#365daysofvgm

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 192:

Keep The Flag Flying (Guilty Gear XX Λ Core [2006])

How about a mix of Electric Guitar, an imposing Organ, and delightful Violins for an explosive yet “regal” take on battle music? They aren’t always used in the track either, making the section at the 88 second mark, all the more impactful; I got goosebumps listening to it, taking in those longer Strings with the descending melodies, especially the 1st time around! That section also makes me think of the long history between Sol and Ky for some odd reason, maybe it’s the way all the instruments reunite during that specific moment, makes me think that way. The Drums progress into higher levels of intensity as the track progresses too, this is a keeper for sure!

(Length: 3+ minutes)

#guilty gear xx #Guilty Gear XX Λ Core #guilty gear xx accent core +r #order sol #sol badguy #SolBadguy #ky kiske #KyKiske #guilty gear #arcade games #arcade #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 203:

Map Theme 2 (Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition/Pokémon Conquest [2011])

Not only is this one of the best “Eastern”-based compositions I’ve ever heard on the DS, but I can’t think of a better way to hype the player up for the very final battle. The constant melody is like your army marching towards the very last area, with full confidence.

Just when you think it’s going to end, it keeps going for about 26 more seconds with another emotional section that loops so well back into the beginning so well that it’s mind-blowing! Even if you don’t like this crossover, the music was well worth it, just listing 1 track from it isn’t enough for me to express that, let me tell ya!

(Length before loop: 1.5+ minutes)

#Pokemon + Nobunaga's Ambition #pokemon conquest #PokemonConquest #pokemon #nobunaga's ambition #Nobunaga no Yabō #nintendo ds #ds #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 139:

LieN - Gentle Hands (.hack//G.U. Vol. 1//Rebirth [2006])

I know I won’t be able to play this game for a good few months at least, but hearing this song after originally hearing its shorter version in Project X Zone 2 impressed me even more than Stairs of Time from 19 days ago, which had just about the same personal history of discovery too!

Since I’m planning to play G.U. after the original saga, wanting to take in its story and other aspects, I don’t want to waste your time with an incomplete description that’d do the music a disservice. Instead, you should simply know that this is one of the most emotional themes I’ve ever heard in a video game, and I look forward to finding the respective context on my own!

(Length: 4+ minutes)

#.hack//g.u. #.hack G.U. #dothack G.U. #.hack// #.hack #dot hack #playstation 2 #sony playstation 2 #sony ps2 #ps 2 #ps2 #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 135:

Ice Valley [Phendrana Drifts]/Phendrana Deep Lake Area (Metroid Prime [2002])

This is Metroid’s big chance for a top favorite, and it doesn’t waste that opportunity! Set in the ice-themed locale of the planet Tallon IV, the 1st track of today’s double-feature, loves its Pianos, ambient sounds mixed with Reverb, and Strings to express peace, intrigue, and unfamiliarity together so fluently. As the track progresses, it gets more melancholy, helped by the Choirs that kick in around this point too, which I think is fair to interpret as a nod towards the Chozo race’s tragic past, which Samus is here to put an end to, whether she knows it or not.

The Deep Lake Area track is nearly just as good, in a more action-packed manner with a constant Techno Drum mixed in, since it’s set in areas filled with enemies to fight against; if you’re not into slow tracks, this one’s also got most of the same traits that made the original good!

I heard the Metroid Prime Remastered Switch release did well, so, while I’m only really interested in the 2D titles from a gameplay perspective as of this writing, it’s good to hear that the franchise has been doing notably well lately

(Length before loop [Ice Valley]: 3.5+ minutes, [Deep Lake Area]: 2.5+ minutes)

#metroid prime #MetroidPrime #metroid #metroid prime remastered #gamecube #game cube #nintendo gamecube #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 29:

Struggle III (Radiata Stories [2005])

What do you think fighting enemies in concert halls should sound like? Dramatic orchestra? For me, I'd rather hear something clean and energetic like this

(Length before loop: Nearly 1.5 minutes)

#radiata stories #sony playstation 2 #playstation 2 #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube #sony ps2 #ps2 #play station 2

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 169:

Tumult ~ Crest of a Violent Wave (Sekaiju no Meikyū III: Seikai no Raihōsha/Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City & Sekaiju no Meikyuu V: Nagaki Shinwa no Hate/Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth, including the FM Synth version [2010/2016])

This is a level of FM synth so good, that it keeps getting remixed! This time around, it’s a lot easier to distinguish the DS & FM versions, with the FM version having a Tubular Bell that’s borderline absent from the in-game DS variant, so with that in mind, more on the wonderful track itself!

