Final level music that shows proper gravitas for the hardest, most important stage in the game

[SolVanderlyn]

I also prefer mine with a personal injection of "hell yeah, let's finally get the big bad" adrenaline.

Sigma Fortress 1, Mega Man X



Solemn, somber, yet determined. Pumps you up but not in a cheesy way - shit is real and you are about to finally take down Sigma for good, and the music conveys this perfectly.

And this SHOULD have been the final level in Battletoads Arcade, The Dark Queen's Battleship:



Everything I said about Sigma Stage 1 applies here too. But this is stage 3, despite The Dark Queen being the big bad, and this being her literal fortress... wat. It's the final stage in my heart.

What are your favorites, and why?

 

[BasilZero]

This theme encompasses the results of all the events that led to the end perfectly.


As a youtube comment posted perfectly explains it...

"An epic dungeon to end with this epic game, it is the perfect balance between struggle and "the victory is near"

 

[DiipuSurotu]

 

[Deleted member 34949]

Sigma Stage 1 is a good shout.

My personal favorite is Streets of Rage 2's final level theme:



Not only is it a pretty great remix of the game's intro theme (itself an updated version of Streets of Rage 1's theme song), but it also mixes in a bit of Last Soul, the final level theme of the first game as well. Combined with the final boss theme also being an arrangement of SoR1's, it really drives home the overarching theme of revenge that the game has.

 

[Deleted member 15428]

Dark Souls - Gwyn, Lord of Cinder

 

[Deleted member 4090]

Celesete: Reach for the Summit



Revisiting the settings of old stages with a new power, tanking through them, and making a final push to the summit of the titular mountain. Probably my favorite last stage in a videogame ever, and the music totally nails it.

 

[@TheFriendlyBro]

The final fight in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is what comes to mind, when 'It Has To Be This Way' starts playing then you know stuff is about to go down.

 

[Lant_War]

 

[PlanetSmasher]

A lot of people probably haven't heard this because it got added in DLC, but the updated final dungeon music from FFXV is a perfect example of this:



Dark, imposing rearrangement of the game's original theme that builds in intensity as it goes as you run through the devastated streets of your hometown fighting demons and the undead.

 

[jett]

 

[hydruxo]

Always loved how the beat switches up on this one.

 

[SMD]

.

 

[Why would you do that?]

Honestly, this remains my favorite one ever, it just feels so intense, creepy, and scary to me, very appropriate for a final level:




As a bonus, here's a beyond awesome remix of that theme, in case you think that's too short:

 

[Fugu]

Ristar is a mostly not very serious game that inexplicably has a very thematic final boss theme. It's also through composed, which is very rare for videogame music since the idea is to create music that's going to form part of the background.

 

[Bulk_Rate]

Splatoon 1

Epic, heavy chords for intro before the fast-paced tune through the battle. Plus that now-iconic chant. Battle lives up to expectations too as you have to use every trick in the book to win.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

 

[Deleted member 34949]

A lot of people probably haven't heard this because it got added in DLC, but the updated final dungeon music from FFXV is a perfect example of this:



Dark, imposing rearrangement of the game's original theme that builds in intensity as it goes as you run through the devastated streets of your hometown fighting demons and the undead.

Click to shrink...

...Man, I really need to get around to finishing the Royal Edition content.

 

[ArmadilloGame]

Some great ones already. I'll add in an obvious one.

 

[Kromeo]

They don't actually end up being the ends of the games but the climax dungeons in both the Cold Steel games have amazing music

 

[Spliced-Up]

The music along with the way the obstacles in the level move with the beat is perfect.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

...Man, I really need to get around to finishing the Royal Edition content.

Click to shrink...

The new Chapter 14 is so damn good. It has a TON of content (a lot of it optional), and it actually lets the bros contribute to the final battles rather than knocking them out of the battle party as soon as you reach the Citadel. Even Cor gets a big moment!

 

[Aero]

The last stage music in Fire Emblem Awakening and Echoes are so good.

 

[Hucast]

Sigma Stage 1 is a good shout.

My personal favorite is Streets of Rage 2's final level theme:



Not only is it a pretty great remix of the game's intro theme (itself an updated version of Streets of Rage 1's theme song), but it also mixes in a bit of Last Soul, the final level theme of the first game as well. Combined with the final boss theme also being an arrangement of SoR1's, it really drives home the overarching theme of revenge that the game has.

Click to shrink...

Both SoR 1 and 2. Incredibleness man. I get chills listening to the track you posted

 

[Zacmortar]

A lot of people probably haven't heard this because it got added in DLC, but the updated final dungeon music from FFXV is a perfect example of this:



Dark, imposing rearrangement of the game's original theme that builds in intensity as it goes as you run through the devastated streets of your hometown fighting demons and the undead.

