Best Boss Music Ever

[Ranis]

So, what's the best boss music ever? I've heard a LOT of it in my time, some of which is awesome and some of which is not, but being completely unbiased, for me, it's a tie between Dancing Mad from FFVI and the newest one that I've heard, called Release the Seal. It's the final boss fight music in Blue Dragon, and one that everyone should hear, because it blows the pants off of just about everything else.

Assuming musical songs wear pants, that is.

[Tengu]

A tough call... but I think Fighting the Spirit from Tales of Phantasia. It's both heroic and showing that the battle is rough at the same time, and catches your ear instantly you hear it...

[tobywashere]

Almost any metal song, "One winged angel" From FFVII, and polka, oddly enough...

[TheLogman]

Boss music against the Savato, final mission of Trauma Center on the DS, or the last before the Epilogue on the Wii. It fits the operation perfectly, describing the just ultimate power, evil, and death embodied within this monsterous spider of a disease. It also conveys a message of urgency. It's awesome.

[Dr._Weird]

All of the boss music in Shadow of the Colossus. So good I even got the soundtrack.

Other games can only wish they had music this exhilarating and epic.

[NEO|Phyte]

Assorted boss musics from Cave Story. Some of the non boss musics as well.

[Maxymiuk]

For me it has to be the soundtrack for the final boss from Beyond Good And Evil. Aside from perfectly portraying the urgency and scale of that fight, it has the same basic theme as the very first fight in the game, which serves as a nice reminder of just why you're fighting in the first place.

[Logic]

I second the Beyond Good and Evil Boss theme, and also give props to One Winged Angel (Which will probably get more praise than it deserves.)

One of my favorite boss themes is the Boss theme to Mizar from the Game Jet Force Gemini.

[Skippy]

"Fight against Culex" from Mario RPG is great. I also love the theme for the Ganondorf fight in TLOZ: OoT.

[mikeforte123]

have to go with the Dr.

Shadow of the Collossus boss music has the best soundtrack you could ever wish for an epic game

Cant get enough of it :smallsmile:

[Tempest Fennac]

I really liked "Open Your Heart" from the last boss battle in Sonic Adventure, as well as"Supporting Me", which was used in the Biolizard boss battle in Sonic Adventure 2. I also like the boss music from both Final Fantasy 7 and
8.

[Fuzzy_Juan]

While not exactly 'boss' music, the song played on the first stage of Dr. Wiley's castle from megaman 2 will always have a place in my heart. Now that was epic as far as 8-bit music went.

One Winged Angel is of course one of the favorites of all FF series fans...it was the first truely epic sound to accompany a boss...full scale orchestral piece sysnthesized and a huge chorus in latin that just went on and on a gradious fashion. Nothing like it up till then i don't think...also, the way it would sometimes synch up with the lengthy animations for what you were doing just made everyone's jaw just drop...it was, and still is awesome. very few songs from any game have made their way into the playlists of people...this is one of them.

FFX, Fight with Ject...a great heavy metal style thumping...very nice.

I wish I could remember more right now...

[† Dran †]

The major fight with Mangus in Chrono Trigger. Just pure awesomesauce.

Also rather enjoyed the BG series music in general.

[Timberwolf]

JENOVA from FVII

[....]

The song from the final boss of FFX (its the one that plays during the opening here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GjvRAJaEc0)).

Also, while its not against a single 'boss' the fight with the Armada in Zone of the Enders 2: The Second Runner plays a really awesome song that is, I believe, the theme of the game itself just without the vocals. Very epic.

[Winterwind]

Now that was epic as far as 8-bit music went.Considering this old music, the theme from Super Metroid when Mother Brain rises to its second form, combined with the screams of that monstrosity, is positively terrifying (okay, so that's 16-bit already... sue me! :smalltongue: )

[storybookknight]

Second on the Magus music. At the time, that was absolutely inspiring.

However, Shadow of the Colossus may win.

