This is definitely not the semifinals I would have expected--not even close--although I'm thrilled very deserving but typically under-appreciated soundtracks are getting a moment in the spotlight.

As much as I like this soundtrack, in all honesty I've expected to vote against Ogre Battle 64 in four of its five fights. I just can't do it yet again. It's earning the win each time for me.

Ancient Lanayru

Off-topic: Nobuo Uematsu at Abbey Road Studios today, recording with the London Symphony Orchestra
https://www.facebook.com/spielemusikkonzerte/photos/a.480083931448.259045.374335466448/10152943210721449/?type=1

Having never heard or played Ogre Battle 64 (though knowing the series!) I was hoping for some noble music to play at the end of the game, but didn't find it except a deathly theme about the netherworld and hell. But I really liked the first few pieces and it settled it for me. Ogre Battle 64

Ancient Lanaryu

Sorry for the delay; the holidays are starting to bog me down. Ogre Battle 64 pulls off another tight victory 3-2 to advance to the final round! Ancient Lanayru (5-0) moves on with ease.

Round 5, Fight 2 // N64 Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFnCWyXyEk&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38yYNr6AKQPheqorxmXDqP&index=24), by Darren Mitchell

vs.

Hydro Thunder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuhtqjcvj8I&list=PLTmomcjY1VRyHjF24_0ZFoHjnl7GNqtEL), by Neil Baldwin & Guy Crockfort

-------------------------------------------------------

It's hard to believe that one of these two titles will be advancing to the final, but I'm not complaining. When I went to start writing my thoughts on both, I encountered an immediate "oh shit" moment. I started reading the comments to "Port of Adia", and it turns out that, much like with Shadow Man, we've been enjoying the PC version of at least this track all along. A quick comparison of a few others tells me the majority of the playlist we've been using is PC music. I dug around a while and found the playlist linked above, which includes both PC and N64 tracks but clearly distinguishes between the two in the track titles. I encourage you to dig through it thoroughly and check out the tracks that actually apply to this rumble. Far from a letdown, I found "Port of Adia" in particular even more awesome on the N64 than on the PC. The N64 tracks in general tend to employ deeper tones that, for me at least, are a step up from the already compelling PC cuts. The brief "Oblivion Lair", for instance, didn't leave much of an impression on me before. On the N64, it grabs my attention immediately. Generally speaking, this late discovery makes Turok 2 an even more dark, suspenseful, viable contender for best of the N64 in my opinion.

Then there is Hydro Thunder. This is another title to appear on a billion platforms at once, and the video uploader provides no information as to which he ripped it from save the N64 box art. The comments on each track are brief--and the alternative youtube examples practically non-existent--but the songs definitely feel like they were all ripped from the same platform, whichever that may be. A few comment references confirming an N64 take here and there suffice to make me think this compilation is in fact an authentic N64 playlist.

And what do we get in the mix? Well, the intro kicks it off with a pretty bombastic track that's totally carried by the explosive-to-the-point-of-distorted synth tones. It does everything right for me where F-Zero X did everything wrong; instead of feeling like cookie-cutter heavy metal, the actual guitar track is totally subservient to a relentless in-your-face explosion. Instead of thinking "oh that's nice, you can play generic guitar solos", I am initially overwhelmed and then think "wow, there's a lot of interesting stuff going on in the background here." The main theme to follow keeps up the bombast, but suddenly we're treated to a much more epic arrangement that could be a futuristic RPG's Call to Arms track. That is the vibe that I get for much of the soundtrack to follow--something perhaps best suited for a sci-fi turn-based tactics game where mechs duke it out on a grid map. It's intensely epic, far exceeding anything a racing game realistically could or even ought to offer. Neil Baldwin has sighted chiptune legends Rob Hubbard and Martin Galway among his early influences (http://dutycyclegenerator.com), and I think that C64 spirit of competition which often led to soundtracks far surpassing their games (Tim Follin's Pictionary anyone?) must have rubbed off. The extent of the militaristic fantasy and sci-fi motifs in this soundtrack make you totally forget that it's some lame racing game, yet many of the tracks are entirely relevant to their in-game context. "Arctic Circle", "Ship Graveyard", "Venice Canals", and "New York Disaster" especially stand out in this regard--"Ship Graveyard" even includes sound effects from a swashbuckling sword battle! Yet Baldwin is not hesitant to break from this vibe where the zone calls for it. "Catacombs" is a more imaginative ambient work than any of the games entirely focused on that theme have to offer in this rumble save Shadow Man. "Lost Island" could be from Turok 1. The Elmer Bernstein (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45KAjt7v4t4) worship on "Lake Powell" doesn't suit my taste much, but I have to respect Baldwin's attention to game relevance. "Greek Isles" is so catchy I've caught myself humming it around the house before I realized it was from Hydro Thunder. And "Nile Adventure"... I don't know where Baldwin (and Crockfort, a composer I'm completely unfamiliar with) possibly got the idea for this, but it manages to defy my assumption that the N64 is too primitive a platform for vocals. Their low quality, far from feeling half-formed, make me think of some endearing power metal band that can't afford decent production but play their hearts out anyway. I only wish Baldwin had created a complete, transitional work of it instead of switching to each sub-zone abruptly.

You know what I'm voting for here: Hydro Thunder.

Underworld Round 1, Fight 14 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Church (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAzUSD5uqF4), from A Link to the Past

vs.

Link's Awake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teT6-j_CUQw), from Link's Awakening

-------------------------------------------------------

Church has been a favorite of mine since the first time I ever played the game.

Whatever the differences were in Turok 2's original playlist, I've played the hell out of the game and didn't notice. This is Turok 2 all the way for me.

The second fight was much closer for me. Church

Turok 2

Link's Awakening

Beautiful... yet spooky - Church has it going on.

Hydro Thunder, A Link to the Past.

Church advances 3-1.

TIE-BREAKER: Round 5, Fight 2 // N64 Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFnCWyXyEk&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38yYNr6AKQPheqorxmXDqP&index=24), by Darren Mitchell

vs.

Hydro Thunder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuhtqjcvj8I&list=PLTmomcjY1VRyHjF24_0ZFoHjnl7GNqtEL), by Neil Baldwin & Guy Crockfort

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 1, Fight 14 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Overworld (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULyEY_GjSoA), from Link's Awakening

vs.

Hyrule Castle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVuRMyN9KmA), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Castle

Overworld

Turok 2

Overworld

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/d1/d165129c077b7333cc03b5ecfffda74f1a5607232f9ab66523 48d76111f55a9f.jpg

Link's Awakening

Overworld

Turok 2 2

Turok 2 (4-2) and Overworld (4-1) advance!

FINAL MATCH // N64 Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFnCWyXyEk&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38yYNr6AKQPheqorxmXDqP&index=24), by Darren Mitchell

vs.

Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOdo4oAJzo&list=PL1EEFA82475BD0D5A), by Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata, & Hayato Matsuo


-------------------------------------------------------

It all comes down to this! And I for one don't think any game in this rumble can realistically trump Ogre Battle 64.

The Golden Land Round 1, Fight 14 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Guardian (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sA0T3FThuQ), from Adventure of Link

vs.

Forest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx6L5b-ACVk), from A Link to the Past

-------------------------------------------------------

Forest of course. >_>

My oh my.... Ogre Battle 64.

Ogre Battle 64

Forest

Turok 2 is awesome, but Ogre Battle 64 wins this

Forest

Ogre Battle 64

Forest

I must vote for Turok in the N64 rumble. I am in the minority on this, even when looking back to see original reviews of the game... so perhaps there is something I am missing. Many of the soundtracks or individual songs in these rumbles that I haven't "personally" liked, I have found qualities from them and been able to understand why other people like them. I cannot in the case of Ogre Battle 64 - I find it to be a legitimately bad soundtrack. It has some of the worst instrumentation that I have heard in any soundtrack, and sounds cheaper than an N64 soundtrack should. Every song sounds like a parody of a track that you have heard in another game. Perhaps playing the game would have conveyed the proper context for each song (and I've argued this before) and help me to "get it", but I can't imagine being moved in anyway by the music in this game. Not only would this have not been in my top 4, this wouldn't have been in my top HALF of N64 soundtracks. Super Mario 64, Star Fox 64, Jet Force Gemini, both Zelda games... all would have been far more deserving. Hell, I would take the music from NFL Blitz over Ogre Battle any day of the week.

I am in the minority and a VERY slim one at that, I must sadly admit. But with my vote, I must respectfully but vehemently protest.

Turok 2, A Link to the Past.

We have a winner! (And Merry Christmas!)




Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber, by Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata, & Hayato Matsuo beat out Turok 2: Seeds of Evil by Darren Mitchell 5-1 to become the 22nd rumble winner.

In the Zelda rumble, Forest from A Link to the Past advances 5-0.


Termina Round 1, Fight 14 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Level 1, Gnarled Root Dungeon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frO63DEP01c), from Oracle of Seasons

vs.

Kakariko is Saved (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVZcvnItkdw), from Twilight Princess

-------------------------------------------------------

Kakariko is Saved

-------------------------------------------------------

Future Rumble Vote

Best of the Commodore 64 (64 songs)
Best of World of Warcraft (80 songs)
Best of the 7th Generation Consoles (128 soundtracks)
Shad's Custom Rumble (16 tracks)
NARFNra's Custom Rumble (16 tracks)

-------------------------------------------------------

We are running really low on short rumbles. I am kind of hesitant to kick off another long one right now and be in a situation where neither end until late 2015, because people who don't care for either might drift away and never return. The original idea with the customs was to plug some gaps with reasonably short rumbles in the absence of actual theme-based options. With that in mind, I think it would be fun to do NARFNra's custom next if he's actually around to participate in it. If he's missing in action, then World of Warcraft is my top choice.

Kakariko is Saved


Having only joined in the last few months, and having no history with these things (assuming 7th generation is ps4) my vote is based on finding out about each :-) From my point of view, having themes that are so different in some cases (turok 2, hydro thunder) and generally spread out over all the various zelda's has been good, it's been refreshing listening to songs that evoke emotion and get me interested in playing (many of the games I haven't played)

I think that's where some pieces have shone out - being placed in matches with other songs that have nothing in common with each other (other than they are video game music)

Am I the only one that finds the the enjoyment in video game music is in working with small capacity for instruments and producing music that actually makes you get into the game? - afterthought, un related to the discussion.

Anyway, I'm prone to choose the rumble that would be seeing that distinction between the tracks that are rumbling together.

If it's a small one, I think that it would mean that there would be a shorter time to find the victor!

I agree Pianist that the SOLE purpose of music is to put you into a specific state of mind for the game - to make you feel a certain emotion in a specific area or during a specific event. Whether it be the death of a familiar character, a triumph in battle, or a peaceful respite back in town, the music sets the scene!

Twilight Princess.

Also, I'm perfectly OK with World of Warcraft at the moment.

Happy holidays, doods. I'll make a return to voting soon enough.

Kakariko is Saved

I'd strongly argue for a short rumble, too, to balance against the Zelda rumble. Even without NARFNra around, I'd be interested in doing his selections, which could give others time to create their own list on the group discussion page (http://forums.ffshrine.org/groups/vgm-rumble-group-procrastination-station/).

I am also good with World of Warcraft.

7th Gen for me.

A big excuse to listen to new soundtracks for me. xD

I trust thy Rumble Judgement (?)

Kakariko is Saved

Best of World of Warcraft

Kakariko is Saved advances 5-0! It looks like World of Warcraft is getting the most support for our next rumble, with 7th Gen and a custom 16 getting a few votes too. I'll take the next few days to get WoW good and ready. In the meantime, if anyone changes their mind post away. As for the custom rumbles, I don't think it would be fair to do one when the creator can't be around unless they've been gone for a very long time. I for one would be a bit annoyed if I wasn't here to explain why I chose the 16 tracks that I did.

Underworld Round 1, Fight 15 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Secrets of the Oracles (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMgENZfuBkI), from Oracle of Seasons

vs.

Temple of Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Hf1-lQElE), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Temple of Time

Temple of Time

I'm working on slimming down the Best of the 7th Gen rumble selections to 64 as discussed on the group page. It will be dicey to get them locked in before we would presumably get started on the next rumble, but I'll see what I can do.

Temple of Time

Is there are more iconic song from the series' most well known and acclaimed game? I would submit that there is not.

Ocarina of Time.

Cheers! The site came back up just in time for us to kick this off on New Years. Temple of Time advances 4-0.




And now we begin the World of Warcraft rumble. Launched in 2004, this game features more than a decade of musical evolution that may well span more than a hundred hours of content. The variety of approaches to composition is arguably too broad to incorporate into a single collective, but we'll do our best. The songs here will range from 3 minute cutscenes to ambient works clocking over 20 minutes. Should a track seem repetitive, recognize that the player is not meant to hear it all at once. Any given theme might offer a dozen variations that associate a general melody to a setting while allowing the player to experience it slightly differently on every visit. A zone can feature the same musical blueprint throughout, spiced into a jig for the local tavern and then drawled into something sinister for a nearby forest. That same forest might offer multiple variations on its approach to the melody based upon the time of day or selected at random each time the player enters. Alternatively, the mood might be maintained regardless of location within a zone, with the melody itself varying to distinguish the barely hospitable from the deadly. Over time, "walking" tracks--what you hear casually passing through an area--have become more dynamic, responding to player interaction with the environment in more robust ways. In attempting to produce marketable soundtracks to the game, Blizzard have condensed many of these tracks into accessible 5 to 10 minute compilations. Some of these compilations merge tracks that are entirely distinct but might be heard one soon after the other in gameplay. ("Family" from Warlords of Draenor is a good example of this.) These recordings still only present a small fraction of a given expansion's musical content.

It would be far too daunting--and perhaps a bit excessive to those foreign to the game--to fully separate these different approaches to songwriting within this 80 track compilation. Arrangements which cannot be heard in their present condensed form within the game proper, as well as concrete cutscene compositions, will inevitably square off against zone tracks in the raw, and the latter will appear unfairly repetitive, disjointed, or both. If there is one practice I can press on you in the hopes that everyone will fully appreciate this outstanding collection of music, it is to set aside any basic assumptions of what a "song" should be. Warcraft music is composed to immerse the player, enhancing the mood and atmosphere. Whether or not a track is structured to be a complete work from start to finish is largely irrelevant.


Round 1, Fight 1 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Patience Point (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC4JDpRuqqk), from Warlords of Draenor

vs.

San'layn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xm7WYlQyCo), from Fall of the Lich King

-------------------------------------------------------

Patience Point is a track that tends to fade in when you are approaching especially powerful dinosaur-like creatures in the primordial marshes of Gorgrond. (The image in the youtube video is quite unrelated.) It's one of those tracks that really enhances the gameplay and turns an "is the work this guy's going to take really worth the payout?" scenario into a fun and, at lower levels, challenging hunt. San'layn (Through the Vast Halls of Icecrown Citadel) is one of many tracks featured in Icecrown--the grand culmination to the Warcraft 3 and Wrath of the Lich King story arch. Where many of Blizzard's story archs have pitted heroes against human and orc armies or against plots by the otherwordly Burning Legion to destroy Azeroth, the fight against Arthas was a more mystical affair. Neither fundamentally evil nor human at heart, the Lich King's powers were a neutral force. Arthas was bound to them by the events of Warcraft 3, and his intentions were vague but deadly--a rogue force too dangerous to leave uncontained. Icecrown Citadel is a cold, magical place, and the music reflects this.

San'layn

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 1, Fight 15 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Final Quest - The Room of Rites (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G16piZQqG4Q), from Oracle of Ages

vs.

The Demon King, Demise Battle ~Finale~ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR-rX20UCHE), from Skyward Sword

-------------------------------------------------------

The Room of Rites

Been waiting a long time for this. I'm so grateful to Shad and Link for putting this rumble together since I know next to nothing about WoW or its music. So far, I'm loving it.

