Lurker > rwlh

Nominate an anime character. Doesn't matter which one. I think it's been a while since one was done!

Katamaritaino (Roll Me In)
Casio Hellburst
rhythm-changer

Roll Me In, Casio Hellburst, rhythm-changer and Upper City in the same day is quite the musical overload! Love all of those songs. Even though Roll Me In is a 10 and Casio Hellburst is "only" a 9.5, I'm more invested in Hellburst today, as I feel like I'm the one who introduced it to the community. We'll see what happens!

Subterranean
The Best Is Yet To Come
Chrono Trigger

Exhaustion 3
La Mer
EVENK

Apologies to Toucan Tarsand, would take that over the other four songs.

Prairie4 (Theme of Alicianrone)
Stella -Part 2-
Way of the Monk

A Long Fall
Op. 13
Light

GTR Attack!
Sogno di Volare (The Dream of Flight)
The Undying Shores

Apex of the World (Rain)
Phantom
QuelI->EX[cez]->{kranz};

Octopunch
You Were There
Ikou (Authority)

Gentle Slope Cave
BWLAUTE BEIRRD
Terminal March

The Bloody Rose
Tellur Town (Autumn)
Fortune Favours The Bold

I don't think I could ever get tired of listening to Fortune Favours the Bold. What a ride.

Stay Gold
Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land
Neuchatel

Unrest - The End of the Raging Waves
Collapsing Rift
Beyond the Bounds

There is (probably) only one song in this field I would take over Collapsing Rift, and it was eliminated in the very first match. I have listened to Collapsing Rift for hours at a time. One of my absolute, all-time favorites.

Fly to the Leaden Sky
Ice-covered Love ~ Kohri
SEN ~ Kono Hana Saku ya

Planet X
Cradle
Pressure Cooker

With apologies to Lucky Charm.

Mission 5 - Spaceship (BGM #16)
Inevitable Struggle -Super Arrange Ver.-
Underwater Prom Queens

Looting the Louvre
Let It Die ~ NOTHING TO DECLARE
Fairfrozen: Selicy's Theme

One Night in Neo Kobe City
Steam Gardens
Love Psalm

Fairfrozen: Selicy's Theme
Professional Problem
Avian Animosity

Level 6 - Face Shrine
Obstacle
Roar of the Jungle Dragon

I would have voted for a few Monument Valley songs over Roar of the Jungle Dragon, but not Impossible Worlds (though I still enjoyed it!).

Dear Dragon (Theme of Sweet Breaker)
Track 7
Untamed Heart

The Rain Formerly Known As Purple
Labyrinth VI - The Vengeful God in the Dark Ocean Abyss
It's Dangerous to Go Alone

Very good first match. On a different day, I might vote differently.

Now featuring ratings and rankings from my big VGM spreadsheet!

Soft Collision (9, rank 393) / linkage-alter (7.5, rank 1406)
Soaring Through Azure Sadness (10, rank 48) / Fuse Man Stage (6.5, rank 1841)
Discovery (7.5, rank 1366) / Fury Sparks (6, rank 2349)

Soft Collision has a scratchy, rubbery, borderline glitchy feeling that I tend to enjoy before turning into a very melodic, bubbly dance song. Really enjoyed this one! linkage-alter has ANGRY PIANO which I also enjoy, plus it's very varied and intense. I liked both of these!

The First Thing got first place in my 174-song ranking, but Soaring Through the Sad Blue Skies (or whatever the official English title is) got third! There isn't much left in this contest that's ranked higher in my sheet (though there are at least two...). Fuse Man is super catchy! Fun to listen to.

I don't like Discovery nearly as much as Phantom (or last year's Solitude), but it's still an engaging listen. I used to like Fury Sparks more than I do now - and 6/10 is still above average! - but it has to work harder to spark my interest (dohoho).

Votes:
Soft Collision
Soaring Through Azure Sadness
Discovery

The First Thing
National Park
The Heritors of Arcadia

I enjoyed Nefertiti more than I expected, though I feel like it was probably a high coming off of Mr. Bones's Wild Ride.

National Park I think I heard from my Pokemon ranking - really nice melancholic chiptune, which I tend to really enjoy. I originally gave it a 7 but I'm bumping it up to a 7.5!

