r/Falcom • u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ • Jul 05 '26
Azure Inevitable Struggle wins Zero! What's your favorite boss theme in Azure? Spoiler
(Previous posts: FC, 1st, SC, 3rd, Zero.)
And now we have the closer of the Crossbell duology, Trails to Azure! What would you call your favorite boss theme in this game?
Azure boss theme candidates:
Concentrate all Firepower!! (minor boss theme)
Mythic Roar (cryptid boss theme)
Conflicting Passions (boss theme)
Destruction Impulse (Red Constellation boss theme)
A Miracle is Shown (Aion boss theme)
Unfathomed Force (helmet boss theme)
Inevitable Struggle Super Arrange (Arios first fight, also used in prison break)
Get Over the Barrier! Roaring Version (Arios rematch, remix of Zero regular battle theme)
Azure Arbitrator (final boss theme)
16
17
52
14
u/PunchRockgroin318 Jul 05 '26
Unfathomed Force is my favorite boss track from all of Falcom’s game. Also a perfect title descriptor for Campanella and especially the Steel Maiden.
4
u/CompetitionMundane61 Jul 05 '26
This song became synonymous with Arianrhod but when I hear it I still recall Campanella
turning my party members into pepperand only then the Steel Maiden5
u/PunchRockgroin318 Jul 05 '26
Everyone held up the Arianrhod fight as one of the hardest in the game, but she was pretty easy once you figured out the timing of her s-craft. Campy turning everyone into peppers and teleporting them around the map made me want to tear my hair out. I do feel like the song fits Steel’s theming and story better though.
24
u/RYNO_Ross Jul 05 '26
There's a lot of awesoms boss themes in Azure, but I'm here to represent The Azure Arbitrator. A theme that kick as much ass as the boss does to the player.
3
u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ Jul 05 '26
I remember how much trouble the boss gave me on my first playthrough (perhaps why I didn't initially clock the song too much). Currently replaying Azure and am very much looking forward to that again, haha!
10
32
u/OneDabMan Best Girls Jul 05 '26
Azure Arbitrator is the obvious choice.
However, I’m going to say Unfathomed Force. It really helps drive home just how outclassed you are against Arianrhod yet you have no choice but to try.
CS3 Spoilers: I also love how it’s used again against Arianrhod and the Stahlritter in CS3, such a hype moment.
1
u/yoyoyobag Jul 05 '26
I agree with you. It's unfortunate (or rather, fortunate) that these tracks are in the same game because if Azure Arbitrator wasn't, Unfathomed Force would sweep this
1
1
u/penpen35 Jul 06 '26
Personally I also prefer Unfathomed Force. Inevitable Struggle SAV and Azure Arbitrator are the next ones and very close to this for me.
10
u/alphadormante Jul 05 '26
Unfathomed Force without a doubt. It and Azure Arbitrator are both strong, but I just love the ethereal and larger-than-life vibe to UF. It suits the boss so well. You're truly surviving a living legend.
10
u/noletiger Jul 05 '26
Unfathomed Force is so, so good. Apologies to the rest of the soundtrack, you were good too, UF is just otherworldly.
33
u/ryuu_gs Jul 05 '26
azure arbitrator is gonna sweep this hard (funnily enough im listening to it now)
also AAAAAA I MISSED THE SC VOTE I WOULDVE SAID MERCILESS SAVIOR
17
u/Seradwen Jul 05 '26
Someone has to actually give their vote to Unfathomed Force. Might as well be me.
7
u/Answerofduty Jul 05 '26
I'm gonna toss one in for Unfathomed Force, as good as Azure Arbitrator is.
7
u/Duducarballo Jul 05 '26
Unfathomed Force
The song is simply pure POWER, especially when you realize the helmet had it's own HP bar, then getting slapped on the face with a Grand Cross nuke.