San'layn

The Room of Rites

San'layn

Room of Rites

Fascinating matchup of styles in the Zelda rumble. This is an example of a track that does EVERYTHING better (Demise) - better instrumentation, arrangement, mixing, technology.... vs. a track that just fits its purpose better! The ONLY time you get to hear this track is at the end of the Oracles saga when you have LINKED (pun intended) your games together and finally face Twinrova and, eventually, a mindless beast version of Ganon. I like the Demise track very much when considered in and of itself, but as a boss theme, it isn't what I prefer. It's opponent gets you perfectly set for something you've played TWO games to accomplish!

In the other rumble, I don't think Shad could have set it up any better than he did. People will need to be a little more flexible than they normally would because, as Shad has discovered, tracks for WoW are laid out WILDLY differently with out any regard for rhyme, reason, logic, politics, religion, chronology, or any other way you could possibly organize tracks. Most tracks in the game are heard in 90 to 180 second blips that rotate while you are in a zone. Occasionally, you'll have what Blizzard calls "Moments" that will play when you encounter something worth drawing your attention to... a 15 to 30 second track that will break up the track before getting you back to your normal track. I think the best approach is to listen to the whole selection (or perhaps your favorite part) and consider that thematically and musically without worrying if the ENTIRE piece linked works with itself.

As a player of WoW for years through vanilla, The Burning Crusade, and Wrath of the Lich King, I am REALLY looking forward to this rumble!

Wrath of the Lich King, Oracle of Ages.

San'layn it sent chills down my spine listening to the haunting vocals near the end

The Demon King, Demise Battle having never played the game, I applaud the musicality and enchantedness of it for an end battle music. Maybe If I had played both games (sadly I don't own wii or gameboy)

San'layn (5-0) and Final Quest - The Room of Rites (4-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 2 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Thunder King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hZuUHhte5k), from Mists of Pandaria

vs.

Angrathar's Shadow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjokKL_ibLI), from Wrath of the Lich King

-------------------------------------------------------

Thunder King is an anthem tied to Lei Shen, an ancient warlord of the mogu race resurrected and ultimately defeated during the horde and alliance invasion of Pandaria. Angrathar's Shadow is a mix of background music from Icecrown, the final questing zone in Wrath of the Lich King. From a player's (and composer's) perspective, over a year separates it from the full-out invasion of Icecrown Citadel that brought us San'layn, but the songs share close in-game proximity.

Angrathar's Shadow

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The Golden Land Round 1, Fight 15 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Stallord (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUL-k1CLql4), from Twilight Princess

vs.

Last Battle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b_QS5xoN44), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Last Battle

Angrathar's Shadow

Last Battle

Stallord is actually itself a remix of the Volvagia theme from Ocarina of Time!

I'm taking Last Battle though... because I think it is one of the best final boss themes of the entire series.... I mean video gaming... ever.

Wrath of the Lich King, Ocarina of Time.

Angrathar's Shadow, Last Battle

Angrathar's Shadow

Last Battle

Angrathar's Shadow (5-0) and Last Battle (5-0) advance!

Round 1, Fight 3 // World of Warcraft Rumble

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Victory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-d9YnScRW0), from The Gods of Zul'Aman

vs.

Druids of the Flame (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCEa7U4ydIg), from Rage of the Firelands

-------------------------------------------------------

Trolls in World of Warcraft are not your typical fantasy fair. Far from bone-headed ogres prone to petrification in the sunlight, trolls on Azeroth are intellectually capable creatures with a long history of inter-tribal conflict and clashes with neighboring humans and high elves. They have a bit of an Afro-Caribbean theme going stylistically. The Amani tribe became an independent third faction during the Burning Crusade when an alliance between the high elves (blood elves) and Horde shattered the Amani's fragile peace with the latter. Followers of the dangerous Old Gods, they used voodoo magic to awaken powerful forces that threatened the Alliance and Horde alike. "Victory" was, I believe, the music that played after the final fall of the Amani. This content is no longer available in-game, as the conquered Amani territory was later claimed by the equally hostile Zandalari tribe. In contrast to this one minute anthem, "Druids of the Flame" is a sprawling 10 minute opus that plays throughout the Firelands raid. The explosive opening can be heard during the fight with Alysrazor, a giant firehawk summoned by the song's namesake. The more ambient bits to follow occur mostly as walking music in the zone. Firelands is a giant burning wasteland regarded by many as Blizzard's finest raid--an opinion perhaps inflated by universal disdain for its follow-up, Dragon Soul. The passage from 2:55 to 4:20 was my original inspiration for this rumble. Prior to hearing it in-game, I had never paid much attention to WoW's more ambient walking music. It compelled me to seek out more, and I finally discovered a lot of the songs that will be featured in the coming weeks.

That being said, I have to take Victory. I love the unique flavor that music adds to the troll race in general, and this is one of the finest examples.

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Termina Round 1, Fight 15 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Samasa Desert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EtYb2xLYGI), from Oracle of Seasons

vs.

Stone Tower Temple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz_NK5HgR6Q), from Majora's Mask

-------------------------------------------------------

Stone Tower Temple is yet another confirmation that Majora's Mask is my favorite Zelda soundtrack.

Victory

Stone Tower Temple

Victory

Stone Tower Temple

I cant say that I find similarities between OVA and Druids of the Flame. If I was going round a raid I would want some driving and aggressive music, and for some reason, that "ambient music" doesn't sit right with me. So I'm going to go for victory (it sounds real troll like)

Stone Tower Temple is really zelda to me, with it's use of flutes, and almost celtic feel to it. Well done! My vote goes in for Stone Tower Temple (though the desert theme is very good, reminds me of the theme playing in FF5, before the earth crystal lifts off)

Victory is itself a remix of the original Zul'Gurub theme from Vanilla WoW, the highly successful and popular 20-man raid that, I believe, changed the game forever. It demonstrated to Blizzard that raiding could be epic, and grand on a smaller scale than 40 man. I yearn for the days of 40 man raiding in WoW (and would probably start playing again if they implemented it).

Stone Tower Temple is actually one of two themes for the same level. THIS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_J9VlNOmJY) is the Inverted version of the level when things get turned head over heels on Link. It still amazes me what Nintendo was able to get out of the Game Boy Color for the Oracles games - they fit more into 35 seconds then a lot of games do into entire soundtracks... but I must go with Majora's Mask here. The Stone Tower theme is one of my favorite dungeon themes in the series.

The Burning Crusade, Majora's Mask.

Victory (5-0) and Stone Tower Temple (5-0) advance!

Round 1, Fight 3 // World of Warcraft Rumble

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Zul'Gurub Voodoo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IFe45jNieY), from Rise of the Blood God

vs.

Echoes of the Past (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfJYzZ-PC9g), from The Burning Crusade

-------------------------------------------------------

Now here are two really classic World of Warcraft songs to consider. We coincidentally got two troll tracks back to back; Zul'Gurub Voodoo appears in the raid Link was just talking about, a few years prior to Victory from the previous fight. Echoes of the Past first appears in World of Warcraft during the Escape from Durnholde Keep instance that launched with The Burning Crusade. (I accidentally flagged this as a classic Vanilla WoW track on the group page. Arthur might want to correct it on the first page of this thread.) It is actually a much older song than that, however, a version of it first appearing in Warcraft II in 1995. Players today are most familiar with it from the Pokemon-like pet battle mini-game introduced in Mists of Pandaria.

Echoes of the Past

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Underworld Round 1, Fight 16 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Midna's Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEnAuzjgKU), from Twilight Princess

vs.

Level 8, Sword & Shield Maze (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJkfjHAv66s), from Oracle of Seasons

-------------------------------------------------------

We're on to the final set of fights in the opening round of the Zelda rumble. Eight more tracks and we'll have heard them all! Midna's Theme

It's a good feeling to turn the corner in the Zelda rumble.

Echoes of the Past

Midna's Theme

This round of the rumble is the #2 seeds vs. the #31 seeds. Midna is the #2 seed here - I believe one of the stronger contenders in the field. Her theme was one of the most recognizeable new themes in Twilight Princess.

Now I may have a bone to pick in the other rumble... the successor to the original wins in a blowout 5-0, while the original starts in a 2-0 hole??? Ya be temptin' ya fates with da voodoo mon!

World of Warcraft, Twilight Princess.

Zul'Gurub Voodoo I actually found this one really tough to decide on.

Midna's Theme

Echos of the Past,

Midna's Theme

Gosh that WoW song takes me back to plundering khaz Modan! that was epic!

Echoes of the Past (3-2) and Midna's Theme (5-0) advance!

Round 1, Fight 5 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Air (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3-W8SbIl0Y), from Rage of the Firelands

vs.

Going Hozen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MHVY0fo-UU), from Mists of Pandaria

-------------------------------------------------------

Among the ancient and powerful denizens of Azeroth are five Dragon Aspects and four Elemental Lords. The Aspect Neltharion was corrupted by the Old Gods during the War of the Ancients, 10,000 years prior to the current events of World of Warcraft, and he became Deathwing. Deathwing's release from confinement served as the main catalyst for the events of Cataclysm, and he recruited the Elemental Lords of Fire and Air -- Ragnaros and Al'Akir -- to serve him. The player hears "Air" at the start of Rage of the Firelands. Al'Akir has already been slain, and the forces of air must be subdued to aid in the fight against Ragnaros. Hozen are ape-like humanoids that roam the southern continent of Pandaria. As the creatures are especially common in the arid foothills of Kun-Lai Summit (), I tend to associate the music with that zone.

Air

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Hyrule Round 1, Fight 16 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Field Main Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQTfYDth_bw), from Twilight Princess

vs.

The Black Tower (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDmLzVYeQuc), from Oracle of Ages

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Field Main Theme

Another strong Oracles track that comes against an opponent that is just too though.

Cataclysm, Twilight Princess.

And just so you know... the voodoo is watching you.

Air

Hyrule Field Main Theme

Air,

Hyrule Field Main Theme.

Out of interest, how do you usually toss up the merits and cons of each piece when you are flippant in your choice of one and the other (in general?) I found that Air reminded me of the orc/Troll themes of WC2, and that as I was feeling at that time, my heart liked it more than the other one. But what's to say I don't like the other one next time? (since it's a subjective experience really?) I have to say, video games have released some pretty spectacular songs but in general, because I haven't played the games, I'm really just going off tempo, instrument use, and that sort of thing when deciding which is better.

If I have played the game in question, I find that the emotion of actually experiencing the music and the game and whatever situation I was in at the time is far more powerful than the notes themselves because it gives context to the sound.

As far as two tracks I've never heard before, I probably have a kind of music I prefer and the closer it is to that, the more I like it.

Air

Hyrule Field Main Theme

@PforPianist:

For me, it's all about the discovery of new music. Almost six years into the rumble, I'd say it's far more common for me to not have played the game in question than to have to played it--and I like that.

The quick answer to your question is that there is no standard criteria for judging the music.

The long answer is that means you'll have to establish your own criteria: how effective was the music in guiding your emotions, how evocative was the music in painting a visual, how successful was the music in fulfilling the expectations of its genre, how successful was the music in exceeding or subverting your expectations, how ambitious was the music in instrumentation or structure or execution, how important was the music to its franchise or video game history or the career of the composer, how resonant is the music in your mind beyond the first round of fights, how engaging is the music after multiple repetitions, and so on.

I think I probably just start with "Which one do I like more?" It's only when I like them both equally that I go to some of the above questions and try to parse out a reason for voting one over the other.

Air

Hyrule Field Main Theme

Air (6-0) and Hyrule Field Main Theme (6-0) advance! It's interesting how many blowouts we've had in the WoW rumble so far. There was no seeding involved here. Any mismatches are coincidental.

Round 1, Fight 6 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Fire Festival (Horde) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V40HK7gy_yM), from Shadow of the Necropolis

vs.

Xaxas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVYpDntnTzY), from Cataclysm

-------------------------------------------------------

The Fire Festival is an annual summer celebration in Warcraft that typically takes place in the last week of June. This particular track plays in the background for anyone participating on a horde character. Xaxas is the background music to the official Cataclysm trailer and intro cutscene, in which Deathwing permanently destroys much of the world that we had all been questing on for the previous six years. The peculiar title is apparently an elven name for Deathwing. It means "chaos". (You can view the trailer here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq4Y7ztznKc), though you might want to make your pick first.)

There may be unbalanced match-ups out there, but this is not one of them. The sort of Renaissance folk you hear throughout taverns and festivals in this game has always been my favorite brand of WoW music in general, but I also felt that Cataclysm and its patches stood leagues above the others in terms of really epic music. Cataclysm remains my favorite expansion in WoW--an opinion shared by almost no one--and I think the music had a ton to do with it. I could always feel the suspense in that game, and Xaxas was the track that kicked it all off.

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 1, Fight 16 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Title Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUc3p5sojmw), from Adventure of Link

vs.

Wise People (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmEuv04uRvk), from Twilight Princess

-------------------------------------------------------

Wise People

Two tough decisions. I was surprised by how strongly Wise People matched up with the Zelda 2 theme.

Xaxas

Wise People

Out of interest, how do you usually toss up the merits and cons of each piece when you are flippant in your choice of one and the other (in general?) I found that Air reminded me of the orc/Troll themes of WC2, and that as I was feeling at that time, my heart liked it more than the other one. But what's to say I don't like the other one next time? (since it's a subjective experience really?) I have to say, video games have released some pretty spectacular songs but in general, because I haven't played the games, I'm really just going off tempo, instrument use, and that sort of thing when deciding which is better.

I think that how I measure each track varies wildly from one rumble to the next. In cases where I have heard virtually every track in-game already--Final Fantasy, Suikoden, World of Warcraft--it is really impossible to separate the music from the game. I tend to think something like "how essential was this piece of music to my experience of the scenario in which it appears?" It's easy to get caught up in that, though. I ended up skipping most of the Suikoden rumble I created after "Tropical Bath (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMPLxefcMyE)" lost hard in the first round. I remember thinking "these guys have no taste at all" and totally losing interest for a few months. Later on, the significance of context really sunk in. For me, it was the best rendition of THE defining song that set the stage for the overall vibe of the entire series. For people who never played Suikoden, it was just a lighthearted melody. The whole sun and mist maritime vibe constantly reflected by the actual in-game environment was inaccessible to them. I quit taking other people's votes so personally after that.

In contrast, most of our rumbles are comprised of songs I have almost no previous acquaintance with. In those cases, it's hard to say. With systems that have physical sound limitations, like the Game Boy or C64, what the artists manage to do with the equipment available to them plays a key role. When everything is pretty equal, it might just boil down to a gut feeling. I might consider the extent to which a song or collection of songs allows me to experience a game I have never actually played, or how it matches up to other music with a similar purpose--a forest, a boss, a romance, a sea, etc. The Zelda rumble is interesting because it spans decades' worth of different sound systems and I have heard almost none of it before. I latch on to what I can relate to--how does this track rank as a Game Boy composition, versus how does this track match up to other ambient themes?

But above all, I think I go on a general sense of what an artist is attempting to accomplish and how well they achieved that goal. No matter what genre of music we're talking about, the majority of artists will be copycats. It applies just as much to the video game music industry as to any pop fad. I'll look at who came up with the idea first. I'll think about whether an artist really took it to heart and used it as a means to realize a vision, took a style as the end goal and limited the composition to conform to it, or just took what was familiar to them and started writing without much thought. I tend to get this last vibe for a lot of Koji Kondo's works, some obvious exceptions aside, and I end up defying the norm and voting against him as a consequence. Yes, his music is unique and immediately identifiable, but in a given instance is he really going somewhere with it, or is he just copying himself? Or to use a recent example, I hated the F-Zero X soundtrack because I could not get past the feeling that being "hard rock" took top priority for its composers. They limited their vision by saying "it has to contain x instrumental elements, now let's write some songs that conform to this". Whereas Hydro Thunder, my favorite N64 soundtrack as it turned out, ended up being substantially "heavier" than the system's norm because it suited Baldwin's musical vision of the game he was composing for. He wanted to write music that captured a wide variety of pseudo-real-world locations as they might be experienced whizzing by you at a hundred miles an hour in a racing game. The hard-hitting percussion and blaring brass were a means to this end, not the end in itself.

