I don't mind the vocal tracks. The rapping makes me think of the dorm in Persona 3. But I guess the argument could be made that the setting in XCX is very different than in Persona. Depends on the persons taste I suppose. But it does feel odd having this sort of music in a game of this setting. But I dont mind it.

Agreed

It actually IS. Since people are different, different things will affect them differently. Some people will read a sad story and cry, others won't. Some will see something as very happy, and others will find it over the top. Some scare, others funny. The same goes for music. Some people find metal pumps people up, others rap does it for them, others 'epic' music, others classical, and others still very strong vocals. Pop music puts me to sleep in lots of cases, depending on my mood, but for many it means the party is starting. 

Emotions are very strongly connected to someones mood and even outlook so they are not the same for everyone by any means. You are correct in saying that songs can affect different parts of your brain and release seratonin and other chemicals that can affect your mood, but it isn't the same for everyone, if that were the case there would be no need for different genre's of music. 

None of it is tonally off. It is all on tone and fits with the music it has been designed for. None of the pitch or key is off at all, so no, it is not tonally off. If it doesn't work for YOU, that is fine, but it might work for many others. As for Beyonce, if it is done correctly any music can fit almost any scenario but some come easier to different situations than others. This beyonce song could very well lend itself to a scary situation 

ACK!

Also, some songs that have a slower pace and be a great setup for a scare moment and will likely put people on edge because it puts them in a comfort zone then messes with that. Nice, calm, serene and BAM you just shat yourself.

I snuck in tht "sometimes" becuase the soundtrack isn't ALL bad, just these songs I've posted, and maybe a few others. I overexaggerated the thread title ^^

The game has quite a few really good songs, but I'd rather have ALL the songs being mediocre than have some being really good and others being bad and ripping me out of my experience.

I have to agree, the soundtrack of FFXIII was what i most enjoyed about that game besides the visuals. It was just beautiful :)

Again, it's your personal opinion that not all the songs are at least mediocre. Each one you put up I actually quite enjoy, the least of is just fine. There might be others that you find great that I don't really dig. Like the main theme song really doesn't do it for me at all, but it's not that big of a deal. Worst case scenario if I were to really not enjoy the soundtrack I can always turn it down and put my own music on and make sure the subtitles are on.

he's still entitled to that opinion, ffs other than actual numbers most of anything on these forums are based on personal opinion. Personal opinion is open to debate but people are still entitled to say that rap songs in videogames suck. Put it in the opening or in the credits, even a boss fight theme is acceptable but in the gameplay environment it overpowers ambience.

Games good, music is awful because those few shitty ones happen to be the most commonly played ones.

Spare me the knee jerk reaction, I've played and completed the game.

Absolutely he is. Just as I am, or you are, however the point where we say it is fact is when it goes too far. I mean, he of course could say he doesn't like the soundtrack and that it sucks, that's fine as long as it isn't stated as if it isn't opinion based. I get that many don't like putting "IMO" or "in my opinion" as for some reason it seems to be viewed as being less important, but it is still what it is. Of course there is also the insinuation that since someone has posted something online that it is almost always based on opinion unless it's stated as factual lol. The problem is when there is an argument stating that someones opinion is more important than anothers as opposed to someone saying, 'that's your opinion' the reply should be something along the lines of 'yup, it is'. Not to mention he undermines his own statement with "at least some times" as oppposed to 'Some of the music in XCX sucks' as the full title. 

It might overpower the ambience for some, but not for others, likely relating to how comfortable someone is with rap in general. Same sort of thing with operatic music that is often in JRPG's, it doesn't do it for everyone however it seems to be more accepted now because it has become the norm. Same goes for orchestral. 

You completed XCX already? How much spare time do you have? It has only been out for two weeks in Japan!