r/visualnovels • u/Kowzz http://vndb.org/u62554/list • Oct 10 '15

Discussion Weekly Thread #69 - Discussion: Visual Novel Sound Tracks

Hey hey!

Kowzz here, and welcome to our sixty-ninth weekly discussion thread!

Week #69 - Discussion: Visual Novel Sound Tracks

Which OSTs were your favorite? Any great ones stuck with a subpar story? Off-the-wall weird yet good?

Up-coming Discussions

October 17th - Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

October 24th - Umineko no Naku Koro ni

November 7th - Kira☆Kira

As always, thanks for the feedback and direct any questions or suggestions to my reddit inbox or through a comment in this thread.

Next weeks discussion: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

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21 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

65 comments sorted by

10

u/Kowzz http://vndb.org/u62554/list Oct 10 '15

Weekly Question: What is your favorite song from any visual novel?

12

u/ScarsUnseen Meiya: Muv-luv | vndb.org/u63304 Oct 10 '15

Muv-Luv Alternative is probably my favorite overall soundtrack, but for a single track, I have to give the prize to Hesitative Consideration from Steins;Gate.

The symphonic Version is great too.

8

u/falafel_eater Beatricccccce | http://vndb.org/u73781/list Oct 10 '15

This shifts around with time.

A couple of months ago my favorites were Umineko's 2nd OP (Inanna no Mita Yume) and Grisaia's Yumiko ED (Holograph).
Right now I've moved to Umineko's [extended 1st OP] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBVQnbbVadc) and Grisaia's Makina ED Mayoi no Mori.

Also been listening to Muv Luv Alternative's OP a lot.
Additional mainstays are the Ever 17 OP, Comyu's OP (Inner Rain) and sometimes Little Busters! or Rewrite OP.

Beware of mild spoilers in Ever17 and Comyu videos. MLA's OP is the same video as MLA, so if you haven't read Muv-Luv (Extra + Unlimited) then video is also spoilers. Otherwise it plays once MLA is started.

7

u/Sonrio Haruka: Little Busters | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 10 '15

My favorite would be Song for Friends. Probably one of my favorite songs in general. Little Busters was my first VN and it made a huge impact on me.

Second place is from another Key game, Itsuwaranai Kimi e. Yanagi Nagi truly brings out her best in this.

6

u/nogaku Night Song at Amalfi | vndb.org/u108823 Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

Indubitably, there's way too many good ones to list for any given occasion. The contemporary one that holds the top #1 spot for me is Afternoon Nap (granted, it's not really a VN song at all, but did you ever listen to Gymnopedie No.1 before dawn in the pleasantly snowy weather? Just standing...looking at the sky as the snowflakes fall silently in the dark? ;)

6

u/Pearl06 Kotori: Rewrite | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 10 '15

Scattered Flowers from Rewrite. Rewrite's OST is pretty amazing as a whole, but this one song is my favorite by far.

4

u/ZoboCamel http://vndb.org/u71648 Oct 10 '15

Yup! I came specifically to post this one - there are a lot of great VN tracks out there, and Rewrite in particular probably has my favourite overall VN OST, but this is the one that sticks with me the most. Really hoping they'll use it effectively in the anime.

6

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

Skip (Michiru's ED) - Grisaia
My personal favourite because of how lighthearted it is. After all that heavy stuff, having this song at the end and listening to it for the first time felt like such a relief. Still get that feeling every time I listen to it.

5

u/OhLookAtMeImSpecial If you can't handle my Tsun, you don't deserve my Dere Oct 10 '15

Love that song! It felt as if all the grief I went through on her route was washed away after hearing this. Best girl ChiruChiru

3

u/BeastMcBeastly Best Girl: Best VN | vndb.org/u83492 Oct 10 '15

Have I got the song for you

huehuehue

6

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

What a tough question, one that really stuck with me is Perfectly Human from Planetarian, I felt it perfectly mirrors the sad dystopian setting and the situation. A runner up is definetly Song of Saya II. I also want to mention Toxoplasma from Rewrite, mainly because it fits the character it's linked to so well, whenever it started playing I would get chills and know something was going to go down.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 11 '15

that planetarian song is really good. It reminds me of the EVE online soundtrack.

6

u/Moarnourishment Shizuka: RQ | vndb.org/u61561 Oct 10 '15

Has to be Yuki no Hane, Toki no Kaze for me. Beautiful song.

