Liberal Arts Major
This is okay. Nothing amazing or anything, but I suppose it's okay. I'll say 4.5 though because it never really grabs my attention very strongly or anything.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUY5e22qX6A&fmt=18
So, time for background. A few days ago, specifically in the middle of the Rustling Throb ~Cloche~ write-up, I was thinking, "You know, I really should have held back one of my favorite songs for today. Like, perhaps DORCHADAS or something. Whoops." So, for the first time during the whole topic series I started to try to plan ahead a little on which song I'd do on a future day to work this out. Originally my idea was that Everything In These Hands was one of my favorites that still remained and so that's what would be here today. Then, an idea struck me, and this is the result. A little more background, since this wasn't exactly a completely random decision, while Evangelion has been my favorite anime for a rather long time, Nanoha completely shocked me by ending up jumping all the way to second place on my favorite anime list. I used to think the first season was slightly superior, but I think currently I've changed my mind and consider A's the superior season, but that's a discussion for a different topic.
It really shouldn't surprise anyone at this point that my favorite part of this song is the vocals. Of course, it helps that it's being performed by one of my favorite vocalists overall. Of course, I also like the other parts of the song a lot too.
As for my favorite part, I'm going to say it's the section from 3:13 - 3:55, which features the kind of "most of the song except the lyrics becomes 'quieter'" type of thing that has made a number of appearances when I point out sections in different songs that I like. Of course, I enjoy pretty much all of the song, special mention going to the chorus.
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable: The Battle of Aces - Silent Bible (Opening Version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddBRhvjq4gA&fmt=18
First off, if for some reason you'd consider seeing what I presume is the opening video (in fact, I presume it's what plays before you get to the Title Screen, but obviously I can't be sure) then you won't want to watch the video itself here (you could make the case for actual Nanoha A's spoilers too as well). From what I can tell, the version of Silent Bible that plays during the opening is a shorter version of the full version of the song, but is otherwise unchanged. I prefer the full version obviously, because it's not like I feel the song ran too long, in fact, this shortened version doesn't have my favorite section from the full version in it. My favorite part here would be 0:51 - 1:44, the corresponding section in the full version is likely my second favorite in that version.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfleA3UOBR0&fmt=18
Delete all of the world to do over again...
Well, I've been trying to hold off on posting tracks with lyrics lately, because the rest of you have that category on lockdown, but I figured I'd make an exception today. I think I was introduced to this one through the Board 8 VGMC5 noms once again, but it's legit enough for me to not mind posting two songs I found in this way almost in a row.
So yeah, this thing. It's Devil Survivor's main theme, if you're curious, so presumably it's not "spoilers" or anything. I actually like the vocalist; at the very least, she works for this song, I can't say for certain whether I'd like listening to her just in general. As for the guitar? I could take it or leave it, honestly, so obviously my favorite parts are gonna have it in the background. I'd say 51 seconds through 72 seconds is a good example of my favorite "part" here, though the same thing happens later on too. The lyrics, from the translation I found, are pretty meh, but oh well, can't have everything.
Incidentally: there's a version of this same song that's about 6 minutes long, but those extra minutes are entirely guitar solo, so I'm intentionally posting the shorter version. If you want the full experience for some reason though, go ahead, knock yourself out.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
...Huh. Vocals are okay here, but the rest of the song is less so. Which I find kind of strange, because I wouldn't have thought I'd balk at that. I'll say 5.5, but I almost feel, again, like I'm being generous.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ0ZIS2BnXA&fmt=18
You know, until today, I thought this piece was just a remix of Memories of the School. I guess you say it kind of is still, but I mean, I thought that was basically the title too. The only difference between this and Memories of the School that I can tell is the added effect here of... I don't know, what reminds me of marching. I definitely think it makes the piece better than the "plain" Memories of the School version. Memories of the Garden plays as the school theme in January during Persona 3... which is a big part of the reason why I thought this was "simply" a Memories of the School remix.
Anyway, this a much more slower paced piece, but I definitely really enjoy it. It's just such a nice sounding piece. Favorite part is a bit difficult here because I like the whole piece, and it doesn't really have a section where it's clearly different from the rest to make it easier to divide up into sections at all. However, I'll say 0:00 - 0:44.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmzTuXNa9qs&fmt=18
A song that actually fits the intended purpose of this topic (to contain music from games I was playing)? Absurd. I'm also taking it on faith that YouTube guy here knows what he's talking about in regards to this song's title, because I've also seen it just named after the areas in which it plays.
