History Main / SadBattleMusic

* "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-nHIY-ahn8 Prisoners of Fate]]" in ''ChronoCross'' plays during the climax of the game's WhamEpisode, when it's revealed that [[spoiler: things did ''not'' end well for the protagonists of ''ChronoTrigger,'' and that their actions are directly responsible for the events of the game]]. It culminates in the fight against the infamous [[spoiler:[[ThatOneBoss Miguel]]]], who was bound to the Dead Sea by fate.

* In ''MitsumeteKnight'', there's "Sorrowful Blade", the battle theme played when fighting [[spoiler:the enemy Eight General Salishuan the Spy, alias Raizze Haimer (one of the winnable main heroines), when she's torn between her duty and her love for the protagonist. You actually need to hear this theme to get her ending: if not, she's LostForever.]]

** In {{Kingdom Hearts coded}}, [[spoiler: the same thing happens with the battle against Data-Roxas.]]
** ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'': [[spoiler:Xion's fight theme, "Vector to the Heavens"]]

* "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-nHIY-ahn8 Prisoners of Fate]]" in ''ChronoCross'' plays during the climax of the game's WhamEpisode, when it's revealed that [[spoiler: things did ''not'' end well for the protagonists of ''ChronoTrigger,'' and that their actions are directly responsible for the events of the game]]. It culminates in the fight against the infamous [[spoiler[[ThatOneBoss Miguel]]]], who was bound to the Dead Sea by fate.

* "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-nHIY-ahn8 Prisoners of Fate]]" in ''ChronoCross'' plays during the climax of the game's WhamEpisode, when it's revealed that [[spoiler: things did ''not'' end well for the protagonists of ''ChronoTrigger,'' and that their actions are directly responsible for the events of the game]]. It culminates in a showdown against someone who ''really'' does not want to fight you, [[ThatOneBoss but can and will kick your ass.]]

* "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-nHIY-ahn8 Prisoners of Fate]]" in ''ChronoCross'' plays during the climax of the game's WhamEpisode, when it's revealed that [[spoiler: things did ''not'' end well for the protagonists of ''ChronoTrigger,'' and that their actions are directly responsible for the events of the game]]. It culminates in a showdown against an old man who ''really'' does not want to fight you, [[ThatOneBoss but will kick your ass seven ways to Sunday regardless.]]

* "Prisoners of Fate" in ''ChronoCross'' plays during the climax of the game's WhamEpisode, when it's revealed that [[spoiler: things did ''not'' end well for the protagonists of ''ChronoTrigger,'' and that their actions are directly responsible for the events of the game]]. It culminates in a showdown against an old man who ''really'' does not want to fight you, [[ThatOneBoss but will kick your ass seven ways to Sunday regardless.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' does this during [[spoiler:the battle against Claus]].

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'': A slow melancholic rendition of the game's theme song, Ring a Bell, plays during Yuri's battle with Estelle; during which, she pleads with him to kill her to save himself and the others.

* The third installment of the ''{{Xenosaga}}'' trilogy has the battle between KOS-MOS and T-ELOS. While their previous battles were accompanied by intense music, their final confrontation has the melancholic "Hepatica" playing.

* ''TalesOfVesperia'': A slow melancholic rendition of the game's theme song, Ring a Bell, plays during Yuri's battle with Estelle; during which, she pleads with him to kill her to save himself and the others.

* ''{{Mother 3}}'' does this during [[spoiler:the battle against Claus]].

* ''KingdomHeartsII Final Mix+'', during Sora's battle with Roxas. The song that plays is a melancholy remix of Roxas' theme (which was sad to begin with), and it is called "The Other Promise".
* ''KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'': [[spoiler:Xion's fight theme, "Vector to the Heavens"]]

There is PlayingTheHeartStrings, where sound effects are muted for music. There is OneWomanWail, where you hear a wailing singing voice. There is LonelyPianoPiece, where one character or very few characters realize that they're on their own. And there is EtherealChoir, where a distant choir harmonizes with the scene. But those don't convey the general feelings of sadness like this does.

