History Main / BackgroundMusicOverride

** In ''Trails in the Sky the 3rd'', it happens throughout the final dungeon, [[spoiler:Phantasmagoria]].

->'''DJ Octavio:''' What's this? Where mah beats?!\\
'''Callie:''' [[spoiler: Agent 3! Can you hear our song?]]\\
'''Marie:''' Radio override activated!
-->-- ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon|1}}''

'''Callie:''' Agent 3! Can you hear our song?\\

* ''VideoGame/FateUnlimitedCodes'': Both Saber and Archer can invoke this. If Saber uses a burst and reveals her sword ([[spoiler:Excalibur]], usually hidden by a wind spell), a remixed version of "Sword of Promised Victory" will play for the duration of the burst. If Archer completes his [[LimitBreak Unlimited Blade Works]] [[{{Invocation}} chant]], a remixed version of "EMIYA" will play for the duration of the ''match''.

-->-- ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}''

* ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}''
** During a [[FictionalHoliday Splatfest]], nearly all of [[HubWorld Inkopolis Plaza's]] themes are overriden by the [[IdolSinger Squid Sisters]]' performance of "[[https://youtu.be/wxkKUbNnXKE?t=9m5s City of Color]]", whereas the second game gives "Color Pulse" by Off the Hook. Their single can even be heard from the weapon testing area.

* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', the PlayableEpilogue features the track "Because I Love You" playing constantly in every area, even in buildings, only being overwritten if Ness rides his bike or activates the end credits.

* During Chapter 2 of ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'', the Queen's mansion's theme, "Pandora Palace", replaces the standard combat theme. This also applies to "Deal Gone Wrong", which plays in the mansion during the Weird Route.

** Once you reach the GoldenEnding, the song "Reunited" plays over every possible area (except Papyrus's room, the hidden [[DevelopersRoom Dog Room]], and room_mysteryman if you are able to access it) until you initiate the credits, even over "Temmie Village" and "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bird That Carries You Over A Disproportionately Small Gap]]". This is likely an allusion to ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', which Toby Fox is a great fan of and which served as a major inspiration for ''Undertale''.

** During the sequence where Yu and Kay are separated, "I Can't Stay Mad At You" overrides all other BGM tracks, though not the battle music.

** ''Generations'' gives the Deviant theme maximum priority, even over the Arena theme. This is notable because, in this game and its ''Ultimate'' expansion, the Arena theme finally gets to override Deviljho's and Rajang's themes.

** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri'' has four non-Elder Dragon battle themes for each stage: The Great Jaggi/Baggi theme, each stage's normal Monster Battle theme, the special track for the Arena, and the theme for the online-only nomad beast "Deviljho". Each overrides the themes before them (Jaggi/Baggi < Stage = Arena < Deviljho). ''Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate'' adds a few more songs to the mix, thus becoming Jaggi < Arzuros < Stage < Nargacuga < Zinogre < Brachydios < Tower = Arena < Deviljho. The overriding order is nearly the same in ''Portable 3rd'', only replace Brachydios with Tigrex and put it between Nargacuga and Zinogre (also, remove Tower as it doesn't appear in the game at all).

** [[spoiler:Zaveid's theme]] plays throughout the optional rematch against Shenlong [[spoiler:AKA the long-lost [[LostLenore love-interest of the former, Theodora.]]]]

** [[spoiler:Zaveid's theme]] plays throughout the optional rematch against Shenlong [[spoiler:AKA the long-lost [[LostLenore love-interest of the former, Theodora.]]

* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', the PlayableEpilogue features the track "Because I Love You" playing constantly in every area, even in buildings, only being overwritten if Ness rides his bike or activates the end credits.

** Once you reach the GoldenEnding, the song "Reunited" plays over every possible area (except Papyrus's room, the hidden [[DevelopersRoom Dog Room]], and room_mysteryman if you are able to access it) until you initiate the credits, even over "Temmie Village" and "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bird That Carries You Over A Disproportionately Small Gap]]". This is likely an allusion to ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', which Toby Fox is a great fan of and which served as a major inspiration for ''Undertale''.

