Favorite Fighting Theme in Games

[ThePurpleStuff]

This is a topic thats been on my mind since I've been listening to a lot of my favorite games soundtracks in the background while I do other things. The fighting theme is some of my favorites in any game. Whether its for boss fights or normal fights in general. The main focus is the common battle theme. You'll be hearing it a lot on your adventure so you have to either love it or hate it, theres no 'meh, don't really like it' here. If the song doesn't get you pumped up to beat the crap out of whats standing in your way, it doesn't belong here either.

I personally really like Grandia 2's fight theme, even out of the game's context this theme could fit with a lot of anime style, over the top, dragon ball Z levels of action battles. A theme I never really appreciated till I finally took the time to listen to it without the distraction of the fight itself.


Another favorite is from my favorite rpg of all time, Skies of Arcadia. Particularly the boss fight theme. The theme changes depending if you're at even odds with the boss, if you're about to die or you're about to win. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through and its an excellent feeling when you're about to kill your enemy and the music just swells into victory.


So, whats your favorite theme? I'd love to know!

 

[Greg White]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRXfFemc6Oo&list=LLL9DeEfQb_3etv8TLsr6L2Q&index=4

The Last Battle from Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhdNjzX4waA&list=LLL9DeEfQb_3etv8TLsr6L2Q&index=1

There's also the Liberation of Gracemeria from Ace Combat 6.

Both are a bit slow to build, but it's pretty fitting since they're songs from aircraft games.

 

[Quazimofo]

Before I start let me just say I don't have a single favorite theme overall, mostly because I don't see much point in picking any one to enjoy more than the rest when they are all fantastic, especially in the context of their respective fights/boss battles.

Now here's a few from one of my favorite... character action games? beat-em-ups? I honestly don't know the term for this genre. If there is a vacancy I propose Facesmashapaloozas.

Spoiler: NANOMACHINES SON

Spoiler: And, from the Blade Wolf DLC (which is free now by the way)

Spoiler: And then this one because I like it a lot

All of the boss themes in this game are excellent really, except maybe Rules of Nature and Red Sun (I just find them meh.) All of the themes are made better too with the context the game itself provides, as the lyrics to each theme are written from the perspective of the boss in question (with some lines from the protagonist in some cases).

And for a more upbeat kind of awesome fighting theme, there's this one

Spoiler: sequel comes out in september. WOOO.

It seems facesmashapaloozas tend to have really good fighting themes, though it makes sense honestly given how stylistic super-awesome fights are their defining feature.

 

[Offworlder_v1legacy]

The best thing about this is that it plays in every battle, so everything feels epic.

And for pure nostalgia on my part:

 

[bjj hero]

The boss theme from thunderforce iv is the best music in any game ever.

The boss music in streets of rage 2 was also amazing.

 

[busterkeatonrules]

The original Grandia actually took into consideration that players might get tired of its (pretty awesome) battle theme over time - so it switches to a DIFFERENT battle theme halfway through!

That said, my favourite Grandia battle theme is neither of those two. That would be the theme which plays whenever you fight a specific kind of enemy called a 'Gaia Battler'. These guys are really just tough enough to count as mini-bosses, but they're badass enough to get their own theme - and THAT's what made me grit my teeth and prepare for an intense fight!

Spoiler

 

[lachlan4567]

Sort of related, one of my current favourites is the 1 hit KO moves from persona 4 arena.
It just gives me a little joy hearing this play, and knowing someone is possibly watching on in horror as I defeat them.
The theme that plays is a segment from a certain boss fight from P4 and it works great.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNKqzfJrKf0

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Favourite Boss Theme:

Spoiler

All of the Sentinels (the villain's top 4 lieutenants) have good themes too, but I like this one best.

Favourite Normal Battle Theme:

Spoiler

Sounds sort of like a sea shanty, which is quite fitting given the prevalence of oceans in Spira.

Not a common theme, but you'll be hearing it a lot before beating the four it plays for:

Spoiler: HALLELUJAH

 

[AmberSword]

I don't have a single favourite piece of music, when it comes to this aspect its usually "flavor of the month" for me.

Right now I adore "Rules of Nature" and "It Has To Be This Way", then again, who doesn't?

When I think musical masterpieces though, Final Fantasy tends to beat everything when it comes to sheer volume of memorable soundtracks.

One standout badass piece of music that most people never even heard about though is this one, suddenly came to mind.
This + the Celsius battle cemented the game in my Top3 for PS1 list.

 

[Super Cyborg]

So many to choose from. Unfortunately I don't have access to You Tube, so I will have to just name them.