[Setra]

Those who fight Further, is a favorite of mine.

As well as Jenova, and One Winged Angel.

I like the remixes even more though.

[Tengu]

I don't know will it count, since it's a music you can hear around 4-5 times in the game and only one of them is a boss battle, but if it does, I'm changing my vote - Flight from Xenogears (aka Maria's theme, you can listen to it when she fights her father for example) - it's beautiful, emotional and heroic.

Overall, jRPGs (apart from some ancient ones) have awesome battle, boss battle and overall themes - the only exception I can think of at the moment is the boss battle theme of FF9, very boring and unemotional - which is ironic, since this game also has the best normal battle theme from all FF games I played.

[Nerd-o-rama]

The music was always my favorite part of Final Fantasy VIII, "Force Your Way" probably being my favorite.

"One Winged Angel" and "Dancing Mad", are of course classics of the genre.

I don't see "World Revolution" from Chrono Trigger get a lot of props, but I'm fond of it.

Overall, though, I'm going to have to go with "Chaotic Dance Remix" from Baten Kaitos Origins, just for the sheer non sequitur of the style, and Giacomo being awesome.

[Tengu]

I don't see "World Revolution" from Chrono Trigger get a lot of props, but I'm fond of it.


Probably because, while very good, it's not the best ever for most people? It'd take ages, for example, for me to write all the battle themes I like.

[Quxelopqr]

My vote goes to either the boss music from Lufia:Rise of the Sinistrals, the Solaris 2 music from the Sonic game on the 360, and the music for selcted bosses in Golden Sun (like the first boss fight).

Actually, every fight scene in this super nintendo rom I have (Treasure of the Rudra or something like that) is absolutely amazing.

[Kain_Tempest]

The best boss music I have ever heard was actually the final boss fight in Wild Arms 4. After a ton of the standard heavy duty, "The End of the World", kind of music, it was such a strong change to enter into a full length, full voice, reprise of the opening song. It really got me pumped.

[Ranis]

The song from the final boss of FFX (its the one that plays during the opening here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GjvRAJaEc0)).

The Skies Above?

[Om]

Spoiler in link below.

Metal Sonic's theme (on the Death Egg (http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=4V7vBRbOMKI&mode=related&search=)) from Sonic 2. Hands down. I still hum it when under stress.

[Malroth]

"Divine spirit of language" from star ocean 3 when you fight Albel or Crossel gets 1st place in my book followed closely by the final boss music from Xenosaga Episode 1.

[OneWinged4ngel]

"One winged angel"

I'm boss music! :smallbiggrin:

Seriously though, I've gotta have about a hundred fight themes on my computer (without even exaggerating!). I couldn't hope to pick just one... I use them all for different situations.


The best boss music I have ever heard was actually the final boss fight in Wild Arms 4. After a ton of the standard heavy duty, "The End of the World", kind of music, it was such a strong change to enter into a full length, full voice, reprise of the opening song. It really got me pumped.

Just to make sure, do you mean this? (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/wild-arms-4th-detonator-ost-soundtrack/Disc%204/08%20-%20I%20Look%20Up%20At%20The%20Sky%20Because%20You% 20Are%20There.mp3)


"Divine spirit of language" from star ocean 3 when you fight Albel or Crossel gets 1st place in my book followed closely by the final boss music from Xenosaga Episode 1.

Language is cool. (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/so3music/46%20-%20The%20Divine%20Spirit%20of%20Language.mp3)

You know, I got right to the end of Xenosaga, got sidetracked, and I think I lost my save file. 'tis a shame I never got to see the end where this plays :smallfrown: (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/xsmusic/41%20-%20Last%20Battle.mp3)


The Skies Above?

