Preliminary Match #11

Listen to all five songs and select the one you like best.

Final Final Fantasy Tactics A2 - Grimore of the Rift - Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe
Rise of Nations - Simple Song
Deus Machina Demonbane - Arkham City
Death Smiles - Lost Forest - Stage B-1
Sorcerian Online - Lucifer's Water Gate - Bloody River

Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Simple Song: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Arkham City: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Lost Forest: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Lucifer's Water Gate - Bloody River: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:

Final Final Fantasy Tactics A2 - Grimore of the Rift - Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe
While FFTA2 had some good arranges, the original tracks were even better, and this one is the pick of the bunch. It's got a fine, addictive melody with a nicely ethereal bridge, and an overall atmosphere of boundless youthful enthusiasm. It's one of a very few tracks that's really inspired me.

Rise of Nations - Simple Song
True to its name, this is a simple, pleasant, and ambient tune. It hits the mark it's aiming at squarely, and while it might not be astonishing, it gets the job done.

Deus Machina Demonbane - Arkham City
DMD was responsible for one of last year's most hideous entries; luckily this one isn't nearly so bad. It's simply standard small ensemble jazz improv, which works wonderfully if you're a fan of the form. Otherwise, its simply pleasant sonic wallpaper.

Death Smiles - Lost Forest - Stage B-1
Once the bright accordian, or whatever, comes in, this song becomes a lot more lively. It definitely has some rather dry spots, but the overall sound is nicely varied and appropriately spooky.

Sorcerian Online - Lucifer's Water Gate - Bloody River
I guess the devil needs hydroelectric power like everyone else. The tune has an inoffensive sound, but it never really goes anywhere, just runs in place.

A good bunch, this.

1: FFTA2
2: Death Smiles
3: Rise of Nations
4: Sorcerian Online
5: Deus Machina Demonbane

Final Final Fantasy Tactics A2 - Grimore of the Rift - Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe
Sounded so much like FFXII. Not bad.

Rise of Nations - Simple Song
The song is effective. But I'm in search for something more exciting.

Deus Machina Demonbane - Arkham City
The song had my attention from the beginning, it had potential. Nice basses. But it kept going in the same tonality. I was a bit disappointed afterwards.

Death Smiles - Lost Forest - Stage B-1
I'm a huge fan of special sounds and harmony. And then I heard Hamauzu harmony in it. I was nearly sold, but then I heard this abrupt halt. I wasn't sure anymore if I would nominate it.

Sorcerian Online - Lucifer's Water Gate - Bloody River
The percussion reminded me about Gundam Wing music. That was nice, but the melody after the introduction was so cheap.

It's not easy to choose between these songs. I'll just choose for Sorcerian, it has badass percussion.

Well, if I had known that 11 points wasn't enough to make it past the preliminaries, I would've bumped up Lost Forest past my third place spot. On the spectacular Death Smiles soundtrack it is my favorite track, and a good contender for my favorite game track of 2008 altogether.

The Sorcerian track is pretty spectacular also though, I would vote for it against most tracks.

No bad songs in this match-up, but my vote goes predictably to the FFTA2 track. I hadn't heard anything from its soundtrack yet, but I like the variety throughout the song. The Rise of Nations track is also quite nice.

Is this FFTA2 track really how it sounds on the DS? Square Enix is know for releasing enhanced versions of DS soundtracks. I'm skeptical that this version is eligible.

Originally Posted by Kaleb.G

Is this FFTA2 track really how it sounds on the DS? Square Enix is know for releasing enhanced versions of DS soundtracks. I'm skeptical that this version is eligible.

This is the original synth that was downsampled for the DS, so in many ways it's more original than the version you can hear on the handheld. It's also the only version available.

Originally Posted by Kaleb.G

Is this FFTA2 track really how it sounds on the DS? Square Enix is know for releasing enhanced versions of DS soundtracks. I'm skeptical that this version is eligible.

Some of SQUARE ENIX's DS games feature streamed soundtracks (FFT A2, The world end with you and upcoming Sigma Har...whatever), and it'd exactly sound like this mp3 on your DS. Of course the in-game audio is much compressed too, but still.

I really like the first bassoon phrase of the FFTA2 track.

First track is a good one. Unpreparedness was enjoyable throughout. Has the FF feel to it. Seems like a nice exploration theme.

Always wanted to get around to playing Rise of Nations, but never have. While Simple Song works with its bareness and minimalism, it definitely is not the best here.

Arkham city is a fun jazzy tune, but not the type of music I follow with earnest.

Lost Forest? Sorry give me Sakimoto's Lost Forest from Legaia Duel Saga anyday. =D

Bloody River would get 2nd place vote. What Orion said, but not bad at all.

Unpreparedness

Unpreparedness sounds like it'd fit right in with the original FFT's soundtrack. Unfortunately, I've never cared for the original FFT's soundtrack.

Simple Song took its title a little too seriously. Nothing really WRONG with it, it just didn't interest me.