Click to shrink...

If this is the new theme, when does Somnus come into play?

 

[Salty Catfish]

The music for the final gauntlet of Earthworm Jim is pretty damn epic:

 

[nihilence]

One of the last songs in Halo 4 w pretty epic. The escalating and repetitive crescendo was neat.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

If this is the new theme, when does Somnus come into play?

Click to shrink...

When you first reach Insomnia, Somnus plays. The theme shifts after you walk around for a little while because Ardyn pops up to taunt you and sets the fires to block your path.

 

[Rotobit]

The best, hands down:




Victory Road calling back to the main Pokémon theme is also pretty fun:

 

[Haze]

The entire airport sequence in Mad Payne 3 is still burned into my memory

 

[Simone]

Lucifer's palace in Shin Megami Tensei IV really nailed the "final challenge" atmosphere.

 

[Deleted member 8861]

Nier Automata's is an absolute no brainer (regardless of what the last level is in your eyes).

Title's a bit of a spoiler so I won't post it here.

Original NIER is somewhat the same as well.

 

[Smash Kirby]

ID Purpose is a great and heartfelt track that takes the other id tracks and brings them to the logical conclusion.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

It's the Endless Possibility theme in Sonic Unleashed. Just perfect. From a gameplay perspective the finale of Sonic Unleashed......wasn't exactly the best. But goddamn that music got you hype.

 

[Hyun Sai]

Streets of Rage 1 final level is still giving the chills

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Also, KH3's final area has some amazing music that the game doesn't let you listen to nearly long enough before forcing you into the final boss battle:



Listen to this shit. Top tier Shimomura.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

 

[Zacmortar]

When you first reach Insomnia, Somnus plays. The theme shifts after you walk around for a little while because Ardyn pops up to taunt you and sets the fires to block your path.

Click to shrink...

Does it come back when you enter the castle? because that small trek from the entrance to the Ifrit fight is imo one of the best moments of the game for me. It'd suck if that was changed :/

 

[PlayBee]

Final boss rather than level but I think it fits



Dream Team's is great too



Both composed by Yoko Shimomura

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Does it come back when you enter the castle? because that small trek from the entrance to the Ifrit fight is imo one of the best moments of the game for me. It'd suck if that was changed :/

Click to shrink...

That trek is gone. Ardyn blocks the path to the Citadel after you come out of the first ruined subway station, and you have to move through the ruins of the city to find an alternate route to the Ifrit fight. Along the way, you link up with Cor and the Kingsglaive, and a bunch of stuff happens.

Also Omega's there.

 

[dorjjj]

 

[SnatcherHunter]

The entire airport sequence in Mad Payne 3 is still burned into my memory

Click to shrink...

Came here to post this. Still gives me goosebumps.

 

[Deleted member 42]

The final fight in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is what comes to mind, when 'It Has To Be This Way' starts playing then you know stuff is about to go down.

Click to shrink...

Yesssss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W26PZOktM3s

HIT DAT BULLET NERO

 

[RecRoulette]

Spider's String from Digital Devil Saga. It gradually builds up as you climb the tower.

 

[ChrisD]

The best, hands down:




Victory Road calling back to the main Pokémon theme is also pretty fun:

Click to shrink...

Somehow
SOMEHOW
As someone who thought the RSE Victory Road/E4 League Theme was an absolute top three in Pokemon music, I didn't catch that it was the main theme. This.. this makes it even better.

 

[Hage]

Not really last dungeon per se, but the music for the last area of the world map of Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne is the textbook definition of this, imo.

 

[Zacmortar]

That trek is gone. Ardyn blocks the path to the Citadel after you come out of the first ruined subway station, and you have to move through the ruins of the city to find an alternate route to the Ifrit fight. Along the way, you link up with Cor and the Kingsglaive, and a bunch of stuff happens.

Also Omega's there.

Click to shrink...

Damn, that sounds really.... not great, though I haven't played it so I don't wanna judge preemptively.

That trek was so emotionally charged for me, too :/

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Damn, that sounds really.... not great, though I haven't played it so I don't wanna judge preemptively.

That trek was so emotionally charged for me, too :/

Click to shrink...

Believe me, it works. You have enough time to soak in the atmosphere of the original Insomnia before Ardyn changes everything. The new map is simply way, way too big and dangerous for the quieter walk forward to be appropriate anymore.

 

[woopWOOP]

Final Fight 3. Also used for the intro, but works great for the moments before the final showdown.




This is pretty nice 8bit final stage music too

 

[Fancy Clown]

Resident Evil 2 self destruct sequence hype

 

[bwahhhhh]

Click to shrink...

Agree with this one