Favorite Tunes #75: FINAL BATTLE

This is it. Everything you've worked for has lead up to this last battle. The final showdown! And wouldn't you know it, the final boss usually has more than one form. Well, that's video games for you. Welcome to this milestone edition of Favorite Tunes. I've selected a small portion of some of my favorite background themes used for final battles.

Dancing Mad - Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

Nicknamed "The Psycho Clown" by fans, Kefka is arguably the greatest antagonist in the Final Fantasy series. Initially a court jester that can use low level magic, at the end of the game Kefka rules over the world and is the source of all magic. I cloud list more reasons why Kefka is a such an intriguing villain, but I'll just say that his final battle theme is four movements of 17 plus minutes of awesomeness and leave it at that.

Last Battle - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 3DS)

After making a harrowing escape from Gannondorf's collapsing castle, Link and Zelda are ready for some sighs of relief. But the prince of evil rises from the wrecked and transforms himself into Ganon, knocking the Master Sword out of Link's hands and he doesn't intend to make the sword easy for our hero to get to. Koji Kondo really outdid himself with this final battle theme.

0² Battle - Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64)

By collecting all the crystal shards in the game, you're able to face the true final boss, 0² (actually pronounced "Zero Squared") and he's actually a lot easier than Miracle Matter. All of the crystal shards are used to create a crystal gun so Kirby and Ribbon can attack 0² in it's eye, which bleeds upon being shot. 0² is also one of the most disturbing things seen in a Kirby game. I guess HAL just loves their nightmare fuel.

The Final Battle - Chrono Trigger (SNES)

Lavos fell to the Earth in 65 million BC and has laid dormant for centuries. In 1999, he awakens and plunges the world into darkness for years to come. Using time travel, Chrono and his friends can confront the creature before he takes over the world and prevent the awful future that is 2300 AD. Yasunroi Matsuda always creates final battle music that goes far beyond merely being intense. There's a whole lot riding on the outcome of this battle and it really shows in this musical piece.

Assault - Front Mission 3 (PS)

Front Mission 3 was actually the first Front Mission game to be released outside of Japan. Rather than repeat all that Final Fantasy re-numbering nonsense, Square went ahead and kept the original title. This game would pave the way for future Front Mission games to get localization, include the DS port of the original Front Mission. The music in most Front Mission games is generally very militaristic but Assault is that and so much more.

Last Boss - Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)

The dozens of bosses throughout Super Mario Bros. 2 could be attacked at almost any give time. The same could not be said for Wart, the game's final boss. You get a hefty supply of his weakness (veggies) but he can only be hit when his mouth is open, at which point he will always spew bubbles, which can take out your vegetables if you throw them at the wrong time.

Meridian Festival - Secret of Mana (SNES)

To save Mana from annihilation, Randi and his friends must slay the Mana Beast, a creature with good intentions, but is unfortunately ruled by it's uncontrollable rage. If the Beast destroys the Mana Fortress it will be the end of Mana. This is by far the best battle theme in the game, reserved for a creature that is unfathomably huge.

Father and Son - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2, XB)

The Metal Gear games are famous for having unusual boss battles and MGS2 is no different. There are no guns or giant mechs in the last battle but instead a sword duel. Since Solidus has been a, how shall we say, less than admirable father to Raiden, you can't help but feel good about slicing him up.

Sigma 2nd - Mega Man X5 (PS)

This was originally intended to be the finale of the X series and it would have been a grand send off. X and Zero fighting, Zero more or less confirmed to be the source of the Maverick virus and one jaw dropping final battle with Sigma. This theme truly does scream "THIS IS IT!"

Super Sonic vs. Perfect Dark Gaia - Sonic Unleashed (PS2, PS3, Wii, 360)

It's a pretty well known fact that just about every single Sonic game, regardless of quality has astounding music and Sonic Unleashed was so good that it rivals, maybe even surpasses the compositions of Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 and Sonic Colors. The music really is that amazing. Not only was the final showdown a sight to behold, but the orchestral/rock version of Endless Possibilities could very well be the best piece of final battle music in Sonic history.

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