On a totally unrelated note, I posted up my annual metal recap a few weeks ago. VGM and metal are my two big musical obsessions, so I'm always trying to get people from one perspective to take an interest in the other. This list starts at 10 and works its way up; my favorites are at the bottom: http://unobtainium13.com/2015/01/05/my-top-10-metal-albums-of-2014 (http://unobtainium13.com/2015/01/05/my-top-10-metal-albums-of-2014/)

Yeah, I think most of us the rumble participants have had a similar experience where a song or soundtrack they think is a clear frontrunner gets eliminated really quickly.

Two things we've developed to help counter that: (1) When you vote, you are encouraged to write something explaining why you voted the way you did so as to help others fully appreciate the music (2) and on the group page (http://forums.ffshrine.org/groups/vgm-rumble-group-procrastination-station/) you are encouraged to create a list of 16 overlooked songs (a Custom Rumble) so they can get their day in the sun.

Yeah, I think most of us the rumble participants have had a similar experience where a song or soundtrack they think is a clear frontrunner gets eliminated really quickly.

Two things we've developed to help counter that: (1) When you vote, you are encouraged to write something explaining why you voted the way you did so as to help others fully appreciate the music (2) and on the group page (http://forums.ffshrine.org/groups/vgm-rumble-group-procrastination-station/) you are encouraged to create a list of 16 overlooked songs (a Custom Rumble) so they can get their day in the sun.

Totally this, When the PS1 Rumble was around along with Sakimoto. The extensive essays I wrote about The Impact of Vagrant Story, it's parallels, the music. And how all of that came together, I think I made things a lot more convincing.

And it's also the very reason I walk away from Rumbles where I think my input will have no effect and that my vote will only serve as a misdirected preference because of the lack of context.

Fire Festival: Horde

Title Theme

Totally this, When the PS1 Rumble was around along with Sakimoto. The extensive essays I wrote about The Impact of Vagrant Story, it's parallels, the music. And how all of that came together, I think I made things a lot more convincing.

And it's also the very reason I walk away from Rumbles where I think my input will have no effect and that my vote will only serve as a misdirected preference because of the lack of context.

I think your input will always have an effect. To be honest, the more people we have voting, the healthier the rumble is so I would STRONGLY encourage everyone in the thread to participate no matter if they hate the game or don't know the game/genre at all that we are doing. I despise Final Fantasy as a series... in almost every way... but in participating in the rumble I did get to hear some AWESOME tracks that did change my perception of the series musically. I think it is a great way for people to branch out and learn what other games do with their audio.

Without people voting, this thread dies so please believe me when I say: The more the merrier. 4 vote rounds make for far less compelling and decisive rounds than those with 6. One's preference is their preference: it is never misdirected.

In this round, I'm STUNNED that we may have another close to top seed upset as the #2 seed Title Theme goes up against #31 seed Wise People. I'm taking the favorite here.

Cataclysm, Adventure of Link.

So many great posts. :D

To Link's point, I couldn't believe how much Wise People resonated with me. I went in assuming Title Theme would win in a landslide. After listening to both songs three times, I still wanted to vote for Wise People. That's a small example of what the rumble can do, even when you've got strong opinions about a series or a competing track.

Xaxas,

Title Theme

Having heard neither, I went with the various things that kept going through my mind (and heart) Title theme is just playful? and it sounds like it would actually fit well with in game. But I guess the name passed my mind as a listened to it. I guess that's a good thing though.

Xaxas made chills go down my spine. Well down, Blizzard! Actually, i've only heard good songs out of Cataclysm up till now (i have to be honest, that it seemed ill-received by alot of people) having never played, I am judging off the way it captures my emotions and keeps me listening to it. Both these songs have done it long after I finished listening to them.

Xaxas (4-1) and Title (3-2) advance!

Round 1, Fight 7 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Distraction at the Dead Scar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=506jM_O4j2M), from Fury of the Sunwell

vs.

Family (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzXatGNb0UM), from Warlords of Draenor

-------------------------------------------------------

Distraction at the Dead Scar is one of the songs that you will hear in either Quel'Thalas or the Sunwell Plateau raid. (I'm not sure which. Burning Crusade is the only WoW expansion I never played as current content.) Fury of the Sunwell was a pretty significant Warcraft patch story-wise. It introduced Kalecgos, now leader of the blue dragonflight, and it witnessed the summoning and defeat of Kil'jaeden, arguably the most powerful enemy to have been defeated in the game so far. (The only potential boss I can think of that would be more powerful--Sargeras--probably won't appear until the final expansion of WoW.) So yeah, pretty significant stuff, and pretty dramatic music by earlier standards to match it.
Family is a multi-song track from the official Warlords of Draenor soundtrack. It begins with the really beautiful walking music to the loosely forested Talador () zone--alternate universe Draenor's equivalent to Terokkar Forest. It later transitions into the oddly titled "TS Have It". I have no idea what that song name refers to, but the song showcases the style of music we have come to associate with the dwarven race.

In terms of suspense/epic music, older WoW selections rarely hold up to Blizzard's newer material in my opinion. I'll take Family, mainly for the Talador segment.

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 1, Fight 16 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Title Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ShzyggtsCs), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Chase (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaMjrgsA21c), from Majora's Mask

-------------------------------------------------------

Title Theme

Thanks for including pictures of the areas. Having never played WoW, I previously only had a vague idea of what the world looked like.

Family

Title Theme

I got out of WoW by the time its final raid came around, but boy was the music strong. I still believe that The Burning Crusade is the best WoW expansion musically I've heard and I take it here.

Title Theme is notable in how far a departure it is from the previous games in the series that had, to that point, heavily relied on the normal Zelda-esque sound. Ocarina of Time bucked that trend with a soft piano and the titular instrument belting out a remix of the original game's flute in a wonderfully penned love letter to the series. Exquisite.

The Burning Crusade, Ocarina of Time.

Distractio at the Dead Scar

Title Theme

Title Theme (4-0) advances! I'm looking forward to kicking off the second round of the Zelda rumble. I think Link did a pretty fair job with the round 1 seeding, and there weren't particularly many upsets as a result. From here on out, the decisions should be a bit harder, and I can move on from simply experiencing the music of Zelda for the first time to considering a favorite.

Round 1, Fight 8 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Enchanted Forest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r7iz-9v9bA), from World of Warcraft

vs.

Culling of Stratholme Battle Walk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po4IZWShPs8), from Wrath of the Lich King

-------------------------------------------------------

Enchanted Forest is a collection of walking music heard when passing through Ashenvale (image in video) and a few other "deep forest" settings. Home to night elves, faeries, and all sorts of mysteries, these areas capture for me the feeling of being in a boundless fantasy world--something that was sadly forsaken in the redesigned low-level content of Cataclysm.
Time plays an interesting, non-linear role in World of Warcraft. It is directly overseen by one of the four dragon aspects--Nozdormu of the bronze flight--and time travel is a matter of entering parallel universes, usually for the purpose of retrieving some item or individual long lost in the timeline in which the game actively takes place. (Warlords of Draenor in its entirety occurs in one of these parallel universes.) Stratholme was once a major city in the kingdom of Lordaeron, destroyed by the zombie-like scourge in one of the most memorable missions of Warcraft 3. During the Culling of Stratholme instance in Wrath of the Lich King, you revisit the city's destruction via the Caverns of Time. The first track of this walking music collection was specifically suggested for the rumble, so you might want to give it some added attention.

Enchanted Forest

-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 2, Fight 1 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Title/Opening (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM1j2zp3gx8), from A Link to the Past

vs.

Dark Mountain Forest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGbhi5U4Qb0), from A Link to the Past

-------------------------------------------------------

The first match-up for round 2 could be a pretty tough call. A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening are the only two Zelda games I've really played, and in the former case especially the music really drove my impression of the game. I think Dark Mountain Forest's unforgiving march appeals to me slightly more as a song, but Title/Opening takes on some added purpose in-game. You abruptly move from it to a rain sound effect, followed by a more foreboding but similar melody. For me, the transition always imbued the opening theme's tremolo with an aspect of light rain--the prequel if you will to that thunder storm Link finds himself in as the game kicks off. I definitely have to take Title/Opening here. It gives a sense of beginning to an otherwise fairly generic introduction.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Round 1, Fight 7 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Distraction at the Dead Scar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=506jM_O4j2M), from Fury of the Sunwell

vs.

Family (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzXatGNb0UM), from Warlords of Draenor

Enchanted Forest

Dark Mountain Forest

We're into the second round of the Zelda Rumble! What a momentous day.

It is a match up like this that proves to me how legit it was for Zelda to be put into a 128-song rumble. The fact that the top seed in the region (Title/Opening) has to face Dark Mountain Forest as a #16 seed is MINDBOGGLING. The space between #1 and #16 is extremely small at best.

I feel that the sound effects added into Title/Opening really create more drama than the music does by itself - should that count in the rumble regarding music? I'll leave that for you to decide. Taken as a whole, I think I like Dark Mountain Forest better here... but the ALTTP title is 15 of the best consecutive seconds of music in the entire series.

I'm not sure if that Enchanted Forest track is even accessible in WoW anymore, but Night Elf players (and Horde players who transitioned north to Ashenvale following the Barrens) will have it etched into their mind - a seminal track in the WoW leveling experience. However, I suggested Culling for this rumble and I have to vote for that.

I'm really just stalling right now over making a vote in the Zelda rumble... SO hard...

Dark Mountain Forest, Wrath of the Lich King.

---------- Post added at 01:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------

My expert analysis and stat recap on the first round of The Big Dance:

The first Zelda game eliminated from the rumble is The Minish Cap (0-3).

Unsurprisingly, A Link to the Past performed well (8-3) but the best winning percentage for a qualifying game (at least 4 entries) was the original for the NES (3-1). The worst performance was Oracle of Seasons (1-7) though a couple tracks used in that game are still in the mix as Oracle of Ages songs, which somehow fared far better (5-3). The Adventure of Link had the same number of wins as its predecessor despite far more entries (3-4).

Link's Awakening was (5-6). Ocarina of Time started with the most tracks in the rumble and racked up the most wins and losses in the first round (14-9). Twilight Princess also had a strong showing in wins, but was average overall (9-9). Skyward Song disappointed Wii fans (4-5). Four Swords got only one track in, but Vaati shocked the world as the #32 seed has THE upset of the tournament thus far, knocking off #1 seed Gerudo Valley from Ocarina of Time.

Majora's Mask finished (5-7) while The Wind Waker finished (6-5) in the first round.

Three of the four #1 seeds are still alive, while #2 seeds were perfect. The only other seed to go undefeated, shockingly, was the #16 slot... 4-0 in what should have been the toughest matchup against the #17 seeds. The Favorite was 41-23 in the first round. The Golden Land had the most upsets with 7. There were 6 in Termina and Hyrule, but only four in the Underworld.

Enchanted Forest

Dark Mountain Forest

We seem to be back in that unpleasant position of having only four active participants. Well, tails wins the toss, so Distraction at the Dead Scar advances 2-2, along with Enchanted Forest (3-1) and Dark Mountain Forest (3-1).

Round 1, Fight 9 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

The Siege (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHKa6o_e5bU), from Secrets of Ulduar

vs.

Cannonballs and Parties and Magic Cards! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StZzNjvY3Ps), from Hour of Twilight

-------------------------------------------------------

Ulduar is one of Warcraft's most unique and memorable raids. Frozen in the northernmost reaches of Northrend, it appeared externally as a fortified metropolis of an ancient lost civilization. Greed drives the alliance and horde inside, only to discover that the fortress was no city. It was built as a prison for the Old God Yogg-Saron, who serves as the instance's especially creepy final boss (). The lost civilization's technological marvels, far more advanced than those enjoyed by the inhabitants of Azeroth today, give the place a futuristic vibe distinct from the game's usual more fantasy-attuned settings (). "The Siege" plays during the first stage of the raid, in which your team assaults Ulduar's defenses in an effort to break inside.
Cannonballs and Parties and Magic Cards! is a collection of tunes that you can hear on Darkmoon Island. The Darkmoon Faire was once a traveling circus. In Cataclysm, they stopped roaming about and began inviting the alliance and horde to their home turf ().

The Siege is odd, but I think it suits its purpose well--a curiosity that invites you just a bit too eagerly to be trusted. Cannonballs etc is, for anyone who remembers the classic Darkmoon Faire music, a bit of a travesty. It's hard for me to hear it out of context, and it will be interesting to see how people unfamiliar with the game take it.

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 1 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Intro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyMKWJ5e1kg), from The Legend of Zelda

vs.

Top Floor/General Onox's Castle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3vGTrJlR94), from Oracle of Ages

-------------------------------------------------------

The Oracle of Ages track is nice, but not enough to deny Intro its place in the sun.

I really do like the Oracle of Ages Track here, but Shad is spot on. The Legend of Zelda Title Theme is literally the FIRST thing Zelda fans ever heard from this iconic series. It has appropriately become one of the most well-recognized themes in all of gaming.

In the WoW rumble, I didn't really get that much of a Darkmoon Faire vibe from the second track - if that's what they were going for then it was a failure. Even though I thought the Faire was stupid as an in game mechanic, I did love the music for it.

Wrath of the Lich King, Legend of Zelda.

The Siege - Loved it. It reminded me of something. Not John Adams' Chairman Dances (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLevr7I5PSg)...but something in that vein...

Intro of course

I'm back! I have been having hectic days recently so haven't been on for a while, but now i can particpate again.

I have to go for the clowns theme, Darkmoon Faire

It just stuck with me more than the other one (I know that they're ambient music, and the reason it transitions from one melody to another, is going through the various locations in raid) but i couldn't connect with it. That and the carnival theme was just plain contagious!

Intro

Intro (4-0) and The Siege (3-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 10 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

The Shattering (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADmPpY_oC2k), from Cataclysm

vs.

Wolf at the Gates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twUq_l3g3NI), from Warlords of Draenor

-------------------------------------------------------

The Shattering is our first instance of log-in screen music. While expansion-spanning city music might be a player's most common background music over all, log-in music is, for better or worse, the track that a player hears the most by far unique to a given expansion.
Wolf at the Gates is a song heard in a player's garrison--a feature new to Warlords of Draenor--and in a sense it defies the log-in norm. This area, unique to each character rather than a multi-player zone, serves as your home base for just about everything. As unorthodox as that may sound, garrisons have turned out to be a huge success and play a major role in making Warlords of Draenor the "best expansion since Burning Crusade" in popular opinion.

I wanted to roll with the underdog here. I love garrisons, and Wolf at the Gates always seems to queue up at just the right time to enhance the experience. But The Shattering is just too immense to resist.

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 1 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Overworld (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpEzYEoV9qY), from The Legend of Zelda

vs.

Deku Palace (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f72iBfWWqlE), from Majora's Mask

-------------------------------------------------------

The biggest mistake I made in the N64 rumble was letting Majora's Mask lose. Loving this quirky soundtrack. Deku Palace!

The moment from :38 to 1:30 in the Shattering is Bernard Herrmann-esque. I wonder if that was intentional? Regardless, I'm digging Wolf at the Gates on this one.

Majora's Mask really is a great one. But in this match up, I've gotta give it to Overworld. When we were talking about criteria for voting, one of the things I mentioned was how engaging the music remains after multiple listens. Still catchy, still compelling, still fun after how many repetitions now? I first played Legend of Zelda in 1988.

Thanks, fixed the link.

With log-in music, you rarely hear more than the first minute or two of the song. One thing I always enjoyed about The Shattering was the way it really picks up steam further in--especially beyond the eight minute mark. Once in a while you'd lose track of what you were doing while the screen was up and eventually go "wait, what the hell am I listening to? Is this Cataclysm?"

The Shattering

Overworld

I am so so SO SO sorry that Deku Palace runs up against Overworld. This just shows how good the #16 seeds are in the rumble.

Reluctantly... I vote Legend of Zelda.... man I can't believe Deku Palace is out after two rounds... such a tragedy.

Cataclysm, Legend of Zelda

Hi!

Wonderful to be able to join in on this rumble again!

I'm going for

Wolf at the Gates

and

Overworld


So I ose the first cause i'm in a pirate mood at the moemnt. left me wanting to grab a drink and rob someone.