The plays during a very awesome part of the game, when you start running across the Endless Wall, which is a really cool scene for a number of reasons, and this song certainly helps. I don't know if it's my favorite track in the game, and honestly Dark Dawn's music isn't as good as the rest of the series to me, but it's definitely somewhere up there. It really captures a sense of urgency and finality that works really well, both in terms of making it work as a song and in making it appropriate for the part of the game in which it plays. So yeah, overall, thumbs up.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
This probably is one of Dark Dawn's stronger pieces, although yes, it is much weaker in that regard compared to GS1 and TLA. I'll say 5.5, probably on the higher end of that though.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_obZNl8OA&fmt=18
Earlier I was talking about not being sure which piece from Umineko was my favorite, that it was between like 4 or so. I think this one has the advantage and would come out ahead more than the others if you made me rank them a couple of times. It's just a great piece. Once you get past the first 2 minutes, which aren't even bad or anything, it just reaches another level and pretty much stays there for the entire rest of the piece.
This is another case where I'm kind of forced to go, "I just really like all those effects." I'm really tempted to say favorite part is 1:57 - 10:45, but I won't. Instead, let's say 1:57 - 5:28.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H5YoFv09uQ&fmt=18
Retaining my title as king of cop-outs. I assume everyone is at least slightly familiar with this piece; it's the quintessential "amazing track from a crappy game" VG music. If you're not, even better.
I pretty much like everything Diving does. It's just a gorgeous song, and, without knowing context, I'm still going to say that it's atmospheric without being overly atmospheric. You know, you'd think a track like this would remind me of Aquatic Ambience or Dire, Dire Docks or something, but I think the song it most reminds me of is Sanctuary Fortress from Metroid Prime 2, oddly enough. It's probably that effect that kicks in at 1 minute, 41 seconds; if it isn't, I don't have an explanation, but then whenever I say that a song reminds me of some other song, it's very rare that there's a concrete reason for it.
For whatever it's worth, Waterworld, from what I've heard, has a really good soundtrack, and while I say that about a lot of games, I especially mean it here. I'm not sure if Diving is my favorite track or not because everything I've heard is just so good that it's hard to decide.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
Oh, I can just tell I'm going to have "fun" with this.
Retaining my title as king of cop-outs.
More like retaining a different title.
I assume everyone is at least slightly familiar with this piece
Oh yes.
it's the quintessential "amazing track from a crappy game" VG music.
A "feat" made more "impressive" by not being that good.
and, without knowing context, I'm still going to say that it's atmospheric without being overly atmospheric.
you guys.
Anyway, on to actual comments about the song, which will be distinctly less entertaining for me. I will never understand why Diving is so loved. Really, it will continue to baffle me. Not as much as some other pieces, but that speaks more towards some other pieces than to Diving, because I would hate for that to be misinterpreted as even accidental praise for Diving. So, Diving itself... it actually has a part here or there that isn't bad. Somewhere. You see, it becomes hard for me to be certain of this because it spends so much time being either boring or below average that I simply can't always recall if it actually had a decent part or if that's actually me trying to somehow rationalize why people like this piece. I'll say 3.5. I could maybe see 4.0. Maybe, but I'm not going to give Diving that break. It doesn't deserve it.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LqqD_Rn_Jk&fmt=18
You know, if you go way back towards the beginning of the other topic and piece together my different comments on Climax Coming from the Abyss and The Pile of Griefs, you could probably come up with, "The Pile of Griefs is my favorite 'slower' paced piece from Valkyrie Profile 2" which, at those times, I think was accurate. Right now? I'm not sure that holds. Right now, I think it's between The Pile of Griefs and Weakness. This isn't actually surprising really, they are quite similar in a lot of ways. I'd probably say the main difference is that The Pile of Griefs goes for a more "epic" effect, to the extent you can in a slower piece. Weakness instead doesn't try that and just tries to be as beautiful of a sounding piece as it can be. And I think it succeeds rather well at that. Does context help it out immensely? I think so, yes, but I don't think it's needed to enjoy it. I really like all the different things this piece does and the effects it uses to achieve them.