In a sense, this is a much broader, more general trope, with those being possibly sub-tropes. Scenes of the carnage of war, an intense battle sequence, often accompanied by the deaths of some characters, or in general a war can have music like this. When feelings of hopelessness begin to take over, you can expect the music and mood to reflect that.

* ''DragonBallZ'' Episode 25. Krillin and Gohan fight Nappa to a sad fighting theme. Averted in the Western dub, where it is replaced with a more action-y theme.

* ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Part 2'', Courtyard Apocalypse, accompanied by watching the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix fight to the bitter end. [[spoiler:It even becomes more sad when you see Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf who has developed a taste for human flesh when not in his wolf form, feeding on the body of Lavender Brown.]]

* ''Film/LordOfTheRings: The Return of the King'' (movie adaptation). Pippin sings a song for Denethor. It's a sad melody. At the same time, Faramir and his battalion charge Osgiliath, and it doesn't go well.
* The slow woodwind (flute?) solo during the combat at Agincourt in KennethBranagh's ''HenryV''. Some of the combat sequences are also done in slow motion.

** ''CrisisCoreFinalFantasyVII'', "The Price of Freedom" could be considered this, due to the nature of the event you're fighting to it.
* ''FinalFantasyIX'' Beatrix's fight theme.
* ''FinalFantasyX'', when the player is approaching Zanarkand. the music that plays is "Someday the Dream Will End". This even carries over into the FightWoosh and the actual battle.

* ''KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' [[spoiler:Xion's fight theme, "Vector to the Heavens"]]
* ''AceCombat5TheUnsungWar'', mission 17. After [[spoiler:Chopper crashes]], the previous aggressive music abruptly stops and for a minute or so, there is no music at all. Then, just as new waves of enemies arrive, a Simple Score of Sadness picks up and plays until the end of the mission. It's made even worse by your remaining wingmen sobbing quietly on the radio.
* ''TalesOfVesperia'', a slow melancholic rendition of the game's theme song, Ring a Bell, plays during Yuri's battle with Estelle; during which, she pleads with him to kill her to save himself and the others.

* ''{{Mother 3}}'', [[spoiler:the battle against Claus]]

* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender''. The music that plays during the [[spoiler:Agni Kai between Zuko and Azula]] during Sozin's Comet. Fittingly, the music is called "The Last Agni Kai".

[[folder:Theater]]
* The slow woodwind (flute?) solo during the combat at Agincourt in KennethBranagh's ''HenryV''. Some of the combat sequences are also done in slow motion.
[[/folder]]

* ''SonicAdventure2''. Goodbye Chao.

There is PlayingTheHeartStrings, where sound effects are muted for music. There is OneWomanWail, where you hear a wailing singing voice. There is LonelyPianoPiece, where one character or very few characters realize that they're on their own. And there is EtherealChoir, where a distant choir harmonizes with the scene. But those don't convey the general feelings of sadness like this does. In a sense, this is a much broader, more general trope, with those being possibly sub-tropes. Scenes of the carnage of war, an intense battle sequence, often accompanied by the deaths of some characters, or in general a war can have music like this. When feelings of hopelessness begin to take over, you can expect the music and mood to reflect that.

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender''. The music that plays during the [[spoiler:Agni Kai between Zuko and Azula]] during Sozin's Comet. Fittingly, the music is called "The Last Agni Kai".
[[/folder]]

* ''DragonBallZ'' Episode 25. Krillin and Vegeta fight Nappa to a sad fighting theme. Averted in the Western dub, where it is replaced with a more action-y theme.

* ''CodeGeass'' has this during [[spoiler:the Black Knight's betrayal of Lelouch]].

