Board 8 > [VGMC] d65: New World Order vs Raging Waves, Servants of Scourge vs Level 1 (SS)

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to today's topic for Video Game Music Contest 13, a tournament of the best tracks from games, as decided upon by you, the voters.

Links:
Bracket - http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=471679
Contest info - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17rEeB1_oYWgryWzIxOaZXw2a381gKGnMegjHCG_2OTQ
Discussion and results thread - https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/77672812
Bracket playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RF28glW72G6s_5M1e4kcSxR

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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:

Granblue Fantasy - New World Order

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpVxreT7NPU" data-time="

Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-vu538_4Po" data-time="

Match 2:

Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt30jWRMjLk" data-time="

Silver Surfer - Level 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J0H5ah1G7A" data-time="

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Easy vote form:
New World Order / The End of the Raging Waves
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer) / Level 1

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Song lyric trivia: (misheard) dootda doot dadoot dadootda DOO-ooohhh....Bettie yungahhhh! Bettie yungahhhh lezz go awake! Beddie yungahhh! Beddie yungahhhhh lezz go awake! Yeah me. Breep! Yeah, me. Breep! Breep! Yeah, bennie yungahhh!
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Let's Go Away?
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New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves
Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

Daytona USA - Let's Go Away [azuarc drunk karaoke mix]
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The End of the Raging Waves
Level 1

New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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New World Order
Level 1
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The End of the Raging Waves
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

Ah, match 1 is so good...I actually feel bad voting for Raging Waves for once. Once NWO gets going, it's a really great song and I love the ending 45 seconds. But those last moments of the guitar solo at 2:54 of Raging Waves just get me every time.

Today is the superior Calamity track! Both Crabulon and Scourge have grown on me over the contest, while Level 1 is "only" as good as the first time I heard it (but is also a great track).
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New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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New World Order
Level 1

New
Servants
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The End of the Raging Waves
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves... I know I previously said this is "one of my favorites", but I'd say it's only in my top 40. Still enough to narrowly beat New World Order, though.

Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge - this may be the biggest mismatch of the round for me, even though I nominated Level 1. >_>
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Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves
Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

1st match > 2nd match
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The End of the Raging Waves -- (#31 vs. #33)
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer) -- (#03 vs. #06)

The harsh contrast in how I feel regarding these two matches is probably funny. If only I could simply vote for both songs in the second match and or have them both advance instead
Also uh for the other match there is a chance I'm being a tad bit harsh on my rankings. Like when I put the numbers together I kinda thought NWO was something else apparently and it's not "as bad" for me so it's probably more like #32 and my actual least favorite advanced yesterday oh no. Maybe Raging Waves is also ranked a place or two low as well. Oh well, I don't exactly care for either of them and my vote isn't going to swap
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New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

Another day where I really like everything, even if both choices were pretty easy.
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Granblue Fantasy - New World Order
Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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New World Order
Level 1

Bracket B wasn't exactly one of my favourite brackets in any scenario, but even then... NWO vs Raging Waves is almost a worst case scenario for its division really. I say almost only because I'm glad Red Locus isn't here. Still, I'm not that actively opposed to them, just moderately unsatisfied with both.
By contrast, quite satisfied with match 2. Legit impressed Silver Surfer made it this far with very real competition in its corner, though this is surely where its run ends. Deep respect for Follin's work on this soundtrack even among his/their many other phenomenal ones. Even if it's not actually my favourite from it, it's still very high up there. As for servants, it's still very solid too but my impression has been waning slightly as my preference in it has kind of skewed more towards the bells which don't really feature much in the song at all.

Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves
Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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End of the raging waves
Servants
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New
Level
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New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves
Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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The End of the Raging Waves
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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The End of the Raging Waves
Level 1
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The End of the Raging Waves
Level 1
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The End of the Raging Waves
Servants
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7. Granblue Fantasy - New World Order (8.5) (for/over Full Base, over Chaos King)

vs.

28. Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves (3.5) (for The Darkness Crawling, Gokinjo Battle)

New World Order has really grown on me. I like its sense of hope/hopelessness. The vocals don't even bother me as much anymore. End of Raging Waves is symphonic guitar and violin combo and that genre does not often appeal to me. Easy match.

and

14. Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer) (7) (over Challenge to the Vertex, for Id (Purpose))

vs.

17. Silver Surfer - Level 1 (6.5) (for Devil Trigger, A-to-Z)

Servants of the Scourge is my favorite Calamity song that got in, but I don't love it - the beginning is my favorite part but it doesn't develop anything new over its considerable runtime, and the things it does develop don't appeal to me. I've never been a big fan of Silver Surfer Level 1 but today it hits the right notes (literally!!!!!!!) and is overall the more enjoyable listen.

Votes:
New World Order
Level 1

The End of the Raging Waves
Level 1

Servants = Level 1 > The End of the Raging Waves > New World Order

crab got through to retirement [i think this is retirement round, right] so i don't care if servants retires at this point. would, however, like follin to retire. don't care about second match. voted for end of raging waves cause i like the fm version and even an adaptation of that is at least alright.
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New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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New World Order
Level 1

New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)
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Etrian Odyssey V - The End of the Raging Waves
Silver Surfer - Level 1
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Wow. If this isn't the exact match I'd want in this position based on the starting bracket, it's damn close--NWO definitely belongs here, and the only other one from EotRW's six-pack that I remember liking a lot was A. Rene. This is some high-quality stuff and I would be happy to see the loser return for another try next year. Also, somehow Touhou's resident master of disguise has snuck her theme into this contest under an assumed name yet again. It's a pity, then, that this is still a rather easy decision!

