This week’s Scattered Showers is all about those awesome pieces of music that accompany end of level and end game bosses in video games. Nothing is more exhilarating then making your way through a tough level, to be met by a screen filling boss and to have your ears seduced by its theme as you fight to the death.
When I asked the staff to present me with the favourite, melodic boss beats, I wasn’t prepared for the amount I would have to sit through in order to pick a small handful. So consider this a first of many ‘Awesome Boss Themes’, because there are certainly a lot of gems out there.
Once again, you’ll have to forgive this brief intro. My wrist is still fractured. I am currently accepting generous get well gifts and general well wishes, so please don’t be shy.
Secret of Mana: Boss Theme
Talk about going through the motions with this one. The best way I can explain this boss theme is a mixture of: fear – with the opening 40 seconds, adrenaline – for the following 10 seconds, despair – for the middle part, hope – for when the fanfare kicks in, relief – that it sounds like its almost over and finally back to fear when the track decides to loop itself. Phew!! What a load of drama, eh?
Monster Hunter Tri: Deviljho
Scary is one word I would use to describe this piece of music. In the opening to Deviljho’s theme, one can almost hear the collective gasp from all the hunters took upon noticing its arrival. The music is loud and intrusive throughout the entire track, in the same way the Deviljho will interrupt random high-rank hunts. It never slows down or lets up in any way, shape, or form; similarly, Deviljho will never stop harassing the hunter, nor stop eating. Truly, the theme fits the beast well.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Boss Theme
Sonic the Hedgehog (MegaDrive/Genesis) was one of the first video games I ever played. I remember being entranced by the colourful worlds and racing around the roller-coaster type stages. But one thing that I will never forget is the music to Green Hill Zone – so joyful, so magical, so happy only for it to be interrupted and destroyed be the foreboding boss music as I reached the end of the stage.
Super Mario World: Bowser’s Theme
It was a long hard slog to reach Bowser in Super Mario World, and when you do you instantly want to turn back as the creepy and also foreboding music begins. Not the mention the nerve wracking sharp beats and general feeling of doom.
Chrono Cross: Boss Battle Theme
A classic sounding theme to a classic game. Reeks of everything we love about a good old JRPG.
Metal Gear Solid: Duel
Insanely suspenseful, erratically heart-pounding and quintessentially brilliant.
No More Heroes: Bad Girl Theme
Who would’ve thought that a cute, innocent looking girl, wielding a baseball bat would be accompanied by such a raw, thumping beat. Now you can listen to the full extended version of her macabre ditty. Am I the only one that had trouble beating her?
Xenoblade Chronicles: You Will Know Our Names
Yes, its Xenoblade. Yes, its very predictable of us *cough* me. But its bloody awesome, it really, really is.
The Last Story: The One Ruling Everything
Yes, its The Last Story. Yes, its very predictable of us *cough* me. But its… actually weird, like really, really weird. Especially at the halfway point. Its the stuff of nightmares.
Streets of Rage: Boss Theme
Yes, its Streets of Rage. Yes, its very predictable of us *cough* me. But its Streets of Rage, and the boss theme truly is awesome. Honest.
As mentioned earlier, there were so many theme tunes to begin with, so expect another Scattered Showers covering the same topic. For the mean time, what are your favourite boss themes? Let us know in the comments below.