And the overworld is wonderful because it's remind me of the great times on the overworld

Wolf at the Gates

Overworld

It's nice to see a solid turn-out! Overworld advances 5-1, while we've got another tie in the WoW rumble.

Round 1, Fight 11 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Ironforge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnuryDgYUZs), from World of Warcraft

vs.

Kael'thas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvI9QvWx074), from Fury of the Sunwell

-------------------------------------------------------

Carved into the snowy peaks of Dun Morogh (), the dwarven fortress of Ironforge () served as the home base of choice for many Warcraft players before Cataclysm, when Blizzard condensed their classic questing hubs from four down to one (the human city of Stormwind). Ironforge can still be visited today, but it is sadly mostly empty of players. The music will inevitably invoke a lot of fond memories for those who were active in the game's earlier years.
Kael'thas Sunstrider was a leader of the high elves who took a sect of his people down a controversial track to placate their addiction to magic. As conflict between his group and the alliance and horde grew, his rebeliousness turned into something a bit more evil. He was responsible for the summoning of Kil'jaeden. We heard some of the music associated with Kil'jaeden on "Distraction at the Dead Scar".

Kael'thas definitely defies my low expectations for early "epic" WoW music. I'll take it.

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 2, Fight 1 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Vaati (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldjZIw-vdWQ), from Four Swords

vs.

Ikana Valley (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuYCxuVKZkc), from Majora's Mask

-------------------------------------------------------

With Gerudo Valley knocked out in the first round, this is definitely an unexpected match-up. But while I enjoy Vaati, it was more my apathy towards Gerudo Valley that gave it my vote. I'll take Ikana Valley.

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Round 1, Fight 10 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

The Shattering (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADmPpY_oC2k), from Cataclysm

vs.

Wolf at the Gates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twUq_l3g3NI), from Warlords of Draenor

-------------------------------------------------------

Go Pats! :o

Iron Forge That place is empty now?! It just goes to show you, it's been a while since I've played!

Vaati I've never played Majora's Mask, but I'm really enjoying the soundtrack. It's a shame it's going up against some heavy hitters because I would like to see some songs go further. Hopefully I can play it now that it's coming out on the 3ds.

I know this is going to sound horrible, but the only one i remembered while listneing (since i'm playing games) is Ironforge. It takes me back to WCII days.

That said, Vaati wins my vote. it sounds like something out of a complex dungeon and fast paced and enjoyable to listen to. It would be good to stick on repeat, to get it into my system..

My third vote goes to Wolf at the Gates as it won my vote last time. hope that someone is added to the mix of votes.

Kael'thas

Ikana Valley

EDIT: Oops. Just created a double tie. Also, congrats to all Pats fans. :D

I definitely like the Kael'thas track a lot, but Ironforge is one of the most iconic tracks of Vanilla WoW for Alliance players.

I'm still trying to comprehend how Vaati knocked off the titan of a track that was Gerudo Valley in the first round.... I don't think the Cinderella makes it to the third.

World of Warcraft, Majora's Mask.

Sorry, I can't count two votes from the same person, but keep in mind that two WoW tracks will be resurrected later on. Losing to a coin toss is a pretty convincing reason to be eligible for one of those spots.

Heads wins the toss The Shattering (3-3), Ironforge (3-2), and Ikana Valley (3-2) advance!

Round 1, Fight 12 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Serpent Riders (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EESTHLq2BA), from Mists of Pandaria

vs.

Naxxramas Walk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddcDtn0GyrQ), from Shadow of the Necropolis

-------------------------------------------------------

I can't say exactly where all in the game Serpent Riders plays, but its name refers to the Order of the Cloud Serpent () in Jade Forest. From them you first acquire Mists of Pandaria's brand of flying mount (). This particular track was composed by a rather popular artist here: Jeremy Soule.
Naxxramas is a deadly floating fortress () which first appeared in a haze of pestilence near the ruins of Stratholme in the Eastern Plaguelands and later moved to Dragonblight in Northrend. It is the home of Kel'Thuzad, once a powerful human ally whose interests in necromancy and the Lich King inevitably lead to assimilation into the scourge.

Is Serpent Riders a more unique composition? Definitely. But Mists of Pandaria simply did not click for me. I never sensed a coherent artistic vision beyond "let's be Asian", and as a result a lot of the music feels oddly misplaced despite its stylistic relevance. Naxxramas Walk, on the other hand, is perfect for its setting.

-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 2, Fight 2 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Blizzeta Battle Second Half (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jsAo8uE9dU), from Twilight Princess

vs.

Title (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o78T9-I4OGA), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

This is a pretty easy decision for me, but I think we're in for another close one. Title.

Naxxramas Walk

Blizzeta Battle Second Half

With Ikana Valley's win, Four Swords becomes the second game eliminated from the Zelda rumble. This next matchup pits #21 seed Blizzeta Battle Second Half against #8 seed Wind Waker's Title Screen. Blizzeta upset #12 seed the Level 1 - Tail Cave theme from Link's Awakening while Wind Waker's Title had no problem with #25 seed Deepwood Shrine from the Minish Cap.

This is a really close call for me... by the SLIMMEST of margins, I'll give the edge to one of the most unique theme songs in the series.

The Naxxramus Walking 01 theme (the first track you hear in the link) is, I believe, the best dungeon track in the game. It was the first thing you heard walking into the original Naxxramus, the final 40 man instance in WoW history. It was by most hardcore raiders ratings, the most well-designed end-game raid content in the history of the series and a crowning masterpiece and proof positive that 40-man content could be engaging, difficult, and come with a great story. Unfortunately, not many players got to experience the raid before the release of The Burning Crusade, and Blizzard didn't want their work to be wasted, so they rehashed it and brought back the instance as the first raid of Wrath of the Lich King. It was good for players to experience it for the first time, but the watered down redo didn't do justice to the majesty of the raid's original incarnation.

World of Warcraft, The Wind Waker.

Naxxramas Walk

Title

Naxxramas Walk (4-0) and Title (3-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 13 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Tempest's Wake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyRNqfumX6Y), from Cataclysm

vs.

The Horse and Lance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng-jbVkLSFM&feature=player_detailpage#t=4621), from Call of the Crusade

-------------------------------------------------------

Cataclysm players might not be terribly familiar with Tempest's Wake. It supposedly appears in portions of Twilight Highlands ()--a zone seldom revisited except for a quick flight to the Bastion of Twilight once you reached level 85.
The Horse and Lance is a collection of the more calm music you'll hear around the Argent Tournament () grounds--a zone perhaps better remembered for its upbeat renaissance musical themes. Dangling nearly off the northern edge of the world, the tournament was an odd but, I think, fun short-lived foray into crusaders and jousting and all things medieval. It served as a bit of light-hearted relief between the more intense raids on Ulduar and Icecrown Citadel. I was unfortunately only able to find it in this broader youtube compilation, but you'll be able to tell when the segment is finished because the following track--"Herald"--sounds exactly as its name suggests.

The Horse and Lance

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 2 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Fire Temple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5blHw6C4Ax4), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Ganon's Castle Tower (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S4h1gcCMBc), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Eeeehhh, Ganon's Castle Tower. While I find it rather odd that the original Fire Temple theme was banned, I'm much more fond of its replacement.

The Horse and Lance

Ganon's Castle Tower

For those of you just joining us, the Fire Temple theme was changed in Ocarina of Time's 1.2 version for the N64 and is the basis for all further reproductions of the game (including the Master Quest on GCN, the Zelda GCN collection, and the 3DS remake). It is by far the least desirable version of the game to have for hardcore Zelda fans. The 1.1 version is the most desirable (fixing many glitches from 1.0). The 1.2 patch replaced the Fire Temple music chanting and added in audio from the Shadow Temple theme (you can listen to that music here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZSi6FdBnlQ). The chant used was apparently from an Islamic chant, violating Nintendo's policy of having real-world religion in any of their games. The 1.2 patch also changed the color of Ganondorf's blood to green from red and replaced a crescent symbol from many Gerudo buildings/artifacts in the game. All of the changes were received very negatively among Zelda fans.

I was very surprised that most people HERE liked the newer version of the Fire Temple song better than the original. I find it lazier (reusing audio from a track they've already made), much less organic and a lot less spooky/spiritual than the original. This is unquestionably THE track that hardcore Zelda fans will think of when they think of the Fire Temple (which was an amazing followup to the Forest Temple in the game - outstanding design/music/combat/puzzles.... to be followed by the INFAMOUS Water Temple). It is the one that most Zelda fans prefer.

It is interesting now to hear about Muslim Zelda fans actually taking offense to the removal of the track now because of the insinuation (mainly by morons on the internet) that any association with Islam makes Zelda (or anything associating with the religion) anti-Christian or evil. And the world keeps turning.

I was never a fan of the Crusade patch in WoW - I felt that the Trial of the Crusader was, in the first three incarnations of the game, the worst designed, poorly executed, story-bereft, and utterly pointless raid tier that Blizzard produced. I didn't think the Crusader games or jousting was necessary and felt like the whole thing was a waste of time so they could finish Icecrown Citadel. After playing through it, I felt even more strongly about it. I'm not a huge fan of the Cataclysm track, but I'll take it here because of that.

Cataclysm, Fire Temple.

Tempest's Wake

Ganon's Tower

The Horse and Lance

Fire Temple

Cataclysm

Ganon's Tower

So the fire temple that we're voting for is the original piece?

There's some musicality to both Ganon's Tower and Fire Temple, which makes you feel what is going on. It's wonderful to hear. I don't think I've heard anything like either of them! That said, I agree with the people that have posted on the Ganon's Tower theme, it really does fit with the end dungeon. Having played a few zeldas (Twilight Princess, Wind waker; briefly OoT) I'm looking for something that is engaging and works with the dungeon that it's playing for. This fire temple them is haunting in its own way, but I was moved more by Ganon's theme, knowing that the boss battle is coming soon.

all the best for voting.

It wasn't an easy draw for Fire Temple. It's one of my personal favorites (the original - I think the remake is trash) in the whole game. But, Ganon's Castle Tower is one of the most iconic themes of the entire series.

Nice to have a turnout again! Warcraft went for a 3-3 tie. Ganon's Castle Tower advances 4-2.

Round 1, Fight 14 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Legends of Azeroth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqsazZUbt9s), from World of Warcraft

vs.

Wisdom of Yu'lon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTo-3l3Zask), from Mists of Pandaria

-------------------------------------------------------

Legends of Azeroth is the classic log-in screen music to World of Warcraft. Wisdom of Yu'lon can be heard when you start a new Pandaren character, and I believe a few other areas of the game--possibly in Jade Forest.

This is a ridiculously hard match-up. I'm actually going to take Wisdom of Yu'lon here.

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 2 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Trouble on the Raft! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDi98MxmzSE), from Oracle of Ages

vs.

Last Day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyGVXAXxmBA), from Majora's Mask

-------------------------------------------------------

I love my Majora's Mask music, but Trouble on the Raft is pretty kickin'.

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TIE-BREAKER: Round 1, Fight 13 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Tempest's Wake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyRNqfumX6Y), from Cataclysm

vs.

The Horse and Lance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng-jbVkLSFM&feature=player_detailpage#t=4621), from Call of the Crusade

Digging these two...

Legends of Azeroth

Last Day

In this The Golden Land battle, #8 seed Last Day from Majora's Mask takes on #21 seed Trouble on the Raft from Oracle of Ages. Last Day beat out another spiritual/moody track in #25 seed Priest from A Link to the Past (the earliest form of the Ganon's Castle Tower theme that just won in the previous battle!). #21 seed Trouble on the Raft upset heavy favorite Hidden Village from Twilight Princess.

I take Last Day here. I think it is one of the most perfectly and beautifully arranged songs in the series. An absolutely fantastic mix of music and sound effects. It captures the final moments before Termina's destruction perfectly. I'd take it anyway here... but I'm still mad about Hidden Village losing in the first round (Why?????????) so I'm spiting "Trouble on the Raft!" for that.

In the WoW battle - no question for me. It HAS to be the WoW Login music. The music that got me surged when logging in for the first time. It was an incredible feeling to hear that music and have no idea what was going to await me on the other side of that dark portal. It truly is one of WoW's and Warcraft's most indelible pieces.

World of Warcraft, Majora's Mask.

For Wow, i'm going for MoP

Something about it makes me think of the amazon camp in Diablo II. but it has influences to the oriental too. Something about it evoked more than the Vanilla WoW track (though I'm always up or badass Azeroth music, reminding of WCII) I guess it must be all those martial arts films I've watched. Just add in the Dwarf and you've got me wielding my axe and kicks. If I'm to be honest, the fact that they took this track doesn't surprise me. You have RO with its amasa, you have all those spinoffs with oriental themes (Guild Wars?) I do think you could hear this with a movie soundtrack (Is there a warcraft movie coming out?)

Man this Zelda rumble is a colossal mix up! Gosh i never expected it to, but the trouble on the raft brought me back to Lufia II, with its driving battle music, and puzzles. It had the sense of urgency, and the desperation of being thrown into something. well played. From what I gather, this is the intention of the composer. I have never played the game, but it has hallmarks of good musicality and musicianship to it. Unfortunately my computer, i doubt it could even run a GB emulator (was it for GB?)

The other track, it is reminiscent of something traversing a forest and not knowing the direction they're going in. It is mysterious and full of unknowing. Unfortunately, it does not get my vote this time round. I will have to go for Oracle of Ages

Tempest's Wake didn't catch my appeal this time round. Maybe it's because it's quite sad in some places. But then again, so is the Horse and Lance. But it picks up a bit later, and i think for once, i'm getting into the rhythm of WoW files! Truly great to be able to appreciate this music. I guess that they have their reasons for lulling us into sleep and then picking it up. My only question is, why does it need to try condense the entirety of that genre into 10 minutes? But I guess that's why you play it. You aren't exactly boxed into a certain genre, or even location, but it's free to be explored. One track starts and another track takes its place.

That's the reason that I've gone for the Horse and Lance this time round. Out of interest, where does it actually finish. I was keeping my eye out for the victory theme!

O there it is! Found it!

A change in vote turns our previous tie into a 4-2 win for The Horse and Lance. Zelda and WoW both ended 2-2 and will have to wait on another vote or the coin toss.

Round 1, Fight 15 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Dragons' Rest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYNGnnEIih8), from Wrath of the Lich King

vs.

Outlands Alliance Base (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJXIjKZaip4), from The Burning Crusade

-------------------------------------------------------

Dragons' Rest is walking music in Dragonblight (), a sprawling frozen plain off the southern shore of Northrend that's a strong contender, in my opinion, for the most beautiful zone in the whole game. Outlands Alliance Base is, I assume, music that can be heard at Honor Hold () in the desolate Hellfire Peninsula (). When Draenor was destroyed in pre-WoW plotlines, it left a twisted, broken land behind, and The Burning Crusade centered around reestablishing a foothold there to ward off the Burning Legion.

Dragons' Rest

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 2, Fight 2 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Dungeon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN5EXLqG3Z8), from Link's Awakening DX Color

vs.

Molgera (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlF0-Qs2xkI), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

It is really, really hard to vote against Molgera in this or any match-up, but the segment we first hear around 45 seconds into Dungeon has me sold.

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Round 1, Fight 14 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Legends of Azeroth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqsazZUbt9s), from World of Warcraft

vs.

Wisdom of Yu'lon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTo-3l3Zask), from Mists of Pandaria

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 2 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Trouble on the Raft! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDi98MxmzSE), from Oracle of Ages

vs.

Last Day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyGVXAXxmBA), from Majora's Mask

-------------------------------------------------------

Shad:

That track is NOT Outlands Alliance Base. I don't know who that monkey on YouTube was that posted that, but he's wrong.

THIS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJXIjKZaip4) is the track you're looking for. It is one of my favorites in the whole game/expansion.

I take The Burning Crusade and The Wind Waker in this one.

The Zelda matchups this round are both favorites that won last time. The track is actually called "Color Dungeon" (but looking back at my notes Shad, I can see how you would have screwed that up!) from Link's Awakening/DX, the remake of the Game Boy Classic for Game Boy Color. This version introduced a new dungeon with color based puzzles to take advantage of the GBC's color screen. The music is a successor to the original game's Underworld track. #12 seed Color Dungeon takes on #8 seed Molgera from The Wind Waker who advanced over Potion Shop from Ocarina of Time in the first round in the Termina bracket. Molgera has become a cult Zelda favorite and has been featured in non-Zelda games like Super Smash Brothers Brawl.

