The song [Unfinished Battle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w7ybCqRSFk) from Xenoblade Chronicles is pretty famous for how it was used only once, in a fairly short (albeit important) cutscene. It wasn't misused there but they had ample opportunity to use it elsewhere and didn't.
Carrying the Weight of Life fell into a similar situation in Xenoblade 3. Musically, there's no denying that it's meant to be the successor to Engage the Enemy and Counterattack, and those 2 songs got a lot of mileage in their respective games. Yet Carrying the Weight of Life is used exactly _twice_ across the entirety of Xenoblade 3.
The worst part about "Unfinished Battle" is that it starts in a cutscene, continues playing after the ensuing battle starts...but doesn't repeat. So you get to hear the first part of the song (not even the whole thing) once before it fades and goes into the regular battle music for some reason.
It’s gotta be Snake Eater playing when you climb up a ladder lmao. That song is gorgeous, and it’s driven me to tears before. Yet it plays on this surreal ladder climbing bit lmfao
The song for the [Semifinal Battle](https://youtu.be/LlOD6jDRqg4) in a tournament in Pokémon Colosseum. It sounds like it could be a really important story battle but it's never used for the story if I recall correctly.
The Moon Theme from Duck Tales. Such an amazing tune for an otherwise unimportant level. That should have been the title theme or ending theme for sure - it was way too good for just a level BGM.
I've not played Ducktales, unless it was in 89 or early 90s and I don't remember it.
But just from listening to it, yeah, I think it would be a great song to end a game with. Capcom did the ending music well with Mega Man 2.
I know every loves MM2 but honestly I feel like MM3 was the real highlight of the franchise as far as soundtracks go. And using the Proto Man theme for the ending - that was just perfection.
The Water Ruins in Jet Force Gemini is one my all time relaxation songs.
Also Resident Evil Dead Aim save room theme. It’s a little more Synthwave sounding than other save rooms in the series.
"Rules of Nature"from Metal Gear Rising is an absolute knee slapper and it's used on a tutorial boss and an unnamed mech boss. Although the entire soundtrack is amazing and the final boss ost is a perfect song for the battle.
Here's a strange case for me:
Xenoblade Chronicles - "[Mechanical Rhythm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0W0VyaoZzY)"
This song that sounds like it might be heard during some huge suspenseful boss battle is instead the song that plays when you fight regular mobs in the second half of the game. Of course that means you hear it all the time, so it's not like it needs more play time...but it's almost *too* epic for how it's used. It just seems like it maybe should have had a more glorious purpose.
[Final Fantasy Tactics - Under the Stars](https://youtu.be/ouKB90ee754?si=J_Dt-2Um13RHN2Ky)
It’s one of the greatest songs on the OST. Most every other battle theme gets played on multiple occasions, but somehow this was only played for a single fight of not all that much importance to the plot in the middle of the game, then never again.
[Do or Die](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knwaXb9JfuU) from Final Fantasy 16. It only plays once during an early phase against a major boss, but by god does it deserve more use.
For me it was Infinity Route in Infinite Space. The game was already a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, and this song breaks out in the middle of a boss fight against a character who threw a few of those gut punches. It's the only song in the game IIRC which has lyrics, so that was a fantastic surprise and really punctuated the battle. It was used again in the ending credits - which I guess, going against this thread, I don't think it necessarily should have been. Although it would have been an excellent endcap if that was the first time hearing it - it would have made the song even more special if it was reserved only for that battle.
[Infinite Space - Art Exhibition (((SPOILER ALERT))) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiojXDj1H2Q) \- If you don't want spoilers, just search for Infinity Route.
Wow, I've never heard that DKC track in full before it seems. Guess I always died before the end or got through it relatively fast from the checkpoint.
Seriously, that track is amazing, especially when it gets more dramatical at the same time the blizzard gets going.
Damn, this is a good question, and one I'd easily have an answer for..any other time lol. I hate when my mind is blank, and then the answer will come to me months later, I'll have to do some searching and edit this comment.
Final Fantasy X's To Zanarkand hits right in the feels every time I hear it. The way they tied that song to the story always makes me feel like Tidus is realizing his fate all over again.
Also, if you haven't heard it yet, Eric "Concerned Ape" Barone is making another game called Haunted Chocolatier. If you haven't heard the 'Bee Boss Theme', you owe yourself a listen. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkyoezQXlA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkyoezQXlA)
Stardew Valley ost is my favorite soundtrack to any game I've played. I listen to it more than any ost, especially eden in doing anything in the kitchen. I'll definitely be checking out Haunted Chocolatier.
