RPG bosses that have specific battle themes just for them (that aren't final bosses)

[SolVanderlyn]

I love this. It's when you know a character is either going to be

A) Really powerful

B) An important plot related battle

or

C) Eventually become a party member

I'm replaying Tales of Symphonia right now, and Kratos has his own battle theme, which is a variation of his ordinary theme. His ordinary theme is solemn and stern, but his battle theme is much more intense, energetic, and even heroic. Once you learn his backstory, it fits him perfectly. It makes fights against him feel personal, important, and exciting.



What other characters have special battle music?

 

[Ricky]

Does Gilgamesh count?

 

[WestEgg]

Okay, granted it's actually used twice, but I really love that "Dinosaurs" in Ocarina of Time have a unique boss theme compared to the others

 

[brinstar]

I love Zeke's battle theme in Xenoblade 2

 

[Massicot]

Does Gilgamesh count?

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I legit came into the thread thinking "Battle on the Big Bridge"

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I feel like Leon Magnus' theme was one of the first times I really noticed a character-specific boss theme in an RPG that wasn't the final boss song.



This song stuck with me for DECADES.

Also, my favorite battle theme of all time only plays one or two times in all of SaGa Frontier:

 

[AquaRegia]

Gothic Neclord in Suikoden II

Best VGM 78 - Suikoden II - Gothic Neclord Battle

See also: Best VGM 399 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6exvhdhIE8&fmt=18 Best VGM 547 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzfhOQampfs Best VGM 732 - http://ww...

youtu.be

 

[WestEgg]

Does Gilgamesh count?

Click to shrink...

I'm not super familiar with Final Fantasy, especially the less known entries, so the first time I heard this song was at a jam session of live performers at magfest in January. I was floored by how great this song is.

 

[ghibli99]

Does Gilgamesh count?

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Damn right he does. The GOAT.

 

[Cactuar]

Magus.

 

[Deleted member 23893]

I know this is going to be super vague because I haven't played it in 20 years. But that one Chrono Cross boss on the cliff with the sad music playing?

 

[FF Seraphim]

I want to say Magus from Chrono Trigger should count, yes it is used I think one more time but it is definitely Magus's theme.



Dammit beaten by a Cactus!

 

[SammyJ9]

The GOAT:

 

[Ruby-Eyed Witch]

This one always gives me chills. A powerful theme for a brutal boss.

 

[Lord Vatek]

Leonhardt/Loewe from Trails in the Sky. He gets his own theme before he's even revealed to be important.



EDIT: Lol, damn.

 

[AquaRegia]

I know this is going to be super vague because I haven't played it in 20 years. But that one Chrono Cross boss on the cliff with the sad music playing?

Click to shrink...

The fight against Miguel.

Chrono Cross - Prisoners of Fate

Prisoners of Fate, from Chrono Cross.Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda.

youtu.be

 

[ClickyCal']

Every paper mario boss.

 

[Aleh]

I love Zeke's battle theme in Xenoblade 2

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Also Giga Rosa and most antagonists actually

 

[Jonathan Lanza]

Is it cheating when it's every boss?

 

[DNAbro]

Undertale gives an original boss theme to every single boss.

edit: f it Undyne gets two

 

[Talos]

Magus.

Click to shrink...

The black wind howls

 

[SammyJ9]

Wow, three of us posted the exact same Magus video within one minute, that's impressive!

 

[FF Seraphim]

Also Phantasy Star 4 probably has my favorite boss theme of the 16bit era:
Laughter when you fight Zio:

 

[No Depth]

Does Gilgamesh count?

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Literally the one that came to mind reading thread title.

 

[Gold Arsene]

Does Gilgamesh count?

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In FFV probably not as that's the theme for the whole big bridge fight but for all his future appearances yeah.

 

[Wishbone Ash]

Is it cheating when it's every boss?

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I was trying to think if SMRPG had any unique boss battle songs outside of of Culix and Smithy, but I just kept thinking of Paper Mario.

 

[Lnds500]

Grandma from Nier Automata comes to mind

 

[Garrod Ran]

 

[Lulu]

 

[Nama]

Suddenly Jenova thread?

 

[Manbig]

One of the best villains in all of JRPGs



And of course...



Fucking legendary.

The fight against Miguel.

Chrono Cross - Prisoners of Fate

Prisoners of Fate, from Chrono Cross.Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda.

youtu.be

Click to shrink...

That theme was also used for the extra boss Dario. Pretty much the "It's sad that you have to fight this person" theme song.

 

[WestEgg]

Granted, you repeat this battle, but it's literally the same boss fight.

 

[plastic love]

Kid Icarus: Uprising is an RPG... right?

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Manbig]

If I recall correctly, this song was only used for some of the early Atlas fights in FFXIII-2, but I wish it was just the regular boss song since I really dug it.

 

[Kaz Mk II]

FFVIIR will most certainly be my favorite OST of this year, and has already topped previous years for me. Loved this boss's theme.

 

[Dark_Castle]

This guy from Fire Emblem has own unique battle theme that plays when you fight him, AND when you fight as him, overriding whatever music is supposed to play. Just because he is the Black Knight.

 

[Trelova]

should i just post the entire Undertale boss soundtrack or

cause like every boss has their own theme and it's all fantastic. i guess i could pick out the super standouts

this one for being an absolute banger period




this one's amazing on the 'powerful' front. just the sheer character and emotion it conveys purely through the music... it really got me the first time. It's like it gives the entire tragic arc of the character without ever even saying a word, it's kind of incredible.




this one. for the first time in the route you feel immediately like you're up against a genuine threat. embodies the 'hero' the game portrays her as, like someone truly putting up their final stand against the worst possible threat, which just makes the incoming tragedy all the worse

 

[Manbig]

Does FFXIV count here? It's cheating isn't it? Oh well...

 

[Deleted member 18021]

Does FFXIV count here? It's cheating isn't it? Oh well...

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Even if it is:




Brute Justice, Trance Mode!

 

[Deleted member 12790]

 

[TYRANITARR]

Does Gilgamesh count?

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Exactly my thoughts when insaw this thread

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Culex from Super Mario RPG

 

[Fantomex]

Does Davidson singing his own theme music in Viewtiful Joe count?

 

[Monster Zero]

Grahf from Xenogears.

 

[Rirse]

Like the other Suikoden 2 songs, this track only plays once, against Gorudo a boss who is pretty to defeat but due to his action prior to the fight and whom join you for the battle, it just fits as it a very angry boss theme that just pumps you into wanting to kill the man.

 

[Phil32]

Boomerang's secret battle from Wild ARMs.

 

[silva1991]

A) Really powerful

B) An important plot related battle

or

C) Eventually become a party member

Or D) a disappointing one that no one really talks about

Cool OST tho.

 

[Manbig]

Even if it is:




Brute Justice, Trance Mode!

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FFXIV's OST is really something special. You go from my two choices that are all about building up these epic fights with a ton of symbolism built into the build up and the lyrics of the actual songs and then you have this 70s Super Robot parody theme.

 

[KushalaDaora]

If it count as "RPG", then Monster Hunter.

In Monster Hunter World Iceborne, 22 unique battle theme out of 69 boss monsters. Some of my personal favorite :

Teostra
Zinogre
Kulve Taroth
Nargacuga

And shoutout to Behemoth (Final Fantasy XIV collaboration).

 

[PBalfredo]

Atma Weapon gets its own theme in FFVI to let you know it means business