Board 8 > [VGMC] d24: Spear Of Justice vs Glass, Twilight of the Gods vs Cloudscapes

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to today's topic for Video Game Music Contest 12, a tournament of the best tracks from games, as decided upon by you, the voters.

Links:
Bracket - http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=469506
Contest info - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lzzbpDP2whgvOTN2XHETfWg79IyPs01jdwIQu_L2C7k/
Discussion and results thread - https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/76419785
Main bracket playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RFBXCwz0vAKZg8V0rnrKHsE
Side bracket playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RFI-vkdyFa8-bXzbFLMLl1X

Rules:

- Listen to both of the songs. Links have conveniently been provided for both songs. Even if Song A is your favorite of all-time and Song B is from a series you hate... Listen. To. Both. (If I have suspicions your vote is not based on a fair and impartial preference, it will be disqualified.)
- Obvious contest rules apply (no alts, one vote per person, no rallying, etc.).
- Please make your voting options clear, rather than burying them in text.
- Each set of matches lasts 24 hours, even if the new one isnt up by then.
- Always vote on the versions of the song provided, not versions from different sources.
- If you know ahead of time that you're not going to be around and you want to vote in advance, post your choices in the discussion/bracket topic.
- Please do NOT post tallies/score updates in the middle of the match, as this has a tendency to directly influence matches.
- You don't have to vote in all the matches, but it'd be cool if you did!

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Match #1:

Undertale - Spear of Justice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXt1rbs-ttM" data-time="

Zakuzaku Actors - Glass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-IPxeSXB5s" data-time="

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Match #2:

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia - Twilight of the Gods

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5YGxMjywSk" data-time="

Cloudbuilt - Cloudscapes and Speed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMwwGdVX_OU" data-time="

.
Side bracket:

Super Robot Wars OGS - Dark Prison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUrMAC1w8ns" data-time="

Life is Strange - Obstacles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrXpFh2IHZY" data-time="

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Easy vote form:
Spear of Justice / Glass
Twilight of the Gods / C

Azuarc thought they might not make it, so I was granted the power to post today's thread. Consequently, the poll is bird themed. Now, my votes:

Zakuzaku Actors - Glass
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia - Twilight of the Gods
Super Robot Wars OGS - Dark Prison

Also, for anyone who isn't aware, I'm maintaining a spreadsheet which calculates the similarity between VGMC voters. That way, you can see whose taste in VGM is most similar to yours. If you're interested, check it out here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18JVQhItuL58c-xnA0tZQDP4bf_-xBDD7_azN8qgVm1w/edit#gid=1471158563
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Glass
Speed
Prison
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you fucker we almost had a perfect simulpost
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tag
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Spear of Justice
Twilight of the Gods
Obstacles

Very enjoyable tracks today, the side bracket was a close one for me.
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Glass
Twilight of the Gods
Dark Prison

Glass is pretty nice. Never loved Spear of Justice terribly, though that's only relative to Undertale's great OST in general. Twilight of the Gods is pretty lengthy and I don't love it, but Cloudscapes and Speed never really gripped me. I thought I remembered liking something from this soundtrack in a previous contest but I suppose it wasn't this. I didn't really like the vocals in Obstacles, especially at the beginning, which really soured me on it. Dark Prison is fun.
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Sceptilesolar posted...

I thought I remembered liking something from this soundtrack in a previous contest but I suppose it wasn't this.

Monolith retired. This made round 3 previously, so I thought I'd try it again. That said, I do like Twilight of the Gods, so I won't be too upset if Cloudscapes loses.

Spear of Justice
Cloudscapes and Speed
Dark Prison

Yay for the first time I'm voting against a song because I've played the game and the context is actually hurting it. RIP Chloe.
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Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia - Twilight of the Gods
Super Robot Wars OGS - Dark Prison
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
Dark Prison

Both main bracket matches were very close. Would've voted the other Undyne song pretty easily but SoJ is a good bit weaker.
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
Dark Prison

Glass
Speed
Obstacles
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Janus5k posted...

Would've voted the other Undyne song pretty easily but SoJ is a good bit weaker.

Ngahh! Is practically the same thing.
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Spear of Justice
Twilight of the Gods
Obstacles

Not a terribly strong day. Spear of Justice doesn't compare against Battle Against a True Hero, while Glass is the weakest of the mozell songs in tbh.
Second match is the easiest, as Cloudscapes and Speed is the worst song today by far. Meanwhile, I like Twilight of the Gods more than Id, but a bit less than End of All.
Dark Prison is okay but there are definitely better SRW songs. Obstacles is nice.

The poll needs more Okosan.

How am I the first Rawk Hawk vote wtf
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Glass - WWOOOOO here we go, my go-to mozell song. I got very, very lucky and experienced this song first in-context, but I didn't even like it that much the first time I heard it! And then when relistening to it, I realized I was listening to it over and over... and over..... I was completely hooked. It does a lot of the things I really like about Banbard, like not being afraid to get the most out of those piercing high bagpipes notes, but has a much fuller sound that makes it that much more enjoyable for me. And up against it we have... another one of the only Undertale songs I believe deserves its crazy popularity. Uh-oh. It's very good, but not nearly enough to beat Glass.

Cloudscapes and Speed - Holy moley this song is really, really cool. It's short but oh so sweet, and that's a really nice contrast to Twilight of the Gods which drags on and on and ooooooon... In my eyes, it's a very boring arrange of the best song from Gaiden, and they played it way, way too safe with this.