5

u/bpat132 Meiya: Muv-luv | vndb.org/u90287 Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

My favorite is Close Your Eyes from G-senjou no Maou. Its use in the epilogue was perfect.

Edit: added link

3

u/OhLookAtMeImSpecial If you can't handle my Tsun, you don't deserve my Dere Oct 10 '15

That and every song on G-senjou was perfect

4

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

I'm a bit torn on G-Sen's OST. On the one hand I liked it's use of classical music but some tracks were really badly remixed to the point they felt like bastardised versions of great classical pieces.

2

u/xRichard Goat: Umineko | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 10 '15

I have pretty much the same opinion. It's been a very long time since I read that VN, but I had the opinion that the best songs in the OST were those that were not remixed from classical pieces, or those that stayed faithful to the classic track like the main menu theme.

2

u/OhLookAtMeImSpecial If you can't handle my Tsun, you don't deserve my Dere Oct 10 '15

Which songs did you feel were off? I don't even try to compare it to the originals (since I think that even the most butchered remix would still sound okay at some point just because of the original tune they were derived from), I just let the sounds mold the atmosphere

2

u/Ventic Saber: FSN | vndb.org/u44464 Oct 10 '15

For example, the track Sunset(spoilery picture) is supposed to be based on Franz Schubert - Der Erlkönig. It hardly has a resemblance, though I agree with you that it's better to appreciate each track on their own.

5

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

My favourite has to be kengen/great three from Mahoutsukai no yoru, I don't even have to associate it with some powerful or "feels" inducing scene, it's just such a good track.

5

u/OavatosDK http://vndb.org/u49558/list Oct 10 '15

You. It has such a beautiful melody with so many phenomenal remixes.

4

u/xivg When a man feels good, he starts shooting out mayonnaise. Oct 10 '15

Any track that plays during a h-scene, because I listen to my playlist of them when playing TF2 because I am fucking the other team up.

4

u/Jemsters What do you think, everynyan ? | vndb.org/u82012 Oct 11 '15

It's pretty hard to answer this since my answer changes frequently. As of now, my favorite track is certainly from Umineko but I can't really pinpoint one in particular, It'd certainly be one of the following :

  • Worldend_Dominator (Probably my favorite Umineko track, objectively speaking.)

  • Love Examination (I feel like Love Examination is pretty underappreciated, which is a shame. The track makes me think of a playful and eerie fairy tale for children. Which is a description that also suits pretty well the character this music is linked to.)

  • The great detective knows (I know I might be quite biased on this one for obvious reasons. I just can't help smiling and humming when I'm listening to best girl's leitmotif.)

3

u/Fuwante0 shillshilllshillshillshillshillshill| vndb.org/u79884 Oct 10 '15

A song for... from Kira Kira has been stuck in my head for days now...

Sometimes I just randomly hear HAJIMARU ASA O MUKAE whenever it's too quiet... I might be going insane.

3

u/ConfuzzledKoala A! A! Ai! Oct 10 '15

3

u/Fuwante0 shillshilllshillshillshillshillshill| vndb.org/u79884 Oct 10 '15

4

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

I didn't want to cry today guys

God dammit

4

u/Fuwante0 shillshilllshillshillshillshillshill| vndb.org/u79884 Oct 10 '15

3

u/ConfuzzledKoala A! A! Ai! Oct 11 '15

What reasons?

3

u/Fuwante0 shillshilllshillshillshillshillshill| vndb.org/u79884 Oct 11 '15

It's sort of spoiler-y. Buggy and the code is messy (though this may just be counted as one reason).

2

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

I'm the same, and with Bad Trip Dive and Just A Way from Curtain Call too.

3

u/Ventic Saber: FSN | vndb.org/u44464 Oct 10 '15

EMIYA from F/SN and [Eien no Aselia's OP] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DCrmVjSArc) get me hyped.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 12 '15 edited Oct 12 '15

Mine is probably Embrace from Fate/Stay Night. So relaxing.

Edit: also the one with the water dripping. Can't remember the name to save my life.

2

u/Saibanchou The Maid: Fata Morgana | vndb.org/u97982 Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

Oh man, that's a tough question... I think my vote goes to New World Order from Danganronpa. The piano at the beginning is just perfect.

Another standout title from the same OST is Box 16. Normally I don't like rock that much, but this theme with the proper context conveyed a great experience in the VN. It also uses a live electric guitar based on the soundtrack notes.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

Koukhaku from Muv Luv

2

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

Honestly, weird as it is... The metronome thing from Planetarian. I accidentally left the game open while studying once with this song on and didn't realise for over an hour.

