Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 19! Qwark/2NewJourney, Sky Tower/xxxx/xx/xx, Proof/ICO

(+) Yeah! (+)

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

ICO -You were there- > Sky Tower = To a New Journey > Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout >> xxxx/xx/xx (Remix) >>> Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
The Caligula Effect 2 - xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro - Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

< P0's Top 16 >
9.1 (0 left): Labyrinth V - Forgotten Capital / Im Back (to Rise!) / Apex of the World (Rain)
8.9 (2 left):
8.8 (2 left):
8.7 (0 left): The Wind's Blooming Mountain
8.5 (1 left):
8.4 (0 left): To a New Journey
8.3 (1 left): Don't speak her name! / Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke
8.2 (3 left):

When I become old and senile, one of the final songs to remain in my fading memory will surely be To a New Journey. SupraDarky chose it for his 100th upload on Dec. 31 2007, and I wasn't subscribed so I must've discovered it a year or two later. I wasn't even old enough to be a teenager, and it became one of the first VGM to make it onto my personal playlist (i.e. a bunch of pop songs I heard on the radio). The opening lines traded between the guitar, flute, and bassoon were a wonderful introduction to song structure, melody and counterpoint, and woodwind instruments. After all these years, I still feel the same joy listening to it as I did back then - the combined tone of the flute and violins at 1:51 is musical magic!

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/5/8/AAcM16AADWnS.jpg
you can't fxxxx/xx/xxk me
Master

8.5
8.5
8
8.5
8.5
7.5

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid has a cool metallic sound to it and creates a nice tense atmopshere. I'm always pleasantly surprised by music from this series tbh. To a New Journey has always been a very pleasant and hopeful theme, albeit a bit of a simple one.

I do not understand the appeal of either of the songs in match 2 sorry. I do like the instrumentation in this version of Sky Tower much better than the original but I still find the song very boring overall.

I like Nekomata Master sometimes but this is not one of those times. Lots of repetitive bass percussion sounds that I don't like. You Were There on the other hand I consider an absolute classic. The vocals are simple but very effective and pretty, especially with the backing instruments (synth/keyboard?). I wish Michiru Oshima made more vgm, but she's composed some very memorable anime soundtracks imo.

You Were There > Thran Asteroid > To a New Journey > Sky Tower > Proof of the Existence > xxxx/xx/xx

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
Proof of the existence

To a New Journey
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

--
Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout [8.2]
To a New Journey [8.4]

Sky Tower [8.6]
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix) [7.9]

Proof of the existence [8.3]
ICO -You were there- [8]

No writeups for today, save for the fact that some of songs were definitely better than I was expecting/remembering.

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
The Caligula Effect 2 - xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
ICO - ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Sky Tower
ICO - ICO -You were there-

xxxx/xx/xx got dealt such a bad hand, man. Sky Tower R1 is so rough. I love both songs and it was tough to decide, I was torn about Sky Tower DX between "This is frustratingly worse than the original" and "Sky Tower is still one of the best songs of all time" as I am. I do hope the DX thing isn't a complete consensus and if it fails to retire this year we can try the original next time (ofc still great song tho)
Also, like every other song today bar Qwark's Hideout was great lol. Match 3 was honestly probably more difficult to decide and I would have a really tough time deciding if I'd vote To a New Journey above them or not.

Despite this, I still tried to force myself to make a current decision so I could at least have something to replace my ratings for the time being:

LOOK UP > 1984 > To a New Jersey > Where'd u go > Are u real? >> Quirky Hideout

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
Sky Tower
Proof of the existence

hi proof my favorite song in the contest and my 4th favorite song of all time :) i think i've nominated it every single year i've been here (so since vgmc12) and i'm so glad it finally at least makes an appearance even if it dies!!! idk why you were there keeps going up against my few 10/10s cause it went up against octopunch r2 last year lolol

today is very good wow

(out of 108)
(1st!!!) beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro - Proof of the existence
(23rd) ICO - ICO -You were there-
(26th) Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Sky Tower
(31st) Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal - Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout
(46th) The Caligula Effect 2 - xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
(73rd) Wild Arms - To a New Journey

From Toxtricity:

Thran Asteroid - Qwark's Hideout (R&C: UpUrArse)
Sky Tower (Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DX)
ICO -You were there- (ICO)

Thran asteroid ~ quarks hideout is like...the exact description of my current music taste inclinations right now. Weird dark chord changes, very sound-design-focused atmospheric electronic, it is a lot like mood of Superior Probe ~ Underworks (Scenery) from pso2 which is my 4th favorite video game song in the world

Those arms are so wild.