Not a fan of the squeaky recorder in Reach for the Moon, though I appreciate that it goes to a very different place than the original. However, upon relistening, I actually enjoy it a good bit more - the repeated staccato four notes go a long way toward establishing a great amount of energy. Pretty solid match!

The Heritors of Arcadia is another song that surprised me. There's a lot to like about this one - heartfelt vocals, clear production quality, an unexpected acoustic guitar in the bridge. That all gives it an edge over Collapsed Expressway, which evoked an immersive atmosphere but didn't grab me as much.

First day is full of surprises!

(not a vote)

*deep breath*

Mr. Bones - The First Thing is my 1th favorite song in the contest (probably)!!! Not only that, it is ranked the highest in my big VGM rating spreadsheet (10 row 1!), meaning that it is currently my favorite VGM of all time!!!! WOW!!!!!!

I credit @Raetsel_Lapin for introducing me to this song. When I ran a 174-song general VGM ranking topic, The First Thing got first place over one of my all-time favorites, Monty on the Run, and one of this years potential powerhouses, Soaring Through the Sad Blue Skies. The First Thing came out on top. Why?

Its because the song is the accumulation of probably the thing I love in music the most: emotional resonance. Its a song of essentially three components: big synthy chords, guitar, and Paul Pena rambling about the blues. Everything flows together so perfectly; each piece complements each other piece. The big synthy chords are already a win in my book; hearing them swell in true 90s fashion is such a delight. The guitar is heartfelt and powerful, but its impact is dulled without the vocal track (for some reason the official soundtrack lacks the vocals). The guitar feeds into the lyrics, surging and swelling accordingly. The lyrics, too, resonate with me on a very profound level. Seemingly simple statements about men being afraid to cry and money not buying happiness and even Jesus having the blues, it all paints this picture of the blues as some omnipresent force that pervades everyone and everything. But then we get the subversion line of Sometimes its a very good thing to have the blues. And that opens up this entire new way of looking at things.

Is this song for everyone? Certainly not. But it is for me. Few songs, game or otherwise, have touched me so deeply. How this got into the bracket after locks, no less! Ill never know, but Im happy to share a song that affects me so profoundly with all of you. Enjoy!

My final double!

++ Ico | You Were There | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWVij6r4QBw

Nobody picked up this...

- Shin Megami Tensei IV | Battle C2 (Challenge Quest Boss Battle) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHyf8fHloow

...so let's jump to this instead.

+ Donkey Kong '94 | The Final Showdown...? | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtbKA1WreJY

For my last nomination, a new song. Nothing says "two and a half hours left" than a new song!

+ Shin Megami Tensei IV | Battle C2 (Challenge Quest Boss Battle) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHyf8fHloow

- Doshin the Giant | Stroll Music | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWV5BzZqjUA
- Star Control 2 | Yehat | https://youtu.be/AGS3AYaJVx0

I think I owe a support to...
+ SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge | Industrial Fields (Jelly Fields) & Oil Rig | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NEs47xsfD8

That gives one normal nomination, and one double.

Okay. Here are some changes.

- "Hello, world." | Global-network had already broken down... | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD4hSyz_hu4

This one's clearly not happening. Sorry deo.

+ We Love Katamari | Everlasting Love | https://youtu.be/-cvZeVpFSv4

I'm pretty sure this wasn't on the playlist? Let's go ahead and bump this up.

And my fourth double...

++ Magical Chase | Waltz of Meditation pt2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDL9tONyAuc

Dropping a 1/1 that didn't seem to get traction when I added it:

- Mega Man Zero 3 | Trail On Powdery Snow | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQWITFvZt38

In favor of this, my unexpected favorite new discovery from nominations:

+ Dicey Dungeons | Fortune Favours The Bold | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xs4CnLqBs

Holy crap is this song good.

Also dropping this:

- pop'n music 16 PARTY | Echoes | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwBeDGHf1X0

which I don't want to do, but I have to make room again for:

+ Magical Chase | Waltz of Meditation pt2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDL9tONyAuc

Third double:

++ Mr. Bones | The First Thing | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUe8YdM16RM

At least I waited until after locks!

