Topic: The NintendoLife VGM Tournament: Best Credits Theme (Round One)

I’m quite surprised DKC 2 didn’t win last round, that was one of my favorites.

Chrono Trigger takes a little to get going but it suitably bold and adventurous when it does.

Crypt of the Necrodancer has really lively and fun music, something you need for a rhythm game. The Fez tune isn’t bad but doesn’t grab me as much.

Neither of these tunes are too interesting to me but I give the edge to Burning Rangers.

One of the hardest choices so far with this last one. Halo is iconic and sets the mood well even if it has become a meme. The Octopath Traveller track really surprised me though, it’s just really well made and gets you in the mood for adventure perfectly.

DKC2 is one of the best video game soundtracks ever, but the title track is bottom tier for that soundtrack imo.

I think it sets the mood for the game perfectly but considering how good the rest of the soundtrack is yes, it might be one of the weaker songs.

The winners this time were Chrono Trigger at 6-2, Crypt of the Necrodancer at 6-1, and Halo: Combat Evolved at 5-3. Double Dragon and Burning Rangers tied with 4 votes each. Normally for tiebreakers I do a random coin flip but if there are any other suggestions I’m open to them.
The bracket can be found here

Round 2 cont.

Kingdom Hearts - Dearly Beloved vs. Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Vote here

Bravely Default - Prelude Moving Toward Hope vs. Deadly Premonition - The Woods and the Goddess

Vote here

Kid Icarus Uprising vs. Kirby Mass Attack - Kirby Collecting

Vote here

Animal Crossing: New Horizons vs. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Lifelight

Vote here

Bonus: The title screen for Kingdom Hearts actually has the ambient sound of waves crashing on a beach playing along with the song. It really goes well with the mood and is quite relaxing so you can listen to that version here if you’d like.

The Kingdom Hearts one is really nice but I love the New Leaf title theme so I voted for that. The New Horizons title theme (and most of the non-KK music in that game to be honest) doesn't do much for me though, I definitely prefer Lifelight.
The second poll was a tough choice but I went for Bravely Default. And the Kirby Mass Attack theme is alright but the Kid Icarus one is better in my opinion.

Whoever nominated Deadly Premonition - good call! Not one I would have come across otherwise. Love a bit of acoustic guitar picking.

Ha, two of my nominations going against each other. How disappointing. I’ll listen later.

I love New Leaf. I also love Kingdom Hearts. So what did I vote for? Kingdom Hearts.

For the second, Bravely Default didn’t stick with me. I loved the voices in Deadly Premonition, so I voted for it.

On the third one, I voted for Kid Icarus Uprising.

The last one was completely unfair. I nominated them both, but I had to go for ACNH.

This round was tough, there some close ones here. Kingdom Hearts and Animal Crossing: New Leaf tied 4-4 with Animal Crossing winning the tiebreaker. Deadly Premonition won at 4-3, Kirby Mass Attack at 4-3, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at 6-1.

Round 2 cont.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim vs. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Vote here

Alien 3 (Genesis) vs. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Vote here

Super Smash Bros. Brawl vs. Terranigma

Vote here

Xenoblade Chronicles vs. Pokemon Red/Blue

Vote here

These are all very tough choices, especially the last one because the Pokemon theme is iconic but the Xenoblade one is so beautiful. Ultimately I went for Skyrim, Alien 3, Brawl and Xenoblade (the first game in each poll, incidentally).

Without a doubt, Majora’s Mask. It’s not good but Skyrim is horrible.

They’re both okay, but I went with Alien 3.

Now that New Horizons is out of the competition, Brawl better win. It’s incredible.

Pokémon. No explanation.

I went with option 2 in all the above! They were all pretty close, though. Skyrim, Alien3 and Xenoblade can consider themselves unlucky. Terranigma Is fine, but it would have lost against any of the other tunes apart from Brawl - that military parade drumbeat sets my teeth on edge.

The funny thing I'm noticing is that like half the choices I vote against are games where the soundtrack is legit top tier but I would never consider the title theme to be even close to one of the better songs from that soundtrack.

Sorry guys, I forgot to update this yesterday. Wrapping up this round we had Skyrim winning the tiebreaker at 3-3, Ocarina of Time winning 4-2, Super Smash Bros. Brawl winning 5-1, and Xenoblade Chronicles winning 5-2. The bracket has been updated here.

Round 3

The Legend of Zelda vs. Mega Man 3

Vote here

Super Mario Bros. vs. Prey (2017) - Experiments in Confusion

Vote here

Chrono Trigger vs. Crypt of the Necrodancer

Vote here

Burning Rangers vs. Halo: Combat Evolved

Vote here

It’s really hard to vote against a track as iconic as Zelda’s title theme - but Mega Man III should win this whole contest. It’s amazing.

However, if we had Cadence of Hyrule in there - that would be interesting!

Nothing can beat classic themes, like Zelda, so easy vote.

Same goes with Super Mario Bros.

I like Chrono Trigger a lot. I don’t really know why, but it’s my vote.

I personally both Burning Rangers and Halo theme a lot. I voted Halo

@BabyYoshi12 Once again we are exact opposites! We have been in sync before, though. Just shows that taste is subjective. But Mega Man III is definitely better than OG Zelda! It just is!

@Krull Well... we should be together on the last one. I re-listened to Burning Rangers and now regret my vote. 😢

I just hope people vote for which is the best music - not which is the best game or series.

I had a bit of a busy weekend with the holiday and family stuff but we should be back to the normal update schedule this week. This time we have Mega Man 3 moving on at 4-2, Super Mario Bros. at 3-2, and Crypt of the Necrodancer and Burning Rangers winning their tiebreakers at 3-3. As always the bracket can be found here.

Round 3 cont.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf vs. Deadly Premonition - The Woods and the Goddess

Vote here

Kirby Mass Attack vs. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Lifelight

Vote here

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim vs. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Vote here

Super Smash Bros. Brawl vs. Xenoblade Chronicles

Vote here

I feel so mean voting against New Leaf, but I like Deadly Premonition better.

I have to stay true to my nominations and vote Smash.

Zelda by far. I did not like the Elder Scrolls one at all.

I love Brawl’s theme and nothing can beat it.