Interesting Final Boss Music

[MrSmiley381]

This is a topic I've been considering for quite a while. As it normally stands in video games, you smash your way to the end to come face to face with a final boss. When that time comes, the final boss most often has special music accompanying the fight. I'm trying to figure out how many games play with this idea and play the hero's theme instead of playing a standard final boss theme, or otherwise play with the idea of final boss music being used elsewhere in the game. So, yes, this thread will have plenty of spoilers.

Some of the most memorable examples I can remember include the following:

Double Dragon's final boss having the title screen music, which is often titled "Roar of The Double Dragons" if I am not mistaken.

Sonic Adventure plays "Open Your Heart" during the first half of the Perfect Chaos battle, which is not technically Sonic's theme but does play during the title screen demo.

Sonic Colors has a remixed version of Reach For The Stars playing during the second phase of the final boss, which is also the main theme to the game during the intro.

Dragon Force's final battle has the title screen music playing as you fight Madruk.

If anyone can think of anything else, I'd like to hear it.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

I love this idea for a thread. Let's add in youtube links if at all possible so we can all listen to the songs together.

For me, the most memorable tracks I can think of

the king of ALL end videogame boss themes is undesputetely Dancing Mad from Final Fantasy 6. This 16 minute + arrangement is the dictionary definition of epic. For anyone who played through FF3/6, this theme is by far the one they remember the most.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island final battle with Giant Baby Bowser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9THf5QlXuyo

Megaman 6 Final Wily battle theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTOLgOZQO30

King K Rool Theme from Donkey Kong Country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQqBSc2cSoc&feature=related

Giana Sisters DS Boss theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPyork05F0I

Megaman Network Transmission Legendary Pharaoh Man theme with homage to the Megaman 4 original theme!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6inlAav5K4

I'll leave it there for now.

[jperryss]

the king of ALL end videogame boss themes is undesputetely Dancing Mad from Final Fantasy 6. This 16 minute + arrangement is the dictionary definition of epic. For anyone who played through FF3/6, this theme is by far the one they remember the most.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc


Just wanted to say I'd forgotten how epic this track is.

From what I remember (been over 15 years for me) you'd get through most of it before that battle was over, too.

[Haoie]

Earthbound - Gigyas

What the heck was that?

[Tron 2.0]

Ys 1&2 The Final Battle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmpgN_kOInI

[Aussie2B]

Well, this topic is kinda failing since nobody is reading what the actual question is. :/

But I did, and the first thing that comes to mind is how in Castlevania IV, during the final segment of the battle against Dracula, the music changes to Simon Belmont's theme. It definitely pumps up the excitement of the fight. I agree, it is really cool to fight a final battle with a dramatic, heroic theme for the playable character rather than a sinister song aimed to capture the spirit of the enemy (not that the latter's songs can't be good). It's also nice when they go full circle and reuse or build off of a theme from the title screen or the like.

[Ryaan1234]

Earthbound - Gigyas

What the heck was that?
Actually, what the heck is THIS? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P_BvrtuxAI)

I'd like to mention Gitaroo Man's final battle theme "Resurrection" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Tk7RKOQ9Q). Because the game is of course a rhythm game the music to the final battle is key. It's so epic and really kind of uplifting that throughout the entire battle it gives you this sort of "I can do it!" feeling. The song itself is very difficult (in terms of gameplay) but it's not a typical sort of "scary" boss battle theme. It's interesting to me because normally final boss music is (while maybe epic) pretty tense and honestly it sometimes seems like the music is on the boss's side but this song doesn't come off to me as that. Also, the game never makes it clear whether "Resurrection" serves as a theme for the boss OR the main character.

[MrSmiley381]

Well, this topic is kinda failing since nobody is reading what the actual question is. :/

But I did, and the first thing that comes to mind is how in Castlevania IV, during the final segment of the battle against Dracula, the music changes to Simon Belmont's theme. It definitely pumps up the excitement of the fight. I agree, it is really cool to fight a final battle with a dramatic, heroic theme for the playable character rather than a sinister song aimed to capture the spirit of the enemy (not that the latter's songs can't be good). It's also nice when they go full circle and reuse or build off of a theme from the title screen or the like.

You know, I love that boss battle and still somehow managed to forget it in my original post. I feel almost ashamed.

During the second part of the Lavos fight you can hear a bit of the title theme playing, occasionally breaking through the rest of the song. Why? Because the heroes are the only people that can break through the power that is Lavos, and only after great difficulty and trial.