Termination: Y's Origin
Crossing Rage: Y's Seven
Legend of the Five Great Dragons: Y's seven
Ancient Disputation: Y's Seven
In the Fires of Ignition: Y's Memories of Celceta
Nyx Battle: Persona 3
I'll Face Myself: Persona 4
Reach out to the Truth: Persona 4 and Golden new boss remix
All of the Shadow of Colossus themes

There's a lot more I like, but those are the first bunch that come to mind. Y's music I love to listen to while working out to keep me pumped up.

Edit: Can't believe I forgot, the Fiend Battle theme from SMT: Nocturne.

 

[kainboa]

How can there be any other answer than Guile's theme...

I'm not a big fighting fan, nor do I really pay that much attention to the music so that's all I have to add unfortunately.

 

[Malbourne]

There's nothing like carving a path through a horde of abominations in Ys to this music:

Spoiler

If ever Ys gets something right, it's the music, whether for travelling or for battling.

And if it's a boss fight, then I'm gonna fetch one of Sonic's soundtracks:

Spoiler

Again, if ever Sonic games get something right, it's the music. Kinda wish that was a pedigree that extended to other parts of the series.

I'm sure I could name some more pertinent songs if I was more of an RPG aficionado, but these are still songs that get me pumped for a battle!

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Now here's a few from one of my favorite... character action games? beat-em-ups? I honestly don't know the term for this genre. If there is a vacancy I propose Facesmashapaloozas.

Spoiler: NANOMACHINES SON

Spoiler: And, from the Blade Wolf DLC (which is free now by the way)

Spoiler: And then this one because I like it a lot

I second both of these.

Also Bladewolf theme with the acoustic intro because it's awesome as fuck

 

[carnex]

Devil May Cry 3 - Taste the Blood
Make me go HYYYYYYYYPAAAAAAAAA COMBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Garou Mark of the Wolves - Destruction Maniac (Grant's Theme) (arranged)
Music, Stage, Grant's looks and move made me think "I'm dead now" unlike any other game

 

[The Wykydtron]

Oh BlazBlue where are you?


One of the best intros to a stage ever. Pans into the Altar with Mu saying something appropriately final boss like.

"Destruction... That is my raison d'etre!"

Makoto's theme would be on the other end of the spectrum with with a hype upbeat fast paced song suited with her breakneck rushdown playstyle


She also bounces in time to her music in her idle animation which is totally adorable.

Also add anything from MGS Rising in there. The soundtrack is godlike...

 

[Rosiv]

I like the one from FFT :


From TWEWY i have 2 / 3 that stick in my head.

Spoiler

And from Fire emblem:

Last one , from Tales of Symphonia

 

[Shoggoth2588]

When it comes to JRPGs, my favorite music actually comes from Final Fantasy (USA) Mystic Quest


Another theme I absolutely loved was The Midnight Carnival which blatantly ripped off is strikingly similar to Kurenai by X Japan

 

[gargantual]

Tekken 4 "The Strongest Iron Arena"

So good even Namco had to bring it back for a silver mix in Tag 2

Hell you could freestyle or battle rap over it.... Any takers?


Aw fuck it.....that whole Tekken 4 soundtrack was good. And I mean Need for Speed: High Stakes (1999) good, you can play to it and feel the energy.

I miss the days when Propellerhead-ish Amon Tobin and Massive Attack style music was prevalent in games. Noisia, and the preserved combat moves was the silver lining of the entire DmC reboot.

I'm baffled as to why more of their ilk arent given the greenlight to soundtrack for games and film more often. I frankly miss that cool funky shit being prominent in general. Too much sub-par iterations of dubstep.

 

[FPLOON]

Hmmmm... I can think of a few...

Spoiler: From Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days for the DS... (Spoilers?)

One of the worse things about 1.5's cinematic cutscene version of this game, for me, was seeing the final battle between Xion and Roxas play out in HD cinematic glory... Xion's various transformations all while the first song is playing in the first three while the second song is played during the final transformation, which the HD cinematic cutscenes could have just shown that battle for a few minutes while that song is playing in the background!! *flips tables*

Spoiler: From Tales of Symphonia (1)...

Sure... It's a regular battle theme... But, it's definitely one of my favorites in the later part of the game...

Spoiler: From (REDACTED)

I... I couldn't help myself...

Those are just my personal favorites... I have too may favorites to list without just listing a game's overall soundtrack in the process...

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I'm being serious, I love Guile's them, pick any of them. I think it's a great piece of music, could be used for battle in anything.


Runner up would be Brahman from Digital Devil Saga 2, I love the energy and gravitas this has without being over the top.