It's over! Congratulations for making it to the end, everyone. Even if not all the snippets could be deciphered/concluded on what it may be, I thank any of the participants that gave it a go and tried guessing. Without further ado, let's reveal the answers and ranking/results for the 21st VGM Guessing Contest:
THE ANSWERS ------------ The difficulty rating [EasyMediumHard] [The Gimmick will be denoted with a ]
- Assault Spy (PC) - Enter the Agent
Found by: 14thOrder
An exciting, character action game made by a solo indie developer. Despite being a relatively short playthrough, the combo system is really well polished and it's boss fights are a great challenge too. This definitely stands up there with games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. - Moomin Tale (GBC) - Track 7
Found by: 14thOrder and Bean
Honestly, this is definetly the most out there songs in terms of obscurity. Like, the only reason I happen to know about it is because a friend was really into Moomin and streamed this in a call one time. The series is fine, it's got it's charms and good story telling. But this GBC game is definitely obscure, I don't even think the OST is on Youtube so I'll just leave the full version of the track here. I hear a new Moomin game for the Switch is coming out soonish. - The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki (PS4, PS5 and PC) - Namonaki Akumu no Hate
Found by: 14thOrder
Love that the opening song is used in game for a great fight. I look forward to playing this when it's eventually localized here in the West 25 years from now - Girls und Panzer: Dream Tank Match DX (PS4 and Switch) - Boss Theme (Type 10)
Found by: 14thOrder
Aside from the school anthems and other original songs from the anime/movies, Dream Tank Match does have a few tracks whipped up for certain scenarios, like the Type 10 fight. It's somewhat reminiscent of DQ11 music, but not exactly. - Elden Ring (PC, PS4/5 and Xbox One/S/X) - Erdtree Knights
Found by: 14thOrder
Half-Found by: Reecer7
Ah man, I love this track. The way it builds up and emphasizes a feeling of doom. First heard it by encounter the tree sentinel, thinking I could just beat it one go, only to realize it was going end my existence in one go. After that folly, I just climbed up a tall rock, shot arrows at it as it couldn't reach me and delivered the final hit with a bonk on the head using my axe. Fun game. - Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (DS) - Mr. Bear-Penny
Found by: 14thOrder, Valentine and raekuul
Advance Wars is a lot of fun, psyched to give Re-Boot Camp a go once that's out. Theme wise, Days of Ruin is sorta all over the place, but the soundtrack is still pretty rad. Funnily enough, while doing some background research for AW as a whole, the genre it's more associated with is turn based strategy, however, it still retains many elements/quriks that would be more associated with SRPG/TRPGs. That and most folks I've spoken to online vouch for it being a SRPG, so that's what it'll be on this list. - Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles (PS2)- Heats
Found by: 14thOrder
This track's saxophone just goes off! I've been wanting to use this song in a VGM contest since the last time I hosted but opted out for an older Gundam game last time since Blue Destiny was one of the first CD based Gundam games and THUNDER CLAP is a classic track from it. But I'm glad I can use Heats this time around, great song and Lost War Chronicles is a solid PS2 game, right up there with Zeonic Front. - Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk (PC, PS4 and Switch) - Witch's Depression
Found by: 14thOrder
Tenpei Sato really does a fantastic job of composing music. This track has some of the trademark instruments he likes using and give it an air of eeriness, but I do appreciate the consistency in terms of quality. I've found myself playing this game twice now, originally on Switch and recently a replay on PC. The odds of it's sequel on Vita leaving Japan is slim to nonexistent, but eh, here's hoping a english fanpatch appears for it someday. - Cook, Serve, Delicious! (PC and Mobile) - Fried Chicken
Found by: 14thOrder
Funnily enough, this may have been one of the first game's I bought for my first smartphone. I remember watching a Giant Bomb quick look of it and it sold me on it's premise and gameplay. Fried Chicken is a nice track but oddly elevator musicish in tone, I suppose. - Survival Kids (GBC) - Mountains
Found by: 14thOrder
With sprite work reminiscent to Pokemon or Links Awakening, Survival Kids may be one of the first survival games I had seen way back when. The soundtrack also fits really well with the different environments you may find yourself in. - Risk of Rain 2: Survivors of the Void (PC, PS4, Xbone, Switch and Stadia) - The Face of the Deep
Found by: 14thOrder
Love this track, another song that has some greaaat use of the sax and synth. Chris Christodoulou has made some awesome music over the decade, I honestly hope the guy continues to get work as he makes some gnarly jams. - Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (PC and PS4/5) - In The Balance
Found by: 14thOrder and Bean
