VGM Contest 5th Edition

Yunalle

Joined Jan 23, 2024

May 28, 2024 9:00 AM, edited Mar 17, 2025 9:23 PM

Welcome to the 5th edition of the https://retroachievements.org VGM Contest!

Here's a playlist with all the songs in the contest.

The winner has been crowned! Congratulations to Mentro for the submission of Signs of Love from Persona 4!



This contest consists of submitting your favorite video game music songs as nominees for the "best" video game music song in the contest (as chosen by the participants). You don't need to be a musician to enter, you just need to love game music! If you want to join, simply post in the thread with your submissions! Please read the submission rules to understand how to do this. If you are being denied access when you try to post, please contact RAEvents.

I'm organizing this event in the spirit of the previous events. I'm not the same host and this is my first time doing this kind of thing so... I'll be in your care.

Submissions will stay open until 24 people have submitted 4 songs each.

Unlike the previous events, I, your humble host will also submit my own entries.

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Submission rules
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- Each entrant must submit 4 songs. Include a Youtube link, or some way for people to be able to listen to the song. You'll need a link that is not blocked in certain countries, as everyone needs to be able to listen to your submissions.

- If two or more people choose the same song, it goes to the first submitter.

- Ideally you'll make all your submissions at once, but if you know one song you want to submit, you can go ahead and post it, then come back later and post the others. However, if someone else post their 4 submissions first they will get priority.

- If you submit all of your songs at different times, do not edit your post. Please make a new post with your remaining submissions. This way, it is very clear who the first submitter of a song is should it ever come into question.

- Only new submissions are allowed for this contest. Nothing submitted in the previous contests can be submitted. A full list of past submissions can be found here. Credits to Rimsala and/or BenGhazi and Yunalle

- Only songs actually written for a game are allowed.

- Licensed tracks not written for a videogame (basically anything in Guitar Hero, for example) are not allowed.
--- Licensed tracks, or tracks that were otherwise not originally composed for video games, but that are significantly re-arranged for video games, are allowed. An example of this is various songs in Kingdom Hearts.
--- Games that traditionally include licensed music may also contain music originally composed for that game. If this is the case with a particular song, then the song is allowed for use in this contest. An example of this is much of the music in DDR games; though DDR does contain licensed music, it also contains plenty of original music as well, and that music may be submitted.

- No arrange CD tracks, whether they be arrangements by the original composer or fan/doujin arrangements. However, rearrangements of old game music that appear in newer games, like those found in the Smash Bros series, for example, are allowed.

- Songs that appear in games that were unreleased, or even beta versions of completed games, are still game music, and therefore still qualify.

- Songs that are new for romhacks that were written for the romhack qualify as long as the romhack is a legitimate game (rather than a movie, means of playing high-quality music, etc).

- Songs appearing only in game trailers/commercials do not qualify.

- Only one song per composer per entrant.

- Only one song per franchise per entrant. These rules are to ensure there is at least some variety in style and source.

- Because of the two above rules, I do not find it necessary to limit submissions by era/console. You may submit as many as you'd like for a particular console.

- Please try to keep your songs under 10 minutes. If the song is very long because it repeats, consider finding one that does not loop. If you're unable to do so, consider cutting it yourself or finding another entry.

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Submission template
------------------------------

Song: -
Game: -
Composer: -
Platform: -

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Voting rules
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- Each round will last 3 days unless otherwise stated, and will consist of groups of 6 songs.

- Only participants may cast their votes.

- Listen to each set of songs and pick your 3 favorites out of the set. Your favorite will get 5 points, your second favorite will get 3 points, and your third favorite will get 1 point. If you like songs equally and cannot decide, you are allowed to tie them. A tie between your top two songs will result in both getting 4 points (while the bottom song still gets 1). A tie between your bottom two songs will result in both getting 2 points (while the top still gets 5). If you really can't decide, you can tie all 3 songs, awarding 3 points to each of them.

- Send your hierarchy of points for each song group to me privately, whether it be in a PM here on https://retroachievements.org, or a DM on Discord (I am yunalle on Discord). DO NOT post your votes publicly. You are allowed to discuss songs you like/dislike in the #vgm channel in the RA Discord, just please do not publicly reveal what you voted for.

- To help me out, please give me the titles of the songs as I wrote them, not as they appear in the videos. Please also group your votes up into one PM/DM.

- If your song is in a set, you absolutely CAN vote for it. You are certainly allowed to like your song the most in a set. Conversely, if you like someone else's song more in a set, you're not obligated to vote for your own; in fact, you are encouraged to vote for whatever song you truly like most in each set, as it is the spirit of the contest.

- In the case of a tie, I will determine a tie break with Google's RNG.

- While the song orders have been randomized, I will take certain liberties in the exact order for the first rounds in order to make sure no one has too many songs in one set/round. This is to space everyone's submissions out nicely and make it fair for everyone. Future efforts will be made to do this in later rounds as well, when possible.