If we're going to talk FFX, I like to use this to make sure my players know they're royally screwed to the wall. (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/05%20-%20Otherworld.mp3)

It's a bit redundant... unless I've got some of the most strategic players I've ever played with at the table, I tend to hold my monsters on a leash and *still* nearly kill off the players with every fight. That's what I get for playin' them intelligently :smallwink:

[Quirinus_Obsidian]

I have to go old-school. The Labyrinth 9 music (http://www.northcastle.co.uk/archive/vault/music/z1-deathmountain.mid) from the original Zelda. Dark, foreboding, and just cool for an 8bit system.

[Ranis]

If we're going to talk FFX, I like to use this to make sure my players know they're royally screwed to the wall. (http://lamda.bluelaguna.net/ffxmusic/05%20-%20Otherworld.mp3)

For the love of all that is holy on this Earth, you must tell me how you're linking music.

[Krytha]

I think the last Ganondorf fight in Twilight Princess has it pretty good.

[Green Bean]

I'm not sure if it's technically boss music, but I still have a soft spot for the gradually loudening organ music in the last dungeon of Ocarina of Time.

[....]

"One Who Bares Fangs at God" From Xenogears.

And the song that plays when you fight Deus at the end of the same game.

[Rogue 7]

I've always thought that the music from the Goht fight (that Giant mechanical bull) in Majora's Mask was fantastic.

[hanzo66]

The song that plays in the final phase of the Batte against Yami in Okami, after...

The people Amaterasu encounter during the game now believe she's a god and pray for Ammy, turning her into Shiranui.

The song is just highly uplifting and gives you a true feeling that you are a pure holy good battling against utter and pure evil (IE sort of like Miko/Roy fighting against a Xykon/Belkar/Redcloak/MitD/Lawyers/The Snarl teamup).

[Fus.Weapon 1337]

Mega Man Star Force's boss music kicks ass. Even better with headphones.

[kazo0ie]

zelda wind waker before ganondorf music!!

[kazo0ie]

I'm not sure if it's technically boss music, but I still have a soft spot for the gradually loudening organ music in the last dungeon of Ocarina of Time.

the organ music is in the temple of time

[Rogue 7]

Nah- it's the music Ganondorf's playing as you head up those long-*** stairs to get to him.

[....]

The song that plays in the final phase of the Batte against Yami in Okami, after...

The people Amaterasu encounter during the game now believe she's a god and pray for Ammy, turning her into Shiranui.

The song is just highly uplifting and gives you a true feeling that you are a pure holy good battling against utter and pure evil (IE sort of like Miko/Roy fighting against a Xykon/Belkar/Redcloak/MitD/Lawyers/The Snarl teamup).

That was an awesome part, gave me goosebumps.

It was sort of lessened by the fact that, apparently, utter and pure evil looks like an unborn feotus in a metal ball.

[evisiron]

Final Boss in Zone of the Enders. Cool Japanese techno rave freaking out due to time limit music!

[Amiria]

Not sure if this is really boss music, but there is the track Fortress of Regrets from Planescape : Torment. The main boss theme is of course the Transcendent One Theme. But my favorite track is the Deionarra Theme.

The whole soundtrack is excellent. You can get it here:

http://www.planescape-torment.org/?page=soundtrack

[valadil]

I used background music in the first DnD game I ran (y'all just said boss music, not video game boss music, so this is still valid). Dvorak's New World Symphony part 4 is just immense and fit the bill perfectly. I even found a couple metal versions of the song so I could put some variation in there since I wanted multiple encounters with this guy.

[Green Bean]

the organ music is in the temple of time

No, I'm talking about the music while you're climbing to the top of Ganondorf's castle. There's organ music that gradually gets louder as you get close to the summit, and he's the one playing it.

[Darken Rahl]

"Those Chosen by the Planet" in FF7.

[A Rainy Knight]

Perhaps not boss music, but the music in the last level of Halo 3 as you drive for your life.

[warty goblin]

Perhaps not boss music, but the music in the last level of Halo 3 as you drive for your life.

Actually all of the Halo music would make my favorite game music- its just that good.

Actual boss-fight wise, I don't play that many games with actual bosses in them (never been able to stomach jRPGs). Some of the music from Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is very good, as is the Medival 2: Total War music, although there are no actual bosses in that game per say.

