History Main / ImageSong

** ''Series/KamenRiderZiO'' has "Zi-O, Toki no Ouja", for the title character Sougo, and "Future Guardian" for TheLancer Geiz. Tsukuyomi also has "Tsuki no Ochiru Toki", Woz gets "Black & White", and the three Timejackers get "Revolutionize".

** ''Series/KamenRiderOOO'' follows suit with each of Kamen Rider OOO's Combo forms getting their own theme song sung by Shu Watanabe as Eiji Hino: Tatoba Combo's [[https://youtu.be/n-fcfmS5Jyw "Regret nothing ~Tighten Up~"]], Gatakiriba Combo's [[https://youtu.be/yidIvPzWMkc "Got to keep it real"]], Latoratah Combo's [[https://youtu.be/7mugFMcL0sk "Ride on Right time"]], Sagohzo Combo's [[https://youtu.be/TXbT1IemrQQ "Sun goes up"]], and Shauta Combo's [[https://youtu.be/ausbsYj13CE "Shout out"]]. He gets duets with Ryosuke Miura as Ankh on Tajador Combo's [[https://youtu.be/ebwl1M6G5Yw "Time judged all"]] and Akira Kushida (anison royalty and voice of the OOO Driver) on Putotyra Combo's [[https://youtu.be/ELyORdgoc34 "POWER to TEARER"]]. The two bearers of the Kamen Rider Birth belt also get a duet in the song [[https://youtu.be/ZJQsVAhEHvU "Reverse/Re:birth"]].

** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' decribes its insanely twisted character dynamics with two songs - "Ranbu Escalation", the duet of Kouta and Kaito and Mitsuzane's "Point of No Return".

** ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'' has "Real Game" for Parado, "Wish In The Dark" for Kuroto Dan, "JUSTICE" for Masamune Dan, and "PEOPLE GAME" for Poppy Pipopapo, which was sung by the character herself and used in-universe in commercials for Kamen Rider Chronicle. Also the inexplicable "Jingle Bells" cover "Pinple Pells"

* ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi7g9LbBv8A "Mimikyu's Song"]].
* The ''VideoGame/KillerInstinct'' reboot has TJ Combo's theme [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JapDyUwAu8 "I'm Back (To Rise)"]] - a hard-hitting rap number with lyrics detailing his attempts to recapture his pride and glory after his fall from grace, and prove that he can still fight at the top of his game.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne3'' had "Tears", performed by HEALTH and specially made for the game, which would later catapult the band into success. The song is about Max's constant hanging onto the past and how he needs to let go of the death of his wife and daughter. It's a very gritty song which fits specially well with Max's depressed character.
* As a game that uses StoryBreadcrumbs to tell an overarching narrative, one of ''VideoGame/MementoMoriAFKRPG'''s major selling points is this, giving every playable [[MageSpecies witch]] (even the ComMons) their own song -- "Lament" -- that each tell their personal stories and feelings from before and/or after meeting [[PlayerCharacter the Successor]], sung by famous Japanese singers. Bonus points to the Witches of Qlipha and a select few normal witches for having their Laments sung by their own voice actresses.
* ''VideoGame/MystIIIExile'''s ending theme seems to have the sole purpose of fleshing out its narrator (Tamra, the BigBad's wife), a minor character who never appeared in the game.