1/1s to drop:
- Blazer Drive | Desktop Load | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m4Zd49VeZU
- Magical Chase | Waltz of Meditation pt2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDL9tONyAuc
- Super Monkey Ball 2 | World 10 - Dr. Bad Boon's Base | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKAp3x5Wcvs
- TRianThology | Facili-tasia | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWYjM7mwoa8
- Zen Puzzle Garden | Mizuumi no Tera | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdIiMKnryVU

2/2s to drop:
- A Short Hike | See You at the Top (Short Hike) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6OjhgzThM8
- At Least There Is Ceda Cedovic | The Elephant's Foot of Obnoxious Music | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHM65qXZFyI
- Cho Aniki: Seinaru Protein Densetsu | Title/Boss Run Theme | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMnOyceOpjI
- SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge | Industrial Fields (Jelly Fields) & Oil Rig | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NEs47xsfD8
- Threads of Fate | A Chance Meeting | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyDylbJDOI8

Future contest winners to support:
+ pop'n music 16 PARTY | Echoes | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwBeDGHf1X0
+ Doshin the Giant | Stroll Music | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWV5BzZqjUA
+ Secret of Mana (2018) | Prophecy | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoNApmIPIJ8
+ "Hello, world." | Global-network had already broken down... | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD4hSyz_hu4
+ Star Control 2 | Yehat | https://youtu.be/AGS3AYaJVx0
+ Ecco The Dolphin (Sega CD) | Jurassic Beach | https://youtu.be/8Q5zs7mQHkU
+ Mega Man Zero 3 | Trail On Powdery Snow | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQWITFvZt38
+ Klonoa: Door to Phantomile | Untamed Heart | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W9RG4LvL0E
+ Lily Shiroki Yuri no Otome-tachi Lisblanc | Subete no Yuri wa Chiri Hatete | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG4y-SdwO2U
+ Neotokyo | Tachi | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v47ULEqDm5o

Caught up with the playlist. My "final" five supports:

+ Border Break: Union | Dyed Gradient (Murago) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuOfNXyg6dU
+ iii | VS_Monster | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClxbHGd4wr0
+ Secret of Mana (PS4) | Danger (ARM version) | https://youtu.be/5cVv2nvvcsE
+ Subarashiki Hibi | The Final Smile | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amMlf1kmsC0
+ Fatal Fury 2 | A New Poem that Southern Thailand Wants to Recite | https://youtu.be/qGk9x92Zuys

There are a lot of additional songs I'd be happy to support, but I don't want to drop my 1/1s quite yet.

sergiocornaga posted...

Wanna get this locked, will double if I have to:
+ Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream | Dreams in a Pie | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC9h-HyYv6w

Hello I would also love to get this locked.

Double:
++ Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream | Dreams in a Pie | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC9h-HyYv6w

Finished day 1, have some supports.

+ Robots GBA | Upper City | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80NkPpZsyOw
+ Timespinner | Pioneer's Horizon | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjFxSyycX_8
+ Dreams | Art's Dream - Time Moves Slow | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkuUWQBt2TU
+ At Least There Is Ceda Cedovic | The Elephant's Foot of Obnoxious Music | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHM65qXZFyI
+ This is the Police 2 | Vrdels | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8iqP4LuzdE

Wow.

First double:
++ Animorphs | Mission 5 - Spaceship (BGM #16) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntzZMvS1UJk

Hello, here is some more songs.

+ A Hat in Time: Seal the Deal | Collapsing Rift | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi0B551MHm0
+ A Short Hike | See You at the Top (Short Hike) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6OjhgzThM8
+ Aka | To the West | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di0bV0RI7JI
+ Blazer Drive | Desktop Load | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m4Zd49VeZU
+ Cho Aniki: Seinaru Protein Densetsu | Title/Boss Run Theme | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMnOyceOpjI
+ Contra: Hard Corps | GTR Attack! | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2-SphJlFSw
+ Hokkaido Serial Murders: Disappear in Okhotsk | Pursuit | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE00u-GUYnw
+ Ico | You Were There | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWVij6r4QBw
+ Jet Set Radio Future | Teknopathetic | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btqdXGjtXn4
+ Time Tripper | time tripping [: ] | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yx4EV7Nop8
+ TRianThology | Facili-tasia | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWYjM7mwoa8
+ SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge | Industrial Fields (Jelly Fields) & Oil Rig | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NEs47xsfD8
+ Super Monkey Ball 2 | World 10 - Dr. Bad Boon's Base | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKAp3x5Wcvs
+ Threads of Fate | A Chance Meeting | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyDylbJDOI8
+ Zen Puzzle Garden | Mizuumi no Tera | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdIiMKnryVU

Looking forward to the contest!