** ''Generations'' gives the Deviant theme maximum priority, even over the Arena theme.

** In a NewGamePlus, you can ''manually'' select a BGM that would play throughout the entire stage. Or you can just set it to random and be amused as [[VideoGame/ResonanceOfFate Zephyr and Leanne]] get [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 Ultra Violet]] playing on their turn. Or even [[VideoGame/GodsEaterBurst Over the Clouds]] on [[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games Kite and Black Rose's]] turn.

** In ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'', after [[spoiler:Adam orders Samus to propel the space station into [=SR388=]]], the song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRYO-qnX24o "Last Instructions"]] plays everywhere until Samus [[spoiler:starts the propulsion sequence]], when it's replaced by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsYyzqc_5vg "Station Escape Timer Mission"]].
** In ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', the lava theme is capable of overriding the Metroid battle themes, regardless of which kind of Metroid you're currently facing.

* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
** In ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'', after [[spoiler:Adam orders Samus to propel the space station into [=SR388=]]], the song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRYO-qnX24o "Last Instructions"]] plays everywhere until Samus [[spoiler:starts the propulsion sequence]], when it's replaced by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsYyzqc_5vg "Station Escape Timer Mission"]].
** In ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', the lava theme is capable of overriding the Metroid battle themes, regardless of which kind of Metroid you're currently facing.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperCastlevaniaIV'', [[ThemeMusicPowerUp Simon's Theme]] starts playing once you get Dracula's health below half.

* In ''Super VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' (arcade), the miniboss of the final stage has its own unique BGM and victory fanfare, but when the FinalBoss appears, it plays the original stage music again! This may have been a programming error.

* ''Franchise/StarFox''
** In ''VideoGame/StarFox2'' when fighting enemies nearby a member of Star Wolf it's possible for that member to appear mid-fight. Whatever theme was playing prior will change to Surprise Attack, Star Wolf's theme from Star Fox 2.
** In ''VideoGame/StarFox64''[='=]s Bolse stage, the boss theme for All-Range stages plays when the reactor emerges...but if you didn't finish off Star Wolf at Fortuna/Fichina or don't pass through that particular stage at all, Star Wolf will appear during this phase and their theme plays until you complete the stage or die, even after all of Star Wolf has been defeated.
** In ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', the theme of the [=FireCrawlers=] is capable of overriding ''any'' other theme, including the barrel chase theme (as seen when Fox rides an [=EarthWalker=] in Dragon Rock and then approaches a [=FireCrawler=]). This also happens when Fox approaches a [=RedEye=] in Walled City, because they borrow this theme.

* Any time you encounter [[BloodKnight Lu]] [[OneManArmy Bu]] in the ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' games, his personal theme takes over from the stage's regular music. Sister series ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' does the same with similarly noted badass Tadakatsu Honda, and the crossover between them, ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'', extends the privilege to [[BigBad Orochi himself]] and a select few others along those lines.

* In the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' games, player characters have a specific BGM that plays during the battle animations, however powerful enemy bosses will sometimes have their own BGM which will override the player characters' music.
** In the first ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'' game on the UsefulNotes/GameboyAdvance:
*** A bug in the programming for an enemy boss which switches to the player's side prevented his BGM priority from being reset, making it so his music overrode all the other themes in the game, including the FinalBoss theme. This has become known as "Trombe Override" after the name of the song, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r8b3NqevME Trombe!]]''. And has been added as a feature for every subsequent game in which that character appears.
*** In some climactic moments, a special theme, belonging to neither the players or the enemies will play throughout the stage, overriding both the player's and the boss's themes.
*** Of special note is the final battle of ''Alpha 3'', where the heroic "''GONG''" plays for the entire fight... [[spoiler: unless the ''Macross7'' crew attacks, in which case ''their'' music kicks in. Thoroughly justified, however: ''they're the ones playing GONG in the first place.'']]
** In ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsUX'', Fei-Yen HD overrides the music with her songs when she attacks and, unlike with previous games with licensed songs, Banpresto went the extra mile by having them be full vocal versions. Notably, this is the first time one of them, [[spoiler:In The Blue Sky]], is shown as having vocals at all!
** In ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Second Original Generation:]] [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsEX Dark]] [[{{DLC}} Prison]]'', when Shu Shirakawa gets the Neo Granzon, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhIPKvCqRnw Dark Prison : Dark Prison (Ver.OGDP)]] will override ''any'' theme music ''including the FinalBoss''.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 3'' had a particularly memorable bit where the WAZA HQ is under attack by clones. The [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Satella Police theme]] plays throughout, uninterrupted, until all the clones are dealt with. Unfortunately not repeated in the final stage, where touching the Crimson bits only plays the regular battle theme. Repeated in the post-game, where if an area contains an Omega Boss, a very special, dark and foreboding theme plays, not interrupting until you either leave or find the boss.