* Epic Games' original ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'' characters sometimes have accompanying songs which can be used as lobby music once unlocked, usually in pop or hip-hop styles.
* Certain guests in ''VideoGame/LibraryOfRuina'' have special battle themes with lyrics provided by Music/{{Mili}}.
** Tomerry, the boss of Love Town, has the song "From A Place of Love", a song about [[spoiler: how Tommy and Merry [[TragicMonster regret accepting Elena and Jae-hon's deal, outright wishing they were dead instead.]]]]
** Xiao's battle theme "Iron Lotus" is about her grief over losing her husband and how she tries to turn that pain into strength to fight on and avenge his death.
** [[spoiler:Distorted Yan's]] battle theme is "Children of the City", a song about [[spoiler:how Yan desired to break free of the Prescripts, only to realize his attempts at rebellion were a pointless SelfFulfillingProphecy.]]
* ''VideoGame/LimbusCompany'': During the final boss of a Canto (aside from Cantos I and II), a song by Music/{{Mili}} plays during the fight that is sung from the perspective of the character whom the chapter focuses on. In addition, each of the Sinners sings their own version of the song "Fade Away" at the end of their Cantos.
** "Between Two Worlds" from Canto III is sung from the perspective of Sinclair, and is divided between an angelic-sounding "light half" and a dramatic, frantic "dark half". The former half has Sinclair lament the loss of his family, wishing he had never met Kromer and set the tragic events of his life into motion. The latter half is about Sinclair's desire to break free of his shell and finally kill Kromer once and for all.
** "Fly, My Wings" from Canto IV is sung from Yi Sang's perspective during the battle with [[spoiler:Dongrang]], about his desire to do what he loves and be happy in the wake of the League of Nine's collapse.
** "Compass" from Canto V is sung from Ishmael's perspective during the final battle with Ahab. The song is about how her time with Ahab caused her to lose her way and fall to obsessive madness, but now she's breaking free and charting a new path without Ahab.

* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' is full of these, but ''Guilty Gear -STRIVE-'' takes the cake. With the most playable characters in the series to date (at over 25), Ishiwatari Daisuke gets to belt out hit after hit, to the point where in ''-STRIVE-'' not only does every character in the roster have one, but there's even one for ''the game itself!'' And that's not even counting the possibility for a ThemeMusicPowerUp.

* ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' might be one of the most extreme cases. There are literally dozens of versions of the original theme song, recorded by every possible cast member or combination of cast members. In addition, there are straight Image Songs for each of the main cast, which sometimes find their way into the actual games as individual themes.

* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' has a few image songs on every arranged sound track from '94 to '98. Most of them are usually sung by Athena's VA, but '95 has a song where the entire cast gets in on the action, and '97 has a Kyo/Iori duet. Hell, even Choi gets to sing! The tail end of it is the short song that's played in his intro during ''KOF '98'' if he's the first character out on the team or if it's a 1v1 match, "Choi Bounge Ondo."
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' have character songs for all the playable characters plus the game's theme tune. ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' replaced individual character themes with team themes (fitting the game's gimmick). The trend varyingly continues with the most recent games (different songs for different endings in ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', only one theme song for ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', etc). Sonic's theme song ''It Doesn't Matter'' is particularly noteworthy since the ''Adventure'' games only bring up that aspect of his character on a surface level, but the ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'' expands on what he means by those lyrics.
* The Masou Kishin/Elemental Lords in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' mostly had their {{Leitmotif}}s turned into Image Song. Other than Masaki's, they're usually sung by their own seiyuus (Masaki's Image Song is sung by [[Music/JAMProject Ichiro Mizuki and Hironobu Kageyama]].) There's also image songs by Music/JAMProject about the SRX Team's {{Leitmotif}}.

* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'':
** [[EvilOverlord Laharl]], [[TheLancer Etna]], [[UnknownRival Mid-Boss]] and [[Creator/NobuyukiHiyama Axel]] each have one ("Lord Laharl's Hymn", "Etna Boogie", "Ah, My Magnificent Life" and "White Tiger", respectively), featured in the characters' respective endings.
** ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice'' has ones for Mao ("Go Mao!"), Almaz ("Unlucky Hero"), and Raspberyl ("Love Combination").
** In ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'', Valvatorez's Image Song, "Arcadian Vampire", is even brought up within the story - Some of the [[PlayerMooks Prinnies]] write it in the first half of the game to use as a HubLevel theme. Meanwhile, Fuka gets a humorous remix of Flonne's {{Leitmotif}} WithLyrics (or ''one'' lyric, rather), and the song "Naked Requiem" appears to serve as one for Fenrich and Val in Tyrant Valvatorez Mode (which ups their occasionally lampshaded HomoeroticSubtext even further).
* ''VideoGame/XenoSaga Episode II'' contains a track called "The Image Song of VideoGame/XenoSaga Episode II" (a portion of it is played while fighting Margulis). However, it doesn't appear to be from the point of view of any particular character.
* The three leads of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' all got their own [=CDs=].
* "Edge of Dawn" from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' serves as one for Edelgard, as its Japanese title "Young Lady of Hresvelg" makes clear. [[spoiler: On three out of four of the game's routes, it also doubles as a VillainSong.]]
* ''VideoGame/FZeroGX'' featured image songs for all of the characters, some with lyrics. Yes, including [[MemeticBadass Captain Falcon]].

