The Key to the Perfect JRPG Battle Theme
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2019
- Making a JRPG battle theme can be tricky. Here, I discuss the do's and don't of good battle theme composition.
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do: Motoi Sakuraba
don't: the boss music from Secret of Mana
The fact that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has *four* unique standard battle themes is wonderful, and i love all four of them almost equally.
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Wow, this was a great video and you made excellent points! I think if you choose to expand on this series Id love to hear your thoughts on boss battle music AND dungon themes!
Thank you! I like that idea!!
This is a fantastic idea for a video. It also touches on exactly why this is something that is both easy to overlook and critical to get right: It can either endear a game's combat to you or make you loath engaging in battle. There are some JRPGs I love that I just play on mute because I cannot stand the music while I go for a particular item, level an underleveled character, etc...
Please make more videos about jrpg music
Cool video idea! The jrpg music enthusiast in me agrees completely with your points on the Ni no Kuni battle themes. I haven't played the games, but when listening to the soundtracks I basically wouldn't have known they are the intended normal battle themes without seeing their titles. They definitely don't give off the same sense of pure intensity or upbeat catchyness that most jrpg battle themes are amazing at delivering. But the musician side of me can't help but admire the quality of those two themes and soundtracks. Ni no Kuni 2's battle theme especially stood out to me in how well it blends different rhythms together and actually develops a wondrous sea of polyrhythms from about 0:24 to 0:44 which lands it pretty high on my listening enjoyment.
My favorite normal battle theme would have to be A Motion of Finishing Blow from Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria.
My favorite battle theme is The Glint of Cold Steel from Trails of Cold Steel 1 never skipped a battle because of it and it made grinding so much more bearable cus i could just get so into the track
Fun fact: "Crimson Blitz" from Lightning Returns solves the opening issue that Blinded by Light had by incorporating an upbeat excerpt of the latter.
I've always thought battle themes can make or break a battle system. Mind Zero was an example of a game they could have been saved if the battle theme was good. And FF13's Blinded By Light should have two versions. One that went to the hype part of the song earlier and the one we got. The was such a wasted battle theme imo
I can agree to that. Blinded by light is a great piece of music but it it does take to long to get into the great parts.
Favorite Battle Theme: Sophisticated Fight from Trails in The Sky
Worst Battle Theme: Suikoden 3
Sophisticated Fight is soooo good. Has a great beginning hook with that sax too.
Battle A2 from SMTIV gets my blood pumping every time. In fact, most SMT games have pretty great battle themes.
"I have to....Flynn..."
Great video, as always!
It was a long time since I played it, but I remember the fight theme in Grandia 2 was really good.
It would be really great for a video like this but a bit more in-depth, discussing music theory particulars.
Although that would be something for a trained musiscian I guess.
The Valedictory Elegy :3
Jefferson's Reference under a minute in? I'm sold on anything you're offering.
BUT you didn't use Chrono Cross as an example so for that, you will never be forgiven!
As a composer myself, this is actually valuable information. I want to become a video game composer and your perspective was very enlightening. I just came from your Octopath Traveler Original review and you just gained a sub from me.
Same.
I agree with the Ni No Kuni theme, but that one it's just the first one that plays during just the first hours of the game, later on, it changes to the second version, which is the one you spend listening for the rest and most part of the game.
The second one is basically a rendition of the first one but with a faster tempo and more instruments, it honestly did it's job perfectly for me, I felt sooo hyped and motivated to just enter a normal battle because I wanted to listen to the theme, it made the normal battles very enjoyable. But yeah, the first one was very relaxed and slow for a battle.
Was gonna say the same thing. The version he plays is much less exciting than the one you hear the most in the game.
Although not a battle theme - the atelier theme for Atelier Meruru, although I had no issues with - my mother could not stand! It was the first time I've ever had her come into the room and tell me to turn it off lol. Then again, I did clock in over 80 hours into that game and the majority of the time is spent in the Atelier, so I kind of understand where she's coming from.
Loved the video and great idea for a series ^_^
grats on getting a sponsor :D
in my opinion, the "suitable" battle theme song should be engaging/blood pumping/adrenaline rushing and that's it.
to name a few example of those are :
chrono trigger, breath of fire 3(do your best), Radiata Stories(struggle 3), FF X, etc
Those are some DAMN fight choices you picked there!