* In the video game ''VideoGame/DragonballZTheLegacyOfGoku II'', you have to [[ItMakesSenseInContext get the song "Eye of the Lion" and give it to Hercule so that he'll move his parade float and you can talk to Piccolo.]] While the record is taken away from your inventory when you give it to Hercule, you can select it from your inventory before then, which will cause the song to play instead of the usual music until you go to a new screen.

* ''VideoGame/SegaSuperstars'': Activating an All-Star in ''Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing'' and ''Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed'' will change whatever is the BackgroundMusic to that of the All-Star's theme for all players involved. As All-Stars are huge, powerful attacks where no one is truly safe, hearing the music suddenly change is a tipoff that one's been activated, and it's important for players to remember which theme is whose to be ready for what shows up. If an All-Star activates while another one is in session, the next one will override the previous one.

* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'':
** Used during the "save Marbule" quest, the Magical Dreamers music continues through battles. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] since it's a live performance. It's also used during the battle with Miguel in the Dead Sea.
** And in the beginning of the game we have a battle theme version, where the boss theme plays through almost the entire dream sequence (though without the chanting).
** When Serge travels back in time to Lucca's house, "Orphanage of Flame" plays exclusively, including during battle.

* In ''VideoGame/StarOcean: The Second Story'', after beating Gabriel Celesta and finishing the Cave of Trials, the "Star Ocean Forever" fanfare tune will start to play and will keep on playing as long as you stay in the cave. However, there won't be any enemy encounters until you exit the cave and come back (which will also reset the music). It's a swap but not an override.
* The BottomlessPit area of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfLegacy'' has two examples. One theme plays during all encounters of the first several areas, and the Singing Shard song plays through all encounters in the final area of the level.
* In ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'', during the boss battle with [[spoiler:[[ThatOneBoss Guillo]]]], the amazingly creepy song '[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHoXjLu2rmE]]' plays over the fight, instead of the regular boss music. Fitting, considering this is a ''massive'' WhamEpisode. Earlier on, during the segment where Sagi and Guillo escape Mintaka, the normal battle music doesn't play over the first few scripted fights.
* In ''VideoGame/LegendOfLegaia'', when you are traversing a Mist Generator dungeon, the dungeon theme continues to play during random battles. This happens again for a certain sequence in Ratayu, and then again [[spoiler:inside the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, the Bio Castle]].

* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'' has one battle where battle music doesn't play: five Boos in a room with a disco ball. With disco music playing after revealing them and lasting through the battle.
** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'': The final area has its theme play over battles.
** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'': The final dungeon also has its BackgroundMusic play during battles.
* ''VideoGame/WildArms2'' has the Knightblazer theme overriding ''any battle theme music'' when Ashley transforms into his SuperpoweredEvilSide.
* Happens in the ''VideoGame/ExaPico'' series, as whenever a Hymn is being sung for any reason in any of the games, it overrides all and any of the music played at the moment.
* In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'', activating a quest will trigger one of two Challenge Quest tracks--"Challenge Quest α" for hunting quests and "Challenge Quest β" for other quests--which will override whatever BackgroundMusic is playing while you're exploring, although on the Tokyo map, only "Challenge Quest α" will have higher priority than the map music. This can lead to some [[SoundtrackDissonance amusing results]], such as replacing the climatic final dungeon tracks, or adding music to an area with no music (e.g. the various underground shelters and [[spoiler:Blasted Camp Ichigaya]]).

