Today we'll explore more RPG music. More specifically, the random encounter themes. Sure, most RPGs have sick boss themes, but when it boils down to it, having your player head bang or simply jazz to fighting normal enemies is pretty important. While its rare, there are some RPGs out there that provide some incredibly catchy, normal battle themes. Here are a few good ones.
Song: Furnace Of War
From: Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl
Artist: Yuzo Koshiro
First thing's first, Yuzo is a god (probably will do an OST post featuring only songs by him), so its no surprise that he composes one of the godliest regular battle themes I have heard in a JRPG. "Furnace Of War" simply doesn't hold back, its a powerful song that uses all the right, epic instruments to make it shine, and boy does it shine hard. It sounds absolutely epic, and it sounds like even a regular battle is a fight that has your entire team struggle to their very last breaths. Very intense, I love it, couldn't have asked for anything more when you're exploring Gladsheim within the game.
Song: Normal Battle
From: Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Artist: Shoji Meguro, Toshiko Tasaki, Kenichi Tsuchiya
While I was many, many, MANY years late to the "SMT: Nocturne" party, I still managed to play the game via a PS2 emulator. It wasn't the best experience to have to play it that way, but I was glad I got to experience what the game is all about. The game is no bloody joke, and so is this battle theme. Simply named "Normal Battle", this music is plenty kick ass. It sounds both sinister AND groovy as you kick some random demon's butt as you grind its face into the floor. Asserting dominance on the simple fodder enemies that try to stand in your way has NEVER felt as satisfying.
Song: Ooparts
From: The World Ends With You
Artist: Takeharu Ishimoto
Like music from many games, I believe "TWEWY" deserves an entire post of its own, simply because all of its themes sound so freaking unique. The game NEVER has a dull moment with the RIDICULOUS array of different themes playing over the background. Regular battles included, and while the game has its share of simply ear-gasmic battle themes, "Ooparts" always did sound the catchiest among its peers. I believe this one plays when your partner is Joshua, and my goodness, its one hell of an amazing song. Its super catchy, the beats are so in sync, and the vocals are simply INTOXICATING (in a good way), even though its a mixture of Engrish and Japanese.
Song: Unchained
From: Unchained Blades
Artist: Tsutomu Narita
A criminally underrated game, "Unchained Blades" was one of those games that nobody probably ever heard of except for a very, VERY small minority. Despite that, I did like the game quite a fair bit, even if it did get a little bit repetitive towards the end. The main battle theme however, kicked some major ass. It sounded epic, and the opening drum + violin sequence was SUPER badass, even if your opponents ended up being a couple of weak, plant monsters.
Song: Dark Creatures
From: Child Of Light
Artist: Cœur de pirate
"Child Of Light" is a great RPG and probably one of the best ones made by a non-Japanese company, this is coming from a JRPG lover. This game does so many things right, and the OST is just one of those things. "Dark Creatures", being a regular battle theme, sounds so criminally epic. Its like you're facing off against a horde of evil creatures, AS A LITTLE GIRL WITH A SWORD. Its basically what it is actually, and I love this theme oh so much for that. Its fully orchestrated, and that only makes it better.
Song: Time To Make History
From: Persona 4: Golden
Artist: Shoji Meguro
Yeah you saw that right, I NEVER played "Persona 4: Golden" because I don't own a damned vita, but I can without a shadow of a doubt, "Time To Make History" easily takes a freaking dump on "Reach Out To The Truth". Sure, the vanilla battle theme kicks plenty of ass, but its weaker than both P3 battle themes IMO and when "Time To Make History" dominates BOTH of those themes, you know there's a huge different. It just sounds so much more energetic and lively, making each new random encounter give you something to look forward to... Which is obviously headbanging until your eyeballs fly out of your eye sockets.
Song: Battle Theme 1
From: Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Artist: Motoi Sakuraba
I have just one question for Nintendo. Where. The. F**k. Is "Golden Sun 4"?! I NEVER played the original 2 "Golden Sun" games, but this 3rd one KNOCKED my socks off! Anyway, ranting aside, I feel that Motoi Sakuraba shines best at creating songs with retro sounds, like this one. Being the very first battle theme of the game, it sure sounds awfully epic, and I can just hear the sounds of monsters falling to me unleashing the wrath of my spirits! Oh I miss this game.
