I dont like any of the new songs, so I wont be supporting this after all sorry!)

EDIT: I caught up with Day 3. Sorry for the confusion.

Was talking it over with Glacier and deo on Discord and here's a Rockman 4 Minus Infinity revision.

Update: Rockman 4 Minus Infinity
1. Toad Man -
2. Pharaoh Man -
3. Wily 3 -
4. Wily 2 -
5. Bright Man -
6, Ring Man -
ALT: Wily Capsule -

The order of everything got shifted around and instead of Wily Machine now there's Wily 2.

@Haste_2, is this still agreeable to you?

Haste_2 posted...

Rockman 4 Minus Infinity - rwlh, I think Toad Man should be at the top. I'm not really into Wily Capsule.

Fair enough!

Setlist Tweak: Rockman 4 Minus Infinity
- Everything is the same except now Toad Man is 1 and Wily Capsule is 2.

Are there any other changes you can think of? I can also supply some honorable mentions if you want to consider those.

UF8 posted...

For what it's worth, the other song I was going to swap in for the alt was this one.

I like that a lot better than what you had. For what it's worth, I really like Accelerator. (I used it in a guessing game!)

Snake5555555555 posted...

I will definitely consider swapping the order, thanks for the feedback!

Sure thing! You and I seem to have a lot of taste overlap based on the VGMC compatibility sheet, and I liked pretty much everything in that set. But I think the appeal is broader for songs 4-6.

Game: YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of This World

1: Activation -
2: Other World 1 -
3: Impatience -
4: YU-NO -
5: Fate -
6: Girl -
Alt: Elly -

Not too sold on Girl, open to other suggestions.

Done with Day 2.

SVs:
Theresa
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Acceleration of SUGURI 2 (I encourage you to change your alt song)
Resident Evil 2 (I have a hunch your 4-6 would do much better than your 1-3)
Sonic R

On the fence, might come back to later:
Spark the Electric Jester (said this already)
Gurumin
Persona 5 (havent listened to the new setlist yet)

Game: GiFTPiA
1: FREE SLOW -
2: bix -
3: Pop Error Song -
4: Dig That Beat -
5: CIGNITA -
6: Government Official 4 -
Alt: GiFTPiA Title Theme -

Setlist order is literally randomized, so if you want a different order, let me know!