[Spoiler for Valkyrie Profile 2, click to show]And amusingly enough with Climax Coming from the Abyss, The Pile of Griefs, and now Weakness there are the first 3 Dungeon Themes (and in order) for The Tower of Lezard Valeth. There's only one left! However, I don't expect that one to show, because I don't think it's anywhere near the level of the other 3. What an amazing final dungeon though, having The Pile of Griefs and Weakness as dungeon themes during different sections of it? Such a great dungeon, and such a great game. [/spoiler]
Now, to pick out a favorite part... Let's go with 1:22 - 2:44 or so, but again, it's hard for me to pick a section.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
haha what the. Wasn't expecting circus music here! At least it doesn't stick with that after the first few seconds, though I guess it does come back later. It's really not that special other than that, though. I'm even tempted to pull out YAOBT here, honestly, except I'm not really sure if Phase Themes are battle themes or not. <_< 5.5/10
.hack//G.U. Vol 1//Rebirth - Everything In These Hands
This is better. I like that effect that's like... clapping, I guess? For some reason that effect reminds me of Genesis Sonic music, I have no idea why. I like the parts where it becomes slower and differenter. Even though I really don't think they gel with the rest of the song that well, I kind of like the contrast. 6.5/10
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable: The Battle of Aces - Silent Bible
So, when I was younger, I downloaded a lot of anime OPs/random J-Pop songs, and part of my method of evaluating them quickly became "if this starts playing when I have my playlist on shuffle, do I know what song it is without checking the title?" I don't think this song (or Dear You, or Radical Dreamers) passes that test. That said, I do like it, I'm just trying to explain my difficulty in rating these, because I really, honestly find it difficult to differentiate them from any other, similar song.
If I treat this as an anime OP, I think it's pretty effective, and I think it's something I would absolutely listen to multiple times. I also find myself liking it more the more I listen to it, which is a good thing. I kind of have difficulty evaluating it as VG music, but I think 6.5/10 works here. Really, my biggest problem here is that it's just sort of "plain" and doesn't do anything spectacular.
Persona 3 - Memories of the Garden
Huh, well this is interesting. It's definitely nice sounding, and I think I'd quite enjoy listening to it as BGM. It doesn't really work for me as something to just listen to by itself, though. 5.5/10
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru 8 - lastendconductor
This was quite good. I do think its length kind of works against it, though. Really doesn't have a damn reason to be nearly 11 minutes long. Still gonna say 7/10 here though.
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria - Weakness
Hm, I like this quite a lot. I'll go with 7/10 here, could even get up to 7.5/10. Not sure how I feel about this vs. pile of greefs, mainly because I didn't go back and re-listen to greefs or anything. i'm just so lazy.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C7wvSqQ2L8&fmt=18
I know some people really like Goldeneye's soundtrack; personally, I just think it's okay. It's got a lot of nostalgia for me and works very well in-game, but I can't think of too many tracks I'd just want to listen to. This one is probably my favorite on the soundtrack. Not 100% sure though, I haven't listened to the whole thing recently. And I know I like Caverns too.
Anyway, as you might expect from the name, this plays during the second mission in the Bunker. From what I can recall - and keep in mind that 99% of my time with Goldeneye was in multiplayer or just dicking around in singleplayer - this was a really annoying mission, because it featured Natalya, the world's dumbest person, who would try to block bullets with her face. But only YOUR bullets. The multiplayer version of Bunker was possibly my favorite multiplayer map, though, so it picks up some points there! Assuming this song even played in the multiplayer version of Bunker, which it... probably didn't, but whatever.
Ignoring context, I still like this. It's kind of mediocre for the first 35 or seconds, but I quite like where it goes after that. I think it really works for a base in a snowy area; I'm not sure why, but I always associate those bell/chime/whatever you want to call them effects with snowy areas. And speaking of effects, I actually think it sort of reminds me of Someday the Dream Will End, but only because of that effect at for example 56 seconds, which is similar to the one that xp mentioned in his StDWE writeup. A very tenuous connection, I admit!
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
Hey now, Double Prayer is my 2nd-least-favorite Phase Theme, but I'm not sure I'd pull the "nothing too special" card on any Phase Theme.
I'm even tempted to pull out YAOBT here, honestly, except I'm not really sure if Phase Themes are battle themes or not
Confirmed that you don't read my write-ups tbqh. >_>
Seriously though, I mention in the I'm Right Here write-up that that one is the only non-battle Phase Theme.