* The ''VideoGame/HarukanaruTokiNoNakaDe'' franchise got quite a bit of these; in fact, the ''Hachiyou Shou'' anime TV series makes a point of using the ten associated character songs -- eight for [[CastFullOfPrettyBoys the main team]] plus two for the villains -- for the [[ADayInTheLimelight character-centered episodes]]: either within the episode itself, often as a ThemeMusicPowerUp, or replacing the regular EndingTheme. Even [[ArtificialHuman Yasuaki]], who is voiced by Creator/AkiraIshida, wasn't spared (one episode has a remake version of his Image Song as the ending).
* ''VideoGame/{{Angelique|KoeiTecmo}}'' has mulptiple image songs for all of the datable guys, including plenty of duet and group songs. The third set of {{OVA}}s even includes ''music videos'' for the Cherry Blossom/Sunflower set of image songs.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' has plot-important image songs for Paz and Peace Walker that play in game, and an image song for Big Boss and Kaz each that came on a supplemental drama CD.
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' every distinct boss has their own song, which plays in instrumental during their fight, [[SongsInTheKeyOfPanic then turns to play in full glory with spoken lyrics when their health drops past a certain point]]. The FinalBoss song "It Has To Be This Way" mixes it up a bit, as it isn't clear whether the song refers to Raiden or [[spoiler:Armstrong]], working equally well for both of them.
--->''I've [[ReluctantPsycho carved my own path]] / you've [[BloodKnight followed your wrath]] / but maybe [[NotSoDifferentRemark we're both the same.]]''
*** One could argue that both "Rules of Nature" is a shared song for both the [=UGs=] RAY and Grad and Raiden. One interpretation is the song has the idea that the "strong" (i.e. the two [=UGs=]) can be overpowered by "the agile prey" (Raiden) through quick thinking. Another is that all 3 are "a predator on the verge of death"; due to how quickly cybernetics advanced between ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' and ''Rising: Revengence'' Unmanned Gears, with the slight exception of Gekkos and other [=UGs=], have become obsolete as [[{{Cyborg}} cyborgs]] can quickly handle them as well as Raiden's own cybernetics have become outdated, letting Sam beat him with little effort [[spoiler: despite only having a artificial arm.]]
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV'', licensed 80s music with double meanings for the characters is included, as well as several original UsefulNotes/{{Synthwave}} songs which are more clearly about the characters (particularly the song "The Phantom Pain").
* Young Maylay, the voice of Carl 'C.J.' Johnson in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'' and accomplished rap musician, used the game's theme song as a backing track for the first song on his LP, ''San Andreas: The Original Mixtape'', where he raps about the game in character.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0Ul-y-gD8 Star Salzman]] from ''Music/OverClockedRemix'' turns "Robo's Theme" into this with the addition of lyrics, recounting several incidents from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' that focused on Robo, using first person language.
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'''s Creator/AdultSwim-themed radio station includes a song by Music/UnknownHinson sung in-character as [[WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}} Early Cuyler]] titled "Save Me From Myself".

* ''VideoGame/ChildOfEden'' has Lumi's "Heavenly Star", originally from Q Entertainment's previous game ''VideoGame/{{Lumines}} II'', during the final stage.
* ''VideoGame/FinalZone II'' has the title theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qCP4hMlcZI "Bowie's Chance"]]; and Momoko Ring's theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm79-nK7wig "Don't Stop"]]; both sung by the respective characters' voice actors.

* As a game that uses StoryBreadcrumbs to tell an overarching narrative, one of ''VideoGame/MementoMoriAFKRPG'''s major selling points is this, giving every playable [[MageSpecies witch]] (even the ComMons) their own song -- "Lament" -- that each tell their personal stories and feelings from before and/or after meeting [[PlayerCharacter the Successor]], sung by famous Japanese singers. Bonus points to the Witches of Qlipha and a select few normal witches for having their Laments sung by their own voice actresses.