* In ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'', this happens in each of the last three main storyline dungeons.
* ''VideoGame/AtelierLydieAndSuelleTheAlchemistsAndTheMysteriousPaintings'':
** Combination Attacks now have their own musical theme that override the battle music, the first time such has happened since ''[[VideoGame/AtelierSophieTheAlchemistOfTheMysteriousBook Sophie]]'' got rid of special finishers.
** The mysterious painting Heavenly Flower Garden has its own theme which plays throughout exploring it, including the battle and victory screens.
* In the SNES game adaptation of ''Anime/AkazukinChacha'', transforming Chacha into Magical Princess during a boss fight will cause the BackgroundMusic to change to the transformation and battle music from the show.
* ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy5'':
** When inside an underground area housing one of the Sacred Jewels, the ominous quiet whispering sounds from the overworld replace the battle and victory themes.
** "[=dU5k M3Igb VkgN Wsxbg=]" plays uninterrupted throughout [[spoiler:the entire final Glitch area and in the fight against the Glitch itself.]]
** Inverted with the Neon Valhalla. The room where it's fought has the boss theme "Blade and Switch" playing in the overworld, which continues when entering a battle with it. This is the only boss with that honor.
* ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'': The battle against [[spoiler:Erhardt]] during Olberic's third chapter has Olberic's theme playing, continued from the cutscene before it.
* In ''VideoGame/Haven2020'':
** "Blooting Hornets" overrides both the BGM and BattleThemeMusic whenever Hornets are present on an Islet.
** During the sequence where Yu and Kay are separated, "I Can't Stay Mad At You" overrides all other BGM tracks, though not the battle music.
* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', the song "Life Will Change" plays on any day you go to challenge the boss of a dungeon, overriding the regular dungeon, safe room, and battle themes. In fact, it only turns off when you challenge bosses or mini-bosses. The UpdatedRerelease, ''Royal'', adds another track called "I Believe" that saves the same purpose and plays during the palace in the 3rd semester.

* In ''VideoGame/UltimateMarvelVSCapcom3'', Phoenix Wright's normal theme is a remix of first game's "Objection!", but once he reaches [[SuperMode Turnabout Mode]], the music automatically changes to a remix of the iconic "Pursuit ~ Cornered". This theme will override any other theme playing at the time, and it will only stop playing once either Turnabout Mode ends or Phoenix gets K.O.'d.

* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'': ''Guilty Gear Xrd'' has several moments when the BGM is overridden. For any character, successfully landing an Instant Kill switches the BGM to the game's theme, ''[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Heavy Day]]''. Second, if while playing Ky Kiske you take too much damage, his hair becomes undone and the music switches to ''[[OrchestralBombing Holy Orders III]]'' from ''Guilty Gear 2''. Finally, activating Sol Badguy's [[SuperPoweredEvilSide Dragon Install]] changes the BGM to ''[[MetalScream Ride the Fire]]''.
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': In the fourth fighting game, ''VideoGame/TouhouShinkirouHopelessMasquerade'', after one of the fighters reaches 100% Popularity (which enables use of their [[LimitBreak Last Word]]), the BackgroundMusic is overriden by a souped-up version of that character's musical theme.
* ''VideoGame/FateUnlimitedCodes'': Both Saber and Archer can invoke this. If Saber uses a burst and reveals her sword ([[spoiler:Excalibur]], usually hidden by a wind spell), a remixed version of "Sword of Promised Victory" will play for the duration of the burst. If Archer completes his [[LimitBreak Unlimited Blade Works]] [[{{Invocation}} chant]], a remixed version of "EMIYA" will play for the duration of the ''match''.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'': When you get to Hideout Helm, the level music keeps playing, even inside of the Tag Barrel or when your Kong has transformed. The only exceptions are during the mini games and inside the Battle Crown arena.

