Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 13! THEMEX/Deus Hex Machina, Swap Out/Sea of Frozen Crystals, Halo/Bi

(+) Yeah! (+)

Xenoblade Chronicles X - THEMEX
The Caligula Effect 2 - Swap Out (Regret)
SOUND VOLTEX VIVID WAVE - Bi (veeeeeeeever)

MATCH 1

THEMEX is pretty cool. Similar to the previous Xenoblade X song, though, this song is also better during the more powerful parts of the song and less so during the quieter parts. Also, those F naturals starting at 1:20 bother me a bit lol.

Don't really like the first minute of Deus Hex Machina, but it gets better from then on. 3:38 might be my favorite part of the song? Carries that spooky vibe fairly well.

MATCH 2

Ever since I listened to all the vocal songs, Caligula 2 music has been a go-to pick for when I feel like listening to music. I really loved a select number of Caligula 1 songs, but almost every single Regret version song on Caligula 2's soundtrack is super good as well! I usually praise the j-rock elements of Caligula music, but even though Swap Out is the most radio-friendly, traditionally pop song, I love it just as much as many of the other songs from those games! It's super catchy and great to jam out to. Great driving music too, in my opinion.

Sea of Frozen Crystals is a pretty interesting song! The sound design of this song isn't something I'd typically seek out, but I'm finding it pretty enjoyable to listen to.

MATCH 3

I wonder if Halo (song) is one of the earliest memories of me liking a video game song. Regardless, I've always liked this song. The high-pitched strings are the best part for me.

Bi is such a silly song, and it's really fun to listen to! I like the original version of the song more than this remix of it, but it's still good. It's funny how much of a contrast this match is in terms of two songs I both like but sound wildly different from each other. I'm actually kinda tempted to vote for its opponent today, but eh, I'll still vote Bi.

Swap Out (Regret) >> Sea of Frozen Crystals > THEMEX > Bi (veeeeeeeever) > Halo > Deus Hex Machina

Deus Hex Machina
Swap Out (Regret)


Match 2 again, man. I don't know what it is with those and always being so hard.
Also, I'm sorry, but I unironically enjoy Bi.

THEMEX
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Halo

Deus Hex Machina
Swap Out (Regret)
Halo

THEMEX
Swap Out (Regret)
Bi (veeeeeeeever)

I have a pretty clear memory of how I got into stuff like Bi starting from 2018ish:

Random anime clips => FOE by IOSYS => Zombieland Saga => Love Live => Tsurupettan via Umineko => Japanese Goblin => Bi

THEMEX
Swap Out (Regret)
Bi (veeeeeeeever)

Deus Hex Machina
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Halo

SORRY BI also match 1 is impossible

(out of 72)
(10th) Mushihimesama Futari - Sea of Frozen Crystals
(20th) Halo: Combat Evolved - Halo
(23rd) SOUND VOLTEX VIVID WAVE - Bi (veeeeeeeever)
(45th) Lenna's Inception - Deus Hex Machina
(46th) Xenoblade Chronicles X - THEMEX
(56th) The Caligula Effect 2 - Swap Out (Regret)

From Toxtricity:

THEMEX (Xenoblade X)
Sea of Frozen Crystals (Mushihimesama Futari)
Halo (Halo)

I like the mex more than i remembered

This song is almost as loud as yousuke yasui

This song title feels like its talking about vgmc, like oh my god i regret swapping out this song for another nom now that its at 5/5 and i dont have any space to support it now that locks end in 5 minutes

Kimihiro abe is my favorite vgm composer! ^^

Halo music makes me think about churches

Mizuno Singa

THEMEX
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Halo

Idk what to say about Mexico that I haven't already said before. It is always a good time. Deus Hex is pretty neat though! I remember feeling like I just unlocked some kind of "creepypasta boss" listening to it.

I was pleasantly surprised by Swap Out because I thought I "didn't care for" Caligula music but this one must have slipped through the cracks because it is very nice. Still prefer the cold.

I don't have strong feelings for Halo but I remember listening to it when I was younger and going "wow they can make vgm music sound like """real""" music" and that stuck with me. I enjoy the memes behind Bi, but don't really care for the song itself.

THEMEX
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Halo

not in the best state for writeups today! thought the tracks were pretty enjoyable overall, though

So I've literally written an essay about THEMEX in the past. But I'll spare you guys from a long post on that. It's definitely my favorite main theme of all time, and quite possibly my favorite video game song of all time. Sawano's ability to mix rock, synth, and orchestral elements is so seamless and impressive. The motifs are fantastic in this, as is the instrumentation and overall structure. You can't get much better than this imo. Favorite part is probably the acoustic guitar solo from 2:59-3:54. Either that or the intro.

The mixing is Deus Hex Machina is weird. It's very bass-heavy. There are some interesting elements in the composition though, like the irregular rhythmic hits in the middle. But yeah, not a fan of the overall instrumentation and mix in this. Close to the easiest pick in the contest for me.

This sounds like a song by TWICE, which is a good thing. Swap Out (Regret) has awesome production. Great synths, vocalist, melodies, etc. One of the few Caligula tracks that I've liked thus far.

Sea of Frozen Crystals is alright. The melody is decent. The Metheny-type main synth is neat. The mix is a bit mushy though, which makes all of the instruments kind of blend together, making it hard to pay attention to what you're supposed to pay attention. Fairly easy pick in this match as well, though closer than the last one.

The Halo theme is another classic. Awesome intro, cool percussion, great melody, etc. Just a solid all-around song.

Uh... Bi is a song alright. No further comments from me on it. Not sure if this or match 1 is an easier choice for me.

