[C] First Round #8 (Desert BGM vs. Angel's Fear)

Listen to both songs and select the one you prefer.

Download Links:

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures - Desert BGM
Seiken Densetsu 2 - Angel's Fear

Streaming:

Desert BGM: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Angel's Fear: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:

Nostalgia plays a strong factor in both these songs. The first, a remixed and renamed Overworld theme from A Link to the Past; the second, the epic-sounding introductory song to Secret of Mana, which also plays at a crucial juncture in the quest.

I'm casting my vote for Angel's Fear. I prefer the gradual escalation from piano-tender to orchestral-epic, than an admittedly catchy martial beat the competition offers.

I really do love Dark World and almost all arrangements of it, and Desert BGM doesn't stray far from the original by any stretch of the imagination. However, Angel's Fear has always touched me, even though I don't like the opening distortion sounds. The simple three notes of E A G and the cascading effects later on have always held a special place in my heart. It's strange, but I really get the feeling that Angel's Fear is a song that is meant tell a story, compared to something that's just a cool song to listen to.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures - Desert BGM
The Dark World theme is always a good listen, and it's reproduced almost verbatim here on slightly different (slightly inferior, despite its age) synth. One almost has to wonder why the nominator didn't just put Dark World up, though that would have provoked something of a backlash I'm sure.

Seiken Densetsu 2 - Angel's Fear
A true VGM classic, and oddly enough a first-time entrant in the BSC. Kikuta infused his brilliant Secret of Mana OST with a strongly ethereal and a strongly quirky side, and then combined the two with great effect. This is the ethereal side in its purest form, sweeping and melodious. It's this theme that encapsulates the franchise for me more than any other.

Normally, I'd be all for giving the new guy a go against what is widely held to be a classic song. But since that new guy is a note-for-note transcription of another classic, the system breaks down. In this case, I prefer Angel.

Angel's Fear is easily one of the best VGM pieces of music in the SNES era.

I just wish Kikuta would have composed more music like this.

This is a bit tough for me. Angel's Fear is definitely good, but it's up against one of my favorite Zelda songs (gotta love the dorian). In my mind, the latter is superior, and so it shall receive my vote.

This is a damn good match. I wish the original version of Dark World were here (though this one is only inferior by a small amount). Both songs are good enough to be considered classics. Abstain for now; I'll see which one I keep coming back to the most.

What the hell. Seriously? We're letting in near picture-perfect copies of old songs now? Old songs that made it into the top 16? Fuck this shit.

Awesomeness in the form of Kikuta, I salute you. This is my town tune in GCN Animal Crossing.

Originally Posted by wvlfpvp

What the hell. Seriously? We're letting in near picture-perfect copies of old songs now? Old songs that made it into the top 16? Fuck this shit.

Man I'm so glad I checked the list of songs that made the top 16 in the first page of the discussion thread or else I would've believed you and voted against Dark World on principle. The fact that the synth sounds almost like the SNES version, to the point that I actually thought this was the wrong song tagged and had to check, didn't help, though. Oh yeah, Dark World, very nice tune.

Angel's Fear is even better. Not much to talk about.

I could have sworn that it did. My bad. Not gonna go back and edit my first post, like some people.

This is cruel. Two songs filled to the brim with nostalgia an good memories, and one has to go. As strong and moving as Angel´s Fear is - I appreciate Desert just a bit more.

Dark World is a great track and by consequence so is Desert BGM.

Goodness there are a lot of Secret of Mana tracks, and most of them heighten my need to get the soundtrack, this one no exception.

I feel compelled to vote for Desert BGM, it's just a better piece in my opinion even if it is a carbon copy of Dark World.

: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures - Desert BGM
: Seiken Densetsu 2 - Angel's Fear

To the nominator of Desert BGM: I really wouldn't have thought of you as any less of a person if you had just straight up nominated Dark World. Even if it wasn't one of my favorite tracks from the Zelda series (which I'll be honest is not a terribly hard list to get on).

Angel's Fear is another excellent SNES track, and the two are neck and neck, but I prefer the drive of the Link to the Past track over the beauty of the Secret of Mana one. Pleased that one will move on, angered that one won't.

I'm with everyone else here: both are unabashed classics. Of course, Angel's Fear is one of my favorite intro tracks of all-time, while Dark World is simply a lovingly appreciated overworld theme.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm about to overdose on nostalgia.

Unlike most, I have no nostalgic attachment to "Desert BGM". But I can still see it's a pretty powerful, well-composed piece of music. Some nice militaristic undertones compliment the badass melody with neat aptitude and the climax is particularly entertaining.

But wow, it's up against "Angel's Fear", also a fantastic piece of music but this time there's a strong nostalgia factor. Such a beautiful piece this one; it positively radiates with beauty and elegance. Putting the nostalgia factor aside though, I think I'll give my vote to the Zelda tune; all this Kikuta-voting has worn me out a bit plus I think the desert track has a bit more vigor, which is what I'm liking at the moment.

"Desert BGM" - 8.5/10
"Angel's Fear" - 8.4?/10

By the way, am I the only one who's really gotten the urge to play Secret of Mana ever since this contest started? I think not.

I don't know why Desert BGM is here instead of the original Dark World track from Link to the Past. It doesn't sound any better (OK the lead instrument is more clear, but I kinda like the way the SNES' lead sounds). I'd rather vote for the real deal than a cheap knockoff.

Angel's Fear is a classic. I just wish it wasn't over so soon.