How do you make a fast-paced battle track over 3 minutes long? This track has some satisfying answers to that! 1st thing to come to mind is that Elec Bass, you might already know how much I praised it in the Skeleton Boomerang entry from almost 2 months earlier, it’s a similar deal here!

The other Strings manage to be just as action-packed, helped by the perfectly-paced Drums and other generally uplifting FM staples; uplifting is what I can describe this track as, while not going too far in that direction, since most battle themes need to imply at least some form of challenge to overcome. Those wanting a more “serious/grounded” variant will probably prefer the DS version, because the aforementioned Tubular Bells of the FM version only contribute to the track’s uplifting energy. Yet again, I love both versions well enough to consider both favorites!

Gotta thank TheLinkToThePast (Discord) again for informing me of not just the soundtrack of the Etrian Odyssey DS trilogy, but also this day’s featured Etrian Odyssey V FM track, because while it's different enough to be its own entry, it’s worth mentioning here for all fans of the original track, including me!

Based on Etrian Odyssey IV’s “Raging Winds” take on the Etrian Odyssey III classic, V’s own “Raging Waves” leans further on the dramatic side, with a more concise loop too, given how there wasn’t much space left to expand on the original’s uplifting mood. The Bass is also more traditional, with a heavier set of Drum beats and Drum rolls for some much-needed intensity. Some melodies are altered to work more closely with the higher pitch this track uses in comparison to III, while the non-loop beginning and end parts leading up to the loop are completely new, both setting the tone for a familiar composition that’s not as upbeat. It’s almost like the RPG music styles of old have grown up, ready to take on the challenges of the future together with us!

(Length before loop [DS & FM]: 3.5+ minutes, [V FM]: Nearly 4 minutes)

#Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City #etrian odyssey iii #etrian odyssey #Sekaiju no Meikyū III: Seikai no Raihōsha #Sekaiju no Meikyuu III #sekaiju no meikyuu #nintendo ds #ds #nintendo 3ds #3DS #etrian odyssey v #etrian odyssey 5 #etrian odyssey 3 #Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth #Sekaiju no Meikyuu 5 #Sekaiju no Meikyuu 3 #Sekaiju no Meikyuu V #365daysofvgm #youtube #YouTube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 145:

Battle: New Lumos (Miitopia [2016])

Here’s another super popular track, which like with Snake Eater weeks back, just felt wrong to exclude under all circumstances. Aside from pointing out that all but 1 of the 4 composers for the soundtrack worked on Rhythm Heaven Megamix and America’s Test Kitchen, there’s nothing significant I can really add to the great things many have already said about this instant classic for years to come! I think it's safe to say that Miitopia is the full-fledged RPG that a large crowd of Nintendo fans wished Find Mii I & II was, and so, that wish was granted.

Interesting fact though, these composers started composing Nintendo game music as late as 2004/2008, or 2015 in Yumi Takahashi’s case; an encouraging story for any new composer willing to make musical masterpieces, especially together! Players of Miitopia say this is a harsh postgame area to fight in; saving some of the best music in the game for last, I suppose!

(Length before loop: Nearly 2 minutes)

#miitopia #mii topia #nintendo mii #mii #nintendo 3ds #3ds #365daysofvgm #youtube #YouTube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 158:

Fei Long Stage (Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers; “Super Street Fighter IV” Theme of Fei Long ~SSFIV Arrange~ version [2010])

I liked the heroic melody of the original, but it lasted too short, and felt like the Electric Guitar was getting in the way of it. With this version, the Electric Guitar is put further into the background, and only takes up the majority of attention around the looping part, allowing the other instruments to truly shine, especially in the context of a remaster with more sounds available. That calm section in the middle where it's almost a solo is my favorite part of this whole track! With all that in mind, I believe the extra long wait for Fei Long’s theme to get a followup after not having his own theme in the initial Street Fighter IV console release, was well worth it!