I don't think this song (or Dear You, or Radical Dreamers) passes that test.
I find myself thinking, "What kind of test is that?" and "I'm not sure if that's the fault of the song" to be honest. >_>
Hm, I like this quite a lot. I'll go with 7/10 here, could even get up to 7.5/10
And to think I had literally typed up a "I guess you could say Weakness is my weakest entry since EXEC_SPHILIA" "joke" in the original write-up. ...I can never win.
---
Goldeneye 007 - Bunker 2
Man, what's with everyone and not picking the best Goldeneye piece (Silo)? Well, Bunker 2 is still okay. I didn't ever really think about Goldeneye's soundtrack, but I suppose it is pretty okay. Which, believe it or not, actually is kind of a compliment out of me.
this plays during the second mission in the Bunker. From what I can recall - and keep in mind that 99% of my time with Goldeneye was in multiplayer or just dicking around in singleplayer - this was a really annoying mission
Nah, Bunker 2 was okay. At the very least, it's problems were not Natalya, as anyone with sense would just keep her inside the cell at the beginning until you had cleared everything thing else out. Now, actually accomplishing that could be difficult. I distinctly recall being holed up in a room and actually running out of ammo trying to fend off the seemingly endless hordes of enemies. It might actually have been endless, I'm not too sure how Goldeneye's enemy respawn/behavior acted.
Anyway, the larger point is that Natalya is only an issue in Control. However, she is such an issue in Control it is completely legitimate to consider her the biggest issue with the entire game. (Second place goes to 00 Agent Cradle. That place is hell.)
The multiplayer version of Bunker was possibly my favorite multiplayer map
Bunker or Facility, yes.
I actually think it sort of reminds me of Someday the Dream Will End, but only because of that effect at for example 56 seconds, which is similar to the one that xp mentioned in his StDWE writeup.
I saw this and my initial reaction was "oh no," but that effect is actually kind of similar. STDWE does it way better though.
Anyway, Bunker 2 is definitely okay. I'll say 5.0 here.
---
Also, because it has come to my attention that ratings are possibly a "poison" unto this topic, I want to clarify something that I may not have made clear enough. As mentioned, 6.0 is a huge hurdle for me, if any song can reach 6.0, I actually quite like it. Even 5.0 is kind of a success, and even as far down as 4.0 and I probably still don't mind the song much. ...Honestly, even down to around 3.0 and I probably still think the piece/song has some redeeming parts. It's just I'm trying very hard to keep from doing what I typically tend to do and have all the scores creep upwards until everything is getting astronomical scores.
You know the whole joke about video game reviews and 5.0 being terrible and 7.0 being barely tolerable (and 8.8 being a blight)? Yeah, that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid here, because it's definitely the kind of thing I'd accidentally end up doing. There are very few pieces that I honestly did not like at all and would have significant trouble coming up with any praise for.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3gEKpGD4D4&fmt=18
Also known as "What should have been the Final Boss Theme of Persona 4." Seriously, what were they thinking with The Genesis? If you asked me what my favorite battle theme in Persona 4, this would be my answer more often than not, but there's definitely competition for that spot. I feel like I used to like this piece a lot more in the past, but it's still quite good. I definitely like the fast pace of the song and the guitar and percussion, definitely a nice battle theme. ...And then there's The Genesis and augh.
[Spoiler for Persona 4, click to show]This is the battle theme for the first form of the True End Final Boss, with The Genesis being the theme for the second form (which is also the final form that's actually a true fight.) Really though, Fog is just a much better theme in every possible way. Both in terms of how it sounds, and even the title! Fog is just a perfect fit for a title (sometimes I hear this called Mist, but either title works) given Persona 4 and the prevalence of fog in the game. Really, the worst thing Izanami does in the entire game is change her battle theme from Fog to The Genesis in that battle. Maybe it was a intentional move designed to dishearten the Investigation Team by making them have to listen to a much worse piece. [/spoiler]
As for my favorite part, definitely going to go with 0:30 - 1:47, no real competition at all here.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
Seriously though, I mention in the I'm Right Here write-up that that one is the only non-battle Phase Theme.