[Nonanonymous]

"Dancing Mad, parts 1-4" from Final Fantasy VI, "One-Winged Angel" from Final Fantasy VII, Ganon's theme from any Zelda game, Zant's battle theme(s) from Twilight Princess, Ridley's battle theme from the Metroid series, and the first part of the battle with Giygas from Earthbound.

Also, considering how many games it's been in, can "the Emperor's March" count?

[hanzo66]

That was an awesome part, gave me goosebumps.

It was sort of lessened by the fact that, apparently, utter and pure evil looks like an unborn feotus in a metal ball.

Yeah... Never did get the whole imagery... Wonder if Ammy was thinking this...
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs14/f/2007/088/3/6/Last_boss_of_Okami_by_sketchdoodle.jpg

[Kriel]

Hmm, there are a few for me

First on my list has to be the soundtrack playing when you're fighting the Blue Testament in the cathedral in Xenosaga III. It matches the atmosphere just perfectly

Second has to be the one playing in Monster Hunter when fighting Lao-Shan Lung in the third and fourth areas. Epic, truly epic

But my favorite out of all of them has to be Magus' Theme from Chrono Trigger. Dark, epic, gets the adrenaline pumping for a great battle against a dark wizard with a thirst for vengeance.

Edit: How could I have forgotten the track playing when you fight Abaddon in Guild Wars: Nightfall. It's a very appropriate soundtrack when you consider that you're fighting a dark, forgotten god who wants to engulf the world in torment and corruption

[Zimmia]

Personal feelings aside, I love the VoN 6 music out of DDO. I loved to hear peoples reaction the first time they see and hear it.

Call me old school, but I loved all the boss fight music from Lunar 2: Eternal Blue.

[Zeful]

The music in Portal during 'boss' fights. They play it three times and it's just the best theme music for a sci-fi game, ever.

[itsmeyouidiot]

FF3's (FF6?) boss music is one of my favorites.

[Mando Knight]

FFIV:
The Four Fiends... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikDdQU_6hfY)
Four Fiends (Black Mages) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLY_53hHXBc)
Zeromus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUGoPBQmVVs&fmt=18)
Zeromus (Black Mages) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uxcAuPzhuo)
Battle Theme 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKuS5I24Mhw&fmt=18)

Brawl:
Vs. Meta Ridley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-M7nZLLRqo)
Star Wolf (64) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqmXJBWMVkQ)
Tabuu (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0PvTo9Dkt0)

Fire Emblem:
(Orchestrated version rather than Brawl version)Fire Emblem (Melee) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AbZbtl17DY)
Against the Black Knight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqrCmPga46w)
To Challenge Ashnard (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh-eOXkCyoc)

[Geno9999]

Live and Learn from Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and the Enemy Navi Theme from Mega Man Battle Network 1. Also Star Wolf (Assault version) and Against the Black Knight from FE 10 and one of the Boss Battle music from Brawl (thinking of the remix of the main theme).

[DigoDragon]

My favorite boss musics:

"The Extreme" - Final Fantasy VIII
"World Revolution" - Chrono Trigger
"Ultema, the Nice Body" - Final Fantasy Tactics
"vs Metal Brothers" - Super Smash Bros Melee
"Festival of Servants" - Castlevania SotN

[SuperMuldoon]

My favorite is definitely Earthbound - Pokey Means Business (the one where you fight giygas and pokey is in his machine). Runners up are Magus battle and Lavos battle from Chrono Trigger, and FF7 boss music.

[Enlong]

The three best boss themes are these three, all from Secret of Mana:

Danger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfMq5nt53o0). The normal boss theme, and a good one to get one's heart racing.
The Oracle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1S7gJ6J-xw&feature=related). The surprising unique boss theme played against Dark Lich, that gets one's blood moving, but does it differently.
And finally:
Meridian Dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCfedAxfet0). A more awe-inspiring final boss theme I have yet to hear.

