History Main / ThemeMusicPowerUp

* Quite a few times in ''Film/RoboCop1987'', score by Basil Poledouris. [=RoboCop=]'s leitmotif plays when he [[HesBack goes out on his first patrol]], when he [[DrugsAreBad shoots up a drug lab]], during his [[DavidVsGoliath fight with the robot [=ED-209=]]], and the FinalBattle with [[ItsPersonal the gang of criminals who murdered him]]. It also starts playing right before segueing into the credits after he saves the day just to show how awesome he is.

** The {{Crossover}} movies for ''Kamen Rider'' by itself tend to use the theme song for every show at appropriate moments, especially if Creator/KoichiSakamoto is the director. However, the cake has to go to ''[[Film/KamenRiderHeiseiGenerationsDrPacmanVsExAidAndGhostWithLegendaryRiders Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders]]'', which plays, [[Series/KamenRiderWizard Life is SHOW TIME]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim JUST LIVE MORE]], and [[Series/KamenRiderDrive SURPRISE-DRIVE]] consecutively for the Legend Riders’ fights against the villain lieutenants. [[Series/KamenRiderExAid EXCITE]] also plays earlier in the movie when Emu decides LetsGetDangerous and joins Takeru in confronting the villains at their base.

** The {{Crossover}} movies for ''Kamen Rider'' by itself tend to use the theme song for every show at appropriate moments, especially if Creator/KoichiSakamoto is the director. However, the cake has to go to ''[[Film/KamenRiderHeiseiGenerationsDrPacmanVsExAidAndGhostWithLegendaryRidersHeisei Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders]]'', which plays, [[Series/KamenRiderWizard Life is SHOW TIME]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim JUST LIVE MORE]], and [[Series/KamenRiderDrive SURPRISE-DRIVE]] consecutively for the Legend Riders’ fights against the villain lieutenants. [[Series/KamenRiderExAid EXCITE]] also plays earlier in the movie when Emu decides LetsGetDangerous and joins Takeru in confronting the villains at their base.

** The {{Crossover}} movies for ''Kamen Rider'' by itself tend to use the theme song for every show at appropriate moments, especially if Creator/KoichiSakamoto is the director. However, the cake has to go to ''[[Film/KamenRiderGenerationsDrPacmanVsExAidAndGhostWithLegendaryRidersHeisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders]]'', which plays, [[Series/KamenRiderWizard Life is SHOW TIME]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim JUST LIVE MORE]], and [[Series/KamenRiderDrive SURPRISE-DRIVE]] consecutively for the Legend Riders’ fights against the villain lieutenants. [[Series/KamenRiderExAid EXCITE]] also plays earlier in the movie when Emu decides LetsGetDangerous and joins Takeru in confronting the villains at their base.

** The {{Crossover}} movies for both ''Kamen Rider'' by itself and its team-ups with ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' tend to use the theme song for every show at appropriate moments. However, the cake has to go to ''[[Film/KamenRiderHeiseiGenerationsFinalBuildAndExAidWithLegendRiders Heisei Generations FINAL: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Riders]]'', which doesn't simply use the original theme songs but makes a medley out of them, starting with [[Series/KamenRiderBuild Be The One]] before transitioning to [[Series/KamenRiderExAid EXCITE]], [[Series/KamenRiderGhost We Think, Therefore We Are]], [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Switch On!]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim Just Live More]], and [[Series/KamenRiderOOO Anything Goes!]] before going back to Be The One for the finish.

* In the first ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' movie, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmQ3L-rjzhA the main theme]] kicks in during the final battle when the Turtles are fighting it out with the Foot on the streets and on the rooftop.

** In the ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Mario]] vs VideoGame/{{Sonic|TheHedgehog}}'' rematch, [[spoiler: just as [[SuperMode Hyper Sonic]] blitzes Mario, the [[InvincibilityPowerUp Rainbow Star]] theme is intertwined with the music revealing Mario has become invincible too. The moment is even more awesome thanks to Mario’s soft spoken “[[PreAssKickingOneLiner Let's a-go”]].]]

** Two particularly epic example in the ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] vs. [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]]'' rematch. [[spoiler: Firstly when Link uses the [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime ocarina]] to [[WeatherManipulation summon a thunder storm]] to power up his [[SwordBeam skyward strike]], the gentle Song of Storms melody plays before switching to a metal version of ''The Legend of Zelda'' theme as the Master Sword is charged with a bolt of lightning. Secondly when fighting [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Fierce Deity Link]], Cloud unleashes Omnislash V5 with the [[FantasticFightingStyle Fusion Swords]] ''[=FFVII=]''’s “Let the Battles Begin” kicks in, made all the awesome accompanied by Cloud’s [[PreAssKickingOneLiner one liner]] “Let’s mosey asshole”. Link takes [[CriticalExistenceFailure 9999 damage]] and is [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe bisected]].]]

If a ThemeMusicPowerUp is defeated, then it's TheDayTheMusicLied. If it's in particularly spectacular fashion, it may end with a RecordNeedleScratch or by LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand (or, if you're ''really'' unlucky, a LastNoteNightmare).

** ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'': Whenever Batman is in the middle of a fight or doing something heroic, instead of the regular ''BTAS'' theme song, a techno remix of Music/DannyElfman's Batman theme plays.

* Done twice in Star Trek LowerDecks. The first time it's the arrival of the Titan and captain Riker to the blaring theme of the next generation and then again at the season 3 finale when the Entire Cali class fleet arrives to save the Cerritos now playing the Lower Decks theme.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'':
** In the first film, the familiar strings of Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation" start to play when things start to turn in the titular ogre's favor during the wrestling match in Duloc.

[[folder:Tabeltop Games]]

* Combined with the WithLyrics trope in ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar''. While fighting Dr. Blowhole and his [[TheMusicMeister Music Meister-ing]] music player after suffering from LaserGuidedAmnesia, he recollects his memories after scatting and eventually singing to the show's instrumental theme song.

* Combined with the WithLyrics trope in ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'. While fighting Dr. Blowhole and his [[TheMusicMeister Music Meister-ing]] MP3 player after suffering from LaserGuidedAmnesia, he recollects his memories after scatting and eventually singing to the show's instrumental theme song.

** Probably an odd case combined with HesBack in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek 2}}'', when Shrek, Donkey and some of the others race to rescue Princess Fiona while the Fairy Godmother's singing "Holding Out for a Hero". It's kind of inversion since the song [[VillainSong was sung by the villain.]]

* In ''Film/{{Halloween 2007}}'', Michael gets better from his sister stabbing him through the shoulder and recovers his discarded mask when his "stalking" theme starts up.

** Intentionally invoked in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' with Starlord's Walkman soundtrack accompanying the other theme music:

** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] example at the end, the triumphant score [[https://youtu.be/10TK19duC3s?t=170 returns]] [[spoiler: ''but it's playing for the villain'' Eljiah since by discovering his {{Archenmey}} (David his exact opposite) he has valditated his existence and the murders he has commited. It's his victory music]].

** ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'''s games have its own series of Songs, with various remixes of 'Dear You'. The instrumental version, 'Dear You - Destructive' is used when Keiichi dodges bullets.

** Downplayed in ''[[VideoGame/KillerInstinct TJ Combo]] vs. [[{{Franchise/StreetFighter}} Balrog]]''. TJ's theme, ''"I'm Back (To Rise)"'' is playing throughout the whole fight, only cutting out when Balrog knocks TJ out. [[spoiler: The song starts to come back as TJ gets his HeroicSecondWind, and when he's back in the fight in earnest this trope is played straight, the song itself starting with the chorus' TitleDrop, and it doesn't stop this time until TJ lands the fatal blow.]]

** In the ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Mario]] vs [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]'' rematch, [[spoiler: just as [[SuperMode Hyper Sonic]] blitzes Mario, the [[InvincibilityPowerUp Rainbow Star]] theme is intertwined with the music revealing Mario has become invincible too. The moment is even more awesome thanks to Mario’s soft spoken “[[PreAssKickingOneLiner Let's a-go”]].]]
** In ''[[{{Franchise/StreetFighter}} Ryu]] vs [[VideoGame/{{Tekken}} Jin]]'' have “Fight like a Devil” and each time the fighters power up the music blares in their favour. [[spoiler: Later in the fight there’s some demonic vocals for Evil Ryu and as Devil Jin is overpowering Ryu, the latter activates The Power of Nothingness the music becomes softer before transitioning to a epic guitar score when Ryu finishes Jin off with a KamehamehaHadoken.]]

** Subverted example in ''[[{{Franchise/StreetFighter}} Cammy White]] vs [[Franchise/MortalKombat Sonya Blade]]'', Cammy’s signature theme overtakes the ''Mortal Kombat'' music when she manages to overpower Sonya [[spoiler: but dies away as when Cammy is beaten and [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe split in two]] by Sonya.]]

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** Intentionally invoked in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' with Starlord's walkman soundtrack accompanying the other theme music:

*** "Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Swede plays when the Guardians enter the prison where they meet Drax.
*** "Escape" aka "The Piña Colada Song" by Rupert Holmes plays when Quill gets his walkman back and escapes the prison.
*** [[Music/TheRunaways "Cherry Bomb"]] plays when Guardians gear up.
*** "I Want You Back" (Jackson 5) and "Ain't no Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell) plays when Guardians are let off by the Nova Corps and free to do as they please.
*** The main theme is played gloriously played twice, first when Rocket turns off the gravity in the prison except in the control center (where the heroes are) and then Rocket flies the control center out. [[spoiler: Secondly when Guardians together using ThePowerOfFriendship use the Powerstone to disintegrate Ronan]].
** ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' brings back the main theme from the predecessor when the fully-assembled team fights the Ultron Drones around the city-destroying trigger.

** Happens several times in ''Film/BlackWidow2021'' such as when the Nat does the ThreePointLanding after cirque du soleil-ing out of the helicopter there's a {{Beat}} just before the main theme [[https://youtu.be/eXr_RIUngTc?t=30 kicks up again]]. Also when fighting all the Widows at once during the climax, a omnious Russian chant starts up.

