Board 8 > [VGMC] R16 D6: Battle!! (XBC2: Torna) vs Flash Frost (Atelier Rorona)

(+) 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

.
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!

.
Today's match:

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country - Battle!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_SlG-xDBLo" data-time="

Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland - Flash Frost

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9fOwF7-yZ4" data-time="

.

Easy vote form:
Battle!! / Flash Frost

.

Song lyric trivia: Haven't in another world, haven't even been free. I don't know what to do, so, but I know what I need. If you want to escape with me come take my hand. Let me show another way to a better land...A better land.
---

Battle!!
---

Battle!!
---

Battle!!

Flash

This is the other song that I am rooting for to win it all.
---

Battle!!

Battle!!

Hnnnnng #1 vs. #4, this is where I want to be careful and really make sure I'm placing my vote right. Battle is just so fun to listen to, but I kinda "get" the song by now, while I'm still noticing cool things here and there in Frost. Will have to re-evaluate the matchup tomorrow, but I feel comfortable enough right now to cast my vote.
---

Flash Frost in vain

Honestly, I think Battle!!/Torna is my "will" to win the contest now, though crab is still the "want"

Is the poll a "want" or a "will"?
---

Battle!!
---

Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland - Flash Frost

argh tough match, i'm sorry battle!!
---

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country - Battle!!
---

Flash Frost
---

Battle!!

KCF0107 posted...

Flash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmrHTdXgK4" data-time="
---

Battle!!

Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland - Flash Frost
---

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country - Battle!!
---

Flash Frost

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country - Battle!!
---

Battle!!

Battle!!
---

Flash Frost
really like both of them tho

Battle!!
---

Flash Frost
---

Flash Frost
---

Flash Frost
---

Battle!!
---

Battle!!

Flash Frost
---

Battle!!

Battle!!
---

Flash Frost
---

Advokaiser posted...

Is the poll a "want" or a "will"?

---

Given the distribution of the current voters, I have to imagine they're treating it as a "Will".
---

Flash Frost
---

7. Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country - Battle!! (7) (over Divine Beast Vah Ruta (Dungeon), for Happy Hippo, over Knight of a Foreign Country, for Studiopolis)

vs.

16. Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland - Flash Frost (2) (for Pac Twin Attack, Re:Vanishment, Kill Command)

Battle!! is a pretty nifty track. Even when I've voted against it I haven't minded seeing it win. It's got lots of flavors, particularly when the main melody comes in the chorus; it's hard to pinpoint (for me at least) exactly what style this song is. Is "fanfare" a style? (Not, like, end of battle fanfare. Adventurous and triumphant fanfare.) I used to think the song ran on too long, but today I'm more into it than I normally am.

I'm tired of shitting on Flash Frost so instead I'll post a picture of white mushrooms.
http://www.freeimageslive.co.uk/files/images009/raw_mushrooms.preview.jpg

Yum.

Vote:
Battle!!

Flash Frost

(will post write-ups later)
---

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country - Battle!!
---

Battle!!
---

Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland - Flash Frost

Easiest R16 day by far.

Match-up analysis:

Battle!! is, as I've said before, way more Murasaki-sounding than Xenoblade. The instrumentation and style is exactly the same as watson's, and that's both good and bad. It's good because it shows a different kind of quality in style and sounds solid, but it's bad because it's... not... I mean, if this was a Murasaki song, it would be an average composition, without standing out from the rest (even if this, being from Xenoblade, makes it sound [as I've said before] more solid, and doesn't have unnecessary and quality-degrading improvisational parts). I'm sorry for comparing this song too much to watson/Murasaki, but it's exactly what it sounds like.

That being said, I'm not really sure how good the rest of the Xenoblade 2 OST is, but this song PALES in comparison to the overwhelming masterpieces Xenoblade Chronicles 1 has. Despite being an interesting piece, it's definitely not something worthy of retirement if we look at it at the light of the songs from the same series. But what about the song individually? Well, it holds up well on its own; however, it's still too weak to be worthy of such praise.

Also, the volume fake-outs at 1:48-1:52 and 5:23-5:27 are not appreciated. I don't know if it's the quality of the upload in order to make the song loop, but it's also unlikely since the song actually has an ending.

Then you have Flash Frost... Such a magical rock song with a sweet "in love" feel marked by the bells and the rest of the instruments blended in together in such a majestic way, despite the song having a fast-paced beat. Granted, the song wouldn't be nearly as good if it didn't have 0:51-1:33, but it would hold itself pretty well regardless, at least with Battle!!.

Soothing Bells >>> watson's Lost Child
---

Flash Frost

Good day.
---

Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland - Flash Frost

Oops, I'm voting against my last remaining support in the contest. Pretty close though. #4 vs. #5 out of the 16 songs left at the beginning of round 5. Really good match, so whichever song wins today is the one I want to see win its final match in the bracket.

Battle!!
---

Flash Frost

I like both though.
---

Good match.

Battle!!
---

See my previous post for my vote.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country Battle!!/Torna
What an unexpected style for a battle theme from Xenobladewell, its way different from Unfinished Battle, at least. This seriously has to be the jazziest VGM to ever retire in VGMC! I really like the slow melody A, the transition, and the more rhythmic melody B. really, the whole thing. But especially melody A! Harmonically not super complex, but the note choices within them are nice. Also, the rhythm section is SUPER involved, which makes everything that much better. I guess I havent been listening closely enough. My original #14 was way too low! For example, A lot of the piano figures are super awesome (0:20, 0:26, 1:07, 1:31). such When everything repeats, the I like the use of the string sections, too. Instrumentations move around when the themes get repeated. The solos from the piano, string bass, and drums near the end of the loop are done very well.

Favorite part: Melody A (0:14 0:43, etc.)
Ranking: 14 out of 16 (revised ranking: #10Id go higher, but my top nine are just way too beloved.)

Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland - Flash Frost
I love the stereotypical Atelier sound, how the instruments resonate in this one, and the, um, girly syncopation? (sounds silly to put it that way) The interaction between the rhythm of the melody with the rhythm of the bass and piano, the way Flash Frost does it, is the kind of stuff I like in music. The tonality of this track is ambiguous at parts, as far as what the melody outlines, which I find interesting. For example, the intro suggests the key of B major, but by the end of the phrase the established key is G# minor. The placement of the acoustic guitar solo, and its execution, and its note changes, are absolutely perfect. Im liking the piano/violin combining to play B right after that what a nice, full sound! Once again, we hit the ambiguous tonality a 1:33 (theme C) when it refers to the intro, though it turns out that intro is really part of this theme. Interesting. Funny how so much of this track is in minor, but it feels so MAJOR and HAPPY every moment.

Favorite part: Really hard to choose just one section. The guitar solo, perhaps.
Ranking: 4 out of 16 (revised ranking: #5)
---

Flash Frost
---

Battle!!