Arkham City starts interesting, but unfortunately never really goes anywhere. It kept my interest longer than Simple Song, though.

Lost Forest has its good parts, but it has WAAAAAAAAY too much percussion, and it's a very strange and bothersome kind of percussion that consistently distracts me as I'm listening. It's a shame, because atmospherically the song's real good.

Bloody River is an odd duck. On the one hand, I want to call it generic to a fault, on the other hand, it manages to convey enough energy that it keeps me hooked.

As much as it pains me to vote for a Sakimoto(or Sakimoto-esque) song, I have to vote the FFTA2 track here. It's the only one that, musically, doesn't fuck something up. It's just not my cup of tea.

The FFTA soundtracks are some of my favourite Sakimoto soundtracks ever, and some of the only ones I openly enjoy. Light, melodic and rich: this classification fits "Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe" to a tee. VERY Sakimoto-instrumentation is used to charming effect, with a great emphasis on making the song simply sound good and accessible. A+

"Simple Song" is simple as, huh? Very simple. Perhaps a bit too simple for my liking, both atmospherically and musically speaking. Not too shabby, but then again it's not something I'll be revisiting.

=D Somebody nominated something from Deus Machina Demonbane, awesome. "Arkham City" is a solid offering from said soundtrack, with a great presentation of slow, laid-back, smooth jazz. It doesn't amaze me in any particular way, but I've found myself listening to this one semi-frequently ever since I heard the soundtrack. Major props to the nominator!

I really like "Lost Forest - Stage B-1". It's a spooky forest theme done very right. (note: too much emphasis on the word "very" in this post) It's got the spooky atmosphere down-pat, and it's got some nifty percussion and...accordion work to reinforce the tension. Far from my favourite Death Smiles track, but still fantastic.

"Lucifer's Water Gate - Bloody River": awesome track title, not-so-awesome audioz. It's ok, but I think the whole track is particularly insubstantial on a musical level. It's got some snazzy jazz undercurrents, but is ultimately lacking a bit of oomph. Shoddy reasoning, but meh.

"Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe" - 8.5/10
"Simple Song" - 6/10
"Arkham City" - 8.5/10
"Lost Forest - Stage B-1" - 8/10
"Lucifer's Water Gate - Bloody River" - 6/10

Most difficult decision thus far, coincidentally the most high-quality grouping thus far for me.

Being a H.Sakimoto Addict, I vote for the FFTA2 track, even though I feel that "Lost Forest" has surprisingly pleased my ears (but I think my vote would be way more legitimate if I happened to listen to the FFTA2 sountrack for the first time, too) . Both are amazing, and deserve some other rounds. Simple Song is very attractive as well, it is the kind of songs that sound much better, and have much more character when dissociated from the game backgrounds they were made for.


Nothing special to say about the remaining tunes. Arkham City is okay, but is no match for the three above. Bloody River is among the less interesting songs I have heard in the preliminaries so far.

Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe is standard Sakimoto which is pretty good in my book, it doesn't quite have that memorable quality but it's good stuff; Simple Song was nice but it didn't really do a great deal for me; Arkham City sounded like it was going to be some great jazz but it didn't develop very well and ended up flopping a bit; Lost forest is enchanting, it's a nice dark twist on the typical forest theme; Bloody river just got boring.

Lost forest definitely.

Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Foe - I'm not a fan of the A2 OST since it all sounds like the same mix of "whimsical adventure" and none of the songs have any particular hooks for me. So I'll have to be the odd one out, since Sakimoto isn't my cup of tea.

Simple Song - True to its namesake to a fault. Needs to be more distinguishable (add: not necessarily having more to it) to survive in the BSC.

Arkham City - Pleasing jazz although there was potential for more growth that it didn't take advantage of. A rare case where I would have been fine with it being more aimless rather than hear the same sax riff reestablished. Still quite satiating, even if only to serve my hi-hat hunger.

Lost Forest - Perfectly macabre. I hear accordion, voices, strings, percussion, shakers, flutes, chimes; all discordant in an appropriate fashion. Great nomination! What Muzza said.

Bloody River - I'm a huge sucker for the percussion, especially when it's so pronounced. However, the melody isn't particularly memorable. What Mo0 said.


Hard choice amongst the last three for me, but since Arkham City is lagging behind significantly, and Lost Forest is the good kind of "ambient" I'll support Lost Forest.

Nothing too special here, so my jazz bias wins out. Unpreparedness sounds like every other FFTA song, and Lost Forest is boring. So of course, the latter is winning.

Arkham City is sweet, but I can't help but compare it to Motel in a previous round. City has a slightly similar drive, but does a lot more, yet for some reason I don't like it nearly as much.

I will admit Sakimoto's tremendous workload as of late has resulted in a lack of individuality between his work, but when something as good as Unpreparedness comes along, I cannot complain.

My vote goes to Lost Forest. I'm not a fan of the way the song loops, and the rising strings that play a part in conveying a spooky atmosphere isn't the most interesting, but the song is perfect and there isn't a single negative thing I can say about it.