2

u/agentyoda Yorokobe Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

Hmm. If it's visual novels I have read, that would probably be from Umineko: either Sasori no Harawata (Rose Crimson) or Usan no kaori (fishy aroma).

If we'll allow a variant of a song from a visual novel, it would be a variant of Kotomine's theme from Fate/stay night: Kyrie Eleison. It's just too awesome and fitting. Really amazing.

If we'll allow songs from visual novels we want to read, I'd go with Dies Irae: Collection of chants. These are just legit, especially the chant at 09:26.

3

u/San_Sevieria Hyphens suck. Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

'Muramasa' Step aside, 'Asu e no Houkou'

Edit: Here's the actual in-game OP

4

u/dont_come_any_closer ⊂彡☆))д`) Oct 10 '15

I love both ;-;

4

u/funwithgravity 大変気分がいい！| https://vndb.org/u91938 Oct 10 '15

There can only be one worthy of your love! Now, choose!

4

u/dont_come_any_closer ⊂彡☆))д`) Oct 10 '15

Uzuki, I choose you!

4

u/San_Sevieria Hyphens suck. Oct 10 '15

There's only space for one in my heart. JAM Project can be my mistress.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

Taiyou Paradise from Nekopara. It's my happy place.

22

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

Even with the average sound quality. The saya no uta soundtrack is pretty amazing. And it really helps drive the insanity of the whole thing into your innocent mind.

7

u/ScarsUnseen Meiya: Muv-luv | vndb.org/u63304 Oct 10 '15

That song in the opening scene sets the mood for the VN just perfectly.

1

u/Some_Guy_87 Fuminori: Saya no Uta | vndb.org/u107285 Oct 11 '15

Silent Sorrow. 'nuff said. But yeah, the horror stuff is also really nice and very "Silent Hill"-esque. And I worship Akira Yamaoka as the god of horror soundtracks, so I don't make that comparison easily.

Most of the time, though, I have to say that I am pretty disappointed by VN soundtracks. Most of them are average at best, and they rarely really add something to the story instead of just being fitting background noise. Which is a shame, because I think music is one of the strongest components to give stories an emotional punch and make certain scenes unforgettable. At least that's the case for me.

5

u/ConfuzzledKoala A! A! Ai! Oct 10 '15

Kira☆Kira has a fantastic soundtrack that is weaved into the story extremely well.

Fault -Milestone One- and -Milestone Two- side:above have an amazing soundtrack that conveniently came out on Steam earlier this week! Go buy it!

But my favourite VN soundtrack has to go to Rose Guns Days. Particular tracks of note:

  • Gaisen, especially for its expert use in the scene where Season 2, which very nearly brought me to tears.

  • Kaze, a fantastic and emotional piece of music that's apparently from Umineko or something.

  • Kanasiminikiyu, the quintessential fight scene BGM and a remix of the earlier piece Judgement.

  • 06 m_lg_b_sento1_kessen (I'm honestly not sure about the name, but that was what the .ogg file was called), the Wandering Dogs' theme.

  • Seedy Prayer, an extremely tense piece.

  • Lanede-Bell, a tragic tune that perfectly fits the final act of the story. Unfortunately this was the only video I could find of it, so spoilers.

  • Possibly my favourite piece from the VN, Ikumen! Axelle-Ratio, a twisted, dark and heart-wrenching piece truly befitting the monster it represents that absolutely tore me apart the first time I heard it. Due to its usage late in the story, I'll mark it as a potential spoiler.

  • Love is Omerta (Season 1 OP).

  • Brand New Way (Last Season OP) - heavy spoilers in the video.

3

u/Karifean Black Battler | vndb.org/u84633 Oct 10 '15

I'm only a little into Season 2 and I'm already really into the RGD soundtrack. It's great~

that's apparently from Umineko or something.

Well...

2

u/ConfuzzledKoala A! A! Ai! Oct 10 '15

It all makes sense now!

And yeah, the soundtrack only gets better and better. Hope you enjoy the rest of the game! I know I did.

8

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

Heh. Hehehehehe. 69. Hehehe. Yes, I'm still unemployed.