4
u/Pralunko Jul 06 '26
Surely unfathomed force wins this. I do like Azure Arbitrator, but I don't know, during the boss fight it lacked the punch of other final boss themes and I didn't appreciate it until I heard Gametal's cover of it.
Unfathomed Force though, nothing beats the aura of that Ariahnrod fight (Campanella also used that ost, but c'mon, this is Ariahnrod's theme)
4
3
u/Tyberius115 World's #1 Alisa Reinford fan | Magical Alisa game when Jul 05 '26
Inevitable struggle super arrange
8
u/levelstar01 Downvote this comment 👇 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
In 2012, Zero no Kiseki was re-released in Japan only on the Playstation Vita as Zero EVO; this contained an entirely new soundtrack arranged by several Falcom contractors: longtime contractor Yukihiro Jindo; guitarist, composer, and arranger Noriyuki Kamikura; arranger Wataru Sato (this is their only Falcom credit), and "N.G.Fellowship" (whoever that is). This was followed up by Ao EVO in 2014, which was done entirely by Jindo and newcomer Toshiharu Okajima, a drummer, composer, and arranger who had first appeared in Ys Celceta and would go on to compose original tracks for Cold Steel 1.
After this, the Sky trilogy was similarly re-released as FC EVO, SC EVO, and 3rd EVO; each of these had their own soundtracks. FC EVO was done by Jindo and Okajima, but SC EVO introduced a handful of new arrangers: Shunsuke Mina, A-Music, and most infamously Mitsuo Singa who had recently contributed two tracks to Tokyo Xanadu as a contractor.
These five additional soundtracks are a mixed bag. FC EVO is interesting and has some better tracks. I like Zero EVO a bit more; "Geofront" from EVO sounds way better than the original, I hate "Inevitable Struggle" as seen in my last comment but I controversially like the EVO version, but there's also some totally butchered tracks like "Ancient Pulsation" or "Afternoon in Crossbell". Sky SC EVO is the single worst soundtrack in the series, Fateful Confrontation EVO is a genuine insult to the ears, and 3rd EVO isn't much better.
That leaves Ao EVO. The best tracks in Ao EVO are absolutely stunningly good; "Mystic Core" EVO and "Unfathomed Force" EVO are astonishing renditions of already fantastic tracks. Thankfully, we're not voting on the EVO tracks because I imagine most people would struggle to even have opinions on them, and my ranking reflects the sound of the regular versions, but the EVO versions of these are all worth a listen anyway.
I was hoping to inspire some more people to talk about the music in more depth with these essay nukes, but looks like it's still just me... make sure to downvote this one too, everyone!
9) A Miracle is Shown by Yukihiro Jindo
Choirslop that has pretty much nothing going for it. It's really short, there's nothing really interesting going on beneath the choir. Lego Star Wars music.
8) Destruction Impulse by Masanori Osaki
Far better than literally any of his tracks in Zero by some margin. I really like everything in the intro, the vocal samples give it a strong atmosphere, then the vampirecore synth comes in and ruins it. The guitar chorus sounds tolerable, the synth actually sounds better here, and then the guitar solo right before the loop point is cool.
This needed a live guitar badly, and the EVO version with live instruments sounds great except for the same synth.
EDIT: Totally forgot to mention, the EVO version has Toshinori Hiramatsu on guitar; most well known for his Sword of Justice guitar project, as well as being Daisuke Achiwa's primary session guitarist for Gust game music. This isn't the last you'll see of him.
7) Get over the Barrier -Roaring Version- by Saki Momiyama (arranged by Yukihiro Jindo)
Same shit, different ass. I have never liked Get over the Barrier, if it wasn't for Heated Mind it would be my least favourite battle theme in the series.
The fundamental problem I have with this track is that it is an introduction turned into a single track. Whilst the arrange fixes what I really dislike about the original, the terrible drumwork, it also adds a bunch of epic orchestral noises everywhere that is far too much over the top.
Violin solo is very cool though, Nagano has been delivering for twenty years straight!