* The slow woodwind (flute?) solo during the combat at Agincourt in KennethBranagh's ''HenryV''. Some of the combat sequences are also done in slow motion.
* ''FinalFantasyIX'' Beatrix's fight theme.
* ''KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' [[spoiler:Xion's fight theme, "Vector to the Heavens"]]
* ''DragonBallZ'' Episode 25. Krillin and Vegeta fight Nappa to a sad fighting theme. Averted in the Western dub, where it is replaced with a more action-y theme.
* ''KingdomHeartsII Final Mix+'', during Sora's battle with Roxas. The song that plays is a melancholy remix of Roxas' theme (which was sad to begin with), and it is called "The Other Promise".
* ''SonicAdventure2''. Goodbye Chao.
* ''CrisisCoreFinalFantasyVII'', "The Price of Freedom" could be considered this, due to the nature of the event you're fighting to it.
* ''FinalFantasyX'', when the player is approaching Zanarkand. the music that plays is "Someday the Dream Will End". This even carries over into the FightWoosh and the actual battle.
* ''StarWars Episode III: RevengeOfTheSith'' gives us "Anakin's Betrayal", which plays during the march on the Jedi Temple, courtesy of Order 66.
* ''Film/LordOfTheRings: The Return of the King'' (movie adaptation). Pippin sings a song for Denethor. It's a sad melody. At the same time, Faramir and his battalion charge Osgiliath, and it doesn't go well.
* In ''MitsumeteKnight'', there's "Sorrowful Blade", the battle theme played when fighting [[spoiler:the enemy Eight General Salishuan the Spy, alias Raizze Haimer (one of the winnable main heroines), when she's torn between her duty and her love for the protagonist. You actually need to hear this theme to get her ending: if not, she's Lost Forever.]]

There is {{Playing the Heart Strings}}, where sound effects are muted for music. There is {{One Woman Wail}}, where you hear a wailing singing voice. There is {{Lonely Piano Piece}}, where one character or very few characters realize that they're on their own. And there is {{Ethereal Choir}}, where a distant choir harmonizes with the scene. But those don't convey the general feelings of sadness like this does. In a sense, this is a much broader, more general trope, with those being possibly sub-tropes. Scenes of the carnage of war, an intense battle sequence, often accompanied by the deaths of some characters, or in general a war can have music like this. When feelings of hopelessness begin to take over, you can expect the music and mood to reflect that.

* ''{{Harry Potter}} and the Deathly Hallows Part 2'', Courtyard Apocalypse, accompanied by watching the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix fight to the bitter end. [[spoiler:It even becomes more sad when you see Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf who has developed a taste for human flesh when not in his wolf form, feeding on the body of Lavender Brown.]]
* ''{{Final Fantasy VII}}'', in the battle against JENOVA Life. The music that plays is Aeris' Theme, because [[spoiler: Aeris was killed by Sephiroth moments earlier.]]
* ''{{Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War}}'', mission 17. After [[spoiler:Chopper crashes]], the previous aggressive music abruptly stops and for a minute or so, there is no music at all. Then, just as new waves of enemies arrive, a Simple Score of Sadness picks up and plays until the end of the mission. It's made even worse by your remaining wingmen sobbing quietly on the radio.
* ''{{Tales of Vesperia}}'', a slow melancholic rendition of the game's theme song, Ring a Bell, plays during Yuri's battle with Estelle; during which, she pleads with him to kill her to save himself and the others.

* ''{{Metroid Prime}} 3: Corruption'' has sad but intense music during the battle against [[spoiler:Rundas]].

* ''{{Code Geass}}'' has this during [[spoiler:the Black Knight's betrayal of Lelouch]].
* Unlike the others that preceded it, the Final Boss in ''{{Shadow of the Colossus}}'' has a single, sad musical score that does not change while the battle progresses. It's oddly fitting, considering that [[spoiler:you lost your horse just before getting there]], and there's nowhere else to go but to defeat the boss and finish the game.
* ''{{Avatar: The Last Airbender}}''. The music that plays during the [[spoiler:Agni Kai between Zuko and Azula]] during Sozin's Comet. Fittingly, the music is called "The Last Agni Kai".
* The slow woodwind (flute?) solo during the combat at Agincourt in KennethBranagh's ''{{Henry V}}''. Some of the combat sequences are also done in slow motion.
* ''{{Final Fantasy IX}}'' Beatrix's fight theme.
* ''{{Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days}}'' [[spoiler:Xion's fight theme, "Vector to the Heavens"]]