Votes:
no2=THEMEX
Swap Out (Regret)
Halo

Deus Hex Machina
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Bi (veeeeeeeever)

THEMEX
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Halo

Deus Hex Machina
Swap Out (Regret)
Halo

Bi is actually ok, but unfortunately its up against a real banger

Deux Hex Machina
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Bi (veeeeeeeever)

THEMEX
Swap Out (Regret)
Halo

THEMEX >>> Swap Out (Regret) > Halo >> Sea of Frozen Crystals Bi (veeeeeeeever) >> Deus Hex Machina

From pixelisak:

Deus Hex Machina
Swap Out (Regret)
Bi (veeeeeeeever) (cuz im not a loser )

Hex / Out / Bi

THEMEX: The camera pans slowly across a vast landscape as a timelapse of activity, showing its evolution from a natural world to one symbiotic with technology.

Deus Hex Machina: Something has gone terribly wrong; a problem so chaotic and unplanned for that even experts have no idea how to respond.

Swap Out (Regret): Stepping out onto the stage to roaring applause, she strikes a pose as the spotlight flashesthis moment is what she lives for.

Sea of Frozen Crystals: A hail of small sharp particles begins to fall, each piece piercing cleanly into the water's surface, floating down deep.

Halo: Emerging from the ocean, a newly born species of creatures begins making its way onto the land, flopping its stumpy limbs forward one by one.

Bi (veeeeeeeever): Breathlessly bumbling by, as bright as budding blooms that begin to blossom, she boldly breaks boundaries and brings boundless bounciness.

Bi >= Halo > Swap = Sea > Hex >> THEMEX

THEMEX
Swap Out (Regret)
Halo

--
THEMEX [9]
Deus Hex Machina [7.4]

The feelings I had when I learned that Sawako, from Kill la Kill fame (in my head), worked on this soundtrack before working with Trigger was nothing short of astounded. Everything that I loved from his work on the show can be heard here as well: the drums, the synths and especially the wonderful mixture of electric guitar with orchestra. Such a solid song, I will stand in solidarity with THE MEX.

I think the first minute of Machina feels the most rough, then it sounds kinda neat afterwards. I rather like the drums in the background around the middle of the song, but they're sadly being blocked by this synth that's constantly getting in the way. Song still feels kinda cool, but it feels a bit too disjointed to make me like it more.

Swap Out (Regret) [8.6]
Sea of Frozen Crystals [8.4]

Holy crap, I was not expecting Swap Out to be this groovy. This is a very pleasant surprise for me, I can easily bop my head to this.

I know nothing about Mushihimesama, but I like to think of Sea of Frozen Crystals as a pretty nice welcome to it. The sound feels like it blends together at a couple of points, but I'm really here for the cool synths this is giving me.

Halo [8.5]
Bi (veeeeeeeever) [6.2]

Not much to say about Halo, just that it definitely deserves its place in popular gaming culture for what it is. The choir is wonderful here, and the hopeful, triumphant tone in the song is one I can easily enjoy any time.

Still not a sweet fan of the super sweet vocals here, but this actually makes me laugh just listening to it. It's admittedly kinda adorable, even if the repetition bores me rather quickly.

9.0 - Xenoblade Chronicles X - THEMEX
6.2 - Lenna's Inception - Deus Hex Machina
6.9 - The Caligula Effect 2 - Swap Out (Regret)
5.5 - Mushihimesama Futari - Sea of Frozen Crystals
7.2 - Halo: Combat Evolved - Halo
3.0 - SOUND VOLTEX VIVID WAVE - Bi (veeeeeeeever)

I'm probably gonna be voting for at least 3 Xenoblade songs to retire huh

Lenna's Inception - Deus Hex Machina
Mushihimesama Futari - Sea of Frozen Crystals
Halo: Combat Evolved - Halo

OOh no I am voting against Hiroyuki Sawano AGAIN! Excellent day, and my fave in a minute. Today's fetch:

[9.5] Sea of Frozen Crystals
[9.0] Halo
[8.0] Deus Hex Machina
[7.5] Swap Out (Regret)
[7.5] THEMEX
[7.5] Bi (veeeeeeeever)

Halo

Deus Hex Machina
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Bi (veeeeeeeever)

Deus Hex Machina
Sea of Frozen Crystals
Halo

THEMEX 7.5 Iconic theme and something that hypes me up. Idk if it's that i've heard this enough times or some other melody, but it's very familiar, like it's from another song or anime. I love the fanfare and "rising up to the challenge" vibe it gives.

Deus Hex Machina 8 Love the punk mechanical theme this is going for. It's a mix of industrial rock and hype metal. The texture noise sounds are actually interesting rather than being too grating for me.

Swap Out (Regret) 6 This sounds like something I'd hear on the pop station in Japan or Korea lol. It's catchy and has a good beat, but it's a little empty under the surface. I think there could be more to the actual music part. THere were a couple of nice drops and fun key changes? that i liked.

Sea of Frozen Crystals 6 Reminded me of mario kart music or something peppy like that. It's not really my favorite type of sound or genre, but there were some unique moments I can see myself growing on

Halo 7 Just a solid, iconic piece of music. The vocalizing and deep drum hits give it a fierce dynamic yet ambient sense that's hard to pull yourself away from

Bi (veeeeeeeever) 4 Mostly annoying and repetitive. I mean there's some enjoyment to be had, but there's not much to this track. Idk if this was a big meme nomination but it's not for me, at least on 1st/2nd listen

Xenoblade Chronicles X - THEMEX
The Caligula Effect 2 - Swap Out (Regret)
Halo: Combat Evolved - Halo

Sea of Frozen Crystals