+ Animorphs | Mission 5 - Spaceship (BGM #16) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntzZMvS1UJk
+ Casio Mario World | Casio Hellburst | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM2GopRUopo
+ Magical Chase | Waltz of Meditation pt2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDL9tONyAuc
+ Mr. Bones | The First Thing | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUe8YdM16RM
+ Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream | Dreams in a Pie | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC9h-HyYv6w

Mega Man 11 Menu is really great, wow.

I always liked Power Fighters's take on Mega Man 2 Password. They tweak the melody slightly and it's actually kind of sad and melancholy: Whenever I listen to the original, I always expect it to transition into this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVPpP94hd1Q

WazzupGenius00 posted...

What channels do good NES rips in your experience

Only one I know for sure is quality is explod2a03 but he stopped uploading years ago and tended to focus on less-popular stuff anyway

explod2a03 is good but yeah they haven't uploaded in ages. Honestly I struggle to name a consistently good NES uploader. I mostly find random uploads here and there, but nothing that's comprehensive. There might be a few that I just don't know about though.

However, if you're looking for a good Genesis uploader, Vintagamers Paradise is always my go-to. The channel uploaded virtually everything from vgmrips.net (which does ripped audio from emulated soundtracks of all varieties), as well as basically everything from Project 2612 (emulated Genesis) and snesmusic.org (emulated NES). They stopped uploading a while back, so they're missing some of the more recent rips on those sites, and unfortunately their SNES uploads all cut out before the ending, but their Genesis stuff is on point.

I also use AccelJoe for random really obscure songs, like PC-98 and X68000 stuff, which you didn't ask about but which might still be of interest!

Paratroopa1 posted...

Cool! These are really nice sounding rips, so I'm linking to them from now on. I honestly can't tell the 'timing' difference between this rip and others but I can tell this sounds really true to the NES.

Hooray! The big timing issue is a lot of NES/SNES uploads on Youtube do the standard "play for 2:50, then fade out for 10 seconds," regardless of how long the looped song actually is. Unfortunately, a lot of these songs never really got proper uploads, so the first results for, say, a Mega Man soundtrack are these grainy, improperly looped tracks.

It's compounded by the fact that Capcom screwed up the audio on their Mega Man soundtrack releases, which means that even most of the uploads that have the correct looping sound like they're being played behind styrofoam.

Short version: it is very difficult to find decent Mega Man NES music on Youtube. The uploads I'd been using went down, so I took the initiative. I'll eventually upload Mega Man 2-6, but your topic will likely be done by then.

This might be relevant to this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9FyX-bNcVjO7CkZfjxCA2OjnovvOiHbg

I uploaded the Mega Man 1 soundtrack ripped from emulated audio, so it's properly timed (except for the Stage Select theme for some reason) and the audio is actually accurate to the games. It's currently missing the Game Over theme and sound effects, which I have to wait to upload due to upload limits. As far as I know, these are the only uploads on YouTube like this.

I'd like to upload the remaining five NES games, but I almost certainly won't be able to do so before this topic ends. In the meantime, feel free to use these links for the rankings!

Endless Struggle (Endless Stage) from Mega Man 10 is probably my favorite Mega Man Classic theme, which I'm pretty sure is an opinion shared by no other human being on Earth.

I haven't read any of the writeups yet, but I love the Mega Man Soccer soundtrack! Curious to see where that places.

Some other specific characters:

Captain Marvel or Black Widow (The Avengers)
Cortana (Halo)
Darkseid
Dick Grayson or Damian Wayne (Batman)
Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza)
Reyn (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Wakko or Dot Warner (Animaniacs)
someone from Hades
someone from Parasite (hey, it won the Oscar!)

Looking through the wiki, these series/entries don't have any representation that I could find (some are more notable than others):

Cuphead
Danganronpa
Daria
Doom
Final Fantasy XV
My Hero Academia
One Punch Man
Orange Is the New Black
Steven Universe
The IT Crowd