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Sticky Note
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- If I perceive that you have no intention to vote and have just joined to submit songs, your songs will be liable for penalties up to the eliminations of all of your songs. So please join with the intention of seeing things through to the end.

- While I encourage discussion about the submissions if you're so inclined, I ask of everyone to keep an amiable and civil behavior while doing so. Just like yourself everyone here submitted their songs voluntarily with the hopes that others might enjoy them. If you're not here to listen to music that you might not like and still appreciate it then don't bother. A little politeness goes a long way.
Yunalle

Joined Jan 23, 2024

May 28, 2024 9:00 AM, edited May 28, 2024 11:04 PM

Song: Kakariko Village (Milk Bar)
Game: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Composer: Ryo Nagamatsu
Platform: Nintendo 3DS


Song: 88☆彡
Game: Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku
Composer: marasy8
Platform: Android, iOS


Song: Route 209 (Day)
Game: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Composer: Hitomi Sato
Platform: Nintendo Switch


Song: Twilight of the Gods
Game: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Composer: Yuka Tsujiyoko
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
TrogdorTheBurninator

Joined May 13, 2016

May 28, 2024 5:38 PM, edited May 28, 2024 6:11 PM

Submissions

Song: - Prologue Theme
Game: - Ninja Gaiden II
Composer: - Ryuichi Nitta, Mayuko Okamura, Rika Shigeno, Kaori Nakabai
Platform: - NES


Song: - Wicked Child
Game: - Castlevania
Composer: - Kinuyo Yamashita
Platform: - NES


Song: - The Instinct
Game: - Killer Instinct
Composer: - Robin Beanland, Graeme Norgate
Platform: - SNES, Arcade, Game Boy


Song: - Into Sandy's City
Game: - Doom II
Composer: - Bobby Prince
Platform: - Multiple
Empovyle

Junior Developer

Joined Jun 10, 2022

May 28, 2024 6:25 PM

Hello everyone, I really enjoy LOUD drum & bass in video games especially with industrial or rock/metal elements, so that will be mostly what I'm submitting today. I hope you all enjoy too and I can't wait to see what everyone else submits!

Song: Credits
Game: Killzone 2
Composer: Joris de Man
Platform: PlayStation 3


Song: Battle SIM
Game: Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Composer: Tsukasa Tawada
Platform: GameCube


Song: Lucid Rhythms
Game: R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
Composer: Hiroshi Okubo (lead composer, several others involved)
Platform: PlayStation


Song: Fortune Telling
Game: Ape Escape 3
Composer: Soichi Terada
Platform: PlayStation 2
s0uth

Event Manager

Joined Feb 20, 2021

May 28, 2024 6:27 PM, edited May 28, 2024 7:48 PM

Submissions:

Song: Two Planets Approaching the Roche Limit
Game: Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Composer: Hirokazu Ando
Platform: Nintendo Switch


Song: Beyond the Speed Of…
Game: Sonic Runners
Composer: Tomoya Ohtani
Platform: Mobile Phones


Song: Heaven’s Divide
Game: Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Composer: Akihiro Honda
Platform: PS4, XBox One, PC


Song: Dracula’s Tears
Game: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Composer: Masahiko Kimura
Platform: Nintendo DS
Enagonius

Joined Feb 11, 2021

May 28, 2024 6:38 PM

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Submissions
------------------------------

Song: Rebel Army
Game: Final Fantasy II
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System


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Song: Flying on the Wings of Steam
Game: American McGee's Alice
Composer: Chris Vrenna
Platform: Microsoft Windows


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Song: A Cat Named Mittens
Game: Age of Mythology
Composer: Stephen Rippy Kevin McMullan
Platform: Microsoft Windows


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Song: The End Begins
Game: God of War II
Composer: Gerard Marino
Platform: Sony PlayStation 2


------------------------------
Mentro

Joined Jul 21, 2020

May 28, 2024 6:43 PM

Song: Signs Of Love
Game: Persona 4
Composer: Shoji Meguro
Platform: PlayStation 2


Song: To Zanarkand
Game: Final Fantasy X
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Platform: PlayStation 2


Song: Lara Plays in the Snow
Game: Tomb Raider II
Composer: Nathan McCree
Platform: PlayStation


Song: INT LR Super Saiyan 4 Goku - Standby Skill
Game: Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle
Composer: Kenji Yamamoto (unconfirmed)
Platform: Android, iOS, iPadOS
Cassievania

Joined Aug 10, 2022

May 28, 2024 6:44 PM

Y'all ready for guitar solos on Gameboy??