* In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'':
** The jazzy battle theme takes over from the night stages' regular music whenever you get into a scrap with some enemies, except in the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon final level]], Eggmanland, whose moody, climactic theme plays nonstop throughout its [[MarathonLevel numerous nighttime segments]].
** In most of his playable, non-story related appearances, transforming into [[GoldenSuperMode Super Sonic]] will replace the stage music either with a variant of [[TriumphantReprise the title theme song]] or [[PowerUpMotif a unique theme made for Super Sonic.]]
* In the final level of ''VideoGame/FreedomPlanet'', the life-up jingle is muted, letting the various versions of the Final Dreadnought continue to play. Considering they're all remixes of Lord Brevon's leitmotif, it's appropriate.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Amagon}}'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL34n0kIezM Zone 4]]'s [[HellIsThatNoise ear-piercingly high-pitched BGM]] plays uninterrupted through the entire zone, overriding both Megagon's PowerUpMotif and the BattleThemeMusic.
* In addition to the Invincible Candy in the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' series, when Kirby rides the Animal Friends Rick the Hamster, Coo the Owl, or Kine the Fish in ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'', the partner's respective theme replaces the level music.

* ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon'' has unique music themes for the shops, shrines, and other rooms populated by friendly characters. However, once you defeat a boss, the victory theme will continue playing for as long as you remain on that floor unless you enter combat again.

* After inflicting enough damage on Alec Travelyan in ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp6wad2yXs4 Settle the Score with 006]] plays when he descends on the ladder.
* In ''VideoGame/MaxPayne 3'', during the climactic battle at the Sao Paulo airport, "Tears" overrides the level's VariableMix music.

* ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone''
** One of the stages is from a game called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6BlxUycK8 -Primitive Force]] from a game called ''Gain Ground'' and it's from SEGA. It's the only bgm that keeps playing throughout the entire stage and at Operation Crackdown. Even better, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3LbWcfJTio "Rocks" in Chapter 27]].
** In a NewGamePlus, you can ''manually'' select a BGM that would play throughout the entire stage. Or you can just set it to random and be amused as [[VideoGame/ResonanceOfFate Zephyr and Leanne]] get [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 Ultra Violet]] playing on their turn. Or even [[VideoGame/GodsEaterBurst Over the Clouds]] on [[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games Kite and Black Rose's]] turn.

* In ''VideoGame/MadFather'' this trope is played for horror during the GoldenEnding. If the player knows Maria's backstory and chooses to [[spoiler:heal her after she is injured by Dr. Drevis]], her theme will replace the segment's usual silence, until [[spoiler:the Doctor catches up]].

* During Chapter 2 of ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'', the Queen's mansion's theme, "Pandora Palace", replaces the standard combat theme. This also applies to "Deal Gone Wrong", which plays in the mansion during the Weird Route.
* ''VideoGame/{{OFF}}'' lets the ongoing BackgroundMusic continue playing through several battles: fighting ghosts during the timed mission in Zone 2, the first fight with Enoch, the fight with the Critic Burnt in Zone 3, [[spoiler:the secretaries of the purified zones, and the penultimate fight with Hugo]].

* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow''

* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' and its sequel have important points in the story where they underline the mood by playing a somber song that is timed to last at least the whole ride back home.
* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedValhalla'' after hunting down the last Order member, the game disables your quick travel and plays a song that lasts for about the time it takes to ride back to Winchester.
* ''VideoGame/OuterWilds'' has the track "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPyaFR7poL4&t=823s End Times]]" that plays [[spoiler:right before the Sun goes supernova]], overriding all other music that may be playing.

* A rare non-video game example, the ''Series/LawAndOrder'' television series (including the various spin-offs) will occasionally forego the iconic "Clang-clang!" sound that accompanies scene changes and simply allow the BackgroundMusic to continue during moments of high drama.
%%* ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' had the Gallery of Time.
%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample. Explain what tracks these themes override, and what is the significance of the override.
* ''Super Baseball Simulator 1000'' replaces the stadium themes with a fight song-style motif [[SongsInTheKeyOfPanic when a player is on third base]]. Another special tune plays in all stadiums when both teams are in the Ultra League.
* Entering Climax mode in ''[[Anime/ShoujoKagekiRevueStarlight Revue Starlight [=ReLIVE=]]]'' has your team's selected Revue Song override the standard battle music--or in [=PvP=], your opponent's selected Revue Song if they entered Climax mode before you.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'': It is possible to implement one of the special music tracks to Mario (including an effect that completely turns off any sort of BackgroundMusic). Doing this will override the music of the current level (including a differently-themed secondary area). ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' allows this for Luigi, Toad and Toadette as well, and adds more music tracks.