What a surprise, a FF14 track and from the newest expansion no less. An absolute banger composed for the 1st alliance raid of the expansion and it passes with flying colors in the sound department. Yeah, uh, I don't what else to say aside from try listening to the full song if you're willing. - Fate/Grand Order (Mobile) - Gudaguda Yamataikoku - Grand Battle BGM
Found by: 14thOrder
Neat tidbit about this one, the event had a promotional video as most of FGOs events do and it got a great vocal song to accompany it. Said vocal song is then recomposed into a hard rock instrumental and used for the boss fight for the event, just amazing. - Rygar (NES) - Wise Man's Chamber
Found by: 14thOrder
Weird old wisdom guy song on a weird old system. - Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel (PC, PS4, Xbone, Switch and Mobile) - Climax #4 aka Monarch's Theme
Found by: 14thOrder
I don't who or what they hired to get this kind of music for a Yugioh game, but a lot of the OST ain't half bad. It's even better knowing that these different songs trigger depending on the outlook of a duel. - Project Triangle Strategy (Switch) - Secret Weapon/Unshakable Conviction
Found by: 14thOrder
Pretty good SRPG, is it on par with something like Final Fantasy Tactics? No, no really, but I still enjoyed what good moments it did have. The track goes by two names, but the one I had ripped the snippet from was the demo OST and it's name was Secret Weapon. It was agonizing to see how close folks were to getting this correct as the game was guessed quite a few times, just not on the correct snippet. - Arcana Heart 3 LOVEMAX SIXSTARS!!!!!! (PC) - Everyone Can Be a Hero!
Found by: 14thOrder
Everyone can be a Hero! Not really though, but hey, at least this song got a good beat to it. - Metroid Dread (Switch) - Experiment No. Z-57
Found by: 14thOrder
When you're rumored Metroid game becomes a reality. I'm really glad this game came out, Dread is a blast. Plenty of replayability and a great holdover till Metroid Prime 4 is eventually released. - Klonoa Beach Volleyball (PSX) - Sunset Court
Found by: 14thOrder
I think Klonoa Beach Volleyball has shown up before in another VGM guessing contest, but with Klonoa making return in the form of a remake/remaster, I just wanted to include this gem of a song. It certainly gives off Western showdown vibes, doesn't it? - Digimon: D Project (Wonderswan) - Home
Found by: Nobody!
A Digimon song and one from an obscure system, yeesh. Yeah this was tricky, like, how many people even know about the Digimon games on Wonderswan? Maybe Bandai Namco will remake this and put it on a more modern system, but who am I kidding, they'll remake the first few Digimon World games before anything else. - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PC, PS4/5 and Xbone/S/X) - Cal Kestis
Found by: 14thOrder
Playing this last year, I'm surprised how fluid the combat was. I'm not huge Star Wars fan, but I think some of the games hold up pretty well. The OST they composed for Fallen Order fits right in with this series. - No More Heroes III (Switch, PS4/5, Xbone/S/X and PC) - Dead Orca Force
Found by: 14thOrder
No More Heroes 3's soundtrack is like a bowl of mixed nuts, you've got a little bit of everything in it. I'm glad NMH3 exists and it's getting ports to p much every current modern console, so plenty folks have an opportunity to play it if they're interested. Remember folks, fuck racism - Battle Moon Wars (PC) - 7th Moon
Found by: 14thOrder
Basically a fan game where Type Moon series like FSN, Tsukihime and KnK crossover and playout like a SRW game. Attack animations are pretty gucci. - DAEMON X MACHINA (Switch and PC) - Messing Around
Found by: 14thOrder
Aptly used during the more goofy/light hearted moments of the game. - Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind (Switch) - Ayumi's Theme
Found by: 14thOrder
it was cool to see these games get remake, however gameplay wise it's a bit rough around the edges. It's got a p good mystery attached to it though, so give it a read if you want or don't. - Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (PS3 and Xbox360) - Corpse's Gate
Found by: 14thOrder
Half-Found by: Reecer7
The Harmony of Despair music is awesome, I just wish the same could be said for the game. It not even like it's that bad, it's fine and retains most of the metroidvania gameplay, but the cooperative aspect of it was jank to say the least. Hell, this song in particular is attached to memories of waiting in the matchup room from hours on end just to join up with a friend, ugh. - Grey Garden (PC) - Wasteland
Found by: 14thOrder
Good game. Funnily enough, a participant mentioned how Grey Garden had tracks that were basically free VG material music composed so indie devs could use them, so the chances of this song showing up in another game are decent. Which I figure if that were the case, if someone had brough up one of those games and showed/proved that it was used in that other game I'd still give the point despite it not being the game I had intended. I figure that'd be fair since this music is basically freeware music of sorts - Helltaker (PC) - Titanium
Found by: 14thOrder
What can I say, Helltaker has some great beats. It's cool that it got an additional chapter that provides a prospective if the Helltaker were to go down the other ending. Here's hoping that Helltaker has something in store for the future. - Eiyuuden Chronicles: Rising (PC, Switch, PS4/5, Xbone/S/X) - Area Boss Battle
Found by: Nobody!