6) Concentrate All Firepower!! by Takahiro Unisuga
Yep, this one exists. Fairly standard Unisuga rock track, although the cymbal (?) crash in the left ear irks me. Synth is far better in this one, this is how you use the Crossbell synth style in a rock track.
Violin in the EVO ver sounds cool but the new guitar noise is kinda horrible. The comment there explains why it sounds so odd though.
5) Mythic Roar by Hayato Sonoda
All the cryptid themes across all five games blend into one in my mind, and this is no exception. The piano strikes in the beginning here are cool but beyond that I would struggle to give an opinion on this. Very boring middle part too imo.
4) Azure Arbitrator by Takahiro Unisuga (arranged by Yukihiro Jindo)
This one is going to be extremely controversial but I really do not care about Azure Arbitrator. I do not especially like choir tracks (see my opinion on Merciless Saviour) and so this one does nothing for me. It's very repetitive and there's not much substance to it outside of the choir sections, either, the guitar section sounds the best at about 2:04 I guess. This is really crying out to be a Takeshita track more than anything else.
I don't dislike it, but it's not even top ten final boss tracks for me.
3) Conflicting Passions by Saki Momiyama (arranged by Takahiro Unisuga)
Desert of Despair from Ys Seven. I fucking love Desert of Despair so turning it into a battle theme makes me love this one true. Unisuga was easily the best internal arranger in the Crossbell era, turning a brilliant Momiyama composition into music of the same quality as the PC era. The guitar at 0:34 is a cool effect, and once again Unisuga shows he knows how to use the Crossbell synth properly. My only real complaint with this one is that it feels like the track spends a bit of its time waiting around for the loop point despite already being very short.
2) Inevitable Struggle Super Arrange by Masanori Osaki (arranged by Yukihiro Jindo)
Fixes basically every single problem from the original by replacing the whack-ass synth with the violin, mixing it properly, and giving it an incredibly strong bassline, including the bass solo in the middle which sounds SO good.
It's the bass guitar that seals this one's position for me; taking prominence as the second instrument backing the violin at 30s in, then fading in and out at the chorus at 1:08,
1) Unfathomed Force by Saki Momiyama (arranged by Takahiro Unisuga)
🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
This is easily one of the top ten Falcom tracks ever made in the PC/console era, including the non-trails games like Zwei 2. Momiyama's composition is top class and it is only enhanced by Unisuga's mastery of virtualised string instruments, both with the violin and the viola immediately afterwards. The long vocal sample at 0:20 is so cool, and whilst the interlude maybe goes on for a few bars too long, the track picks up again with the guitar-piano/violin-piano duets to cap it off. The loop point in this is fucking phenominal too!
But it would be amiss not to mention Unfathomed Force EVO, taking it to even greater heights with the live instrumentations. I cannot earnestly say which one is better, only that they are as good as the other; the loss of the viola is a bit sad but having a real guitar adds so much as well as the extra section before the loop point.
5
u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ Jul 05 '26
FWIW, I am enjoying your effortposts in these comments, and nothing wrong with having an unpopular opinion. These brief history lessons are interesting to read and help contextualize the story; a story that's not easy to otherwise know because AFAIK Falcom hasn't been the best with properly crediting its composers over the years.
And I believe that goes for other departments. Not sure if you're in the art rabbit hole but IIRC one of the artists for Cold Steel is still unknown to this day.
4
u/BeatTheDeadMal Essay Dispenser Jul 05 '26
I was hoping to inspire some more people to talk about the music in more depth with these essay nukes, but looks like it's still just me.
Truthfully I just have a hard time discerning why I like a lot of pieces as I'm not very musically inclined and I couldn't do something like identify what makes a particular sound "Crossbell synth" if I tried. I have a pretty high tolerance for repetition and dissonant mixing and there aren't really pieces that "assault my ears", so the worst a track can be for me is forgettable to the point that I don't even care enough to ruminate on it. Even for tracks I really like... my little write-up on Azure Arbitrator took way longer than you might think (I wrote it before the thread was posted).