[skaar]

One Winged Angel was pretty freaking awesome when I first got to it. I guess if you didn't play through it at launch the mp3s/etc of the internet will have jaded you to it.

I love a great final boss fight, particularly with some really epic music playing.

Though not really a "fight" the end sequence of Shadowgate/final room was pretty great for me too. I don't want to read this thread too much though lest something be spoiled for me ;)

Also, Super Metroid had an absolutely FUCK YEAH EAT IT YOU BASTARD sequence at the end.

[Guru of Time and Space]

You guys can't fucking read.

-GoTaS

[dystopian]

For some reason I want to say Frog, at some point, during Chrono Trigger. But I think it always plays Magus' music when you fight him. Still, I remember hearing Frog's music a lot and maybe... not sure though.

This is a good topic -- I know there are more out there where the hero music plays...

[Nz17]

This thread has reading comprehension failures. It is endemic to the forum. Reading full posts before responding, we hardly knew ye. :D

[The 1 2 P]

The first one I thought of was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KXI5o70Sd0

In the Genesis version of Spider-Man Vs. Kingpin the main theme music(that comes on when you load up the game) is playing during the last stage, including the last boss fight between you and the Kingpin.

[Zama]

Many final boss music can vary to silently eerie to epic to insanely awesome music :)

I have a lot of choices of final boss music but I will settle for this one for now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2OGYMSfDfM

:angel:

[PentiumMMX]

The closest I can think of is how the final stage of Mega Man II for Game Boy had the game's upbeat title theme playing in the background, as if to say "Dr. Wily is ahead. Kick his sorry butt"

[kafa111]

if the topic creator wanted hero theme music for the boss battles, the title shouldve been
hero music in boss battles?

[MrSmiley381]

if the topic creator wanted hero theme music for the boss battles, the title shouldve been
hero music in boss battles?

It wasn't just hero music. I asked for anything that toyed with the idea of standard final boss music. Honestly, Kefka would fit if only because that was probably the first boss whose song went so long and was designed as a multiple-movement piece. As for some of the other thread content, well, I do wish people had read my first post in full.

In the interim I also thought of Ikaruga's final boss music, which is just a mix of the level one music designed to sound a little less hopeful and a lot more overpowering.

[old man]

Thunder Force V final boss has a remake of "The Justice Ray" from Thunder Force IV.

[skaar]

Depends if you really consider the title music to be the hero's music. Super Mario World had many variations on the same tune up to and including the final fight, but none are really "Mario's Theme"

As to reading, not everyone is going to follow rigid patterns of discussion guys, lighten up ;)

[Satoshi_Matrix]

MrSmiley381 sorry for crapping over your initial post by not reading (everyone followed suit after my post) but there's no reason we can't discuss all aspects of awesome final boss music.

[jwmollman]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island final battle with Giant Baby Bowser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9THf5QlXuyo

I just made it to the final boss the other day! I haven't had the chance to beat him yet, though.

I remember the music when fighting Kuja (the second-to-last boss) on Final Fantasy IX. It's called The Dark Messenger. I think it's pretty epic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghSi6_hbpo8&feature=related

[portnoyd]

MGS4 is pretty much the king of the question at hand.

[Carnivol]

I'm trying to figure out how many games play with this idea and play the hero's theme instead of playing a standard final boss theme, or otherwise play with the idea of final boss music being used elsewhere in the game. So, yes, this thread will have plenty of spoilers.


Terranigma on the SNES uses segments from the opening/main theme when the final boss theme kinda hits its climax.

Overcoming Everything - Battle against Dark Gaia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=774VbcSFodU) - If you skip to 1:52-ish, you can hear how it directly calls back segments from Light and Darkness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RS1M_Ygzc), the game's main/title theme.

Snake's Revenge on the NES also does a similar thing.

The game's intro tune is this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okfi_JrkSTY)
and the game's opening area tune is this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYKjNOcjDXY) (note 0:24) - which has segments that re-appears in the tune played when you go to approach the game's final boss (this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctdPWatLvz8) (note 0:12)) - then, finally, when you enter the boss room, the game's intro tune plays again, but this time it has an entirely new segment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee4cjd4PiPc) added to its end

[starsoldier1]

I love music when you finally fight Dark Falz in the original Phantasy Star. Very chilling!