Love this new idea for a series. One thing I can't agree with though is your thoughts on Ni No Kuni's battle theme. I believe the subdued nature of the theme works very well for the game as the tone of the game including your everyday encounters have a sense of wonder and awe to them, it should feel less like you're in peril like many other RPG's, so I don't believe a more active theme would match the tone of the battles themselves or the game.
Also, just for my own preferences, it felt like the topic could use expansion. The video felt too short, though maybe that's so it fits your channel better. I just think further thoughts or showing more examples would have been interesting.
Can't wait to see what comes next. I'm looking forward to it.
I could see that. I found myself enjoying it more than I remembered as I was editing the video lol.
I agree that it could have used some expansion. I wasn’t completely satisfied with how it ended, but I got writers block hard and ended up wrapping it up. Thanks for your comment man! I really love feedback like this.
Most favorite battle music has got to be Xenoblade whether it's Torna or X2 or X1. I can also add Radiant Historia, Skies of Arcadia & Shadow Hearts 2, there are many great ones tbh. The worst by far is Persona 3 OMG that song still haunts me to this day lol I generally have very high tolerance for shitty music but only P3 did it to me!
Blasphemy! Mass Destruction is amazing!
...just kidding. I totally get it.😅
Dumb me was like "OMG can't wait to hear what the perfect key signature for my next battle theme is" 😂
but ni no kuni 1 Boss Battle theme is my favorite
Battle II from Octopath Traveler is a great counterpart to FF XIII’s battle music. It does take almost a minute to get to the pump of the violin, but it begins so upbeat and powerful, that the theme does not suffer. Because Octopath rewards slower more methodical battle strategies, the music rewards you if you take your time, because it gets better with time and this also encourages the player to take their time and not rush through battles, but does not punish you if you hurry up, because the first stage of the battle theme is great as well.
I think chrono cross is one that gets the battle theme wrong. Its is not a bad composition but it's also not a song you want to here over amd over multiple times. Yasunori Mitsuda's score though in that game is amazing.
Mutation & Pure Blood Seed from Panzer Dragoon Saga
Deep in Coma & Vicious 1915 from Shadow Hearts: Covenant are the best battle themes ever IMO
Hmm, I'd like to see more of this. I never really thought about the hook battle themes have.
Favorite: Can't remember the song title but its from Arc rise fantasia."
Least: You know can't recall. Probably wasn't memorable enough.
I think his point about the hooks was great. Something i never even thought about.
I agree with you and I’m surprised you didn’t use Panzer Dragoon Saga OST to illustrate your point here. The game has one of the best soundtrack of all times and great battle themes
Haha i always find ff13 battle theme fascinating. The intro can be divided in 4 repeating melodies. And each tells me that im staying a little too long in the battle. And im starting to get anxious.
Once i hear the chorus, im officially fighting badly. Hahahaha.
JDK Falcom says hi
I was going to try and pick one of several of Breath of Fire 2 battle themes oh, but I can't. They all rock so hard I want to kill monsters so bad!
Yasunori Mitsuda wrote great battle themes for Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, and Xenosaga.
Yep! What's sad is CT had an unused battle track. That was good. It woulda been awesome to have the 2 tracks rotate.
Legend of Legaia - Attack "Boss Battle Theme"
RIP replay button
Octopath traveler did everything great! ... watch?v=e0FlmIPajXM ... the transition on this battle theme is perfect!
Agreed! I’m definitely going to talk about it in the Boss Battle theme video.
Tbh, I have no battle theme that I dislike regardless if it takes long to get good.
I feel ya. What are some of your favorites?
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Tales of Xillia(Daring Sword and Clenched Fist)
Tales of Xillia 2(Keep Pushing, until your sword is exhausted)
Tales of Berseria(Burn your soul and fly)
Tales of Vesperia(Tenacity)
Tales of the Abyss(The Edge of a Decision)
Tales of Zestiria(Spread your wings and open your future)
Tales of Destiny(Surprise Attack)
Superstar Saga battle theme
Atelier Iris three OG battle theme
Tokyo Mirage Sessions battle theme
Megaman 5 and 6 battle theme
P5 battle theme
I dont like Ni No Kunis battle theme. I dont like Ni No Kunis mob fights in general. The Bosses are great but the mob fights are so boring and the theme is not helping in that regard.
Great Video btw.
In my opinion, i don't really think the Jazz type music fits Persona, it just feels like it tries too hard to be different from other Jrpgs, just like Persona 5 in general.
Wow, that's a hot take
The whole Tales of Symphonia soundtrack is just lit so I can't pick a song from it.
Actually maybe I can I really like "Fatalize" and "Beat the Angel'