In other commentary... come on Last Day & Legends of Azeroth!

Switched out the link in my original post. The one I had up was actually identical except for an additional 1:20 of music at the beginning, so I assumed it was simply more complete. I wonder what that opening part was actually from. I really liked it!

Outlands Alliance Base - I really enjoyed both tracks in this fight.

Molgera

Sorry I haven't been on too regularly and I might not be for a little bit. Going through getting new jobs and moving yet again. I'm really hoping this is one of the last times I move. We don't have a lot of stuff, but that doesn't make it any less annoying after having moved over a half dozen times in the past three years.
Anyways... My picks are:

Outlands Alliance Base

Dungeon

Legends of Azeroth

Trouble on the Raft! ...sorry Link

I hear ya. I had a five-year span where I moved five times. It sucks. I hope everything goes well.

Dragons Rest, Man what a cool piece. It actually sounds like the "still waiting" music. i know that's a terrible thing to say, but it actually put me at ease.

But any mention of the previous was forgotten as I listened to the Outland [Alliance] Theme. It was like every stroke of the orchestra was playing my heart. It was so terrifyingly tremendous at the end. Great music.

Color Dungeon, someone needs to remix this music. the chiming sounds at the start are wonderful. Actually the bass notes make me think of Chrono Trigger, the Reptar castle music. (DId you know they took it out of the remix? audacious!)

I get the repitition, and it starts off well, but Molgera doesn't really go anywhere. I guess i can say that it has some driving beat to it. But i just love the chimes too much from the previous track. I think both do their purposes well, with each taking the system to its limits. Imagine what would have happened had they not made video games! I guess it would have produced a generation that appreciate the classics.

I just love listening to these songs again. What a match up! Im going to go for MoP again for this. It actually makes me happy :) it is like a redux at the end, with the themes at the beginning being finished up.

I find the driving melody of the battle (Trouble on the Rafts!) is somehow more alluring than the sad music of majora's mask.

Dragon's Rest

Molgera

Outlands Alliance Base (4-2), Legends of Azeroth (3-2), and Trouble on the Raft! (3-2) advance! The current Zelda match-up ended up in yet another tie, and it's no surprise. If I had any means to let both of those tracks advance, I'd do it. I have a feeling that whoever pulls ahead in that match-up will be alive in this game for a long time to come.

Rather than delaying things for a second day, I'm just going to skip WoW this iteration. I have to make a change for the next fight and I haven't had any time to think about it.

Underworld Round 2, Fight 3 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Gerudo Desert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBE4IqApdAA), from Twilight Princess

vs.

Ganon's Castle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwQu3PrxJ5s), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Gerudo Desert

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Termina Round 2, Fight 2 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Color Dungeon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN5EXLqG3Z8), from Link's Awakening DX

vs.

Molgera (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlF0-Qs2xkI), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

Another Cinderella vs. Goliath battle as we return to the top of the bracket. #24 seed Ganon's Castle knocked out #9 seed Knowledge of the Maku Trees in the first round (Oracle of Seasons/Ages). It takes on #5 seed Gerudo Desert from Twilight Princess. You'll hear this track in the game starting from THIS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBE4IqApdAA&t=1m29s) point. It's a great iteration on the historically good Gerudo Valley from Ocarina of Time, hitting all those desert notes but changing the tempo completely for a totally different experience.

That's a tough battle because Ganon's Castle is one of the best boss lair themes in the entire series and totally underrated in my opinion - that ominous piano makes you totally on edge while you play, knowing that you have come to the end of the most epic journey of your video game life.

Geez, I just talked myself into it.

Ocarina of Time.

No beef if Gerudo Desert advances though - either is great by me.

Very sad to see Last Day go. I was hoping to see that in the next few rounds.

Someone should do a FF rumble. that would be gnarly. I just listened to possibly the best remix ever. I don't mind sounding audacious saying that! The musicality and production of the song takes me into a place that the original did not even compare to.

So where to start, Gerudo Valley sounded like native american influences, i would go for the bird people. It's actually been 10 years since I played TP, so as far as relating to the game, I am sparse at best at relating to the experience of the game with this music. That said, the song is possibly the most relevant take on the whole desert nature of the music. It doesn't lead anywhere, but has a tinge of "here am I, I'm present" which makes you able to listen to it forever. Good job.

However, I'm going to go for Ganon's Castle (Underground) for this one. it has a looming sense of anticipation and dread, in which the creeping of Link probably agrees with, that something is about to happen. Again, musically i don't feel it goes anywhere, but the anticipation of what is about to happen is gripping and makes me want to vote for this one.

Color Dungeon for me. Out of interest I did listen to them again. It has a rather simple melody to it, which is underpinned by the looming sense of expectation. well done to whomever was tasked with writing a masterpiece (soundtrack) using only the 8 bit elements of GBC.

For Molgera, i get the idea this is played at a boss battle? you know, having to recharge your heart count, and using your sword and skills. that, or it could be the sailing music. your pick. both carry intense and poignant allegories to adventure skills, so that's why I could say it goes either way.

Ganon's Castle

We actually did a 128 track Final Fantasy rumble not too long ago. Dancing Mad won, as you might expect, though Decisive Battle from Final Fantasy X gave it a run for its money. If you look on the first page of this thread you can see a list of all the rumbles we've done to date and how well each entry performed.

I was in a rush when I made my last post, but I noticed that Murozond from Hour of Twilight, one of the two WoW entries, was damn near identical to Dragons' Rest despite three years separating their creation. Blizzard likes to resurrect themes a lot, as I'm sure you've all noticed by now, but it would have been a real stretch to define these as distinct songs. I might never have noticed had they not been pooled back-to-back. (It wouldn't have been the wildest coincidence though. Melodies of Life and Song of Memories went head to head in the opening round of the Final Fantasy rumble.) I let The Argent Tournament from Call of the Crusade get the axe to make room for other peoples' suggestions when this rumble was being formed, but I definitely wasn't happy to see it go. Unless someone has a different track to propose, I think I will add it in place of Murozond when I post the next update Friday.

Thanks Shad. to my memory, the song of memories - isn't that the one playing in Oeilvert - i had to look up the name, i forgot it. or is it the one that garnet always sings? if it's the latter i can understand the similarities. to be fair, i know that its the song she sings, but hadn't really considered that until now (for the record, it is my most favourite song. EVER - melodies of life)

I don't honestly remember where Song of Memories plays. (It's been, what, 15 years?) But it's the instrumental version of Melodies of Life, basically. Melodies of Life was the only sung Final Fantasy ballad that I actually liked.

Ganon Castle

As for Song from her Memory, it is played in Lindblum. Garnet is at the tower with birds, singing it, when Zidane comes up and interrupts. I believe it continues to play as you're going through what each character is doing while in Lindblum at that point.

I'd go ahead with that if that's what you want.

Heads won the toss. Color Dungeon (3-3) and Ganon's Castle (4-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 16 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Elune's Shadow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUDm2xatms4), from Warlords of Draenor

vs.

The Argent Tournament (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYg5FK237qY), from Call of the Crusade

-------------------------------------------------------

Elune is the moon goddess in WoW lore, giving this track a fitting title as walking music to Shadowmoon Valley ()--a zone in perpetual night, supposedly. (Though it always seems like daylight when I go there. <_<)
In contrast to The Horse and Lance, The Argent Tournament consists of the more upbeat tracks that a player is most likely to remember from a casual visit to the tournament grounds. The exceptional amount of daily quest grinding surrounding the event means that anyone who played during Wrath of the Lich King will instantly recognize the music.

The Argent Tournament is what made the tournament itself one of my favorite events in WoW. I never got tired of the music then, and I'm still loving it now.

-------------------------------------------------------


Hyrule Round 2, Fight 3 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Hunting the Monkey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dml2nIrea0), from Twilight Princess

vs.

Farewell Hyrule King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq7LrougGYk), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

Farewell Hyrule King!

The Argent Tournament

Farewell Hyrule King

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO SHAD, I PERSONALLY DID NOT LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT CHOICES MADE WITH THAT TIER... I DIDN'T LIKE THE MUSIC THAT MUCH FROM THAT TIER ANYWAY. THE OTHER ONE IS TOUGH.

WARLORDS OF DRAENOR, TWILIGHT PRINCESS

#CAPSLOCKFRIDAY
#ITSBEENALONGWEEK

The Argent Tournament

Farewell Hyrule King

I don't really know what to choose for the WoW music, since both are so different - in virtue of the medieval sounding nature of the Argent Tournament, or a take on a LOTR song (with moon overtones) I don't totally get it to be fair - I would go for the Argent Tournament, simply because it probably relates best to medieval life, or something of the sort. On a whole, I most connected to the "Farewell Hyrule King" piece but that's not from WoW. Though it is more like a dirge than a display of wonder. I know that's a funny thing to say, but I think the music reflects on your mood sometimes. That's what I'm feeling this time round.

Elune's Shadow rarely gives a moment to pause (ironically) as it builds up from the first note to the end of the section. Then it pauses, and the theme is played again. It is less like a light-filled sorrow stricken High-Elf theme, and more like the waning sun setting on an ancient civilisation. It's funny that WoW goes on to say that the world was formed in this place of dark and shadow.

In contrast you have the hustle and bustle of the medieval culture and the fanciful addition of its attractions and misgoings. I think I will go with Argent Tournament this time round, but I can't really make a decision which way or that. (Maybe it's because I know that both are very central pieces)

I will go with Farewell Hyrule King, though it has a dark demeanour to it, and less like a somber moment and more like a dirge that is played when someone passes. All that quiant reflection is making me appreciate my lunch today.

The Argent Tournament (4-1) and Farewell Hyrule King (4-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 17 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Joust (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FfXw44KtOw), from Call of the Crusade

vs.

Depths of Vash'jir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myTFIzlpGDs), from Cataclysm

-------------------------------------------------------

You've probably got the idea with the Argent Tournament by now. "Joust" plays during the jousting minigame in which you, well, joust. Vash'jir is one of the two starting zones for questing in Cataclysm. Under water in its entirety (), Vash'jir was by far the most unique zone Blizzard has ever designed. "Unique" did not necessarily translate to "best". The extra dimension of gameplay involved in a swimming environment turned off a lot of people. Me, I loved it. And I love the music too.

Depths of Vash'jir

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 3 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Field Night Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeUAPGZ3imQ), from Twilight Princess

vs.

Death Mountain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps3jZCfha4c), from Legend of Zelda

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Field Night Theme

Looks like I was the sore thumb sticking out in both of those votes last round!

Let's see about this one.

As I mentioned before, by distaste of all things Argent Tournament knows no boundaries.

In the Zelda Rumble, it's #5 seed Hyrule Field Night Theme taking on #24 seed Death Mountain from the original Zelda. Hyrule Field Night Theme knocked off #28 seed Dark Grotto in an all Twilight Princess first round battle. Mean while Death Mountain knocked off #9 seed Sadness from Oracle of Ages, part of a regrettable first round for the Game Boy Color titles. I'm going with the Night Theme here - one of my favorite themes in the whole game.

Cataclysm, Twilight Princess

Depths of Vash'jir

Hyrule Field Night Theme

When I was starting to listen, I wanted something that would be captivating. Somehow the jousting doesn't really compel me to say "this is great!" I mean, it's nice, but not what I'm looking for. Vash'jir on the otherhand seems to leek out compelling. I could see this being used for the theme to some video game. Or some shocking suspense. That's gotta count for something. to Me it also screams out for WoW. nice signature track. well done blizzard!

"Hyrule Field Night Theme" aaaaah! I have to vote for this! This brings back so many good memories! Link! i love how the suspense of this song makes you ready for the wolf arriving. Not that it was always in the night, but this is the time that you first see Him!

Joust

Hyrule Field Night Theme

There were times I would just hangout at night so I could hear this song playing when I first got the game. It really gives you a sense of suspense as you say. I love it.

Depths of Vash'jir (4-1) and Hyrule Field Night Theme (5-0) advance!

Once again I'm in a bit of a bind. The gas company decided that a 7 degree day would be just perfect to determine that our gas had a modest leak and shut us off. Don't really have much time right now, only got around to Zelda:

Termina Round 2, Fight 3 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Tarm Ruins/The Lost Woods (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_b4586GCQI), from Oracle of Seasons

vs.

Midna's Desperation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4o683oc6Qc), from Twilight Princess

-------------------------------------------------------

This is a really tough call. I'll take Tarm Ruins/The Lost Woods because it accomplished a similarly haunting melody with less technology.

Yikes. Thanks for posting in such conditions. I hope you're staying warm. We don't want to lose a rumbler to hypothermia.

I agree that this one seems neck and neck. Tarm Ruins for me, too.

Midna's Desperation

I'm sorry to hear about your conditions Shad, I hope you are able to stay somewhat warm and get your leak fixed up asap!

Yikes, and I don't have internet at my new place (moved yesterday, to a much better place, save for internet)

Good thing I'm on the internet today. But I likely wont be on during the week. Hope the rumble goes well

Midna's Desperation

This is a brutal decision both accomplish what they set out to do masterfully. Link is frantically rushing a Midna in distress back to the castle for Princess Zelda's aid during Midna's desperation (also... as a sidebar - Zelda's redesign as a brunette for this game was, I believe, a TREMENDOUS choice and fit the style of the game perfectly. I also liked how they portrayed her less as a damsel in distress and more as a heroine in need of aid compared to some other games in the series).

This is the most high profile matchup we've had yet in the Rumble: this is the lowest combined seeds that have met for a battle (#5 Tarm Ruins beat #28 Prologue - Legend of the Goddess from Skyward Sword; #9 Midna's Desperation thrashed #24 seed Vaati from The Minish Cap).

It seems fitting that each side may come down to THIS vote.

I'll go with the favorite... but I'm sad to see Midna's Desperation go. A second round loss seems impossible for a track that good.

Who seeded this damn thing anyway?? Oh... right.

Oracle of Seasons.

Tarm Ruins/The Lost Woods (3-2) advances!

Round 1, Fight 18 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Thrall's Might (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbpEBkN36B0), from Hour of Twilight

vs.

Fel Wasteland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF1iZDTR_1c), from Warlords of Draenor

-------------------------------------------------------

Thrall has been leader of the horde for most of their time on Azeroth, in practice if not always in name. He served as the main protagonist in the fight against Deathwing, and this music tends to accompany him for that event. I'm not actually sure where Fel Wasteland appears in Warlords of Draenor. While it sounds immediately familiar to me, I can't think of any zone for which it would be particularly appropriate. It might be from as of yet unreleased content, or I might just be overlooking something obvious. There weren't really any comments on the videos to set me on track.

Thrall's Might

-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 2, Fight 4 // Zelda Rumble

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Faron Woods (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_2zBH30HJU), from Skyward Sword

vs.

Kokiri Forest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3I1fx1GOuc), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Faron Woods

Cataclysm, Ocarina of Time.

Kokiri Forest is one of the first themes you hear in Ocarina of Time. I think the melody sets the stage perfectly for what many consider the Zelda series (and for some... all of video gaming's) greatest achievement.

Fel Wasteland

Faron Woods

In other music news: Liturgy is about to release the most unique and enjoyable metal album I've heard since at least Peste Noire's 2013 opus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km3bBkUp1WM).

I'm back. I have the interwebs again :)

So, in this round up, we have the fight against DW and some unknown beta music from Warlords of Draenor. Good match up.

Technically I have not heard the music before, or played the game, so I will try my best.

Cataclysm, I wanted to go listen to it again and get an appreciation for the music as it demonstrated perhaps an event that mingles in alot of lore and something of what gripped me when playing the RTS games.

But that said, I'm finding after watching spiderman 3, that sometimes you don't get the overall appeal of the song because it's seen in the greater work of the whole opus. This is what happened to me after listneing to the WOW songs and then going onto Zelda. I won't say that my opinion doesn't matter, but probably there are some that have played these games, so their opinion can be more relevant or validated.