I read your writeups, I just don't memorize them. <_<
Nah, Bunker 2 was okay. At the very least, it's problems were not Natalya, as anyone with sense would just keep her inside the cell at the beginning until you had cleared everything thing else out.
i was just not smart enough to figure this out back when i was a kid.
Bunker or Facility, yes.
I give the nod to Complex over Facility, but they're all top 3 IMO.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Editor
Wolfenstein 3D - Zero Hour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-wZ2HhRx24&fmt=18
Wolfenstein 3D is one of the first video games I ever played, and I played it again recently on the GBA. The GBA version, for some inexplicable reason, removed all the music. Now, Wolfenstein 3D's music really isn't very good, honestly; it's certainly not as good as Doom's or Heretic's. I still wish they had left it in the GBA port, though.
Anyway, Zero Hour is probably my favorite Wolfenstein 3D track, which probably speaks volumes about the average quality of the soundtrack! I mean, I do legitimately like this, but it's really not anything special; it's repetitive and sounds way too upbeat for the game.
There's also this:
Wolfenstein 3D - Into the Dungeons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLtFJJxcjk4&fmt=18
Very simplistic music. Probably too simplistic, honestly. I do like the bells and the footsteps/drums, though. I mean... that's really the entire song, so it sounds like I like the whole thing, but it's just not very special. I'm really only posting it so I can post this:
Doom - The Demons from Adrian's Pen (E2M2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HZEF6Ujsl0&fmt=18
A lot of people have noted the similarities to Into the Dungeons, so even if this isn't a "true" remix, I feel okay with putting them together in one day like this. I mean, to me, Demons from Adrian's Pen is sort of like Into the Dungeons except a hundred times better, so yeah. It thankfully ditches the simplicity and adds multiple layers of atmosphere, which really, really helps it. If I had to pick a favorite part, I'd say from 1:50 to the end of the song, but really I think the whole thing's pretty good.
Also, you should read that YouTube description, because it's pretty interesting and way better than my writeup.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
...Well then. This is certainly... something...
I can't in any good conscience give this anything higher than a 3.0, I just can't. In fact, I feel like even that is too high, so let's say 2.5.
Doom - The Demons from Adrian's Pen (E2M2)
This is a vast improvement. On like every single level. 5.0.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIz1erKdcUg&fmt=18
Alternate Version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SLe96CNHgQ&fmt=18
***A very important note here: If you don't want to be spoiled for KH 358/2 then do not look at the Youtube description or comments or anything. Just don't. It contains spoilers. Alternatively, you can follow the second link given, which is slightly different from the in-game version, which apparently was on the OST or something. Still will want to avoid the comments there though***
Anyway, this is probably my favorite non-Opening-Theme KH song/piece. It takes what was already probably a Top 3 piece in that regard for me and makes it even better. I find it a bit interesting that all of my favorite non-OP KH pieces are all ones I'd consider the tragic/sad pieces - like Vector to the Heavens and The Other Promise. Among some other KH songs that make up elements of Vector of the Heavens, I believe one of them is Dearly Beloved, which is always a plus.
[Spoiler for KH 358/2, click to show]Of course, the major one is Xion's Theme (the aforementioned Top 3 piece I was talking about), seeing as how this is the boss theme for Xion's Final Form, which is the second-to-last boss of the game, and some would say the true final boss. I've said many times that KH 358/2 is pretty boring for like 75-80% of the game, starts getting quite good for the next 10-15%, and the endgame is just amazing. This is part of that endgame, the entire confrontation with Xion and the aftermath is just incredible, as are the events immediately beforehand. However, the final two days of the game are just well above everything else. [/spoiler]
Really, I like most every part of this piece, but for my favorite part I'll say 1:25 - 1:49, because I feel the piece is just so much more powerful when it is reduced to that "basic" of a level. There's hardly anything going on during that section, but oddly, I feel it just works so well there.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeK_Y-CGXG8&fmt=18
Okay, here's something to make up for Zero Hour, hopefully. This was nominated for the VGMC5 and had a decent number of noms - including one from me - but got screwed over in a couple different ways and ended up missing the contest. This made me very upset, and so now I'm posting it here. Even though I know absolutely nothing about the game it's from.