* In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'', when you get to Hideout Helm, the level music keeps playing, even inside of the Tag Barrel or when your Kong has transformed. The only exceptions are during the mini games and inside the Battle Crown arena.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'', it is possible to implement one of the special music tracks to Mario (including an effect that completely turns off any sort of BackgroundMusic). Doing this will override the music of the current level (including a differently-themed secondary area). ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' allows this for Luigi, Toad and Toadette as well, and adds more music tracks.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', the song "Life Will Change" plays on any day you go to challenge the boss of a dungeon, overriding the regular dungeon, safe room, and battle themes. In fact, it only turns off when you challenge bosses or mini-bosses. The UpdatedRerelease, ''Royal'', adds another track called "I Believe" that saves the same purpose and plays during the palace in the 3rd semester.

** In a NewGamePlus, you can ''manually'' select a BGM that would play throughout the entire stage. Or you can just set it to random and be amused as [[VideoGame/ResonanceOfFate Zephyr and Leanne]] get [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Ultra Violet]] playing on their turn. Or even [[VideoGame/GodsEaterBurst Over the Clouds]] on [[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games Kite and Black Rose's]] turn.

** This trope started becoming possible since ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Freedom Unite]]'', when quests with more than one kind of large monster (the Epic Quests) were introduced. The standard BattleThemeMusic for each area is usually played whenever you're hunting a large monster, unless you're hunting a Yian Garuga, Tigrex, Nargacuga or Rajang. The former three have each a dedicated battle theme that override those of all areas except the Arena's, while Rajang has a theme capable of overriding every theme ''including'' the Arena. Interestingly, King Shakalaka's theme can override the Small Arena's, but that's simply because of the playful nature of the monster itself. So in the practical scheme the priority sequence is the following: Stage < Yian Garuga = Tigrex = Nargacuga[[note]]these three never appear at the same time in a quest except for the latter two in an Arena quest, whose theme overrides theirs anyway[[/note]] < Arena = Tower < Rajang. None of this counts the Elder Dragon themes, as Elder Dragons themselves never appeared alongside any other monster at the same time in the series prior to ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld''.

** ''4'' and ''4 Ultimate'', having a larger bestiary overall, introduce a slew of new themes, each having a different degree of overriding privilege, and is too large to be mentioned here. But of note is the theme used for monsters in Apex status, which appear in ''4 Ultimate'' and has maximum BGM priority, overriding even the Arena's and Deviljho's themes. Another unique case is Kirin, which usually doesn't have its own theme despite being an Elder Dragon, but in these two games it borrows the Tower theme whenever it or the Oroshi subspecies is fought outside the Tower Summit itself.

** ''World'' adds the theme for the High-Rank wanderer Bazelgeuse, which like Deviljho's overrides all other themes. Of course, once it attacks, you soon understand ''why'' it starts off sounding like an Air Raid siren. ''World's'' first DLC pack added the Deviljho, whose theme overrides Bazelgeuse's.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'': In Ganon's Tower, the background music keeps going during fights, rather than jumping into the standard battle music.

** ''Reincarnation'' also overrides the background music during [[spoiler: the true final mission, Azure, due to Lumen entering Gunvolt's mind to resurrect and heal his wounds from Asimov's earlier gunshot]]

* In the first two entries of ''VideoGame/AnotherCenturysEpisode'', whenever the Layzner activates its signature V-MAX program in-gameplay, its respective theme will instantly override the background music of whatever stage the SPT's played in for the program's duration and cool-off period. This is especially telling in the fight against Ru Kain and his Zakaal in both games, as he utilizes its own V-MAX program in a kamikaze charge against the player, thus providing the same musical override.

*** In the four Trial Shrine dungeons, the background music is used both in and out of battles, giving you a chance to enjoy [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic some of the best music in the game.]]

** The original game features two bikes named ''Hang-On'' and ''Super Hang-On'', which are modelled after their respective arcade cabinets and replace the background music of all tracks with their themes (in ''Super Hang-On'''s case, ''Outride a Crisis'').

