There’s so many examples of this in European games because the style over there was to go all-in with the tunes just because you can and always winds up stealing the show.
Song would have made more sense for the last boss of final fantasy
Similarly the theme of the interior of the Flutter in mega man legends, clearly intended to make it feel like a home base, was so extra, that they would later use it for the title screen theme of MML2. And since I played more of MML2 as a kid, this stuck out to me when playing MML1.
As a kid this level always gave me emotional whiplash. Like just before I was having a fun time in donkey kong country and now I have to grapple with the harsh reality of existence in a cold and uncaring universe. I immediately grew a beard, drank whiskey and chain smoked until the level was over.
This theme fits naturally for most of the duo’s story path. It also plays during or just after 1 or 2 big scenes when they’re on their back foot or after a morbid reveal. Changing it to a swaggering “well, this isn’t very good but keep pushing through it and maybe it will be fine” theme.
I enjoy the idea of this thread, however I would also like to refute everything in here by arguing that these odd mismatches are what lends these games their distinct personality and power. What would City Escape be without its iconic song? Is there not a place for Lost Painting within the otherworldy flipflopped hallways of Symphony of the Night? Would anyone even remember the underwater levels in Donkey Kong Country if not for Aquatic Ambience?
Their illfitting veneer is what makes them stick out! They’re special, they’re perfect.
Tim Follin is a legend for going hard when he didn’t need to. Silver Surfer Level 1 is another good example of this, as well as the theme for NES Pictionary he made.
I mentioned Tim Follin a while back for his services to video game music (and forgot his name during a meeting which was quite embarrasing), and I think almost anything he did wasn’t for the games he did it for.
I’ll nominate Puzznic on the Amiga:
Most of it doesn’t really fit with the game, but I’ll say the main puzzle music does - however it all kicks off when you get below 30 seconds to solve the puzzle:
YES obnoxious track changing is the worst! Imagine the composer like ‘I worked really hard on that 7:24 song for you to only use the same 4 seconds of it…’
This is like a credits roll, ride off into the sunset track for me. That would be very jarring to put after something morbid. Someone probably thought it was too much of a bummer and didn’t want to linger on it? Not played the game myself but looks cool and this is otherwise a really nice track
I mostly agree, I wouldn’t want to change these games in the vast majority of cases.
I enjoy thinking about the teams working on this and how these decisions happened. Ultimately it’s made us all discuss these games even more because of these choices or quirks of fate.
This track plays when you’re just walking around some ruins and it makes me laugh every time because it goes soooo hard.
This game’s full of music that goes way too hard for no reason (other than it’s cool)
So in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, things get weird and it turns out the overarching enemy in the game is a secret organisation of advanced beings with technology. In the chapter where you’re invading their base you get this late 00’s dubstep track:
There were subtle hints to this song in other tracks so you’re kind of aware that there’s an underlying “something” building. Although it’s hard to pick up on, it’s otherwise a standard orchestral fantasy OST.
I just couldn’t stop laughing when it came up, that mixed with the maps bold aesthetic shift made it really hard to take the rest of the game seriously. It was actually bad for me becuase I really loved this game but this was such a goofy situation my suspension of disbelief was obliterated.
If you’ve played or don’t care for spoilers, watch this clip at the start of the level:
You’ve got regular solemn cutscene music, pre-battle menu track, villian monologue and then while everyone’s still talking - dubstep starts happening.
I’m getting from the thread that I’m quite particular about these things but I wonder what others thought?