Anyway... I'm really not sure I can claim this doesn't fall into the category I was talking about earlier, of Japanese songs that I have trouble differentiating between. The difference here is that A) I just plain like the way it sounds a lot more, and B) the instrumentation is quite distinct and thus helps it stand out. Okay, so it's distinct because it's a wall of noise, but it's a wall of noise that's nice to listen to, in my opinion. As for the vocalist, she's really not that special, but it's not like her voice is bad by any means, I just wouldn't say she manages the CHOIR OF ANGELS SINGING VELVET INTO MY EARS effect some vocalists do. My favorite part is probably from 1:03 to 1:55, especially because the vocals disappear for a few seconds after that, which is a touch I usually like. In general though, I like the first 3 and a half minutes of the song a lot more than the last 2 minutes.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
This is certainly good, but I kind of find myself sighing wondering how this apparently dodges most of the "criticism" you have been throwing at my songs lately. Really, it feels like you looked for a song that hit as many of them as you possibly could and then went with it, perhaps in some unsubtle attempt to troll. <_<
I'm tempted to say that parts of this remind me of Ring A Bell just to see if you can figure that one out! I'm also tempted to generate a bunch of criticism for the sake of generating criticism, but this legitimately very good and I don't do that kind of thing! It's not so much that the first 3 and a half minutes are better than the last 2 minutes as it is that there's a noticeably weaker section right around 3:30 - 4:00 and again at like 5:00 - End (I'm approximating, I didn't look for exact times) it recovers in the middle there and is right where it used to be. I'll say 7.5. I'm a little torn, I don't know if I should say 7.0 instead, but I'll stick with 7.5 for the moment.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEXtLhfan4k&fmt=18
Not exactly the title I would expect for a final boss theme, but Go Go Go! is a pretty good boss theme if you ask me. A note in advance, that link kind of ends abruptly, but it does so when a loop would begin, so sorry about that. You're not missing anything there, but it can be a bit jarring. This is the final boss theme of Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, though it also plays in an unwinnable battle earlier in the game, though if you're good enough you can practically stall it out indefinitely and listen to this even longer. My favorite part is most definitely the section at 0:27 - 0:39.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxVj2Gxv_bk&fmt=18
Definitely the most memorable song from Soul Calibur II, for me personally. I don't think I like it as much as Unwavering Resolve, but I do think it's way more memorable. As you might have already suspected, this plays on the character select screen, which means you'll probably only hear it on average for about 10 seconds. Which is kind of a shame, because I think it's a really good track, one of the best in the game, aside from just being memorable.
That said, there's really no way to spin this that avoids the fact that there's about a minute of music here (followed by 50 seconds of silence in all the videos I checked, dunno what's up with that), and I think it even loops within that one minute. I like it, I think it's a great fit for a character select screen, but there really isn't very much to it.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
This is pretty okay, all things considered, but there isn't much to say here. 5.0.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Liberal Arts Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt2xQdgA7K4&fmt=18
I'm not certain if I like this more than Shinra Company for my favorite FFVII-related song, but I imagine I'd probably side with The Price of Freedom more often than not, it's just a great piece. I think it strikes a great balance between feeling "epic" and "tragic" whatever that might mean. As for my favorite part, it's definitely got to be 2:56 - 3:28, though again, it's another piece where I like pretty much every part of it.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLl5tu9au_Q&fmt=18
If you care about FE4 spoilers, which you should, I'd recommend not reading the comments. Or looking at the related videos too closely. Just a heads up.
Anyway, sorry about another FE4 track so soon, but I'm dead tired right now and need something I can comment on easily. This is probably my third favorite track from FE4, though like I think I mentioned before, this one and Chapter 2 go back and forth in my mind. It helps that it plays during an absolutely amazing chapter, one of the best in any Fire Emblem game, but I'm sure I'd like it regardless. My favorite part? Definitely 0:47 through 1:21, and of that, especially 1:01 through 1:21. Reminds me of Binary Sunset from Star Wars, I think. Not sure why.
One thing you might notice... or maybe not, I could just be weird... is that this really doesn't sound like a normal endgame theme. It's much more... I guess I'd say melancholic, while still being powerful. There's a very good reason for that, and it has to do with the way FE4 chooses to tell its story. It does not approach warfare - the entire idea of warfare - in the same way other Fire Emblem games do, and this song really sums up its position on that matter. ...Really, that statement will probably only make sense if you play the game, but what can I do. At least I didn't break out spoiler tags here, and damn was I tempted.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Editor
Well, there's nothing much special about this. It sounds like... a battle theme. And Persona music. How 'bout that. It's not bad or anything, but it's the kind of thing I would hear and then never think about again because it just doesn't stand out to me. 5.5/10
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days - Vector to the Heavens
This is not one of my favorite KH pieces by any means. In fact, if you just played the song for me, and didn't say anything about what series it's from or its quality, I'd guess like... mediocre Touhou music, probably.