* ''VideoGame/SegaSuperstars'': Activating an All-Star in ''Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing'' and ''Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed'' will change whatever is the background music to that of the All-Star's theme for all players involved. As All-Stars are huge, powerful attacks where no one is truly safe, hearing the music suddenly change is a tipoff that one's been activated, and it's important for players to remember which theme is whose to be ready for what shows up. If an All-Star activates while another one is in session, the next one will override the previous one.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV: A Realm Reborn'', the background music of Garlean outposts and the beast tribes' territories plays even during battle. In ''Heavensward'', this occurs in Azys La as well. During ''Shadowbringers'', this happens in the Tempest, though here it's a lot more somber.

** Route 23 in Kanto gradually became this trope. Beginning partially with ''Yellow'' (the surf music would still play) and entirely in ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'', the dramatic background music would continue regardless of the player's current mode of transportation.

** In ''VideoGame/PokemonRumble'' and its sequel, whenever Mewtwo shows up, the theme immediately switches to the classic Mewtwo encounter theme from the original ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', overriding the current background music.

** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'': The final dungeon also has its background music play during battles.

* In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'', activating a quest will trigger one of two Challenge Quest tracks--"Challenge Quest α" for hunting quests and "Challenge Quest β" for other quests--which will override whatever background music is playing while you're exploring, although on the Tokyo map, only "Challenge Quest α" will have higher priority than the map music. This can lead to some [[SoundtrackDissonance amusing results]], such as replacing the climatic final dungeon tracks, or adding music to an area with no music (e.g. the various underground shelters and [[spoiler:Blasted Camp Ichigaya]]).

* In the SNES game adaptation of ''Anime/AkazukinChacha'', transforming Chacha into Magical Princess during a boss fight will cause the background music to change to the transformation and battle music from the show.

** ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle'': While Bang Shishigami doesn't return, Yang Xiao Long from ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' follows in his footsteps by replacing the background music with "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XoOt-5pW_Q I Burn]]" when she activates her Rage semblence.

* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': In the fourth fighting game, ''VideoGame/TouhouShinkirouHopelessMasquerade'', after one of the fighters reaches 100% Popularity (which enables use of their [[LimitBreak Last Word]]), the background music is overriden by a souped-up version of that character's musical theme.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'', it is possible to implement one of the special music tracks to Mario (including an effect that completely turns off any sort of background music). Doing this will override the music of the current level (including a differently-themed secondary area). ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' allows this for Luigi, Toad and Toadette as well, and adds more music tracks.

* In ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'', each song has a [[VariableMix peaceful and intense version, depending on whether the player is in danger or not.]] During the final sector, the Last Stand, the background music only has one version.

* ''VideoGame/{{OFF}}'' lets the ongoing background music continue playing through several battles: fighting ghosts during the timed mission in Zone 2, the first fight with Enoch, the fight with the Critic Burnt in Zone 3, [[spoiler:the secretaries of the purified zones, and the penultimate fight with Hugo]].

* A rare non-video game example, the ''Series/LawAndOrder'' television series (including the various spin-offs) will occasionally forego the iconic "Clang-clang!" sound that accompanies scene changes and simply allow the background music to continue during moments of high drama.

** This trope started becoming possible since ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Freedom Unite]]'', when quests with more than one kind of large monster (the Epic Quests) were introduced. The standard BattleThemeMusic for each area is usually played whenever you're hunting a large monster, unless you're hunting a Yian Garuga, Tigrex, Nargacuga or Rajang. The former three have each a dedicated battle theme that override those of all areas except the Arena's, while Rajang has a theme capable of overriding every theme ''including'' the Arena. Interestingly, King Shakalaka's theme can override the Small Arena's, but that's simply because of the playful nature of the monster itself. So in the practical scheme the priority sequence is the following: Stage < Yian Garuga = Tigrex = Nargacuga[[note]]these three never appear at the same time in a quest except for the latter two in an Arena quest, whose theme overrides theirs anyway[[/note]] < Arena < Rajang. None of this counts the Elder Dragon themes, as Elder Dragons themselves never appeared alongside any other monster at the same time in the series prior to ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld''.