Pairing III (D) - Round 2

Download Links:

197 - Metroid (NES) - Kraid's Hideout
172 - Alien3 (Gen) - Title Screen

Streaming:

Kraid's Hideout: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Title Screen: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:

Random pairing my ass. You did those two together on purpose, didn't you?

By all rights, Kraid's Lair should suck. It's a bare two-voice square wave melody that barely even uses the NES hardware. And yet, the base melody is incredibly atmospheric. Tanaka is making the song good through sheer compositional skill, and you have to respect that. Ergo, Metroid continues to get my vote.

Yes, I realize my voting justifications are a bit inconsistent. Multiple factors plus being too lazy to write a dissertation on every single pairing is why.

Damn, this is the toughest pairing I've encountered in Round 2 thus far. Both songs really take me back. Logic tells me to vote for Alien 3 because of it's complexity, but I just can't deny the strong nostalgic effects of Kraid's Hideout. Title Screen does have a couple dead spots during the second half of the tune as well, so I'm gonna have to go with Metroid here I think. Argh, sorry Alien 3.

- Justin Pfeiffer

Originally Posted by Monkey King

By all rights, Kraid's Lair should suck. It's a bare two-voice square wave melody that barely even uses the NES hardware. And yet, the base melody is incredibly atmospheric. Tanaka is making the song good through sheer compositional skill, and you have to respect that. Ergo, Metroid continues to get my vote.

Agreed 100%. Every note counts in creating an amazing atmosphere, it's just stunning to listen to.

Also this pairing sucks. Both are amazing.

I honestly can't beleive what I'm reading about Metroid (NES) - Kraid's Hideout. Then again, people were saying the same thing about similarly boring and banal Metroid tracks during the BSC, so I shouldn't be all that surprised. This song is a placeholder that only merits consideration if you're a fan (or fanboy, if you will) of the series. Since I never played any Metroid, I must not have contracted that particular brain parasite.

Alien3 (Gen) - Title Screen has everything Kraid lacks. Melody. Rhythm. Creativity. Interest. It only lacks the fanboy element to put it over the top.

In case my raving rant above wasn't clear enough, Kraid can go to hell.

NB: This is a purely unbiased vote. I'm not a fan of the Metroid series, myself. (Inspired by orion's post )

"Kraid's Hideout" sounds sneaky and all that. The song corresponds perfectly with it's title, and that's always a big plus in my book. "Title Screen" is oh-so-mediocre compared to this Metroid shit godliness...okay-ness.

Alien3 - Title Screen - 16th best song of bracket D
Metroid - Kraid's Hideout - 27th best song of bracket D

Sometimes, Kraid gets on my good side. It does have a certain flair. I usually am more wanting for depth, however. Title Screen is some really nifty use of Genesis synth. A nice clean sound when held up against peers from the system. It would be rated a lot higher on my list if not for that creaking SFX around the loop.

Alien's Title Screen is merely cool.


Kraid's Theme is smooth, like nice vodka.