I defy you to tell me that those three are not among the finest pieces of music to come out of the gaming industry.

An honorable mention goes to the four-part, half-hour or so long, organ-filled masterpiece of a boss theme that is FFVI's Dancing Mad (too long to link).

[Mando Knight]

Here's what I want: a massive, epic piece that to play it properly would require
1. a full symphonic orchestra
2. The Black Mages
3. a full choir
and 4. a thirty-thousand-pipe organ.

[Enlong]

Here's what I want: a massive, epic piece that to play it properly would require
1. a full symphonic orchestra
2. The Black Mages
3. a full choir
and 4. a thirty-thousand-pipe organ.

Dancing Mad. That's EVERYTHING about Dancing Mad.

[potatocubed]

It's not technically boss music, since it plays at various times throughout the game, but I love the music that plays during the fight with Yodai Highashizawa in The World Ends With You. I don't know what he's like in Japanese, but whoever recorded his battle shouts in English did a fine job.

[Geno9999]

FFIV:

Fire Emblem:
(Orchestrated version rather than Brawl version)Fire Emblem (Melee) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AbZbtl17DY)


The first part of that theme is the recrutement theme from FE 1-7 known as "Together We Ride", not really a boss theme. I guess they choose that because you "recrute" Marth/Roy to your "group". Still pretty cool.

[Fawkes]

Battle with Magus - Chrono Trigger
Battle with the Four Fiends - FFIV
Battle on the Big Bridge - FFV
Dancing Mad - FFVI
JENOVA - FFVII

[Demented]

Maybe not the best music for a boss, but certain tracks from Homeworld were great. That is, they were great if you're going for the perspective of a very small, normal human, witnessing something terrible and massive on the astronomical scale. If you're going for heroes vs. a more equal-size baddie, homeworld's not your thing.

And it has a version of Adagio for Strings/Agnus Dei.
...For those bosses that succeed in everything they do, I suppose.


Dancing Mad. That's EVERYTHING about Dancing Mad.

Too bad it includes the part about a very old synthesizer. <_<

[Reptilius]

-Dancing Mad (FFVI)
-Final Battle (FFIII)
-Four Fiends (FFIV)
-Battle on the Big Bridge (FFV)
-13th Struggle (KH2/CoM)

One song I would also suggest is the music whenever you battle any DomZ in Beyond Good & Evil, but I don't know the name. I liked all of the songs in that game. I heard the guy who made them (Christophe Heral?) never did anything else. I PRAY he will be there for BG&E2.

[Ryuuk]

Eminence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-g1ncoKihw) from Shadow of the Colossus, it adds a ton to the fights.

Actually, the soundtrack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBgOFEvhmqk&feature=related) as a whole kicks ass.

[Haruki-kun]

Best Boss Music EVER made.

Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean,
The True Mirror (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Tx3DWeQcU)

[Cristo Meyers]

Best Boss Music EVER made.

Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean,
The True Mirror (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Tx3DWeQcU)

Thankfully the music makes up for the truly awful voice acting.

The only boss music that ever really stuck in my head was Magus' theme from Chrono Trigger. There's also something about the opening theme that I just love.

[Yuki Akuma]

Molgera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sIW4Pruv8c), The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

That is all.

Edit: Well, okay. "Emptiness and" from The World Ends with You is cool too. As is "Hybrid". And "Someday". And "Calling". And "Make or Break". And "Give Me All Your Love". And... okay, they're all awesome.

[Airk]

I'm a huge fan of Time to Raise the Cross from Tales of the Abyss. (Though Finish the Promise from the same game is a strong contender.)

Another big favorite is Final Battle Opportunity from Skies of Arcadia.

I think I'm one of the few people in the world who -giggles- at One Winged Angel. The Ominous Latin Chanting (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OminousLatinChanting) is just too cheesy for me.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

Decisive Battle or Dancing Mad from FF6