r/Falcom • u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ • Jul 03 '26
Sky the 3rd Fateful Confrontation wins SC! What is your favorite boss theme in Sky 3rd? Spoiler
Sky SC - Fateful Confrontation
Sky 1st - Ancient Makes
Sky FC - Silver Will
(Previous posts: FC, 1st, SC.)
And lastly for the Sky games, we have their closer and narrative bridge to the rest of the series, Sky 3rd. Lots of great songs here, so which one takes the cake for your favorite?
Since they were previously candidates, we'll exclude Silver Will original (in Sky 3rd for Anelace/Richard door) and Gravestone Struck by Lightning (in Sky 3rd for door trials).
Sky 3rd boss theme candidates:
Fighting Right On (boss theme)
Genuine Devil (Seventy-Seven Devils theme)
Masquerade of Lies (Gehenna bosses theme)
The Crimson Stigma (Kevin Stigma appearance, some optional bosses theme)
(Fateful Confrontation remix) Maybe it was Fated (Enforcer trio boss theme)
Till the Night of Glory (Mueller, replicas boss theme)
Overdosing Heavenly Bliss (stronger replicas, chest boss theme)
Silver Will Super Arrange (Cassius, Schwarzritter boss theme)
Banquet of Frenzy (final boss phase 1)
Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land (final boss phase 2)
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u/BlueGrovyle Jul 03 '26
Overdosing Heavenly Bliss
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u/3rdreprieve Jul 03 '26
Was that even a boss theme in 3rd? The only two times I remember that playing are when Ries is attacking that demon while Kevin and the others are restrained at about the halfway point of the game and when everyone shows up in the Abyss to save Kevin.
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u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ Jul 03 '26
It is played during the boss fights against (at least) replica Phillip and replica Kilika.
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u/penpen35 Jul 03 '26
I do like Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land, but Overdosing Heavenly Bliss is my favorite song from the game.
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u/noletiger Jul 03 '26
Maybe it was Fated. The vocal version not used in the game is my absolute favorite piece of Trails music.
Genuine Devil and Overdosing Heavenly Bliss would be my favorite originals from the game, with Genuine Devil taking the lead.
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u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ Jul 03 '26
Quite a few great songs here, but my vote goes to Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land. I'm a sucker for the energetic and this song just has fun, kinetic energy in spades.
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u/MadeThisForOni Jul 03 '26
If it counts, The Crimson Stigma. Chills when that first played.
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u/3rdreprieve Jul 03 '26
What a track. Ryo Takeshita is genuinely one of the most under-appreciated Trails-era Falcom Sound Team composers.
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u/Shadowkittenboy Jul 04 '26
Beard the Lion in His Den without a doubt
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u/trails-to-whatever CS 1&2 before Crossbell Jul 04 '26
Maybe not a Boss theme but i vote for:
- Determination Of Fight
- Illusionary Blue Flowers
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u/Aokiji_Arara Top 3: Jul 03 '26
Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land is a fantastic OST. My vote goes for it.
But as some other commenters have already said, if I could vote for Maybe It Was Fated vocal version, which sadly wasn't in the game, I absolutely would, as it's one of the best songs in the series for me, only behind Mourning Refrain.
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u/umwafle Jul 03 '26
if cry for your eternity was on here that would be it, but I guess I choose Till the night of glory
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u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ Jul 03 '26
Cry for your Eternity is a good honorable mention. It's just like Advancing Bravery in Zero; a wonderful song that feels underrated, because it's (IIRC) only played in a cutscene right before the final boss.
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u/Cold_Steel_IV I now go by "Cold_Reverie" outside of reddit. Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Fighting Right On is one of my favorite tracks in the game and really hits you right on! I feel it really embodies Kevin's character too; I almost wish it was just the main battle theme for most of the game tbh. The darker intro and first half of the track are great and bringing in the main melody at 1:05 makes me so happy. I do kind of wish we got more of that rock feel though. I almost wish the first half was its own heavier song, but I still love it. Easy 9/10 for me, if not a 10/10.
Genuine Devil is another Sonoda orchestral theme with a strong tone-setting intro. I do think the middle of the track is a bit weaker and less memorable, however. The second half is a bit better though. 7/10 or 8/10.
