If you have not already listened to this category’s podcast, these are the final results, so this will spoil the course of the discussion on that podcast! Be warned!
THE WINNER
Scarlet Draw
A not-so-secret element of Ace Attorney’s appeal is its Pursuit themes. You know the ones: they’re the tracks that play when you’ve weathered wave after wave of bullshit, only to turn the tables, flashing a spotlight on the contradiction that sends the prosecution’s case spiraling out of control. It practically screams “I GOT YOU NOW, MOTHERFUCKER!!!,” an exuberant celebration of nailing a liar right where they stand. The very best Pursuit themes take the courtroom, a location typically reserved for somber melodrama, and turn it into a battlefield that rivals the flashiest of video game arenas.
As a courtroom mystery visual novel that takes more than a few cues from Ace Attorney, of the Devil had imposing shoes to fill. How could an indie game hope to match the likes of Capcom’s audio team? Simple: you hire Lena Raine.
From the moment “Scarlet Draw” starts playing, it has that Pursuit energy on lock, but it’s also infused with the darker energy Morgan brings to the table. Rather than representing a heroic attorney fighting for justice with everything they’ve got, its distorted bass guitar and exuberant saxophone perfectly capture a gambler going All In, hungry for the win they so desperately crave. It’s a predator closing in on its prey, a risk-taker throwing caution to the wind because they know they’re moments away from taking what’s theirs, thumbing their nose at their enemies with style.
of the Devil was plenty special before Episode 2 incorporated “Scarlet Draw” into the game. But now that it’s here, alongside the contrasting “Zero Summary,” there’s no doubt in my mind: this is a game that rivals the very best Ace Attorney has to offer.
-Jen
THE RUNNERS UP
L-Gaim: Time for L-Gaim
For another, semi-secret project, I have been listening to a lot of city pop. It’s a very specific subgenre that many aren’t familiar with, so let me explain just in case: it’s Japanese pop music of the 70s and 80s. Getting more specific than that is difficult because there’s not really a firm definition- some folks will say it’s Western-inspired pop, some will say it’s pop about urban life or with an urban “feel,” but we all know it when we hear it. And let me say… a lot of it’s bad???
Like, this is true of most music, of course. And even the stuff that’s bad often has some elements I find mighty charming, because I just like city pop. The real problem is tone and lyrics. Maybe this is about to be peak ace moments, but when your song is 100% about “I wish I had a boyfriend/girlfriend” or “I like my boyfriend/girlfriend” I do not CARE. Like, good for you, that’s about the most boring thing to listen to I can imagine.
And it’s not about the talent of the artists! They’re incredible! This is a music industry problem. Wanna know how I know? When those same artists get commissioned by folks like Yoshiyuki Tomino, and he tells them “make a city pop song about a robot, or about growing up, or about an adventure,” they turn out STRAIGHT. BANGERS. And “Time for L-Gaim” is just another in that tradition of killer fucking tunes.
-Six
Watch Me!
If there is something worth doing if you’re a bit jaded is to reject cynicism. The world is a rough place nowadays, and it’s mighty tempting to simply fall into the endless chasm of negativity and detachment. I am not advocating for complete removal of the self from reality, but there is a joy and power to be had in being a little too saccharine and fully honest. If there is a theme to the show of Witch Watch, it’s that. And I think it’s theme song, “Watch Me!” by Yoasobi, fits it perfectly.
Yaosobi is a returning champion in these awards, and it’s easy to see why: the duo’s blend of electric hyperpop based on years of vocaloid jams and narrative focus of turning songs from online stories give them a unique sound. It helped them capture the mood of the anime’s delightfully silly magical romantic comedy. Per Ayase, the songwriter of the group, he is a big fan of the stories of Kenta Shinohara, and wrote the lyrics from the perspective of Nico and her feelings for her cool-as-ice love interest Morihito.
It reminds me of the songs of Carly Rae Jepsen, who on first blush seemingly writes shallow love songs for love-sick teenage girls, then uses that perception to hit you with tightly produced beats and lyrics that get stuck in your head for years. And it should be said, love songs can be fun, and that doesn’t make them less worthy of respect! “Watch Me!” is a song that is a bit sweet, but in a world as dreary as ours, that sweetness and honesty can cut through the noise.
-Kyrie
EMPTYLANDS
For years, Skate Story had a rather simple identity on the Internet: gif after gif of a glass skater, rolling through a dreamlike vision of hell, teased over the course of weeks, then months, then years. A killer aesthetic, to be sure, but I wasn’t convinced that there was much more beneath its reflexive exterior. That feeling shifted dramatically after I heard “EMPTYLANDS” for the first time.
Nine seconds in, the tempo takes root, and I want nothing more than to get up and move. Bathed in hard, horror film synths, a longing set of vocals and kinetic instrumentals, you can practically feel the skateboard wheels rolling beneath your feet, carrying you to parts unknown underneath a dark night sky. “Cool” feels like such a diminutive word to describe its audioscape, but it’s also 100% accurate, and the act of listening to it makes you feel like anything you do at that moment will be equally cool.
“EMPTYLANDS” perfectly represents the appeal of Skate Story: rather than weighing itself down with over-the-top combos, it gets that merely rolling from A to B on a board, with a killer song in the background, is a beautiful act in itself. And sometimes, it’s enough to hit Play and let the music wash over you.
-Jen
Two weeks down! Next week will be a bit packed, but it’s gonna be a three category week! The only one we have. Stay tuned!
Our art is a commission from GOMA on Bluesky.