I love Kokiri Forest! it sounds like the inn music in SD3! in fact i've played the game so I love it for that reason too. But I don't think it quite left the impression on me that it did to link.

But, this is a hard decision for me. I can tell that skyward swords soundtrack is amazing.

Thrall wins hands down for me. It has everything about an epic to me.

I'm going to for kokiri forest this time.

Thrall's Might

Faron Woods

---------- Post added at 02:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:06 PM ----------

Thrall's Might

Faron Woods

Thrall's Might (4-1) and Faron Woods (3-2) advance! Updates are probably going to continue to be a bit sporadic over the next few weeks as I've just had way too much going on at once, but I'll be sure to pass the torch if I feel I can't maintain this any longer.

Round 1, Fight 19 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Outlands Horde Base (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOcOOHdXgTI), from The Burning Crusade

vs.

For the Alliance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESA4CMrP9zo), from Landfall

-------------------------------------------------------

While Outland Horde Base might begin with the same sequence as its alliance equivalent, you'll soon hear the track shift in reflection of this faction's mood and character. In For the Alliance, you'll hear some classic alliance themes tastefully updated to fit the stylistic direction of Mists of Pandaria.

Mists of Pandaria offered some of the least memorable patches in WoW history. Landfall, the first post-release patch, maintained my interest for about a week. (Escalation was so poorly integrated that I literally never knew it was taking place until after it had ended and been removed from the game.) But musically speaking, I think Landfall had a lot of merits. Where Mists of Pandaria mustered so many Asian themes that it barely felt like WoW, and Rise of the Thunder King through Siege of Orgrimmar felt entirely rushed and forgettable, Landfall struck a pretty healthy balance. I'll take For the Alliance.

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 4 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Deku Tree (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdD7_L2VSxI), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Spirit Temple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEWOeiUmFgA), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Spirit Temple

For the Alliance

Spirit Temple

Thanks for all you do. Let us know if you need a relief pitcher.

Outlands Horde Base I found this to be a tough choice. Both are really good, but I find myself enjoying the Horde base music better.

Spirit Temple

For clarity... I must point out that the opening track in the Outlands Horde Base is NOT actually part of the Horde track - it is exclusively the Alliance track and should not be judged as part of the Horde base in ANY way. It doesn't appear in a Horde base ANYWHERE in the game. Some of these people on YouTube.... grinding my gears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd9JRYqzpqI#t=1m20s will take you to the correct part of this track.

I got to go Spirit Temple - my second or third favorite Adult Link dungeon theme in the game... and probably my second favorite Adult Link dungeon... a classic level!

The Burning Crusade, Ocarina of Time

Always happy to pitch in Shad. Let us know!

Spirit Temple (4-0) advances!

Round 1, Fight 20 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Wrath of the Lich King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dh_IOIkRUw), from Wrath of the Lich King

vs.

Orgrimmar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuLMkfG_Xu0), from World of Warcraft

-------------------------------------------------------

These are both very frequently-occurring tracks within World of Warcraft. Wrath of the Lich King, as its name suggests, was the log-in screen theme to its expansion. For two years, if you wanted to play World of Warcraft you would hear this song. It had to capture everything about the expansion's mood and atmosphere up front, in those few seconds you heard every day, and then spread it out into a broader image of the game for those who occasionally listened on. Orgrimmar has been the dusty, uninviting central hub () for horde players since forever, and if you've played horde for long it is surely permanently etched into your mind.

Wrath of the Lich King

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 4 // Zelda Rumble

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Dark World (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sslj06K-Nlw), from A Link to the Past

vs.

Lost Woods (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uInmFU6JkU), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Do I reeeeeally have to choose between these two this early on? I mean, I have to take Dark World, but that's harsh.

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Round 1, Fight 19 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Outlands Horde Base (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOcOOHdXgTI), from The Burning Crusade

vs.

For the Alliance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESA4CMrP9zo), from Landfall

-------------------------------------------------------

Wrath of the Lich King

Dark World - No mercy for the weak! Eyes on the prize.

The one thing I like about the WoW login screens is that they kind of build on each other. The Burning Crusade theme stayed with the original login screen, but you can hear the WotLK theme borrow a bit of that Blood Elf theme in the middle. All in all though, this is probably my least favorite WoW login theme of the three expansions I played. Orgrimmar is canon when it comes to WoW music. The opening theme for entering Orgrimmar screams "FOR THE HORDE!"

I'm going with Lost Woods on the Zelda rumble - itself is a much more fleshed out version of Saria's Song. I think it fits the bill for a mysterious forest that still exists within the realm of Kokiri Forest perfectly.

World of Warcraft, Ocarina of Time.

Dark World

I want to vote for Orgrimmar and see it advance because it really does scream "FOR THE HORDE!" But I want to go for Wrath of the Lich King because I feel it is a better piece of music. I'm just going to hold off on my vote right now.

Shame, we seem to be stuck at only 4 people again. Well, tails won the toss, so Outlands Horde Base (2-2), Wrath of the Lich King (2-1), and Dark World (3-1) advance.

Round 1, Fight 21 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Tides of War (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpsrlLtHy5M), from Warlords of Draenor

vs.

Garrosh's Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvrYY0KP45Y), from Landfall

-------------------------------------------------------

These are both really strong tracks--a pretty harsh pairing for the first round. I'll take Garrosh's Theme by a hair.

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 2, Fight 4 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

River Game (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPvRU7PCThE), from Twilight Princess

vs.

Ocean (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN_x1rpGbY8), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

River Game

Tides of War

Ocean

While The Wind Waker's Ocean turned out to be a bit tiresome by the end of the game and not one of the series' most popular Overworld choices, the music is one of the most fitting and well-liked pieces in the series. It almost made the long voyages worth it.

Garrosh's Theme, The Wind Waker.

Tides of War

Ocean

Honestly, Warlords of Draenor overall has a really high quality OST. I like more or less everything on it.

Tides of War

Ocean

Tides of War (3-2) and Ocean (4-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 22 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Silvermoon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n2NMzFAJ4o), from The Burning Crusade

vs.

Stormwind (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPjeNWDsszw), from World of Warcraftl

-------------------------------------------------------

Cities clash in this match-up. Unlike the human cities of Lordaeron, the High Elf (Blood Elf) metropolis of Silvermoon () survived the Lich King's conquest only partially destroyed, and great efforts have since been taken to rebuild it. The city's towering structures and twisting corridors () give it an air of sophistication, apt for a population which extends from the aristocratic echelon of ancient kaldorei society.
Stormwind (), recently rebuilt after the First War (Warcraft 1), became the capital city of the human race after the Lich King decimated the kingdom of Lordaeron in Warcraft 3. Its king, Varian Wrynn, has stood as the leader of the alliance throughout World of Warcraft. With the unexpected death of Magni Bronzebeard and the subsequent political division within Ironforge at the start of Cataclysm, Stormwind came to be the undisputed capital city for alliance players both in lore and in practice. You can think of Stormwind as a sort of vast, fortified safe haven () for refugees from across the Eastern Kingdoms.

Honestly, I think Silvermoon totally misses the mark. Its movements are mostly militaristic anthems not out of place in Stormwind or spiritual hymns typically reserved for night elves, the two appearing interwoven at times. Yet from a lore perspective, the high elves and night elves separated more than 7,000 years ago and represented totally separate segments of society even when they lived side by side. Their distinct musical similarities to night elves and the militarism in a society that has traditionally isolated itself from the outside world detracts from the immersion to me, and it just seems like gross miscommunication between WoW's sound team and plot developers. Stormwind, on the other hand, captures its city perfectly.

-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 2, Fight 5 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Forest Temple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmsZyC0UXUU), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Windfall Island (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_XgaJNVgg), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

Well, you couldn't ask for two more thematically different tracks. I'm still loving Windfall Island's take on the Kakariko theme enough to give this underdog a slight edge over Forest Temple. The latter is good to be sure, but not my favorite Ocarina of Time ambient track.

Silvermoon

Windfall Island

4 strong contenders in these two rumbles.

I disagree with Shad's assessment of the Silvermoon theme. I think that it fits the Blood Elf motif perfectly. Where he may hear a misplaced battle theme, I hear the Blood Elven resentment for their situation. When he hears the Night Elf spirituality, I hear a culture that perhaps longs for a return to their high elven nobility. However, I'm still voting for Stormwind because it is my favorite city in WoW.

I'm definitely going with Forest Temple in the other matchup. I like Windfall Island a lot, but Forest Temple is such a memorable tune for me. This was Link's first adventure as a teen after waking up from a 7-year nap. It was quite a challenge in that dungeon, vanquishing the Poe Sisters and finally the Phantom of Ganon.

World of Warcraft, Ocarina of Time.

Stormwind

Forest Temple

We've got a tie in the Zelda rumble, and Stormwind (3-1) advances.

Round 1, Fight 23 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Isle of Conquest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-YbfdLYFiU), from Call of the Crusade

vs.

Crystalsong (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrgTMhh7WgE), from Wrath of the Lich King

-------------------------------------------------------

This is an interesting match-up. Crystalsong Forest () might still be the most visually stunning zone in the game, and I always felt its music matched it perfectly. This is the zone over which the mages of the Kirin Tor relocated the floating city of Dalaran to serve as home base during the Northrend expedition. Yet Crystalsong Forest itself, far below, hosted the fewest events of any zone in the expansion. It was a sort of hidden gem that you really didn't deal with all that often, rendering it a perpetual novelty.
And then there is the Isle of Conquest (). Where do I even begin with this one? For a lot of people on my in-game contact list, this place is the world of Warcraft. In WoW you have two different types of combat: pve and pvp. PVE encounters pit you against Blizzard's AI enemies, either one on one or in a raiding environment where a whole bunch of people get together to kill a badguy. In PVP, you fight other players, horde against alliance. These two combat types serve as the backbone of gameplay, and most players will identify themselves as a "raider" or a "pvper" as the most defining characteristic of how they play the game. PVP can happen out in the world on any given server (a server consists of anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of players) without an official objective, or it can happen in designated battlegrounds that players queue into to duke it out and accomplish objectives to win or lose in set numbers of 10 on 10, 15 on 15, or 40 on 40. Isle of Conquest is one of the two 40 on 40 battlegrounds, and it is probably the only battleground over which entire guilds rise and fall. Let me put this into context as an active WoW player who raids more than pvps but enjoys both: In-game statistics show that I've won Isle of Conquest 299 times. My next highest win count for any bg is 114. The alliance faction on servers like Kil'jaeden and Kel'Thuzad have been famous at times for their Isle of Conquest teams, and I've gotten to know some of the top-rated players in the entire game by leading 40-man groups in the battleground. The intended goal of the battleground is simple: conquer the opposing faction's main keep () and kill the npc mini-boss commander. But more often than not, the objective is ignored and the battleground is exploited to slaughter massive numbers of the opposing faction. Its unique design caters to crafty ambushes where a player can end up trapped in a corner to die over, and over, and over again with no easy escape. If you've pvped in WoW for long, you've inevitably found yourself on one side or another of one of these "kill farms".

Despite all of this, the Isle of Conquest music is more foreign to me than Crystalsong. IoC kill farms often run 24/7, and no one really wants to listen to the same three minute track hours on end. Instead, you're likely to find yourself enjoying a jukebox someone has set up over voice chat, or else listening to your own music. Isle of Conquest would have had to be something far above the curve to live up to the experience of playing in it. Crystalsong, on the other hand, has always struck me as an ideal song to showcase an uncommon zone's very unique and seldom experienced flavor.

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 5 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Zora's Domain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUyqvUG0ypA), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Wind Fish's Egg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skRsgS5HtZE), from Link's Awakening

-------------------------------------------------------

Wind Fish's Egg

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Underworld Round 2, Fight 5 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Forest Temple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmsZyC0UXUU), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Windfall Island (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_XgaJNVgg), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

Isle of Conquest, Link's Awakening.

Isle of Conquest, Link's Awakening.

Isle of Conquest

Wind Fish's Egg

Heads won the toss. Isle of Conquest (3-1), Wind Fish's Egg (4-0), and Windfall Island (2-2) advance.

I caught another repeat in the track selections. Cataclysm - Kezan/Lost Isles 09 and Cataclysm - Castaways are pretty nearly the same thing. I'm cutting out the latter of these two, which was supposed to appear today, and putting in its place a song I can't believe I forgot when I was drafting this. Karazhan!

Round 1, Fight 24 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Karazhan Opera House (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dedMP7eda2E), from The Burning Crusade

vs.

Dragon Soul (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEKRBVTrPvA), from Hour of Twilight

-------------------------------------------------------

The video I linked for Dragon Soul contains that entire raid's soundtrack. The relevant portion for this match-up runs from 0:00 to 3:09.

Karazhan

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 5 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Overworld (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkH2zETKqws), from A Link to the Past

vs.

Nightmare Battles (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyLNQsGTby8), from Link's Awakening

-------------------------------------------------------

Overworld

Man, I sure am sad that Forest Temple lost the coin flip. A #3 seed goes down.

When Karazhan came out, the raid didn't have any music. It seemed odd at the time, but I'm not a fan of what they put in its place at all. The other track this round is decent too so all the more reason to vote against it.

I like Nightmare Battles a lot... but it is tough to argue with almost any version of the Overworld theme.

Cataclysm, A Link to the Past.

Karazhan

Overworld

Karazhan

Overworld

Glad to be back.

Cheers! Might not have time for an actual update until Wednesday but I'll try to squeeze one in tomorrow.

I'm so glad you're back! thank you ffshrine!

This is what I love about coming to these forums. having the opportunity to listen to some good music that I'm bound to like.

That said, i was a bit undecided on the WoW music this time.

I have heard things about Karazhan, and they've been good things, cause it's something to look forward to when you've been playing to max level.

It gets my vote this time, since it sounds very leading. like someones about to get up and sing.

Overworld

On another note, Forest Temple has been added to my best video games music ever list. This is wonderfully expressive in terms of the use of instruments and leading for the player.

Great to have you back! Considering Forest Temple lost to a coin toss, I see no issue switching it to a 3-2 victory.

---------- Post added at 08:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 AM ----------

Alright, moving along now. Karazhan (4-1) and Overworld (5-0) advance!

Round 1, Fight 25 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

The Burning Legion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRrJWteo_SE), from The Burning Crusade

vs.

Thaurissan's Reach (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ejk7iCQFVw), from Cataclysm

-------------------------------------------------------

The Burning Legion is the log-in screen music to The Burning Crusade. Thaurissan was the name of the old capital of the Dark Iron dwarves, as well the surname of the Dark Iron royal line. Moira Thaurissan is on the Council of Three Hammers, the triumvirate ruling Ironforge after the death of Moira's father Magni Bronzebeard following events between Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm. Queen by right, her harsh, unforgiving leadership and mixed bloodlines caused a great deal of internal strife before Varian Wrynn humiliated her (and arguably the entire dwarven race) and forced Ironforge to accept rule by council, Moira sharing joint power with her uncle Muradin Bronzebeard and Falstad Wildhammer of the Wildhammer clan. So what is "Thaurissan's Reach"? Pretty small, really. Her inept rule allowed humans to place themselves in an explicitly superior role to dwarves within the Alliance.

Thaurissan's Reach has always impressed me. Maybe because it's the only expansion I never played, The Burning Legion just sounds like a rehash of the same old to me.

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 2, Fight 5 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Title Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AortGYe1sTI), from Majora's Mask

vs.

Dragon Roost Island (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWq53IFXVQ), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

This is a tough one. Majora's Mask has a great introduction, really defining the game to come in a way that few opening tunes can. But while I like what it's doing, Dragon Roost Island has a bit more direct appeal to me. Since I never actually played the games, I have to let my ears decide.

Thaurissan's Reach

Title Theme

We're back! I didn't think I'd vote against the Burning Legion - so far I've not voted nearly as much for post Wrath music as Wrath or earlier... but I will give it the nod here - not great in the middle... but the first 2 minutes or so.. .that's the power of the dwarves right there.

Tough call the other way too.

Cataclysm, Majora's Mask.