** The "Psycho Soldier Theme" is likely the UrExample for video games, created for the ''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'' arcade game in 1986. It's essentially a BraggingThemeTune for [[PintSizedPowerhouse Athena Asamiya]] and her PsychicPowers. A full cut of the song was sold on cassette, but the game itself had a shorter version that played in the first stage and during the credits -- vocals included! It also occasionally shows up in Athena's crossover appearances; for a while, ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'' made a new version of the song as a yearly tradition.

** The "Psycho Soldier Theme" is likely the UrExample for video games, created for the ''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'' arcade game in 1987. It's essentially a BraggingThemeTune for [[PintSizedPowerhouse Athena Asamiya]] and her PsychicPowers. A full cut of the song was sold on cassette, but the game itself had a shorter version that played in the first stage and during the credits -- vocals included! It also occasionally shows up in Athena's crossover appearances; for a while, ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'' made a new version of the song as a yearly tradition.

* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'': "Ai No Uta" (Love Song), the image song for the eponymous creature first appeared in a Japanese commercial for the original Gamecube game. It later became a phenomenon over there, actually outselling the game it was about. The most popular demographic was [[{{Salaryman}} middle-aged working men]], who strongly identified with the themes of loyalty despite abuse which the Pikmin expressed:

** There's also Ai no Uta's B side ''Namida ga Afureta'' (The Tears are Overflowing) which is sung from the perspective of Captain Olimar. Who is crying because after everything [[{{Tearjerker}} he forgot to tell the Pikmin he loved them before leaving.]] It makes a great contrast. The Pikmin loved Olimar without any need for reciprication, and Olimar loved the Pikmin but never got to tell them.

* ''Film/SpiderMan2002'' had "Hero" by [[Music/{{Nickelback}} Chad Kroeger]] and [[Music/{{Saliva}} Josey Scott]].

* Six years after ''Film/MyCousinVinny'', Creator/JoePesci revived his character for the album ''Vincent [=LaGuardia=] Gambini Sings Just for You''. Many who heard it wished that he hadn't.

* ''Film/BatmanForever'' has "The Riddler" by [[Music/WuTangClan Method Man]].
* For ''Film/TheFly1986'', [[Music/RoxyMusic Bryan Ferry]]'s "Help Me" was originally commissioned for the end credits, but since Music/HowardShore's lush orchestral score was so powerful it was clear to writer-director Creator/DavidCronenberg that a rock song wouldn't work as a playout, though he did like it. Instead, it serves as background music in the first half of the bar scene. Out of context it comes off as a simple SanitySlippageSong in which the singer appeals to his lover for help; knowing the plot of the movie specifies it as the film's DoomedProtagonist metaphorically pondering his SlowTransformation into a monster.

* ''VideoGame/FZero GX'' featured image songs for all of the characters, some with lyrics. Yes, including [[MemeticBadass Captain Falcon]].

* Music/{{Gloryhammer}} has a few songs about the characters on their albums: "Angus [=McFife=]" for Angus and "Hollywood Hootsman" for Hootsman.

* ''VideoGame/{{Angelique}}'' has mulptiple image songs for all of the datable guys, including plenty of duet and group songs. The third set of {{OVA}}s even includes ''music videos'' for the Cherry Blossom/Sunflower set of image songs.

** Meanwhile, in the western fandom, [[http://asa-turney.tumblr.com asa]] uses the leitmotif itself and dubs it with an original song for the character. For example, [[http://asa-turney.tumblr.com/post/84959364067 Yuuka's]] is about [[TimeAbyss the transience of lesser beings]] using [[GreenThumb flower metaphors]], [[http://asa-turney.tumblr.com/post/120649953692 Mamizou's]] is about how much fun it is to be a [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshifting]] [[TheTrickster trickster]], [[http://asa-turney.tumblr.com/post/89210929032 Seija's]] is about her impending revolution, often [[PaintingTheMedium inverting and reversing itself]], and [[http://asa-turney.tumblr.com/post/92454072692 Yukari's]] is about the thin barriers that define existence and [[RealityWarper how easy it is to twist them]].