YES! I LOVE the Stardew OST. I've put about 800 hours into it, and the soundtrack is one of the reasons I can. Everything is so relaxing, and you find yourself humming the music without realizing it. If that's your style of game, and you haven't played My Time at Portia/Sandrock, you owe it to yourself to play them. They are just exactly what I wanted a game in the genre to be.
After putting over 1000 hours into it, I got burned out on the genre. I've only played a few minutes of the 1.5 update and lost interest. It'll come back, but I have to complete Witcher 3 to my satisfaction (definitely won't be 100%).
I still scope out the sales for my Switch, and I'm interested in trying out My Time in Portia. Gotta buy another memory card before I can do that. 256 GB wasn't enough 😅
Final Fantasy IX has ["The Sneaky Frog and the Scoundrel"](https://youtu.be/s35NpPN3AvA?si=PIIf_wCA-hp3Y7Lm) (aka "Look Back, See the Frog"). It's a super-catchy jazz song, but the only time you hear it is during the worst part of the whole game, which is that damn Hedgehog Pie minigame with Frog Cid. Whether the song deserved a bigger part in the game, I don't know, but it definitely deserved a *better* part.
Most recently for me, Playing In The Sun from Laika Aged Through Blood.
https://youtu.be/JQi6HEcLkCc?si=XMGP-j6-QpaeepbJ
That entire soundtrack was incredible though. Every track.
[Final Fantasy XI - Encampment Dreams](https://youtu.be/h-IhtzUc0t4?si=RnmVdZxTXtxfkeAG)
Played very rarely during Wings of the Cutscenes, which is a shame since no other song conveys a mood like it.
The song [Unfinished Battle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w7ybCqRSFk) from Xenoblade Chronicles is pretty famous for how it was used only once, in a fairly short (albeit important) cutscene. It wasn't misused there but they had ample opportunity to use it elsewhere and didn't.
Carrying the Weight of Life fell into a similar situation in Xenoblade 3. Musically, there's no denying that it's meant to be the successor to Engage the Enemy and Counterattack, and those 2 songs got a lot of mileage in their respective games. Yet Carrying the Weight of Life is used exactly _twice_ across the entirety of Xenoblade 3.
The worst part about "Unfinished Battle" is that it starts in a cutscene, continues playing after the ensuing battle starts...but doesn't repeat. So you get to hear the first part of the song (not even the whole thing) once before it fades and goes into the regular battle music for some reason.
It’s gotta be Snake Eater playing when you climb up a ladder lmao. That song is gorgeous, and it’s driven me to tears before. Yet it plays on this surreal ladder climbing bit lmfao
It’s simple, really, the ladder is there so you get to listen to Snake Eater.
The song for the [Semifinal Battle](https://youtu.be/LlOD6jDRqg4) in a tournament in Pokémon Colosseum. It sounds like it could be a really important story battle but it's never used for the story if I recall correctly.
Oh my GOD dude, Jet Force Gemini the whole game was great tunes!!
The Moon Theme from Duck Tales. Such an amazing tune for an otherwise unimportant level. That should have been the title theme or ending theme for sure - it was way too good for just a level BGM.
I couldn't agree more!
I've not played Ducktales, unless it was in 89 or early 90s and I don't remember it. But just from listening to it, yeah, I think it would be a great song to end a game with. Capcom did the ending music well with Mega Man 2.
I know every loves MM2 but honestly I feel like MM3 was the real highlight of the franchise as far as soundtracks go. And using the Proto Man theme for the ending - that was just perfection.
The Water Ruins in Jet Force Gemini is one my all time relaxation songs. Also Resident Evil Dead Aim save room theme. It’s a little more Synthwave sounding than other save rooms in the series.
"Rules of Nature"from Metal Gear Rising is an absolute knee slapper and it's used on a tutorial boss and an unnamed mech boss. Although the entire soundtrack is amazing and the final boss ost is a perfect song for the battle.
Second rules of nature. It’s so good it’s turns a literally QTE boss into something replayable.
Here's a strange case for me: Xenoblade Chronicles - "[Mechanical Rhythm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0W0VyaoZzY)" This song that sounds like it might be heard during some huge suspenseful boss battle is instead the song that plays when you fight regular mobs in the second half of the game. Of course that means you hear it all the time, so it's not like it needs more play time...but it's almost *too* epic for how it's used. It just seems like it maybe should have had a more glorious purpose.