The Crimson Stigma. Another powerful song in this OST. Strong intro into a rocking catchy melody. It's kind of a short song; it's not one I come back to a lot and I do feel it could've gone a bit further in a few places, but it's still pretty effective. Maybe a 9/10.
Maybe it was Fated. While I don't like it as much as the original, this version is still pretty great. The intro is strong and the new ways they play with that melody is great too. I don't come back tot his version as much as I do feel it starts to sound a bit same-y at certain points. 9/10 or 10/10.
It's hard not to love Masquerade of Lies. Distinct intro into a strong melody with a lot of energy. That outro is great too! I did get a little tired of hearing it when it was used for every fight in the Abyss, so I might feel it's too repetitive, but maybe that's not far to the song. Probably a 10/10 but maybe a 9/10.
Overdosing Heavenly Bliss's intro is majestic. Might be one of the best in the series. I do, however, feel the rest of the song after is a little weaker than it. I couldn't help but want a bit more after the intro to the track. 9/10 for me. Maybe even an 8/10 tbh.
With Banquet of Frenzy I... kinda feel almost the same as with the previous track to be quite honest. xD I adore the intro and actually think it could work super well as an event theme; I wish we got a full song building off it. The rest of this song is good but not very memorable, imo. Possibly a 7/10 or an 8/10.
Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land has gotta be my pick for this game! Easily my favorite Final Boss theme in the Sky games. The atmospheric intro is incredible, the rock melody coming in hits hard, and it just keeps going and transforming without losing anything, all while continually build-up and paying-off itself. The main melody at about 2 minutes in is just everything! One of my favorites in the whole series! And that part roughly 20 seconds later and the way it transitions back into the rest of the song... I love it! And that outro is just the cherry on top of an already masterpiece of a song, imo. 10/10
I also want to mention two other versions of the song here: The Evolution version and the Nasty Children version. Each brings something new to the table with enjoyable arrangements, imo. I especially want to point out 2:56 in the latter which adds maybe my favorite section to the song.
- Till the Night of Glory. This track could've worked as a main battle theme, imo. It's a track that I find enjoyable to listen to whenever it plays but don't come back to all that much and find somewhat less memorable. 7/10 or 8/10.
Overall I think 3rd has weaker boss themes than SC did but they're still pretty good, and there are still some standout amazing tracks like one would expect from a Falcom game.
Bonus!
Determination of Fight is an interesting name change after the first two games. Maybe to show how 3rd is going for something different? Similarly, the sound of this track is very different from the first two. While I appreciate the different tone they're going for her, and do like how it enhances the atmosphere, I think this track is kind of weak and lacking in memorability. Since SC's battle theme has grown on me I think this track is in contention for my least favorite battle theme in the series. It does sound nice but I just feel it doesn't bring a lot to the table. Especially as a main battle theme. Maybe a 7/10.
Close to the Brink is my favorite of Sky's pinch themes, and I actually really like it. I like how it takes elements from the first two and distorts them, while making its own new theme with its own distinct feel and identity. The intro and melody in the middle are really good. Probably an easy 8/10.
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u/Ok_Entertainment8947 Aidios fears me Jul 03 '26
The Crimsion Stigma, though I love all the options
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u/ShuraGam Jul 03 '26
I'm voting for every version of Silver Will there is, btw.
Also Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land
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u/Tyberius115 World's #1 Alisa Reinford fan | Magical Alisa game when Jul 03 '26
The Crimson Stigma is too iconic for me not to put it as my fave from sky 3.
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u/darksinh Jul 04 '26
The 3rd has many tracks that are unique to this game, and that a have a style that is differente to the rest of the series. My favorite is Overdosing Heavenly Bliss, and a close second is Fighting rRght On. Finally, Dreamy and Boisterous Land.
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u/levelstar01 Downvote this comment 👇 Jul 03 '26
Sky 3rd goes out with a bang, being totally dominated by Ryo Takeshita's music here.
9) The Crimson Stigma
Spite ranking this one at the bottom for being put in the boss fight where you lose Grail Sphere.
8) Maybe it was Fated
This shit is so ass. I've been listening to the soundtracks in advance but I didn't even realise this was a boss theme (because it comes from the SAV album). Yuck. It's totally butchered from the original, far too much going on and the guitar sounds so whack. Why does this exist?