I'm not entirely sold on Rising's music, I feel like there's some tracks lacking some flair or missing some component to them. But maybe the music will be polished once Million Heroes is finally out. - Super Robot Wars 30 (PC, Switch and PS4) - Hello! My World!!
Found by: Nobody!
Half-Found by: Validon98
A Super Robot Wars song is a must in a VGM contest with a gimmick like this, right? I was tempted to use one of the new OGs themes, but Knights & Magic just debuted in SRW 30. I had to make the snippet this, it was just too good not to. Maybe next time I'll use an OGs song from some random SRW. - Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PC, PSP and 3DS) - Samurai Drill
Found by: 14thOrder
"This drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens!" Man, the folks over at Falcom sure made a quirky game like Gurumin an interesting romp. Only in recent years did I find out it got a port to 3DS, that gave me a surprise. - [INTRUDER!]Balloon Party - 想像オデッセイ [Instrumental] by Mitsukiyo[INTRUDER!]
Found by: 14thOrder
Mitsukiyo composes some great music and has done video game music in the past, so I figure one of their songs would be a perfect candidate for INTRUDER. Hoo, color me surprised when one of the participants picked it out as the intruder. Granted, they didn't identify the exact series or game (I mean, it's an intruder so it wouldn't have one), but they did know this was the intruder, so that counts in my book. Although, I'm curious to hear their thoughts on how they concluded this was the intruder lol - Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. 2 CrossBoost (Arcades) - Jump in X Luck
Found by: Nobody!
Thankfully, I'm not gonna mess up on the gimmick for this one as it's not FG this time around, woo! We've got another EXVS song here again and it's an odd one at that. This song was released as the BGM for one of the recently playable suits - Gundam Xanadu. It's an interesting 2k with a solid support moveset, but this song just kinda seems out there for the kind of game it's in, y'know? - Trip World (GB) - World 3 Part 1
Found by: 14thOrder
Trippy game with a trippy soundtrack. Nah I'm just messing around, this game is cute and is a quick playthrough, I'm sure the speedruns for this game are a breeze. - Shin Megami Tensei NINE (Xbox) - Shop
Found by: 14thOrder
I think when I was originally putting this list together, I had a song from SMT DDS that I wanted to use, but then I heard this and I just couldn't escape the bits of funk to it. The "do-do-do-do-di-do" parts also got me haha - Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch) - Roar of Dedede
Found by: Almost everyone!
I really like this new arrangement of King Dedede's theme, it's exhilarating and get you amped up for pretty much any fight. This song also came from a great Kirby game too, so that's a plus. - Dino Crisis (PSX) - There's No Turning Back
Found by: 14thOrder
Felt like snagging a song from an action horror or survival horror game and RE has been used frequently enough, so I thought "Hey, who remember Dino Crisis, that's a classic" and that's how this snippet got here. Dino Crisis had some good tracks, I do wish Capcom revisited the IP again sometime. - Sakura Wars 2: Beloved, You Must Not Die (SS, DC, PC and PSP) - Continuation of the Dream
Found by: 14thOrder
Ahh, one of my favorite songs from the franchise. It sounds even better with vocals, but the composition still carries the whole song with grace. Kohei Tanaka really knocked it out of the park with this track and I can understand why it's one of his favorite composed songs to this day. I can think of only one other Sakura Wars song that could rival this one, but that's another story for another time. Oh and I guess as a mini NEWS in Sakura Wars update: The first game has been fully translate by fans for English and it's pretty solid, definitely worth checking out if your interested. A fan translation is in the works for Sakura Wars 3, so hopefully that goes well. - Full Metal Furies (PC, Xbone, PS4 and Switch) - Lelantos
Found by: 14thOrder
Made by folks who worked on Rogue Legacy, this game is a lot of fun. It's even more fun when you grab a couple of your friends and everyone just scrambles around the fields trying to take on a boss. - Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (PC and Xbone) - Retem Field Boss 1
Found by: 14thOrder
The singer for this song actually had done music for other PSO related game like IDOLA, which is something. The Retem region is a bit of a pain in the ass to navigate, but the actually enemies to fight there are not so bad. The new region is about to open up in the game p soon, so that's nice. - Another Century's Episode 3: The Final (PS2) - Shinku BGM ver.