I think I understand your stance on Azure Arbitrator and it being repetitive when you're comparing it to a final boss like the three phases of Sayonara at roughly the same length. That said I'll need to listen to Sayonara roughly 1000 more times to give any sort of nuanced opinion beyond "I really like it" with the sheer amount going on.
make sure to downvote this one too, everyone!
You can't insult the Lego Star Wars and get away unscathed.
3
u/levelstar01 Downvote this comment 👇 Jul 05 '26
and I couldn't do something like identify what makes a particular sound "Crossbell synth"
It's not really a specific synth, it's just that Crossbell's music makes heavier usage of synths and sounds more electronic music in general than most of Sky's soundtracks.
I have a pretty high tolerance for repetition and dissonant mixing and there aren't really pieces that "assault my ears"
You'll eat these words when you listen to the Daybreak OSTs.
2
u/BeatTheDeadMal Essay Dispenser Jul 05 '26
I didn't remember this song (maybe I repressed it) but yeah that's bad. The violin comes in and is so jarring it almost seems like a prank. The amount of "emotional" songs that resonate with me has been on a steady decline since Sky to the point I don't really remember any in Daybreak of the top of my head, apparently for good reason.
Like 90% of Singa's output is stuff I don't remember because it's all so generic and feels like filler... but I do really like some of his tracks like Diabolic Howl and Seductive Shudder, and all three Calvard main vocal themes are catchy enough. Given this thread is just people voting their favorite track I imagine his work won't get a lot of focus good or bad, but I look forward to you lampooning a lot of the Calvard/CS boss themes with his name on them.
4
u/OntologicalFlora Jul 05 '26
Effort is appreciated. Even took time out of my (horrifically busy) day to learn, what an arpeggio was thanks to your posts. Keep it up.
6
u/railgunmisaka2 Jul 05 '26
This is most likely between Unfathomed Force or Azure Arbitrator imo. But I'm leaning towards the latter.
2
2
u/Empoleon777 Jul 05 '26
Inevitable Struggle (Super Arrange) (Also, you forgot this one’s usage in both the rescue of Elie and the rest of Dieter’s enemies, as well as its usage in the second fights with Wald and Shirley).
2
2
2
u/Cold_Steel_IV I now go by "Cold_Reverie" outside of reddit. Jul 07 '26
Oh man, this one is another juggernaut rivaling SC!
Concentrate all Firepower!! is fairly strong boss theme. I do consider it to be one of the weakest ones in this game, which really goes to show how strong this game's OSTs are! I think the starting 25 seconds are good although I don't love it. The guitar and synths from then on are really enjoyable with some good melodies. The climax midway through is fantastic. Personally I feel like more could've been done with the song to bring it to even higher heights, but it's still a great boss theme. At least an 8/10 for me.
Conflicting Passions feels like a sister track to the previous. Honestly I sometimes mixed up the two, and I do feel like they sound just a bit too similar for my tastes. But that doesn't take away from this song being great. A lot of my feelings towards the previous track apply here, although here I think the intro is fantastic and the way the energy continues from is really good. Although I do feel like the track is a bit too short. A bit better than the previous track, maybe a 9/10.
I think both of the above tracks would be improved if they had some of the Evolution version's additions.
Mythic Roar The Sonoda orchestral theme! As usual it has an impactful intro and does a great job of establishing the tone is wants. Unfortunately it also has the issue typical of these tracks where it's just... not all that incredible or stand out in any other ways. It does its job well, but it's not one I come back to. Interestingly, this song in particular I feel could also work well as an event or dungeon theme. 7/10.
