Bittersweet Boss Ballads

Square Enix Edition

There is something about the term “boss fight” that implies a cacophony of raucous musical phrases smashed together to create an epic climax. Works like Nobuo Uematsu’s “Dancing Mad” and “One-Winged Angel” come to mind immediately.

But occasionally, the player is allowed to experience an epic boss confrontation to something a little softer. The effect of these moments is a unique emotional event that boldly stands apart from the rest of the game. It’s a beautiful thing when executed well.

Below are some examples of these quieter, more delicate musical works along with a brief description of their contexts. Keep in mind I limited myself to Square Enix games. There are some moderate spoilers below as well, so be warned.

1.     Kingdom Hearts II
“The Other Promise”

Adapted from Roxas’s Theme

For fans of the Kingdom Hearts series, the opening hours of Kingdom Hearts II are both infamously tedious and undeniably melancholy. Instead of playing as the chipper series hero (Sora) the player must work through the struggles of Twilight Town as the troubled and confused youth, Roxas. Despite all his sincere efforts to understand his muddled memories and puzzling circumstances, Roxas never seems to catch a break. His friends become frustrated by his bizarre behavior. His life becomes uncertain and broken. His freewill is largely an illusion. He ends up rejoining Sora, which results in both his own self-sacrifice and loss of everything else he cares about.

When Sora reawakens (and fans rejoice), he is blissfully unaware of the tragedy that recently befell his Nobody counterpart. Roxas inhabits Sora silently, occasionally influencing Sora’s feelings but otherwise remaining a passive component of Sora’s heart.

Eventually, Sora reaches the world of the Nobodies, a.k.a. The World That Never Was. Once there, he is confronted by Roxas and their keyblades clash—presumably inside Sora’s heart. It is at this moment that many gamers would expect an energetic flood of boisterous music. But instead, this happens:

Roxas isn’t really my favorite Kingdom Hearts character. He’s not the strongest or the most interesting. He’s not even the most tragic. But the game’s approach to this fight builds his character into something simply beautiful. Each aspect of the conflict—the visuals, the mechanics, and especially the music—takes all the unresolved feelings of one character and confronts the player. Everything about this moment conveys Roxas’s frustration and defiance. It eventually communicates his acceptance just as effectively. It’s a fantastically well executed song choice. Well done, Yoko Shimomura.

2.     Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core
     "The Price of Freedom"

Crisis Core is another game where a melancholy sense of loss is balanced with upbeat humor and optimism.

For the sake of giving readers a point of reference, here is one of the themes you hear a lot of in Crisis Core:

Notice the choice of electric guitar as opposed to the typical RPG orchestra. This game’s music feels strong and epic, but not in a grand and noble Ocarina of Time sort of way. It’s significantly more personal and grungy.

Toward the end of this portable gem, main character Zack is forced to abandon his livelihood and risk everything to save his buddy, Cloud. What results is a never-ending conflict set to this unforgettable tune:

For more information (and huge spoilers) regarding why this game is a masterpiece, read this.

3.     Final Fantasy IX
     "Sword of Doubt"

Part of Final Fantasy IX’s charm resides in its clever opening plot. Main character Zidane is part of a band of thieves hired to kidnap the neighboring country’s princess. Unexpectedly, she wants to be kidnapped. She leaves with the hero to be swept away midst dangerous terrain and formidable foes.

One such danger presents itself in the form of General Beatrix of the Alexandrian army. Beatrix boasts amazing strength, having once bested 100 enemies single-handedly. Of all her character traits, her power is surpassed only by her determined willingness to be the perfect soldier.

Zidane et al take on Beatrix in the ruins of Bermecia, a dark, rainy, abandoned city. During the encounter, this is played:

Interestingly, this piece--which is relatively tame for a boss fight--is actually a vamped up version of Beatrix's theme. This translates well for the game's story, in which you discover that Beatrix is actually a much gentler person than she appears during this battle.

4.     Chrono Cross

"People Imprisoned by Destiny"

It’s been a long time since I have beaten Chrono Cross. I started replaying it two or three years ago, but I had to put it down due to the increased number of wonderful new games flooding the market. But I will say that revisiting that game was such a pleasant experience. Its battle system is brilliant, its story is intricate, but best of all, its soundtrack is ear candy.

Now keep in mind, I haven’t played the final boss battle of Chrono Cross in probably twelve years or so. Yet it is one of my most vivid video game memories, mainly because of this soothing track bursting with a sense of finality:

I’m certain there are many more amazing works out there in this particular category. Feel free to comment regarding your favorites!