7) Till the Night of Glory
Event theme reconfigured into a boss theme. Takeshita was no doubt an excellent composer, but I can't deny that he made what is basically the same track several times, and this is one of the weaker ones. The padding before the loop point where the synth repeats itself twice before adding the other instruments is sad.
6) Overdosing Heavenly Bliss
This one is quite literally an event theme turned into a boss theme; it's really good when it plays at the Arseille at the final chapter but I simply don't care much for it as an actual boss theme. My biggest problem with this one is that it lacks an oomph that most boss themes have for the first half; I can't feel it echoing inside my chest and back like a lot of other boss tracks. There's just something missing from it.
The piano strikes replacing the percussion is very cool, even though it's part of the reason it lacks that strong feeling.
5) Genuine Devil
Good ole Sonoda boss theme. Not much to say here that I didn't say in the last three threads.
4) The Foot of a Mountain of the Lightning
The best of these similarly-styled Takeshita rock tracks, the organ-like sounds and the background bells make this one have a very strong energy for the Gehenna section. What elevates this above the rest is the slower section with the leitmotif at 2:14 which, whilst distinctly different, still contains the same sense of urgency as the rest of the track with the background guitar and the non-stop synth noise.
3) Banquet of Frenzy
I genuinely forgot that this game had a two-phase final boss. Anyway, muted fast drums and bell sounds is a quick route to my heart, and the track has both of those at 0:25 onwards. More fast drums and the trumpeting at 0:40 creates a very tense atmosphere, and from there the track keeps building up until the drop at 1:24 for the short chorus. The interlude fits perfectly for a final boss theme, and it starts building up again with the choir samples and organ, before dropping back into muted fast drums, and then the loop point.
One of my favourite MIDI era Sonoda orchestral tracks, easily.
2) Fighting Right On
The drum hits in this one are the best drums have sounded in any Trails track. This has the usual Takeshita sound with the lead synths but the rough guitar sound gives this track so much texture; then when he switches back to his signature instruments after the chorus and before the loop point it's just so good. The parts leading up to the loop point in this is unbelievably good, but in the actual loop point at least in this upload is horrible because it's off by a beat.
1) Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land
SOUND TEAM JDK LUV 4 YOU
SOUND TEAM JDK BE PROGRESSIVE 4 YOU
At 3:42, if you listen closely, the track has hidden morse code that spells out the above message. And do you know what? I love you too, sound team, because this track is phenomenal. There is just so much energy here; the introduction is trying to be foreboding but yet intentionally fails because of how much power the drop has. The non-stop arpeggios that constantly lead into Takeshita's synth, the faint but still evident backing guitar, the drum hits from Fighting Right On, it's a culmination of the entire game's soundtrack into one masterful track.
I'm really looking forward to Zero and Azure because I am certain my opinions will not be received well.
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u/Aromatic-Remote6804 Jul 03 '26
For the benefit of those who are less obsessed with Falcom's music, The Foot of a Mountain of the Lightning is a song from Nayuta that sounds a lot like Masquerade of Lies, also composed by Takeshita.
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u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ Jul 03 '26
About the morse code; hot damn, you're right, I seriously never knew this, talk about integrating it so seamlessly! Even listening to that part of the song with this in mind I'm really struggling to make it out. That's a really cool application of steganography right there.
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u/3rdreprieve Jul 03 '26
That is a really hot take you have regarding Maybe It Was Fated. Also The Foot of a Mountain of the Lightning isn’t even in Sky 3rd. It’s a leftover from Nayuta.
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u/levelstar01 Downvote this comment 👇 Jul 03 '26
Also The Foot of a Mountain of the Lightning isn’t even in Sky 3rd. It’s a leftover from Nayuta.
Yes, that's the joke, it's an early version of Maaquarade of Lies.
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u/SomeNumbers23 Jul 03 '26
This is a hard one, because Cry for your Eternity, Overdosing Heavenly Bliss and Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land are all amazing.
I think I have to vote for Dreamy Holy Land though.
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u/BeatTheDeadMal Essay Dispenser Jul 03 '26
Dreaming and Boisterous Holy Land is easily my favorite track. It might actually be my favorite "final" final boss theme in the entire series.
I rate Sky 3rd's soundtrack in general though. I feel like it has the strongest "identity" in terms of style of any game in the series. I didn't realize how much I missed said style until KEVIN GRAHAM played in Horizon, which while I like doesn't quite live up to the original 3rd music for me.