The second match...not quite. Certainly, both are good songs, but the one I really wanted to retire here was eliminated last round. ...No, not Id ~ Purpose--I like that song too, but I voted against it last round. I'm talking about A to Z. Silver Surfer, it's good, it deserved to reach Round 3, but in my mind it was clearly behind its Round 3 opponent and both of its potential Round 4 opponents as of the end of Round 2.

Votes:
New World Order
Servants of the Scourge

Rankings:
Servants of the Scourge > New World Order > End of the Raging Waves > Level 1
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New World Order
Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

Top-notch day. Now we're entering elite territory, and it's a little sad that two songs have to go.

Match 1:

First match of the Round where I really hope things turn out okay. NWO's opportunity to retire is now. It is an excellent piece, and while I don't demerit Raging Waves's quality it is actually a great rock song that sounds great throughout its entire duration, unlike many others that fail to deliver, as well as being reminiscent of Falcom's awesome style (Etrian Odyssey isn't from Falcom, right?), NWO is on another level of hype. Plus, I'm learning it on flute, so having it retired would be a pretty cool incentive to learn it.

From the beginning of the match, I knew I'd favour NWO, but man... I'm still listening to Raging Waves and it's truly great. It's such a shame that it got paired up with such an awesome opponent.

Match 2:

This match is so similar to the first one in various ways. For example, I knew I'd favour Servants while coming in, but Level 1 is one of those songs I'd totally vote for in a different match-up so it could retire as well (maybe not so much for it being crazy good, but for it being great while also being iconic; you know, having a great, iconic song not in retirement just doesn't feel right). I still listened to both songs (like in the first match) to make sure, but yeah, without thinking about it too much, I'd go Servants > Crab, and I think that's how things will turn out as well.

Rankings:

Oof, the rankings. This is the first day where I would've actually wanted to be surprised next round to see which one I liked more: NWO or Servants, but having already listened to them separately, I think my preference is still clear. But I just realized... If both of them win today, next round they'll have to face off and argh, I'd like to root for NWO to win it all at this point but I know it's not gonna happen, as well as knowing that the long-awaited Servants/Crabulon match wouldn't take place if that was the case. So...

Here we go. The moment of truth. *listens, then compares*...

Oh... how far away, the retiree title! > What Is a Scourge? > World's Most Fragile Villain > The Beginning of the Calm Sea
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The End of the Raging Waves
Level 1

extremely tempted to vote NWO just to piss off lefty not gonna lie. plus it's a stupidly close match anyways.
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Advokaiser posted...

It is an excellent piece, and while I don't demerit Raging Waves's quality it is actually a great rock song that sounds great throughout its entire duration, unlike many others that fail to deliver, as well as being reminiscent of Falcom's awesome style (Etrian Odyssey isn't from Falcom, right?),

It's not, however, the composer (Yuzo Koshiro) did work for Falcom back in the '80s. He composed much of the music for the first two Ys games.
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Raging Waves (eo3 one is the best though)
Scourge
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New World Order
Level 1
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New World Order
Level 1
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deo votes:
New World Order
Servants of the Scourge

nfun votes:
abstain
Servants of the Scourge
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New World Order
Servants of the Scourge

DanKirby posted...

Advokaiser posted...

It is an excellent piece, and while I don't demerit Raging Waves's quality it is actually a great rock song that sounds great throughout its entire duration, unlike many others that fail to deliver, as well as being reminiscent of Falcom's awesome style (Etrian Odyssey isn't from Falcom, right?),

It's not, however, the composer (Yuzo Koshiro) did work for Falcom back in the '80s. He composed much of the music for the first two Ys games.

Oh, that's interesting! I've heard a handful of his compositions from different games, but that's a pretty fun fact I didn't know.
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Granblue Fantasy - New World Order
Terraria Calamity - Servants of the Scourge (Theme of the Sentinels of the Devourer)

Looks like Let's Go Away, but how do you hear whatever that is in the lyrics?!?

MATCH 1

This is such a strong match! Definitely one of my favorite matches in a while. It's also a match I was hoping in the back of my mind that I would see happen. I did a quick ranking of the 32 songs in round 4 a little earlier and while it's not exactly perfect yet, in my opinion, I have a good enough idea of where I'd rank everything a little bit more broadly and I can say for sure that this match has my #1 favorite song left in the contest, New World Order, against a song that's in at least the top 5. No matter what happens in this match, I'll be very happy to see the winner retire. I definitely want New World Order to be the song to win, though, so it'll still be a bit disappointing if it loses, but the fact that it would be losing to an extremely good opponent makes this possibility a lot less sad.

MATCH 2

I have this match as Servants of Scourge #15 vs Level 1 #18, but this match isn't as close for me as the rankings imply. In fact, Level 1 might be over-ranked by a couple spots. Both songs here are good, but I'm definitely in favor of Servants here.

New World Order > End of the Raging Waves > Servants of the Scourge > Level 1

Very good day today!

New World Order
Level 1