Found by: 14thOrder
A.C.E 3 was probably the last good A.C.E game. Just in terms of gameplay and story, it was the most well refined and the peak of it all. Once A.C.E R and Portable came out, it was just new series to debut and that's about it, watered down combat and little to no story after. It's a shame, but at least the first 3 games can be remembered fondly. - Granblue Fantasy Versus (PC and PS4) - Peacemaker's Wings
Found by: 14thOrder
Back when I had last time hosted, I wanted to include this song as one of the gimmick songs, but opted out to pick some older or obsucure FG tracks instead. I'm satsified that I was able to use it this time around, it's a great track and definitely has some flairs that I'd hear out of a FF track or something. Zooey's theme truly is awesome. - Shoujo Taisen Ei (PC and Switch) - From Now On, We'll...
Found by: 14thOrder and Validon98
Oh my god this song was used really well. I'm not gonna spoil what happens in Ei, but the original dev of the game knew exactly how to play out a SRW stage and the story flow amidst the gameplay. I'm not gonna claim what song the dev was trying to emulate/pay homage to for this track, but it's very reminiscent in tone to Gundam Unicorn's 'Gundam Segment II' track, which is used to great effect in the OVA. But yeah, Genso Shoujo Taisen does great job of summing up the events of the Touhou games, just in SRW gameplay form. - Senko no Ronde DUO (Xbox360) - Aria (Luca Phase 2)
Found by: 14thOrder
Strangely enough, this game saw a release in the West as Ubisoft localized it? Something like that but I can't say the game has seen much in recent years, aside from a Touhou game that used it's circle arena vs shmup combat, which didn't see too much success. so-so game that's not well remembered. - Indivisible (PC, PS4, Xbone and Switch) - Dance Macabre
Found by: 14thOrder
The high paced energy in this song is rad. - Melty Blood: Type Lumina (PC, PS4, Xbone and Switch) - Spirit & Technique & Body (Training Stage)
Found by: 14thOrder
Melty Blood always killing it with the good music. I guess we have Raito to thank for that, composing goat jams. This is just the training stage music, mind you, the rest of the OST is superb. - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (SNES and PSP) - Fight It Out! SNES ver.
Found by: 14thOrder, Validon 98 and Bean
Opted out for the SNES version, I really like how the sound chip sounds. FFT was used that last time I had hosted, so I figure lets pick from the other Tactics games, they've got rad soundtracks too - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP, PS3 and Xbox360) - Gear REX
Found by: 14thOrder
This is pretty sinister, using a Monster Hunter sounding song that's an originally composed track from a boss only from this game. I don't know why I always have a MGS related song but it's camouflaged under the guise of another series or something. Anyways, this is only other series MGS has collabed with so if I ever do host another VGM guessing contest, you won't have to worry about these weird MGS tracks. - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (NES and Switch) - Battle Map 2 Side Attack
Found by: 14thOrder, Validon 98 and Bean
Half-Found by: KobaBeach
Since the gimmick is SRPG/TRPGs, Fire Emblem has to show up somehow and what better pick than the first. It's got a good rhythm to it, even if it's going off crusty NES sounds, but I'm down with that. - The Cruel King and The Great Hero (Switch and PS4) - Am I Stronger Now?