(Length before loop: 1.5+ minutes)

#Super Street Fighter IV #Super Street Fighter 4 #fei long #feilong #SSFIV #ssf4 #street fighter #StreetFighter #SF #xbox 360 #x360 #playstation 3 #sony playstation 3 #ps3 #play station 3 #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 178:

Fortress (Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters [1991])

Also in my backlog is this little Gameboy game not released in Japan until the 3DS EShop’s eventual rerelease (Which I got before it stopped accepting purchases). I don’t think I’ve seen a Gameboy track make long sounds like this before, let alone to great effect. It’s just really catchy and sinister at the same time; an endearing misfit duo not heard often in this list. That also makes it a fine atmosphere for Halloween scenario shenanigans, I wildly imagine

(Length before loop: Nearly 2 minutes)

#Kid Icarus of Myths and Monsters #kid icarus #gameboy #game boy #nintendo gameboy #nintendo game boy #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 151:

Kenshakou [Swordray/The Hole of Druaga] (Mr. DRILLER Drill Land [2002])

A top-favorite of mine that I consider nothing short of legendary. When Skeletonmanners (Discord, thank you by the way) reminded me of this track’s existence just a bit over a month before 2023 began, I knew I HAD to include it in the list!

The Violins are the main stars that can make just about anyone feel the desire to go out into a risky adventure, but we can’t forget the heroic Horns, acoustic Guitar, marching Drum rolls, and well-placed Piano rhythms! My favorite part has to be about 115 seconds into the track, it alone can stand as its own epic RPG title screen theme! Considering the in-universe park attraction’s Tower of Druaga theme-ing, there was no reason to even make a track this unique and long when they could’ve simply remastered source material music, but instead, we got this. May I call this high-level talent and dedication?

(Length: Nearly 5.5 minutes)

#Mr. Driller Drill Land #mr. driller #Mr Driller Drill Land #mr driller #dig dug #Dig-Dug #nintendo gamecube #game cube #gamecube #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 118:

Crush 40 - NEVER TURN BACK (Shadow the Hedgehog [2005])

Here’s my personal highlight for Crush 40 as a whole! Let’s make this clear, as hard as I tried to, I DID NOT enjoy this game. A cool and edgy atmosphere with a well-written part in the Last Story alone won’t make up for the poorly-thought out, disconnected events claiming to be a story required to unlock it. Being non-canon doesn’t erase the awful experiences I had prior; that goes for the questionable gameplay + level design too, solidifying my stance I said weeks earlier in this list: “Finales are overrated, in most cases they shouldn’t be all a work is known for”.

Miserable experience aside, this awesome ending theme starts off with a beautiful Piano solo containing part of the “I Am All Of Me” melody to symbolize the end of Shadow’s struggles with his past. Followed up by catchy voices and the Metal Guitar compositions Crush 40’s known for, combined with lyrics about moving on from the past, and you know you’re in for a good time!

(Length: 4.5+ minutes)

#shadow the hedgehog #shadow the hedgehog 2005 #shadow the hedgehog game #shadow sonic #sonic the hedgehog #sonic #gamecube #game cube #nintendo gamecube #playstation 2 #ps2 #ps 2 #play station 2 #sony ps2 #sony playstation 2 #xbox #og xbox #x box #xbox original #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube #3d sonic #sonic franchise #sonic games #Shadow the Hedgehog (Character)

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 111:

Flux Is On (TUNIC [2022])

This is a game I watched a Twitch stream of, clearly one of those games that, given my oddly specific taste in games, is more enjoyable to watch than play, and so I watched a whole playthrough worth of streams rather than playing it for myself, but boy was the time watching it incredibly fun, as well as pleasant in aesthetic!

This track gives me a comfortable atmosphere like a mysterious but peaceful place to rest in, one that might even be called futuristic! That being said, it’s actually for a secret room to change your appearance, so its music seems to take on more of a secret fashion show feel! So much echo-y effects to appreciate as well, it makes a normally generic happy track that much more special.

If you want another adventure game as puzzle-focused in design philosophy as the very 1st Legend of Zelda, right down to strikingly similar artstyles in their manuals plus difficult puzzles, this game is made for you, without a single doubt in my mind!