Song: Showdown at the Tower
Game: Donkey Kong '94
Composer: Taisuke Araki
Platform: Gameboy


Song: The Hidden Curse
Game: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Composer: Yuzo Koshiro
Platform: Nintendo DS


Song: Silence City
Game: Nameless Cat
Composer: Shiou Hsu
Platform: Mobile


Song: µ-101
Game: Eve Burst Error
Composer: Ryu Umemoto
Platform: PC-98
1stPrize

Playtester

Joined Mar 10, 2023

May 28, 2024 6:47 PM

Wow this looks cool, lets try it out! Submissions here:

Song: Victory in the Dream World
Game: Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Platform: Nintendo 3DS


Song: Meltdown
Game: Undertale Yellow
Composer: MyNewSoundtrack - MasterSwordRemix
Platform: PC


Song: Ice Cap Zone
Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Composer: Michael Jackson
Platform: Genesis/Mega Drive


Song: Forest/Nature Area
Game: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Nezperdian

Joined Oct 19, 2018

May 28, 2024 7:01 PM, edited May 28, 2024 8:58 PM

Song: Rip & Tear
Game: Doom (2016)
Composer: Mick Gordon
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch


Song: 尽归霜雪 (Return to Frost and Snow)
Game: Arknights
Composer: Bao.Uner
Platform: Mobile Phones


Song: For You Who Departs
Game: Muv-Luv Alternative
Composer: Hikaru Nanase
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita, Switch


Song: GATE OF STEINER -Main theme-
Game: Steins;Gate
Composer: Takeshi Abo
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, PS Vita, Switch,
Pampa50

Joined Mar 16, 2020

May 28, 2024 7:03 PM

As always, I'd be glad to join in.

My submissions :

Song : Break Through it all
Game : Sonic Frontiers
Composer : Tomoya Ohtani
Platform : Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PC


Song : Boss theme
Game : Plok!
Composer : Tim Follin
Platform : SNES


Song : Scarlet Forest
Game : Deltarune
Composer : Toby Fox
Platform : Switch, PS4, PC


Song : Gensokyo Atmostphere (Geyser)
Game : Touhou Scarlet Curiosity
Composer : Hachimitsu Lemon
Platform : PS4, PC
Hdot12

Joined Jun 25, 2020

May 28, 2024 7:08 PM

Song: - Maybe I'm a Lion
Game: - Final Fantasy VIII
Composer: - Nobuo Uematsu
Platform: - PS1 / PC


Song: - Challengers
Game: - Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
Composer: - Kenji Yamamoto
Platform: - PS2


Song: - Ignorance is bliss
Game: - IS: Internal Section
Composer: - Shinji Hosoe + Ayako Saso
Platform: - PS1


Song: - Aozora no KNIFE / Kitty-N's Song
Game: - Bust-A-Groove
Composer: - David Ford
Platform: - PS1
Nepiki

Community Manager

Joined Nov 22, 2020

May 28, 2024 7:13 PM

Song: Destruction Impulse
Game: Ao no Kiseki/Trails to Azure
Composer: Masanori Osaki
Platform: PSP, PC, Switch, PS4


Song: Decisive Battle
Game: Final Fantasy III/VI
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Platform: SNES, PS1, GBA


Song: Battle 5
Game: Fate/Extra
Composer: Shinji Hosoe
Platform: PSP


Song: Counterfeit Mermaids
Game: Shantae: Half-genie Hero
Composer: Jake Kaufman
Platform: PC, Switch, PS4
EnemigoDelBien

Joined Jul 9, 2022

May 28, 2024 7:23 PM

Song: - Rusty Bucket Bay
Game: - Banjo Kazooie
Composer: - Grant Kirkhope
Platform: - Nintendo 64


Song: - Forest Temple
Game: - Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
Composer: - Koji Kondo
Platform: - Nintendo 64


Song: - Title (Main theme)
Game: - Ghouls n Ghosts
Composer: - Tim Follin
Platform: - Amiga


Song: - Chapel of Dissonance
Game: - Castlevania Harmony of the Dissonance
Composer: - Soshiro Hokkai, Michiru Yamane, and possibly others.
Platform: - Gameboy Advance
Doggy227

Joined Jan 22, 2022

May 28, 2024 8:09 PM, edited May 28, 2024 8:11 PM

Song: - We're counting on you, Mario!
Game: - Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Composer: - Yuka Tsujikoyo
Platform: - Gamecube (And maybe Switch but that one has a entirely different track so idk if it counts)


Song: - Farbanti
Game: - Ace Combat 04
Composer: - Testukazu Nakanishi
Platform: - Playstation 2


Song: - Stalwarts Unite
Game: - Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn
Composers: - (Game never got an official OST release so I'll just put the composers from RD's credits) Chika Sekigawan, Naoko Mitome, Naoto Miyatake
Platform: - Wii


Song: Yuki Tonae's theme
Game: - Kyuutenkai: Fantastic Pinball
Composers: - TUKUMOHYAKUTARO
Platform: - Saturn

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