4/10
Lunar: Silver Star Harmony - Go Go Go!
gogogogogogogogogogo
Well, this starts out as YAOBT, but then the horns come in and it earns some points there, but then they leave way too quickly.
5/10
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - The Price of Freedom
Initial reaction like 10 seconds in: oh my god this is good
Reaction when the electric guitar comes in: why.
For some reason it's not as jarring/terrible when it returns later, maybe because I was expecting it then. I still really, really dislike it and think it's completely unnecessary, but whatever. The song still manages to swing like a 7/10, but without the electric guitar it would manage like an 8.5 or higher instead.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Liberal Arts Major
*Sigh*
This spends a great deal of time making me go "whyyyyyyyyy" then recovers for like 10 seconds, and just plunges me back into that position of wondering just "why" for the entire rest of the length of the piece.
...I'd like to say this strikes me more as some kind of... I dunno "normal" FE map theme, or even some kind of Zelda Overworld, but I'd not want to speak ill of normal FE map themes or Zelda Overworlds. Let's say 4.0 and only because that 10 second stretch is nice enough that I'd feel bad to go any lower with the score, but I really feel I should because no way the rest of the song deserves that 4.0.
---
Well, there's nothing much special about this. It sounds like... a battle theme. And Persona music. How 'bout that. It's not bad or anything, but it's the kind of thing I would hear and then never think about again because it just doesn't stand out to me.
*Glances up at that FE theme*
...*Sigh* If not for "And Persona music" I might have thought you were commenting on the wrong song!
This is not one of my favorite KH pieces by any means. In fact, if you just played the song for me, and didn't say anything about what series it's from or its quality, I'd guess like... mediocre Touhou music, probably.
...Because Dearly Beloved would show up in Touhou and aughhhhhhhhhh. Also, I have no idea how you could place it as Touhou. Touhou music is perhaps the only thing I feel I could identify, because I feel it's pretty distinct from most other songs.
Reaction when the electric guitar comes in: why.
Reaction when reading this reaction: augh.
I still really, really dislike it and think it's completely unnecessary, but whatever.
...The piece could survive the exclusion of the guitar, but would become a lot more boring if you took it out completely. There's enough to it that it doesn't need it, but you'd be losing too much by taking it out.
---
Anyway, what I'm learning here is that it was a mistake to stop the cycle of Ar tonelico and G.U., because quite clearly things were going better then.
---
xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
Editor
Everything in These Hands + Double Prayer + PURGER/Aurica didn't do too hot either, tbqh.
What you should be learning is to just ignore the things I say.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic
Editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfG8_1JpEcs&fmt=18
Well, I'm not exactly expecting a great reception to something that's like 20 seconds of music looped for two minutes, but uh. Oh well. This is probably my second favorite track from Apollo Justice. Actually, it's probably not, but oh well, I haven't decided how I'm going to handle my actual second favorite yet.
This plays during puzzles where you need to explain the logistics of something, e.g. where somebody was standing that would allow them to see the crime taking place. As such, it's gonna be pretty chilled out, puzzle music, and it... is. I always really liked this song when playing through the game; it definitely works for the scenes in which it plays, and kept me from getting too annoyed at any of those puzzles. ...Not that those puzzles were ever hard, as far as I can remember, but still.
...You know what, while we're here, might as well do another one.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney - Perceive ~ Surging Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ikBJePm_w&fmt=18
I don't think this is actually a remix of Trance Logic, but it's very similar, both in terms of how it sounds and when it plays. This one plays when you're using the game's gimmick, the Perceive system, which basically involves becoming very focused on subtle movements and tells that signify that a witness is lying. As far as gimmicks in the series go, Perceiving is by far my favorite. And I always liked this track, just because it was kind of trippy and a little bit unsettling. Admittedly, it works a lot better as BGM than as just something to listen to.
---
"There's a pony in the shop, but don't buy it. It might do something unfortunate to you." ~from the first Summoner's Seal topic