If i was a pokemon, i would be a sneasel!

The loud girls

It sounds just like elebits!

You were there sounds like it should be in chrono cross

Wild Arms - To a New Journey
The Caligula Effect 2 - xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro - Proof of the existence

MATCH 1

Quark's Hideout is fine. It's not a bad song, but it's nothing special either.

To a New Journey has a nice, relaxing acoustic guitar and flute. I don't like it as much when the bassoon (I think? I've spent too much time trying to figure out what instrument this is lol) comes on though. I kind of wish it kept that soft sound the whole way through, so even the strings, which I don't mind in other songs, are something I feel the song would be better without. Still, it's a nice song regardless.

MATCH 2

What can I say? Sky Tower is just such a great classic! I said this back in VGMC14, I believe, when this was last in, but I really love how faithful this arrangement is to the original. This song has a great feel of adventure to it. Like you're on your final journey (and given that Sky Tower is the final dungeon in the main storyline, this makes sense!).

I don't often like the remixes of Caligula songs. Remixes of songs I love in general can be tough to get behind because a lot of times, I feel really attached to the original to the point that changes to the song don't feel right. As far as Caligula song remixes go, a lot of them get rid of the things I like the most about them or add stuff that I don't really like, but a select few of them are pretty good. Fortunately, the xxxx/xx/xx remix is one of them! Granted, I have a strong preference for the non-remix Regret version, but this one has a cool instrumental to it and it has the same vocals I love from the Regret version. This remix and the SINGI remix are the only remixed Caligula 2 songs that I really like. This is one of the strongest round 1 matches in the contest for me. I'd take the winner of this match to round 5. Danger vs. Five from last year, I'd say, was stronger on average, but it's the same deal here with the songs in the match being my #1 and #2 in that quadrant of the bracket.

MATCH 3

Proof of the Existence isn't as good as other Nekomata Master songs, but I like it a good deal. Despair of ELFLERIA's my favorite, and I'd probably take something like Scars of FAUNA over this too, but this song's decent as well. The synth melodies and instrument sounds are definitely cool, as they are in other songs of his too.

Like To a New Journey, I really enjoy the soft sound that You Were There has. It carries a lot of emotion with it. This day gets the dubious honor of having one of the strongest round 1 matches followed by one of the toughest round 1 matches in the contest for me. I had to listen to these songs so many times back to back when filling out the favorites bracket to decide which one I wanted to win. Even today, it's still not super clear to me. I'll stick with my decision of voting Proof of the Existence, but I like both songs just about equally.

xxxx/xx/xx (Remix) > Sky Tower > Proof of the existence > ICO -You were there- > To a New Journey > Qwark's Hideout

Sky Tower

To a New Journey
xxxx/xx/xx (Remix)
ICO -You were there-

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout 5.5 I don't find ratchet and clank music to be anything spectacular. This has a catchy beat and the bass laid on top of it builds in a pleasing way, so i'm pleasantly surprised. This still sounds too tame though.

To a New Journey 6.5 I was feeling kinda meh for the first part, but the second half picks up some iconic Wild Arms motifs and its western grand instrumentation fills me with exuberance.

Sky Tower 7 I'm not sure if I prefer the original or this version. A lot of people cite PMD and this song as some of the best vgm ever. . It's nice, but it doesnt personally appeal to me as the best thing. I do like how this song starts out quiet and basic and loops until it builds to something regal and foreboding, yet decisive.

xxxx/xx/xx (Remix) 8 faved. Idk if it's just I fall in love with vocal tracks or the recent ones have been really good. Anyway I love the mix of genres of jpop and dubstep. It's very cool when the vocals speed up, like a boost of energy.

Proof of the existence 4.5 Fast and hard. I mean it's cool i guess but going 100% makes it sound all the same intensity, which is boring. Where's the contrast? Where's the journey?

ICO You were there 6.5 Love the quiet yet strong conviction this track has. The sharp and somewhat off rhytym drum hits are also really cool. Overall i like the atmosphere and journey this song makes.

To a New / (Remix) / of the existence

WIP

Proof > ICO > xxxx > Journey = Sky > Thran?

there was also a write-in for pixelisak who is still waiting on being able to post, but I did not see it in time before today ended to post it prior to ending. but i'm still counting it

Thran Asteroid Qwark's Hideout

Sky Tower I really wanna have a talk with whoever decided to put THE REMIX of xxxx/xx/xx. I loooooove the og track and this remix just makes it worse in every way. caligula songs are p much always best in their og form

ICO -You were there- it absolutely sucks to have to vote against proof of the existence cuz it's amazing but like... you just cant compete man