Also, I don't know if Bronzebeard is ALL the way dead - I prefer the term "Petrified". Who knows what sorcery could happen to bring him back in 2 expansions. As they say - "X was merely a setback..."

Thaurissan's Reach

Dragon Roost Island

Why did you have to match up such ridiculously good songs?

That said, I loved the musical direction of the Wind Waker song.

The Burning Legion

Dragon Roost Island

Thaurissan's Reach (4-1) and, perhaps a bit of a surprise, Dragon Roost Island (3-2) advance!

Round 1, Fight 26 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Magnificent Desolation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKP1-Xqwuis), from Warlords of Draenor

vs.

Into the Coliseum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdF1qrN1QEw), from Call of the Crusade

-------------------------------------------------------

Magnificent Desolation is walking music for Frostfire Ridge (), the beautiful starting zone for horde players in Warlords of Draenor. Into the Coliseum's context should be familiar by now. This particular track is associated with the actual raid in the tournament grounds, if I remember correctly.

Tough choices. Magnificent Desolation is beautiful--one of the best WoD tracks--but it's hard for me to vote against anything from Call of the Crusade, let alone Into the Coliseum.


-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 2, Fight 6 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Castle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uR7doemZD0), from A Link to the Past

vs.

Hyrule Field Main (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO8Y7hdD6Qk), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Castle!

Into the Coliseum - So far, this is my second favorite track from the first round (after The Siege from Secrets of Ulduar). Concise, vivid, and powerful. Love the interplay between the brass and strings setting everything up at the beginning.

Hyrule Castle - Both are iconic themes from iconic games, but how many hundreds of times have I heard Hyrule Castle and it still holds up? Hearing it again makes me want to pop the game in right now. Maybe I will...

Tough call in the Zelda rumble to be sure - 6 seed vs. a 10 seed there, so neither song is a pushover.

I have a feeling with this group of voters old-school may trump new school, but I'm going to vote with my heart.

Warlords of Draenor, Ocarina of Time

I think A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time both qualify as old school. :D

Into the Coliseum I haven't played the WoD expansion, but the music is really nice. Magnificent Desolation is beautiful and reminds me of the music from Halo. Had it gone up against just about anything else, I would have voted for it.

Hyrule Castle

I have the zelda soundtrack, so it's a no brainer which one I'm going to vote for in this roundup.

Isn't it fascinating just how typical the regal knight theme goes with the onslaught of darkness. I get that from this theme anyway. I know that it's hard to vote against Hyrule Field Main Theme in this context, but i'm going with my gut at the moment. I think the link to the past is a phenomenal soundtrack in it's own right.

Hyrule Castle

I have gone for the coliseum tracks in each match up so far, so I'm going to go for Into the Coliseum track this time.

]Into the Coliseum (4-1) and Hyrule Castle (4-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 27 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

The Fall of Deathwing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXStKb_ArUA), from Hour of Twilight

vs.

Jaina's Ode to Theramore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-vNMKBoiCM), from Landfall

-------------------------------------------------------

Commonly known as Madness, the final boss of Cataclysm () was a long, tedious fight that suffered more from Blizzard's changes to group-forming mechanics than from actual design. The first raid to introduce automated group finding--prior to a more refined tuning of that system--many players got their first taste of the fight among an inept jumble of total strangers, dying repeatedly after 10 to 15 minutes of combat, waiting 20 minutes for vacancies to be auto-filled as players bailed after one attempt seemingly every time you pulled the boss. But Deathwing's second form was, in fact, a pretty neat design, made to feel as epic as a battle against the creature who had recently destroyed most of Azeroth as we knew it ought to. The music helped.

Theramore's history in Warcraft is relatively short. A fortress town constructed by the Proudmoore family as a refugee hub for survivors of the destruction of Old Dalaran during the events of Warcraft 3, it was unique for being the only stable human settlement on the mostly horde-controlled continent of Kalimdor. For that, I was always really fond of it. Not only did it function as the gathering point for raids on the horde capital of Orgrimmar in the days before flying and instant teleportation shrunk the "World" of Warcraft into something that barely qualifies as an MMORPG, but it also added some nice player immersion. It felt like the one safe haven in a hostile land. At the launch of Mists of Pandaria, Garrosh Hellscream dropped the goblin equivalent of an atom bomb in the middle of it (), sparking off the war that comprised that expansion's plotline. It was irritating rather than shocking. From Blizzard's standpoint, the city's destruction was meant to insight real pvp combat between horde and alliance players, but that never manifested into reality. MoP's gameplay faults aside, the attack simply made no sense. In fact, the story was so poorly written that it made the entirety of Mists of Pandaria feel like a really bad joke:
So Thrall is the beloved leader of the horde. Damn near everyone respects and follows him, and his diplomatic, peaceloving nature is what makes the World of Warcraft tick. Horde and alliance could never unite to kill Kil'jaeden or the Lich King or Deathwing if they were too busy killing each other, but thanks to Thrall they can maintain enough peace to face common foes. On the alliance side, Jaina Proudmoore (leader of Theramore, the destruction of which is the subject of this song) is essentially the chief diplomat coordinating with Thrall, and the cross-faction alliance they forge in Cataclysm is the strongest the game has ever known. (Alliance players actually take their commands directly from Thrall rather than Varian Wrynn by the end of it.) So in Cataclysm Thrall hands over day to day leadership duties within the horde in order to better fulfill his role as a cross-faction leader. He still commands unwavering authority over the horde, he just trusts someone else to make most of the routine decisions. Because Orgrimmar is an orc city, he places Garrosh Hellscream in charge, even though Vol'jin of the Darkspear trolls, Cairne Bloodhoof of the tauren, and Sylvanas Windrunner of the forsaken command a lot more authority and respect. Fair enough. One of Garrosh's first moves as a totally untested leader is to literally stab Cairne in the back. The tauren trust Thrall so much that they still remain in the horde in spite of their chieftain's murder. Thrall inexplicably leaves Garrosh in command. Then Garrosh hires rogue goblins to nuke Theramore and murder most of Jaina Proudmoore's family. Thrall still inexplicably leaves the batshit insane Garrosh in command. And Vol'jin and Sylvanas are totally cool with this. Next thing you know you have this huge war between horde and alliance--the main plotline of Mists of Pandaria--and it takes two years for Thrall, Sylvanas, and Vol'jin to go "hmm, maybe this was a bad idea". So they try to dispose Garrosh, and half of the horde, who had only accepted Garrosh's deplorable leadership because they loved Thrall oh so much, all of a sudden side with Garrosh. It created a common enemy--as a horde player you are forced to side with Thrall's rebels and join the alliance in laying siege to Orgrimmar--but it's really, really dumb. Like, soap operas feel intellectual after a few hours of this expansion. In context, this song just makes you go "whatever" and roll your eyes.

But context isn't everything. It's a good song. Jaina's Ode to Theramore


-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 6 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Palace (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7Sh82Mzdc), from Adventure of Link

vs.

Queen Ambi's Palace (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAyQnvu6Pcg), from Oracle of Ages

-------------------------------------------------------

So few composers successfully exploit the natural distortion of Game Boy tones. Done right, they sound better to me than any other chip audio out there. Palace is a much more interesting song, but... if I can easily answer "which of these would you rather listen to again" without second guessing myself, there's no point in deliberating further. Queen Ambi's Palace

The Fall of Deathwing

Palace

Jaina's Ode to Theramore

Palace

I became a dad about two hours after posting that. Cheers!

WHOA!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
http://rs982.pbsrc.com/albums/ae301/EarlyMemphis/Smileys-Animated/BeerCheersSmiley.gif~c200

---------- Post added at 01:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

The rumble's first baby!




The miracle of life through classic video games: Terra (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asi5LCaJzlI) and Marle (http://www.skyrender.net/lp2/ct/02/ct_lm.gif)

A little title-appropriate music: Awakening (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqEkbb-A27k)

Gotta get the kiddo a Rockabye Baby version of one of your favorite metal albums. :D


http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu301/arthurgolden/i_love_my_video_game_music_tshirt-r6ab20c3782bf431091bf1ac4c052b84b_f0c6y_324_zps7gt f0qmm.jpg

Mists of Pandaria, Zelda II.

Jaina song for Theramore
Zelda II

Jaina's Ode to Theramore (4-1) and Palace (4-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 28 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Dalaran (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrUkZdtPohc), from Wrath of the Lich King

vs.

Tavern (Alliance) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXdqWmp9FA4), from World of Warcraft

-------------------------------------------------------

The city of Dalaran, rebuilt after its destruction at the hands of Archimonde in Warcraft 3, was set to float over Crystalsong Forest in Northrend as a refuge and gathering point during the fight against the Lich King. Easily the most grand expansion city in the game (), its music is set to inspire a sense of awe that the player could experience daily for those two years. I think it stands along with Ironforge as Blizzard's best MMO city design, and it definitely has my favorite music among them.
If you play WoW for immersion, you've definitely spent time in one of the game's myriad taverns. Were your characters real, these are the areas where they would most likely pass idle hours. While they don't play a prominent role in the game proper, many players have surely stepped inside a few, turned on the music, and pretended for a moment to be a part of Blizzard's fantasy world. Three tavern themes appear in this rumble, and the current one is what you were most likely to experience in one of the old, classic cities and towns within the game.

This is really tough. Both of these songs accomplish their intended purpose exceptionally. I have to side with Dalaran, because I've probably heard it a hundred times and it still draws me in.

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 6 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Sword Search (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3VXcML6Hf0), from Link's Awakening

vs.

Secret Maze on the Sea of No Return (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNR324xxt1M), from Oracle of Ages

-------------------------------------------------------

Sword Search

Dalaran!

Sword Search

Dalaran!

Sword Search

Congrats Shad!

A couple legends partied together last night (clickable thumbnail since I already bombarded this page with pictures). :D

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu301/arthurgolden/th_18627_954897864543578_4342855019331995084_n_zps qckagvrz.jpg (http://s658.photobucket.com/user/arthurgolden/media/18627_954897864543578_4342855019331995084_n_zpsqck agvrz.jpg.html)

Shimomura's boots are trippy. For a second there I thought she had no feet.

Ollie's vgm inauguration will come in time. For now, he's really digging Chopin. :)

That's a worthy substitute. :D

Really tough call in the Zelda rumble - two great handheld tracks duking it out there. I'll jump on what appears to be the losing side again.

World of Warcraft, Oracle of Ages

You're right about the songs in WoW. they really draw you in (if you knew what purpose it was for) it's rather funny that is the past-time of people in WoW. Drinking in taverns.

That said, it's got my vote this time, World of Warcraft

I really enjoyed listening to the zelda songs in this mix, both had their qualities which made me enjoy listening (actually It made me want to listen to the whole soundtrack) For this time, my vote is going for Links Awakening (on a side note, there's been some really strong songs from this soundtrack so far!)

Dalaran (3-2) and Sword Search (4-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 29 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Nightsong (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iqUVY15VI), from Cataclysm

vs.

Hellfire Peninsula (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7XA-JvK6kg), from The Burning Crusade

-------------------------------------------------------

Baby aggro, no hands to type much.


Nightsong super reminds me of Dargaard, but walking music doesn't get much better than Hellfire Peninsula.

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 2, Fight 6 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Before the Journey, from Skyward Sword
(http://downloads.k h i n s i d e r.com/game-soundtracks/album/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-expanded/1-34-before-the-journey.mp3)

vs.

Overworld (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyMluaZDRik), from Adventure of Link

-------------------------------------------------------

Before the Journey

Thanks for posting with a newborn in-house!

Hellfire Peninsula - Really evocative with the YouTube picture

Before the Journey

Nightsong

Before the Journey

Hellfire Peninsula - I feel it draws heavily upon StarCraft themes. It was perfect for the zone because when you step into Outlands after being on Azeroth for so long... you literally feel like you're in outer space. BC is still my favorite leveling up experience in the game.

Looks like I'm on the short end of the other matchup. Before the Journey is a nice piece, but too repetitive to get the nod over a track as iconic as Overworld.

The Burning Crusade, Zelda II.

Hellfire Peninsula (3-1) and Before the Journey (3-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 30 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Garden of Life (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3E3Vf_7iNU), from Wrath of the Lich King

vs.

Heart of Pandaria (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd26b2Xa1fA), from Mists of Pandaria

-------------------------------------------------------

Even the frozen wasteland of Northrend has its green zones, long preserved by pylons erected by the ancient Titan race when the climate of Azeroth was very different. Garden of Life can be heard in Dragonblight's Emerald Dragonshrine and in the Sholazar Basin () questing zone.
Heart of Pandaria is Mists of Pandaria's login music. Predictably, it mixes the classic log-in theme with Chinese musical themes.

Heart of Pandaria might be the most robust of WoW's log-in themes, but Garden of Life is an easy choice for me here.

-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 2, Fight 7 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Lanayru Desert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LfAcKnDYWQ), from Skyward Sword

vs.

Church (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbACihCNjK4), from A Link to the Past

-------------------------------------------------------

There aren't too many tracks I would choose over Church. Lots of nostalgia with that song. I never as a kid got into adventure-style RPGs much, and I probably only made it the whole way through A Link to the Past once--that with copious use of a game genie. But I did get in the mood for a small taste of it now and again, and that always meant starting from the beginning. The scene where Link and Zelda arrive in the church after a long trek through the underground sort of marked the end-game for me during those hour or two forays.

Garden of Life

Church - I really like both of these tracks. I'm going to stop changing my answer and go with this.

Garden of Life

Lanayru Desert

Man... really tough to see Lanayru Desert go here.... but I do think I have to give Church the nod by a little bit.

Never fear, I still have Ancient Lanayru (or Lanayru Sand Sea) in the next matchup I think... and I will be putting my support behind that.

Rough round. I do go with the login theme for WoW - not my favorite in the series, but I think it trumps Garden of Life.

Mists of Pandaria, A Link to the Past.

Yay! Lanayru Desert!

I do so enjoy listening to video game music, i think that in this instance, it reminds me how atmospheric these songs are. Because you are in control, and each song is supposed to have the essence of what you're doing. I think that this makes for a wonderful mesh of elements in each song, and so is worthy of some undertaking, even if you have never heard the song before (as in my case)

I did so enjoy hearing Lanayru desert in the previous matchups, I will go with it again since it is such a strong piece.

Hmm.. this seems to be a different song from the character selection screen for MoP? I really do enjoy these songs, I don't know if it's because of the epicness of martial arts movies (which I said last time) or because it also sounds like something that could be played just to raise your spirits.

I salute you dear Sir, you have quite the matchups in these rumbles!

That said, this is a real hard matchup for me, between WOTLK and MoP. I enjoyed listening to the WOTLK music, but it lacked some definition in the music that I would have liked to hear. I think in many ways, MoP steals my heart when I listen to the song. Good job Blizzard Composer!

Garden of Life (3-2) and Church (3-2) advance!

Round 1, Fight 31 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

The Dark Moon Faire's Merry-Go-Round (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF7CpyIwJiY), from Landfall

vs.

A Hero's Sacrifice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1sT6O5vAsw), from Warlords of Draenor

-------------------------------------------------------

Poor Warlords of Draenor music. So many tough match-ups for it. That game never had a chance in this rumble. The majority of WoW music might be ambient, but their sound team has always been at their best when writing more highly themed songs. The Dark Moon Faire's Merry-Go-Round was the icing on the cake for Landfall, the one Mists of Pandaria expansion that didn't pretend to be Asian. I think the sound team did an absolutely stellar job in that expansion researching and crafting music for the setting Blizzard gave them, I just didn't care for that setting. On Landfall, and especially this track, I can really hear the creativity of that era flow without any weeaboo baggage.

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 7 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Koume & Kotake's Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_3VXOAbOyY), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Overworld (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULyEY_GjSoA), from Link's Awakening

-------------------------------------------------------

Koume & Kotake's Theme

The Dark Moon Faire's Merry-Go-Round

Koume & Kotake's Theme

A Hero's Sacrifice

Overworld

The Merry-Go-Round song sounds like something from the Nightmare Before Christmas.

Warlords of Draenor, Ocarina of Time.

Koume & Kotake's Them (3-1) advances!