* ''{{Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix+}}'', during Sora's battle with Roxas. The song that plays is a melancholy remix of Roxas' theme (which was sad to begin with), and it is called "The Other Promise".
* ''{{Sonic Adventure 2}}''. Goodbye Chao.
* ''{{Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII}}'', "The Price of Freedom" could be considered this, due to the nature of the event you're fighting to it.
* ''{{Final Fantasy X}}'', when the player is approaching Zanarkand. the music that plays is "Someday the Dream Will End". This even carries over into the {{Fight Woosh}} and the actual battle.
* ''{{Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sit}}'' gives us "Anakin's Betrayal", which plays during the march on the Jedi Temple, courtesy of Order 66.
* ''{{The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King}}'' (movie adaptation). Pippin sings a song for Denethor. It's a sad melody. At the same time, Faramir and his battalion charge Osgiliath, and it doesn't go well.
* In ''{{Mitsumete Knight}}'', there's "Sorrowful Blade", the battle theme played when fighting [[spoiler:the enemy Eight General Salishuan the Spy, alias Raizze Haimer (one of the winnable main heroines), when she's torn between her duty and her love for the protagonist. You actually need to hear this theme to get her ending: if not, she's Lost Forever.]]

Warning: This trope is {{Spoilered Rotten}}! Read at your own risk.

Examples:

Warning: This trope is {{Spoiled Rotten}}! Read at your own risk.

* ''{{Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War}}'', mission 17. After [[spoiler: Chopper crashes]], the previous aggressive music abruptly stops and for a minute or so, there is no music at all. Then, just as new waves of enemies arrive, a Simple Score Of Sadness picks up and plays until the end of the mission. It's made even worse by your remaining wingmen sobbing quietly on the radio.

* The third installment of the ''{{Xenosaga}}'' trilogy has the battle between KOS-MOS and T-ELOS. While their previous battles were accompanied by intense music, their final confrontation has the melancholic Hepatica playing.
* ''{{Metroid Prime}} 3: Corruption'' has sad but intense music during the battle against [[spoiler: Rundas]]
* ''{{Mother 3}}'', [[spoiler: the battle against Claus]]
* ''{{Code Geass}}'' has this during [[spoiler: the Black Knight's betrayal of Lelouch.]]
* Unlike the others that preceded it, the Final Boss in {{Shadow Of The Colossus}} has a single, sad musical score that does not change while the battle progresses. It's oddly fitting, considering that [[spoiler: you lost your horse just before getting there]], and there's nowhere else to go but to defeat the boss and finish the game.
* ''{{Avatar: The Last Airbender}}''. The music that plays during the [[spoiler: Agni Kai between Zuko and Azula]] during Sozin's Comet. Fittingly, the music is called The Last Agni Kai.
* The slow woodwind (flute?) solo during the combat at Agincourt in Branaugh's ''{{Henry V}}''. Some of the combat sequences are also done in slow motion.
* {{Final Fantasy IX}} Beatrix's fight theme.
* {{Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days}} [[spoiler: Xion's fight theme, Vector to the Heavens]]
* Dragonball Z Episode 25. Krillin and Vegeta fight Nappa to a sad fighting theme. Averted in the Western dub, where it is replaced with a more action-y theme.
* {{Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix+}}, during Sora's battle with Roxas. The song that plays is a melancholy remix of Roxas' theme (which was sad to begin with), and it is called The Other Promise.
* {{Sonic Adventure 2}}. Goodbye Chao.
* {{Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII}}, The Price of Freedom could be considered this, due to the nature of the event you're fighting to it.
* {{Final Fantasy X}}, when approaching Zanarkand. the music that plays is "Someday the Dream Will End." This even carries over into the {{Fight Whoosh}} and the actual battle.
* {{Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} gives us Anakin's Betrayal that plays during the march on the Jedi Temple, courtesy of Order 66.
* {{The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King}} (movie adaptation). Pippin sings a song for Denethor. It's a sad melody. At the same time, Faramir and his battalion charge Osgiliath, and it doesn't go well.
* In {{Mitsumete Knight}}, there's "Sorrowful Blade", the battle theme played when fighting [[spoiler: the enemy Eight General Salishuan the Spy, alias Raizze Haimer (one of the winnable main heroines), when she's torn between her duty and her love for the protagonist. You actually need to hear this theme to get her ending: if not, she's Lost Forever.]]

* The slow woodwind (flute?) solo during the combat at Agincourt in Branaugh's {{''Henry V''}}. Some of the combat sequences are also done in slow motion.