Found by: 14thOrder
Another NIS game, but this song is definitely more upbeat. Granted, it's fanfare music/a victory tune, so that makes sense. - Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 (PC, Switch, PS4/5 and Xbone/S/X) - VS Mother 2 (IGNITER)
Found by: 14thOrder
I may have my grips on how they handled LAiX 2 by slowing Copen's movement and some of the distanced story moments, but it still has some fantastic music. The vocal version of this song is boppin' too. - Rogue Galaxy (PS2 and PS4) - The Cave of a Mine
Found by: 14thOrder
Very cave sounding music. It's got plenty of flutes tootin' - Pokken Tournament DX (Switch) - Thalia Beach
Found by: 14thOrder
Thalia Beach's beat exudes a summer kind of feel to it. That or the swedish steeldrum and xylophone combo makes me think of the summer or beaches. - Utawarerumono Prelude of the Fallen (PC, PSP and PS2/3/4) - Komori Uta YUKAURA
Found by: 14thOrder
This song shows up in both the first and Mask of Truth, it's a great song either way. The Utawarerumono games setting is fantasy based with mysticism mixed in, but also has been heavily influenced by Ainu culture, which is pretty cool. I'm kinda bummed I never really discovered this series till the Vita games were released, but I'm glad to have given them a try regardless. - IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors (PC and Mobile) - Normal Day【シャニマス】
Found by: Nobody!
Something something idol game with gacha elements something something it's got music. - Little Busters (PC, Switch, PS2/3 and PSP) - Boys Don't Cry
Found by: 14thOrder
This song brings back a lot of memories. - Arcturus (PC) - Port City
Found by: 14thOrder
This is a weird one, Arcturus plays a part as being some of the inspiration to The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. It's a Korean RPG that has some really early sprite based MMO esque designs, but the story ain't half bad and as a RPG it's fine, so I guess it's a don't judge book by it's cover situation. - Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon (Switch, PS4 and PC) - Locked and Looted
Found by: 14thOrder
Jake Kaufman still flexing those music making magic of his. Pocket Dungeon is ok, quick puzzle game but not exactly my cup of tea. Music's good though. - RosenkreuzStilette (PC) - Stage Select (March of the Haunted Spirits)
Found by: 14thOrder and Validon 98
I mean, I guess this relates to MegaMari in a way. I suppose. - Disgaea 3: Absences of Justice/Detention (PS3 and Vita) - A Song for You
Found by: 14thOrder
The credits song used for Disgaea 3 ends up being the last song of the list! How quaint. Despite being considered to be a bit of a black sheep in the franchise, D3 is probably my favorite Disgaea game. Between the cast, the story and music, it just hits all the right notes for me, it's a lot of fun. This credits song is nice as beyond the lyrics, I visualize it as the ensemble getting together, singing a song and taking their final bow before the curtains close. It's a great song.
I'll be brief as I'm writing this up pretty late into the night. The ranking/results is as follows:
Valentine - 4 points
KobaBeach - 7 points
raekuul - 7 points
Reecer7 - 8 points
Bean - 17 points
Validon98 - 22 points
14thOrder/FourteenthOrder - 68 points!
Thanks for guessing everyone, I'm not gonna lie, I feel like I may need to revise the 2x multiplier on scoring for solo song guesses if the guesser is the only one to guess it correctly as it could help folks get additional points. I'll keep that in mind for next time. Congratulations to FourteenthOrder with the cascade of guesses! I was worried since so many hints were asked that it would take a heavy hit to your total points but since you had guessed so many of them correctly and singled out what the intruder was, you still remained with a decent portion of points. Congrats!
Valentine - 4 points
KobaBeach - 7 points
raekuul - 7 points
Reecer7 - 8 points
Bean - 17 points
Validon98 - 22 points
14thOrder/FourteenthOrder - 68 points!
Thanks for guessing everyone, I'm not gonna lie, I feel like I may need to revise the 2x multiplier on scoring for solo song guesses if the guesser is the only one to guess it correctly as it could help folks get additional points. I'll keep that in mind for next time. Congratulations to FourteenthOrder with the cascade of guesses! I was worried since so many hints were asked that it would take a heavy hit to your total points but since you had guessed so many of them correctly and singled out what the intruder was, you still remained with a decent portion of points. Congrats!
If I end up hosting again in the future, I'll take what I've learned here and last time, hopefully leading into whipping up a fun VGM guessing contest next time (Probably an easier gimmick or no gimmick at all, adjusted scoring, something like that). Thanks again for participating, good luck to the next host and I hope everyone has a great rest of the year.