Battle music (video game music)

In game music, battle music is a piece of background music or suite written for battle of video game. The use of the term can date to the early action games in which the player character wandering around the field and fighting normal enemies, music is played during the course. The music is changed while opposing a stronger, or plot-involved foe, this music is usually called the boss battle music.

Later some mainstream role-playing games such as Final Fantasy and Megami Tensei that switches interface between field/dungeon-wandering and enemy-encounter, assigns different music pieces to various occasions. Battle music becomes prominent when composer adding some element in their masterpiece. The battle tunes of Final Fantasy I to Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy IX contain similar note sequence, diminished scale, in the intro part which evokes the excitement of series fans.

Boss battle tune is arranged, though not necessarily hastier, but usually more depressed, instrument-heavier than the ordinary battle music. Game respecting the function of music will dedicate varied battle themes to different kinds of boss (characters) with different instrumentation or even an easily recognized leitmotifs. This is especially obvious in final battle (or decisive battle), the battle music is usually comparatively the most epic one among others within the game.