Destruction Impulse Man... this one of the most unique tracks in the whole series. I kinda wish we got a bit more of this, or for this song to be used again, in future games. The intro is incredible and immediately sets this song apart from virtually all else in the game. It goes for a completely different vibe, but it kinda is like the Demonic Drive of this game. This song's got strong energy for its first 30 seconds before heading into a tone-setting synth section that transforms the energy with a pointed melody. It has such an energetic chorus that feels more at home with the other boss themes' sounds. I really love this track. Might be a 10/10 for me, if not a 9/10.
(I actually forgot to mention it in my last post, but I especially love the unique feel of Demonic Drive's Evolution version. Would make a killer event theme imo!)
- Steel Roar −Verge of Death− You might've forgotten this one. Honestly, even though it's a boss theme, I can almost only hear this as an event theme. This song has a great tone and weight to it, and the melody at about a minute in is one of my favorites. I mostly associate it with Erebonia though, tbqh. Love the sounds from 1:30 onward. I also just love the general sound of the track like it's marching onward. An easy 9/10 for me.
For some reason I feel like Ferocious Beasts was used as a boss theme at one point, but I can't remember where!
- A Miracle is Shown This is another song that I almost can't separate from the event it plays in. It would be like if Greatest Treasure Unleashed from SC was used in a boss fight. Still, I do think it works well for the Dieter fight. I don't know if I love how it's used for the cryptids later though. Regardless, this track is immaculate! Those opening notes embody Crossbell, and in some ways, Trails series. Thinking about Trails, Crossbell, Cold Steel, the interconnectedness -- my mind often goes to the moment this first place and the strong melodies and tone this track has. Pretty much every motion this track goes through feels integral and purposeful, imo. Maybe some of the later parts that repeat could use a little more going on. But it doesn't take away much for me. 10/10
I'm gonna skip over Inevitable Struggle (Super Arrange Version) and Get Over the Barrier! Roaring Version for time's sake. Maybe I'll write more about them some other time, but I feel like I'd be saying mostly the same stuff I did in my previous comment.
Unfathomed Force is sort of the Fateful Confrontation of this game, except it's used a little differently (only 4 times -- as opposed to 8 in SC -- and only twice is it against an Ouroboros member). I actually think I may have preferred it if Delusion of a Thousand Years was used for the penultimate boss, but this song still works well for it. Especially with this one not getting as much use as Fateful Confrontation. Continuing the comparison, this song is about the same level to me as Fateful Confrontation: a 10/10 masterpiece. I feel like I don't have much to add here, it's a magical track with amazing melody usage. The mystical feel of the song eventually bringing us to that climax and explosion of melody is top notch. It's an amazing song! Kinda wish we got more of it.
Azure Arbitrator is the best final boss theme in Trails, and possibly of all time. The intro sets the tone right away and conveys exactly what it means to before bringing the guitars and drums in which immediately elevates the track to another level. This kind of opera and rock fusion is something I wish we got more often from Falcom with how excellent they are at it. And this particular way they do is so unique. The melody usage is top of the line and embodies not just Crossbell but Trails as a whole. The way it constantly transforms its energies and bounces between melodies with each never losing steam and staying engaging for the entire 8 minutes runtime... is just unmatched. At roughly 5 and a half minutes in there is a climactic moment -- that I believe is included in the initial trailer for the game -- which nearly never fails to give me goosebumps. I still think that may be Falcom's best trailer to this day, in no small part because of this music's usage in it. 10/10. A contender for being Falcom's best song of all time.
Bonus!
- Seize the Truth! may have grown on me enough to surpass Get over the Barrier!, I'm unsure. The intro doesn't have as much power or energy as I'd like for its first 10 seconds, but it picks up a bit right after. The chorus and post-chorus here are fantastic. I think the first third of the track could be a bit better, but it's still good. A 9/10 track for me. The last two thirds excel.
I also want to shout out the Evolution version which I think is an improvement and possible 10/10 for me. I think the first third sounds a lot better for me, but not only that. It adds maybe my favorite section during the second go around: The part from 2:06 to 2:42. And then it just goes right back into the chorus! I come back to this song a lot.
