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One of the most famously awesome songs of the series comes from the original: Ginza has to be one of the coolest songs in the series.
The Battle Theme, which is pretty hard rocking for being one of the earlier games.
The Boss Theme, of which the full version isn't heard in game until it's reused in Shin Megami Tensei If.... Before then, the first part of the song is just looped.
When you hear this song, you know that badassery is just around the corner.
The Normal Battle theme. The fact that it's used during the Bonus Boss fight in Digital Devil Saga over the half dozen others themes is proof that it is that badass.
The best part of the theme (which you don't get when listening to a single recording of it) is that it has multiple variations of the main riff that are chosen randomly during the actual game. It really helps to keep it sounding fresh.
When you look death in the face, you don't hear yourself laughing. You hear this.
You know you've got yourself a game with good music if the normal battle theme is crowning.
And then we have the title screen music, where we see the Red Sprite, Blue Jet, Elve, and Gigantic racing toward the Antarctic storm that is the Schwarzwelt, while listening to this.
The first dungeon music that plays is A Scorched Nation. The game has no pretenses about making it clear that you're entering hell.
At the lowest points of the game's story where you feel like you can't go on, you'll definitely need inspirational speeches and Morale.
In the Master's Name, which plays whenever you're in a situation where shit just got real.
Holy Miracle. Never before has the phrase "God is PISSED!" been more appropriate.
And then there's Vehement Rage, the track for a sector boss.
Why has no one put in The Tyrannical Hero? This is IMO the best battle them in the whole game, and it really captures the emotion of a battle to the death with Jimenez, pretty much your closest friend on the Red Sprite.
Persona[]
Sure, the first Persona has its share of problems, like a translation resembling something a Reston Ebola victim might vomit up, however, there is one thing that makes the game such a cult hit, the boss battle song Dead Line. This troper thinks that it still beats the tar out of any other Persona musics.
On the note of scary stuff, The Girl In Black is delightfully sinister.
It doesn't matter. Bothversions of Night Queen are undiluted awesome!
Persona 2[]
While playing Persona 2: Innocent Sin, this troper got really fond of an awesome song that is, well, the Main Theme. Imagine his surprise when he finished the game and saw that the Main Theme was an instrumental version of the awesome ending theme, Kimi no Tonari. The game is filled with great music, but for some reason this tune in particular just stuck in this troper's head for a long, LONG while after he finished the game.
For this troper it was Main Theme A, the other variation of the main theme, which really stood out. It certainly helps that these pieces of music are played during many a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.
The remake opening is just awesome. The music that goes with it really helps!
The song that plays when Maya Amano dies is very sad. Link here (Don't forget to put it in 480p) Be warned though, the title of the video is a spoiler.
Aria of the Soul, a remix of the original Velvet Room theme. Dignified and mysterious, perfect for Igor, and so amazing that it's re-used in Persona 4. Then...
Once you get to the last month of the game, the themes for the locations around the city get changed. And the city theme, Memories of the City is the best one of them all. The more somber-sounding theme really fits the darker look of the city, as well as the sheer weight of what the characters are preparing to do.
Master of Shadow, the theme of the Moon Shadow bosses. Otherworldly awesome.
Deep Breath Deep Breath, the song only plays during when you're on the train going to fight the first shadow. But it's still awesome.
Don't forget it plays during Operation Babe Hunt!
Darkness, the theme for the final boss fight of The Answer. Sounds a bit like "Divine Identity" (see the Digital Devil Saga section), and evokes the same feeling: "Let's go kick ass!"
Your Affection, the cheerful, uplifting track that plays on sunny days.
Corner of Memories. Players who've just come off of finishing P3 are liable to be struck with what can be described as nostalgia, due to the theme's similarity to Brand New Days.
The anime also gives us Time for True Revelation, which plays whenever Kanji starts to kick tail.
Not sure if this is the opening theme or the new battle music, but either way Make History from Persona 4 The Golden is excellent.
Persona 4: Arena[]
The best way to describe Arena's music would be "lounge music meets rock" or basically "Blazblue meets Persona".
Yu's theme and Aigis' theme, which are really kickass remixes to "Reach Out to the Truth" and "Heartful Cry", respectively.
Yukiko's Theme kicks all kinds of ass with a combination of Japanese music, violin, and pure freaking ROCK. The best part is that the theme matches her completely.
Who knew that you could turn several simple melodies into one kickass battle theme that makes you feel like a real strategist?
The final boss theme (of the "we are so fucked" variety) from the first game: Hari-Hara: 2nd Movement
The airport theme from the 2nd game. One-Way Stairs. It starts out sounding like a fairly generic techno track, but around 0:30 it kicks into high gear.
Pinch Battle, the stage theme for your Big Damn Heroes moments; you'll feel like a badass every time you hear it.
Depending on what ending you got, Deep Darkness will make you feel like either a powerful god or a total jerk.
Don't forget Last Decision, the final boss theme in most routes.
And of course the main theme, in both vocal and instrumental flavours.
Deep Night, the map music that plays during a boss fight, manages to sum up the battle in four words using music alone: "Shit just got real."
Garuda, the map music that plays when you fight against the final boss, and the bonus boss. It manages to rock your socks off, and still maintain a majestic feel to it.
Rival Battle, the wonderfully creepy map music that plays when fighting a formerly friendly character.
Mugen no Sekai, which can be translated variously as "Infinite World" or "Dream World". The opening theme of the game has a sweet and hopeful vibe to its deadly-sounding title.
The Septentriones' themes, both the obviously-titled field theme Septentrion and the battle theme Break Out. The field theme is appropriate for when you're readying yourself to attack a incomprehensible enemy, but when you get to the actual battle theme, you realise just how much weight the battle holds.
The remix of Septentrion used in the second phase of the final battle, Will of the Species, is truly excellent as well.
Not to mention Desperate Situation. You're fighting against unfathomable odds, but you have awesome music to pull you through.
A Gloomy Person. It's enough of a reason to talk to the Anguished One at every opportunity, even discounting the fact that his path is a "good" ending.
No matter what ending you take, it feels good and fullfilling when you get this theme here to greet you.
The Boss Chase Music is extremely catchy and something to climb to. Which helps since you'll be running away from hands, babies, and everything in between while it plays.
The rest of the bosses, except for the True Final Boss, get Woman's Hand, which is all about cranking up the Nightmare Fuel, especially during the Shadow of Vincent fight.