(Length: 1.5+ minutes)

#TUNIC #tunic game #xbox one #xbox one x #xbox one s #xboxone #xbox 1 #xbox1 #xbox series x #xbox series s #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 163:

RED Triumphs! (Team Fortress 2 [2007, update in 2016])

Featuring another cool game with no need for introduction. While the expected Trumpets and heavier Horns fit the “spy movie” style the soundtrack usually goes for, my personal highlight goes to the constant, fast-paced rhythms made by the Percussion, which sound like they’re part of the box-shaped variety. Whether it’s that or a more traditional set of Drums, I can’t deny how much this use of Percussion makes it stand out among the other favorite tracks I’ve linked so far, so its earned its rightful place among the others in the list!

(Length: 1.5+ minutes)

#team fortress 2 #teamfortress 2 #tf2 #tf 2 #team fortress #TF (Shooter game series) #TeamFortress #xbox 360 #x360 #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube

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Just wanted to say, while I'm still too busy to post regularly

I WILL get that #365DaysOfVGM list I set out on, done, as all 365 entries were filled before the list started (With only a few replacements made during this year). Expect rapid-fire posts in the middle of December, most of them with their descriptions temporarily compromised until later on. That will be the only way to get this list done with how much my responsibilities are proving to be a challenge, so to anyone following me, I'm not abandoning this account, far from it; I'll make a "big return", just you wait!

#365daysofvgm #announcement #i'm not dead

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 90:

Tim Trance (Marble Blast Ultra [2006])

This Trance (With some Techno parts mixed in, such as the Drums) masterpiece composed by Tim Clarke is part of what led me to having a soft spot for the game itself, and it needed to fulfill this aspect, given it’s the only track in the whole game!

From the moment I started this game’s trial version on the Xbox Arcade Live Compilation disc on the console’s launch day, I knew this was a game worth playing the full version of, and while I don’t have that version anymore, it’s freeware on PC now, so recommending this game is very easy! It’s 3D platforming with a healthy mix of simple and challenging for those aiming for better records, taking advantage of the aspect of how it’d feel to control a round object like a marble

(Length: 5+ minutes)

#Marble Blast Ultra #MarbleBlast Ultra #marble blast #marbleblast #xbox 360 #x360 #xbox live arcade #xboxlive arcade #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube #MarbleBlastUltra

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#365DaysOfVGM Day 181:

Coalescence/... con lentitud poderosa (Risk of Rain/Risk of Rain 2 [2013/2020])

Need I mention the instruments this time? They truly do speak for themselves here, as the whole list’s halfway point. It’s also 1 of the slowest-paced tracks here, so think of it as a sort of intermission between all the action-packed and relaxed tracks placed before and after this one.

The survivors are at the very last area; the spaceship leading the way back home. And so, the tune starts out relaxing to express relief, but always keeps a constant melancholy melody that fits well with how complex the track gets later on; a grim reminder of everything needed to be slain in order to get here, and how much more will still be required to make it to safety.

It’s not like there's a choice either; it’s either this planet’s life, or their own that perishes, and the player characters involved, whether through death or survival, will have this memory to likely haunt them for the rest of their existence… if they’re not already off the deep end, that is.

Near the end, this already emotional track simply explodes into what I consider cool and sad at the same time, making it what I find to be the (Closest to) perfect way to end off this indie roguelike classic from almost a decade ago.

Shoutouts to Risk of Rain 2’s “...con lentitud poderosa” which pays tribute to this track with a shared melody and even slower pace; that already makes for yet another ambitious setup!

And now, long after I prepared this description, a remake called “Risk of Rain Returns” has been recently announced! Although I don’t trust Gearbox to handle the series properly following their acquisition, some of the most important staff from the original are back, hopefully to fix some of the biggest issues from the original’s imperfect coding as well, since that’s getting remade from the ground up too; faith in this remake is quite justified at the moment, even with the worries in mind, let’s see where it goes from here!

(Length [Original]: 5.5+ minutes, […con lentitud poderosa]: Nearly 5 minutes)

#Risk of Rain #RiskOfRain #RoR #risk of rain 2 #RiskOfRain 2 #ror2 #risk of rain returns #RiskofRain Returns #RoR Returns #playstation 4 #sony ps4 #ps4 #ps 4 #xbox one #xbox1 #nintendo switch #Switch (Nintendo) #365daysofvgm #youtube #Youtube