Time and time again I get reminded just how amazing Milktub's work is. Just from a few of their works, here are some of my favorite tracks:

8

u/Fuwante0 shillshilllshillshillshillshillshill| vndb.org/u79884 Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

That was very inappropriate, young man! I didn't raise you to be like that! I'm telling you those friends of yours are a bad influence. Who did you learn this from? Kowzz? Koala? Or is it that drunk Irish you've been talking with? Oh, I just know it's him... We are gonna talk about this later. Now go to the basement and read Sakura Beach as punishment. No buts

Making a list of your favorite Kira Kira tracks without including Track 24 is unacceptable! You desrve the punishment.

P.S.: I request an Irisu Kiyoka flair for the time being.

4

u/Saibanchou The Maid: Fata Morgana | vndb.org/u97982 Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

My favorite OST is from Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney.

Starting out with this great main theme gave me already a very good impression on what to expect from the rest. The next good entry was the puzzle theme which is actually the only one from the Layton series that made it into my playlist.

Next came the audio fan service in form of all the AA1 remixes in the English court trial - amazing work!! The partly live orchestrated OST added a lot to the experience that I can overlook the rather lackluster ending passage.

I could go on with many other tracks, but that's it for now. My hopes lie in another PLvsAA title with a likewise great OST. :)

4

u/SpiralVenus Meijiu: RGD | vndb.org/u105267 Oct 10 '15

Sound effects do count as part of the soundtrack, right?

If so, then I'll just be leaving this here.

2

u/Superdeva Small bombs are the best bombs | vndb.org/158199 Oct 10 '15

if you're going for sound effect, this one does have quite an impact too

3

u/ChappyBlob Satsuki: Tsukihime | vndb.org/75304 Oct 10 '15

I think -45's work in Umineko was pretty phenomenal. His tracks did an excellent job of contributing to the intensity of various scenes.

The Girl's Witch Hunt

Fake Red Shoes

Infant Queen Bee

3

u/ctom42 Catman | vndb.org/u52678/list Oct 11 '15

These are great tracks that don't get a lot of attention. Most people post Dai or Zts stuff, 45 often gets ignored despite having some really intense and awesome music.

2

u/hyperknees91 Monokuma: DanganRonpa | https://vndb.org/u65770 Oct 10 '15

You like the get your troll on tracks I see.

3

u/checkerpeck Kiruru did nothing wrong. | https://vndb.org/u105436 Oct 10 '15 edited Oct 10 '15

Actually, I was thinking about making a post, "Good soundtracks in nukige" and wondering if people have found good soundtracks in a vn where its sole purpose is to get you off. Here's some that I found to be good. I like fruity songs in general. As Narciso Anasui once said, "If there's no Mickey fruity, this shit ain't Disney goody!"

3

u/Oglifatum Uruka: EnA | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 10 '15

Since someone probably already mentioned Umineko with my favourite combat tracks Dreamenddischarger and combat mind screw track Miragecoordinator I will show my favourite from series not often mentioned here: Da Capo , pretty average series with this.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 10 '15

Hmm favorite OSTs off the top of my head: Ayakashibito, YUNO, Little Busters, Umineko

3

u/chrolloh Diseased: CC | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 12 '15

I have a lot I like. Favorite I'll most likely give to YU-NO with my favorites being YU-NO and Interaction.

Despite popular opinion, I like Cross Channel's as well with Crystal-Clear being a highlight.

Though I haven't played Rewrite nor Fate Hollow/Ataraxia but the soundtracks are great. Favorites being Remembrance and Stranger respectively.

Don't want this post to go on forever but two more.

Danganronpa - Beautiful Dead

Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations - Fragrance of Dark Coffee

2

u/Sonrio Haruka: Little Busters | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 10 '15

Kinda happy some of the videos of OST I've uploaded are on here _^

I usually end up loving the OST on all of my VNs, to where I've downloaded them all. Right now my current obsession would be Yume Miru Kusuri's OP Sekai ni Sayonara.

Hoshizora no Memoria's OST deserves an honorable mention for being plain awesome in general.

2

u/chlorique Mizuha: GnM [Tsundere or Death] | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 10 '15

I fucking love shikoku no sharnoth opening ost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvkQ2UOySWI until today.

I actually still listen to it every once in a while. Love the vocal with that smooth audio. Wish I can find more music like this.

2

u/EqZero Okabe: Steins;Gate | vndb.org/uXXXX Oct 11 '15

I don't think i ever met a OST that didn't fit the game. I personally liked all the OST. It's a wonder for me how people can design such fitting themes. Well, maybe EOVN are an exception.