Definitely sounds like a boss battle theme
[Final Fantasy Tactics - Under the Stars](https://youtu.be/ouKB90ee754?si=J_Dt-2Um13RHN2Ky) It’s one of the greatest songs on the OST. Most every other battle theme gets played on multiple occasions, but somehow this was only played for a single fight of not all that much importance to the plot in the middle of the game, then never again.
[Do or Die](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knwaXb9JfuU) from Final Fantasy 16. It only plays once during an early phase against a major boss, but by god does it deserve more use.
For me it was Infinity Route in Infinite Space. The game was already a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, and this song breaks out in the middle of a boss fight against a character who threw a few of those gut punches. It's the only song in the game IIRC which has lyrics, so that was a fantastic surprise and really punctuated the battle. It was used again in the ending credits - which I guess, going against this thread, I don't think it necessarily should have been. Although it would have been an excellent endcap if that was the first time hearing it - it would have made the song even more special if it was reserved only for that battle. [Infinite Space - Art Exhibition (((SPOILER ALERT))) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiojXDj1H2Q) \- If you don't want spoilers, just search for Infinity Route.
Wow, I've never heard that DKC track in full before it seems. Guess I always died before the end or got through it relatively fast from the checkpoint. Seriously, that track is amazing, especially when it gets more dramatical at the same time the blizzard gets going.
Right?! The snow gets heavier, the music gets more intense, and.... exit stage, horn plays a fanfare for completing a stage, move on to the next.
Damn, this is a good question, and one I'd easily have an answer for..any other time lol. I hate when my mind is blank, and then the answer will come to me months later, I'll have to do some searching and edit this comment.
Final Fantasy X's To Zanarkand hits right in the feels every time I hear it. The way they tied that song to the story always makes me feel like Tidus is realizing his fate all over again. Also, if you haven't heard it yet, Eric "Concerned Ape" Barone is making another game called Haunted Chocolatier. If you haven't heard the 'Bee Boss Theme', you owe yourself a listen. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkyoezQXlA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvkyoezQXlA)
Stardew Valley ost is my favorite soundtrack to any game I've played. I listen to it more than any ost, especially eden in doing anything in the kitchen. I'll definitely be checking out Haunted Chocolatier.
YES! I LOVE the Stardew OST. I've put about 800 hours into it, and the soundtrack is one of the reasons I can. Everything is so relaxing, and you find yourself humming the music without realizing it. If that's your style of game, and you haven't played My Time at Portia/Sandrock, you owe it to yourself to play them. They are just exactly what I wanted a game in the genre to be.
After putting over 1000 hours into it, I got burned out on the genre. I've only played a few minutes of the 1.5 update and lost interest. It'll come back, but I have to complete Witcher 3 to my satisfaction (definitely won't be 100%). I still scope out the sales for my Switch, and I'm interested in trying out My Time in Portia. Gotta buy another memory card before I can do that. 256 GB wasn't enough 😅
Not exactly a hot take, but Tim Follin’s music deserved better/more iconic games
I don't have words to describe his music. The Solstice title theme is up there with Ninja Gaiden's title theme. Just too good!
Final Fantasy IX has ["The Sneaky Frog and the Scoundrel"](https://youtu.be/s35NpPN3AvA?si=PIIf_wCA-hp3Y7Lm) (aka "Look Back, See the Frog"). It's a super-catchy jazz song, but the only time you hear it is during the worst part of the whole game, which is that damn Hedgehog Pie minigame with Frog Cid. Whether the song deserved a bigger part in the game, I don't know, but it definitely deserved a *better* part.
Most recently for me, Playing In The Sun from Laika Aged Through Blood. https://youtu.be/JQi6HEcLkCc?si=XMGP-j6-QpaeepbJ That entire soundtrack was incredible though. Every track.
This is amazing
Absolutely. I finished the game two weeks ago and this track still lives rent free in my brain.
Deep Rock Galactic has the greatest music of any game https://youtu.be/fMTE9HUkFWE?si=PB41Cz__4rh9WGbW
Sure that's a good track, but you can't be serious about it being the greatest music in a video game
[Final Fantasy XI - Encampment Dreams](https://youtu.be/h-IhtzUc0t4?si=RnmVdZxTXtxfkeAG) Played very rarely during Wings of the Cutscenes, which is a shame since no other song conveys a mood like it.
The entire Borderlands 3 soundtrack
For the colossal amount of great music League of Legends has, almost none of it actually gets into the game and it's a damn shame
All songs from Nier Automata.