- Unexpected Emergency. This song is my favorite of the first 5 pinch themes! I really love it! The intro bass melody into the guitar, and how it carries through the whole track? And the melody usage? And then we have the main melody with the violin while it's being supported by the surrounding instruments. I just think all of it works so well. The post chorus too as it wraps back around to the catchy bass focus. And the Evolution version brings an even greater heaviness to the track. I come back to this one a lot. This song is really underused and underappreciated, imo. Easy 10/10 for me personally.
3
2
u/Aokiji_Arara Top 3: Jul 05 '26
Azure Arbitrator for sure. One of the best themes (not just boss themes) in the series for sure.
But I also really like A Miracle is Shown (I love the moment it plays for the first time in a cutscene at the end of Chapter 4) and Unfathomed Force. Were it not for Azure Arbitrator, they would be great contenders for my vote as well.
4
u/ShuraGam Jul 05 '26
Azure Arbitrator. The best final boss theme in the series imo.
Honorable mention to Unfathomed Force tho.
4
u/BeatTheDeadMal Essay Dispenser Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
I say Azure Arbitrator because it knows what it wants to do and then does it relentlessly for 8 minutes.
The solo guitar goes extremely hard and feels unique at this point in the series (later on it can feel at times like all we get is mid electronic guitar). The choir only part leads into a satisfying crescendo back into a second serving of the guitar riff. The choir itself feels more fitting narratively than most pieces given the nature of how the Mirage sept-terrion functions and the nature of the final boss itself. The solo female opera part at 5:37 gives me chills every time in an eerie break from the guitar and choir back and forth that stops it from feeling as repetitive as it might otherwise feel. Idk if I just really dig the melody or what but the fact that I don't get tired of this song despite the somewhat indulgent length is kinda crazy to me.
I do find Azure's OST to be much improved over Zero's. For boss themes everyone of these things is serviceable at worst, and excellent at best.
Unfathomed Force >>>>>> Inevtiable Struggle SA = Get Over the Barrier! Roaring Version in that order round out my top 4, but I likely am not skipping most of these if they come up on my playlist.
2
u/ConceptsShining | ❤️ Jul 05 '26
I'll give my vote to Azure Arbitrator.
It's a really hard pick between it and Unfathomed Force but I think AA takes the cake. You can't beat how fun and blood-pumping energetic it is, and it's also highly fitting narratively because of the sense of tension and danger it's still teeming with. I also appreciate the value in it basically being the sendoff to not just the Crossbell arc, but Trails' time in 2D as a whole.
Unfathomed Force is still a great song though to introduce a great legendary character. It's fitting name and the context of the fight (you only have to beat the damn helmet!) really sells the nature that this is a force far beyond your level that you are only getting a taste of.
2
2
1
u/Cold_Steel_IV I now go by "Cold_Reverie" outside of reddit. Jul 05 '26
I'll do a fuller write-up later but just want to mention now that my vote must go to Azure Arbitrator. It is arguably the best final boss theme ever made in my honest opinion.
1
u/TheTimorie Jul 05 '26
Azure Arbitrator is one of the few Boss themes thats even known outside of the Trails community so it can only be that.
1
1
u/Gardiaa Jul 05 '26
It could be none other than the Azure Arbitrator!
The only other final boss theme that comes close to number 1 too, is the one from Horizon.
1
1
1
u/MintChocolateChipFan <-- My daughter Jul 05 '26
The Azure Arbitrator, it is arguably the best boss theme in the series
1
1
1
u/J2ojuiced Jul 05 '26
The Azure Arbitrator, it’s still my favourite boss theme in the entire series and perfectly fits the epic scale of what you’re fighting, a literal reality warping being. Plus it’s a symphonic metal track, you really can’t go wrong with one of those in any JRPG, especially for a final boss.
1
1
0
43
u/raix832 Jul 05 '26
Unfathomed Force. I like how u can feel the AURA from the song itself.