Round 1, Fight 32 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Tavern (Pirate) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dnednyiyh4), from World of Warcraft

vs.

The Black Knight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POiirseCs_Q), from Call of the Crusade

-------------------------------------------------------


Another brutal match-up. Tavern (Pirate) is easily in my top 10 WoW songs, but it sounds rather dwarfed up against The Black Knight.

-------------------------------------------------------

The Golden Land Round 2, Fight 7 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Boss (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew7t1B7dD-k), from A Link to the Past

vs.

Forest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1CKttAmNKA), from A Link to the Past

-------------------------------------------------------

And this is the easiest decision I've had to make in ages. Forest.

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Round 1, Fight 31 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------


The Dark Moon Faire's Merry-Go-Round (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF7CpyIwJiY), from Landfall

vs.

A Hero's Sacrifice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1sT6O5vAsw), from Warlords of Draenor

The Black Knight

Forest

I will begrudgingly vote for something from Call of the Crusade this round, but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it!

One track from A Link to the Past is going out this round - that's been a rarity in the Zelda rumble.

Wrath of the Lich King, Forest.

The Black Knight

Forest

Tails wins the toss. A Hero's Sacrifice (2-2), The Black Knight (4-0), and Forest (4-0) advance!

Round 1, Fight 33 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Temple of the Five Dawns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvFgns_IoUk), from Mists of Pandaria

vs.

Stormlords on the March (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTEVPrA90I0), from Warlords of Draenor

-------------------------------------------------------


When I look at some of the other pairings yet to come in this bracket, it's almost frustrating to think that one of these two tracks will advance, but that's not to say I don't enjoy both of them. Stormlords on the March gets my vote for being particularly effective at enhancing interactive event sequences within the game.

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 2, Fight 7 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Ancient Lanayru (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo8Ml0tYoSQ), from Skyward Sword

vs.

Kakariko is Saved (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVZcvnItkdw), from Twilight Princess

-------------------------------------------------------

Ancient Lanayru is pretty awesome.

Edit: The more I listen to this track, the more I am completely in love with it. I've had it on repeat all morning. Crossing my fingers for Link to even the score. :o

Stormlords on the March

Kakariko is Saved

Stormlords on the March

Kakariko is Saved

Stormlands on the March may be one of my favorite tracks from Warlords of Draenor that I've heard here. It is very interesting to hear this music as a long time WoW player who hasn't played in... a long time...

And oh boy would I EVER like to tie this rumble up! Ancient Lanayru/Lanayru Sand Sea (Past) is one of my favorite tracks from Skyward Sword. While I am a huge fan of the Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess tracks, this track shows all the benefits of using a full orchestra to create the soundtrack. The flute/whistle (not sure what that instrument is) combined with the percussion and low ambience is just about as close to perfection as Zelda gets with music.

Warlords of Draenor, Skyward Sword.

Drama! Also, Mists of Pandaria is getting killed in this rumble. 0-6.

Stormlords on the March (4-0) advances! I've been kind of working around my total lack of free time lately by letting the ties run on a while, but a fifth vote is next to impossible to come by these days. :\

Looks like we're on to the final four Zelda match-ups of round two already.

Round 1, Fight 34 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

The Zandalari (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHTJz3d1CCc), from Rise of the Thunder King

vs.

The Storm Summit (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qXEAcq4PTE), from Black Temple

-------------------------------------------------------

I had no idea how many variations on The Zandalari existed in Rise of the Thunder King. My version of this is condensed down to four minutes, but I could only find the full one on youtube. In either case, I'll take The Storm Summit over the Thunder King's token entry.

-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 2, Fight 8 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Temple of Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Hf1-lQElE), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Midna's Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3mhU2XEOOs), from Twilight Princess

-------------------------------------------------------

Midna's Theme

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Termina Round 2, Fight 7 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Ancient Lanayru (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo8Ml0tYoSQ), from Skyward Sword

vs.

Kakariko is Saved (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVZcvnItkdw), from Twilight Princess

I've got to go with the playful mystery of Midna over the timeless classic that is Temple of Time.

In other news - come on Lanayru!

Burning Crusade, Twilight Princess

The Storm Summit

Midna's Theme - Uggghhh. Why did these two have to face off against each other so early? :(

The Zandalari

Temple of Time

Off-topic: Uematsu invites you to peruse his goods

Tails wins the toss. Kakariko is Saved (2-2), The Storm Summit (3-1), and Midna's Theme (3-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 35 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Kezan/Lost Isles 09 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D9UtRZ2Bec#t=156), from Cataclysm

vs.

Northrend Transport Night (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RVuH7w73D0), from Wrath of the Lich King

-------------------------------------------------------

This is one of those really tough matches I had my eye on earlier in this bracket. I'll take Kezan/Lost Isles. It's a decision I would have made anyway, but knowing that we've yet to vote on Totems of the Grizzlemaw makes it easier.

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 8 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Final Quest - The Room of Rites (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udJxftR9uWc), from Oracle of Ages

vs.

Hyrule Field Main Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRHoPxAfy_Q), from Twilight Princess

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Field Main Theme

Curse that coin. It offends me. Justice has not been served. Ugh. I feel like turning in all my coins for bills and just leaving change at the register from now on.

Northrend Transport Night was the first song you heard when experiencing Wrath content for the first time. I think it set the player's mood perfectly for the voyage to the great white North - Northrend.

Wrath of the Lich King, Twilight Princess.

Kezan/Lost Isles - Agreed that this is one of the toughest matches we've had so far in the rumble.

Hyrule Field Main Theme - Getting close to the end of the round with Zelda.

Northrend Transport Night

Final Quest

Hyrule Field Main Theme (3-1) advances.

Round 1, Fight 35 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Slaughtered Lamb (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZbXGkNPof0), from World of Warcraft

vs.

Operation: Gnomeregan Intro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwjabCRI6B8), from Fall of the Lich King

-------------------------------------------------------

Slaughtered Lamb eventually became my favorite song in WoW when I learned to play it on guitar. Its name might sound morbid, but it's actually another tavern theme. Unfortunately, Operation: Gnomeregan should be one of the toughest tracks to beat in the rumble.

-------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Round 2, Fight 8 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Last Battle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b_QS5xoN44), from Ocarina of Time

vs.

Title (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUc3p5sojmw), from Adventure of Link

-------------------------------------------------------

Last Battle

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Round 1, Fight 35 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Kezan/Lost Isles 09 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D9UtRZ2Bec#t=156), from Cataclysm

vs.

Northrend Transport Night (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RVuH7w73D0), from Wrath of the Lich King

Tough matchup on the Zelda side here - I'm going to go with the upset pick (Title is a #2 seed in its bracket). I love the Gnomeregan track here - I find the music to be not just descriptive but quintessentially Gnomish.

Wrath of the Lich King, Ocarina of Time.

Slaughtered Lamb

Title - Tough call

Slaughtered Lamb

Last Battle

Tails wins the toss. Northrend Transport Night (2-2), ]Slaughtered Lamb (3-1), and Last Battle (3-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 36 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Zul'jin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_troiVnJMx4), from The Gods of Zul'Aman

vs.

Darkmoon Faire (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzMGHWiofbw), from Assault on Blackwing Lair

-------------------------------------------------------

Darkmoon Faire

-------------------------------------------------------

Termina Round 2, Fight 8 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Stone Tower Temple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz_NK5HgR6Q), from Majora's Mask

vs.

Title Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ShzyggtsCs), from Ocarina of Time

-------------------------------------------------------

The Ocarina track is better as a title theme, but I enjoy Stone Tower Temple way more. Hey, we're done with round 2!

Darkmoon Faire

Title Theme

Zul'jin

Stone Tower Temple

Looks like my team won the coin toss this round. I'd trade to get Lanayru back into the Zelda rumble, as much as I adore Northrend Transport.

Shad did you link the correct track? That Darkmoon Faire theme is from vanilla WoW, not from Assault on Blackwing Lair.... maybe they reused it... I did skip Cataclysm, but it seems out of place for that zone!

Zelda is tough again - I take the favorite but that is a brutal matchup for a VERY strong Stone Tower Temple theme.

Darkmoon Faire, Ocarina of Time

I made it! We had to move Ollie into the bedroom with the air conditioner, and I didn't have a clue what my FFShrine password was to log in on my laptop, but I finally got around to resetting it. Updates should (theoretically) get back to every 3rd day.


Shad did you link the correct track? That Darkmoon Faire theme is from vanilla WoW, not from Assault on Blackwing Lair.... maybe they reused it... I did skip Cataclysm, but it seems out of place for that zone!

Ah, you're probably confusing the Assault on Blackwing Lair patch with Blackwing's Descent, a raid from the first tier of Cataclysm. The Darkmoon Faire launched with patch 1.6, released in July 2005. That was only eight months into WoW's existence, but I have been breaking down vanilla WoW by patch just like the expansions.

Darkmoon Faire (3-1), advances!

Round 1, Fight 37 // World of Warcraft Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Plagueworks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OYFxTSykWM), from Fall of the Lich King

vs.

Bloodlord Mandokir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGuIIRW-B1A), from Rise of the Zandalari

-------------------------------------------------------

Bloodlord Mandokir

-------------------------------------------------------

Underworld Round 3, Fight 1 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Dark Mountain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmKZDBZBP1w), from A Link to the Past

vs.

Title (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o78T9-I4OGA), from Wind Waker

-------------------------------------------------------

Title! :o I don't think this track has much of a chance, but I'm crossing my fingers.

-------------------------------------------------------

TIE-BREAKER: Termina Round 2, Fight 8 // Zelda Rumble

-------------------------------------------------------

Stone Tower Temple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz_NK5HgR6Q), from Majora's Mask

vs.

Title Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ShzyggtsCs), from Ocarina of Time

Bloodlord Mandokir

Title

EDIT: Just noticed we recently crossed a pretty cool threshold. This thread now has over 200,000 views. To my knowledge, that makes it the second most-viewed thread in Anime and Video Game Music (after the currently dormant Trailer Music thread).

Title would definitely be an upset with how well A Link to the Past has done - nauseatingly well actually (it is one of my least favorite games in the series).

I will post a full statistical analysis of the 2nd round and tournament when I get home tonight (or try to at least).

Rise of the Zandalari was a stupid patch and idea - basically reusing everything from Zul'Gurub (which was great) instead of coming up with unique ideas. I'm voting the other way in spite.

Wrath of the Lich King, The Wind Waker.

Bloodlord Mandokir

Dark Mountain

I will post a full statistical analysis of the 2nd round and tournament when I get home tonight (or try to at least).

Cheers, I enjoy looking at things like that. I went ahead and did the coin toss just now so you would have a (highly probable) full set of results to work with. It came up heads. Stone Tower Temple will be advancing unless someone shows up to vote between now and Thursday.

Man, I have to say, that coin was NOT friendly to me that second round - Lanayru got knocked out... now a #2 seed falls. Is there no JUSTICE????????????

Coin result it is. Stone Tower Temple (2-2), Bloodlord Mandokir (3-1), and Title (3-1) advance!

Round 1, Fight 38 // World of Warcraft Rumble

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Totems of the Grizzlemaw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGmIWA7LADk), from Wrath of the Lich King

vs.

Finality (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu2y47LM8dc), from The Siege of Orgrimmar

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Totems of the Grizzlemaw

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Hyrule Round 3, Fight 1 // Zelda Rumble

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Intro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyMKWJ5e1kg), from Legend of Zelda

vs.

Farewell Hyrule King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq7LrougGYk), from Wind Waker

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Farewell Hyrule King

Totems of the Grizzlemaw

Intro

Totems of the Grizzlemaw

Farewell Hyrule King

I prefer starting with Totems at 1:57: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGmIWA7LADk&feature=youtu.be&t=1m57s. This is the first thing you hear each time you enter Grizzy Hills in Wrath. It is one of my favorite tracks of the expansion and I believe is the most unique forest music in the game by about a billion miles.

I must go with the top seed in the Zelda matchup. Farewell Hyrule King is very well done and perfectly placed in Wind Waker, but the Intro to the franchise's first game is too good.

Wrath of the Lich King, Legend of Zelda.

---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:57 PM ----------

My expert stat analysis and breakdown of the first two rounds:

A Link to the Past continued to shine in the second round of the big dance, going 6-2 in round number two. So strong was the game that it actually handed itself its only two losses of the round in a pair of single-game matchups. ALttP is now a sparkling 16-5 in the tournament.

The original Zelda held strong as well, going 2-1 in round number two, edging its record to 5-2 overall. However, due to a much bigger roster, it cedes the top winning percentage in the rumble to ALttP, though LoZ still has two #1 seeds alive as we head to the round of 32.

The second game eliminated from the rumble was Four Swords (joining the Minish Cap), whose #32 seed Vaati stunned the rumble world with its upset over top-seeded Gerudo Valley from Ocarina of Time in the Termina region in the first round. Four Swords wraps up the rumble a total of 1-1.

The Wind Waker had a great round winning 4 of 5 in round number 2. The Wind Waker was just 5-5 in the first round, but now sits at a respectable 9-6 for the rumble. The Windw Waker is responsible for the highest seed still remaining - #25 Farewell Hyrule King, which upset #8 seed A Beast in the Village from Twilight Princess in the first round.

Ocarina of Time started the rumble with big expectations, but was shaken by the early departure of its only #1 seed in the first round. Still, the game continues to rack up victories, posting a 6-8 mark in the second round. Tragically, its highest remaining seed, #2 Title Theme, fell in a coin flip tiebreaker to #18 Stone Tower Temple from the game's sequel in the round's final matchup. Ocarina of Time could never get its record in the round above .500 and will enter the round of 32 at a total of 20-17, the rumble high for wins.

Majora's Mask's round was very disappointing, with songs like Last Day falling to a coin flip tiebreaker. The overlooked Ocarina of Time sequel stumbled to a 2-4 performance in the second round. That drops it to 8-11 for the rumble. Both of the game's songs are in the Termina region. The earliest they could meet would be the regional final (Elite 8).

Skyward Sword was a mixed bag in the second round, with a couple of surprising wins bookending a few devastating defeats. Both Lanayru tracks in the rumble, both #7 seeds, lost to upsets in their respective regions, Ancient Lanayru in the Termina region to the dreaded coin flip tiebreaker. The Wii's only entry was level at 2-2 in the second round and is still a game under .500 at 6-7 headed into the third round.

Oracle of Seasons was bludgeoned in the first round, starting a dismal 1-7, but the game's only survivor is in the third round, as Tarm Ruins/The Lost Woods snuck by a very tough challenge from #9 seed Midna's Desperation. OoS notches to 2-7 in the rumble. Its companion game, Oracle of Ages, tasted the same struggles in the second round that Seasons had in the first round, winning just once. Oracle of Ages is now 6-7 in the rumble and is the only game to go from a winning record in the first round to a losing record in the second round.

Zelda II: Adventure of Link is down to its last game. Only #10 seed Palace advanced with a victory over #27 Queen Ambi's Palace from Oracle of Ages. AoL was 1-2 in the round and stands at 4-6 for the rumble.

Link's Awakening pulled to a level .500 following a 3-2 round 2. By far the best performing handheld game in the rumble, Link's Awakening is now a respectable 8-8.

Twilight Princess had the second most nominations with 18 coming into the rumble, and won half its matchups in the first round. It continued true to form winning 4 and dropping 5 in the second round. TP is now 13-14 in the rumble. Twilight Princess still has two of the favorites left though, with two #2 seeds (Midna's Theme and Hyrule Field Main Theme).


A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time both lead all games with 6 games left in the rumble. The list is below:

ALttP, OoT = 6
TWW, TP = 4
LA = 3
LoZ, MM, SS = 2
OoS, OoA, AoL = 1

Two #1 seeds and Two #2 seeds remain. However, the #10 seeds leads all seeds with three still alive in the tournament. The lowest seeds with multiple titles still is is #22 with, appropriately, 2 left. The higher seed was 18-12 in the round, and is now 59-35 in the tournament. Of the 32 tracks remaining, 22 were favored to win in the first round.

Thanks for the breakdown! That could be a regular, fun tradition for the 128 rumbles since long stretches of time go between the rounds.