Dark Prison - I'm more of a Hero Chronicle guy, so if that means anything to you then you know that I prefer the faster, synth-heavy SRW themes over ones like this. However, if I would have to pick a song of the latter variety from all of SRW, this would be a tough candidate to beat. Pretty darn good song. I don't care for Obstacles vocals at all and the instrumentation even less. What the hell is that whirring there for?

Spear of Justice
Cloudscapes and Speed
Obstacles
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Zakuzaku Actors - Glass
Cloudbuilt - Cloudscapes and Speed
Super Robot Wars OGS - Dark Prison

Side bracket was tough.
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Spear of Justice - SoJ isn't exactly my favorite UT song, but Glass doesn't do much for me.

Cloudscapes and Speed - I like Twilight a good amount. Just wish they'd stop singing "three years from now" again and again.

Dark Prison - DP has kinda a Nier-y feel to it for a lot of the song, which is a good thing. As for Obstacles, well, speaking of repetitive lyrics...
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the killer chickens from Zelda
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Glass
Twilight of the Gods
Dark Prison

not the best day
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
Obstacles

Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
Dark Prison
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
Obstacles

Undertale - Spear of Justice
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia - Twilight of the Gods
Super Robot Wars OGS - Dark Prison
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UF8 posted...

Spear of Justice
Twilight of the Gods
Obstacles

Not a terribly strong day. Spear of Justice doesn't compare against Battle Against a True Hero, while Glass is the weakest of the mozell songs in tbh.
Second match is the easiest, as Cloudscapes and Speed is the worst song today by far. Meanwhile, I like Twilight of the Gods more than Id, but a bit less than End of All.
Dark Prison is okay but there are definitely better SRW songs. Obstacles is nice.

The poll needs more Okosan.

Which SRW songs do you think have a decent shot of doing well on this board?
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Glass
Twilight of the Gods
Dark Prison
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glass
cloudscapes and speed
dark prison

today is going to be a sad day, I fear.

also how do you forget about squawks.
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Zakuzaku Actors - Glass
Cloudbuilt - Cloudscapes and Speed

Super Robot Wars OGS - Dark Prison
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<squawk>
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed

Trdl voting against an Undertale track?! Egads! Glass is really cool though.
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Glass
Twilight of the Gods
Obstacles
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
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Glass
Twilight of the Gods
Dark Prison

This was a really hard day to rank since 5 songs have a similar level of goodness. As for picking the winner for each match, it wasn't particularly hard.

-First match: Spear of Justice sounds weak compared to other Undertale songs, but it's still good on its own. Meanwhile, even though Glass' instrumentation (piano and synths) work in perfect harmony, it sounds like it's kind of established in a certain level while not doing anything particularly extraordinary..

-Second match: Toughest match of the day, but again, a good instrumentation with nice twists (TotG) wins over a song with harsh synths and very short duration.

-Third match: Another song with an established mood with nothing really outstanding (Dark Prison), but Obstacles is not my personal cup of tea (songs with light accoustic guitar and vocals).

Twilight of the Gods > Glass > Cloudscapes and Speed > Spear of Justice > Dark Prison >> Obstacles
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
Obstacles

damn that second match. neither of these should be going out so soon. Obstacles is also really good and something i don't remember hearing before.

(first match was also tough to decide but not nearly as good. decent, i guess)
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Spear of Justice
Twilight of the Gods
Obstacles
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Spear of Justice
Cloudscapes and Speed
Dark Prison
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Glass
Cloudscapes and Speed
Obstacles

Spear of Justice
Twilight of the Gods
Dark Prison

Spear of Justice is close to my least favorite Undertale boss theme, but it is still reasonably decent. It's not particularly melodically interesting to me (well, compared to other Undertale songs at least), but it does do a good job maintaining tension for sure. I don't really like Glass much though to be honest. The whole thing just feels "there" to me. Like I don't get any sense of forward progression or anything like that, and it's also pretty boring to me when taken as an atmospheric. I don't know it just doesn't work for me I guess.

Man though this second match is so much better than the first. Neither of these songs should be out r1. I'm not a huge fan of the vocals at the beginning of Twilight of the Gods. (Not that they're much different later on, but I don't think this is a style you should be starting the song with) By the end it develops a really great bombastic sound. Cloudscapes and Speed also really good in a similar-ish way. It doesn't have quite the impact that the choir chanting and aggressive instumental/percussion sections of Twilight of Gods does, but it definitely makes up for it with better instrumentation and some really cool melody lines. Going to give the edge to Twilight of the Gods because the impact thing is a pretty big deal for the type of song these are both trying to be, but I like both a lot. (Not that these songs are trying to do exactly the same thing, but that statement does apply to both I think)

Obstacles is another song I'm not big on at the start, which I guess is the theme of today. The end is very nice though. Vocals are powerful while still remaining somewhat calming and peaceful-sounding, and it's a really cool effect to me at least. Dark Prison is also a pretty solid song. It certainly serves its function as a tension-maintaining song. Unfortunately the melody doesn't quite hold my interest as much as I'd like, but I think it's actually just that it feels lackluster in comparison to the similar-ish but much better songs from match 2. In any case I still like it a decent amount and enough to vote in this match over a solid opponent. (Though it was close)

Twilight of the Gods> Cloudscapes and Speed > Dark Prison > Obstacles > Spear of Justice > Glass
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Match 1: Glass

Spear of Justice is one of the weakest Undertale songs.

Match 2: Twilight of the Gods

Both are pretty good tracks.

Side Bracket: Obstacles

It's really chill.

Not sure if it was posted yet, but ed has:
Spear of Justice
Twilight of the Gods
Obstacles
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