*** Likewise whenever Norman is in his Green Goblin persona his menacing Danny Elfman theme [[https://youtu.be/hPsRKkj-mI0?t=32 blazes]], [[spoiler: especially when [[https://youtu.be/iWcdF0ue7zE?t=3 tormenting]] MCU Spidey and Aunt May at the apartment.]]
*** Electro while reforming his body has his Dubstep score from ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'' [[https://youtu.be/w01aReCK9us?t=81 kick in]] as he's attacking Peter.
*** [[spoiler: When [[https://youtu.be/OKxPHpaN17s?t=14 Raimiverse Peter steps through Ned's portal]], the beautiful Elfman Spider-Man theme plays.]]

** Even better in the ''Film/MissionImpossibleII'', when [[spoiler:the hero is dead and the villain victorious (complete with his own music rising to climax), only to change abruptly to the hero theme as we see that he (and we) have been deceived.]]

* In ''WebAnimation/ZanyToTheMax'', whenever the Warners drink Acme Super Carrot Juice, they spin around while the theme song plays before they get their super powers and "Animeniesque" appearances.

* ''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged'' adds this to [[spoiler: Kirito and Heathcliff's climactic duel]], something that wasn't actually in the original series. To quote one youtube commenter, "They out-animeed the original anime".

* In ''Fanfic/TheBridge'', the Dark Hunters team of Monster X, Gigan, Irys, and Megalon get a send off of their own individual theme motifs followed by ''"Stronger Together"'' during their team fight with Grand King Ghidorah. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIcxTUDI5ds Link]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'' uses an old song from ''Theatre/HelloDolly'' as their power-up. WALL•E seeing his team gathered to follow him turns on the song and we hear the lyrics, "Put on your Sunday clothes when you go on the town."

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie''
** "The Touch" by Stan Bush, most memorably played during a FoeTossingCharge by Optimus Prime, and also when the Matrix of Leadership is opened near the end of the movie by Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime.
** Some fans theorize that Megatron and the Decepticons also received a power-up from "Instruments of Destruction" during the attack on the shuttle where they [[DroppedABridgeOnHim killed Prowl, Brawn, Ratchet, and Ironhide in about ten seconds]].
** One can probably make an argument for "Dare to Be Stupid" for the Junkions, as while they get knocked down easily enough while the song is playing, getting them to stay down is the hard part.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'':
** In the first film, the familiar strings of Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation" start to play when things start to turn in the titular ogre's favor during the wrestling match in Duloc.
** Probably an odd case combined with HesBack in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek 2}}'', when Shrek, Donkey and some of the others race to rescue Princess Fiona while the Fairy Godmother's singing "Holding Out for a Hero". It's kind of inversion since the song [[VillainSong was sung by the villain.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoBatmanMovie'': In the film's opening act, Batman starts to sing "Who's The (Bat)Man" as he takes down the Joker's army. Joker even [[LampshadeHanging acknowledges this trope]], trying to stop Batman before the music started.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGoToTheMovies'': In the opening, the Titans perform a rap song, "Go!," that they claimed took down the opening enemy, Balloon Man. It didn't. [[spoiler: [[TriumphantReprise The Titans perform their song a second time as they battle Slade's robot. This time, it worked.]] ]]

* ''Film/MortalKombatTheMovie'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAwWPadFsOA the signature badass techno beat]] performed by The Immortals, even detractors of the film cannot deny that the soundtrack ''kicks ass''. The song has also cemented its place in the franchise well beyond the movies.
* This happens too many times to count in ''Film/LastOfTheMohicans''. Literally every time the main characters (including the villain, Magua) are doing something awesome in battle, they are supported by epic music in the background. The same goes for the armies engaged in battle. This film might as well be called "Theme Music Power-Up: The Movie".

* Subverted ''twice'' in a very short time in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing''. After the Riders of Rohan and Gondor coalition forces have routed the orc forces, and the king has shouted "Make safe the city!", the triumphant music abruptly [[http://youtu.be/z-klKeZG69I&feature=related fades away as the audience hears what sounds like a distant rumble of thunder,]] and swiftly turns includes the bellows of the towering Mûmakil war-elephants-on-steroids and the warchants of their riders, the Maori-reminiscent Haradrim.
** However, the music returns as a counter charge is ordered, and the cavalry make yet another music-backed charge to the line of Mûmakil...only for the music to be cut off as if someone pulled the plug from the sound system, or if the orchestra themselves had fled the battlefield upon realizing what a terrible idea charging fifty foot elephants with horses was. Incidentally, the music is cut off at the exact moment that one of the warbeasts swings its tusks, sending a horseman screaming into the air, then smashing more aside with its feet. It takes another few minutes (film-time) before anything resembling victory seems possible...''and then the Nazgûl, including the Witch-King, show up.''
** Played straight a little earlier; when Aragorn grasps hold of Andúril for the first time, his personal theme music swiftly switches from a bouncy Fellowship-based ditty to a roaring orchestral King of Gondor crescendo.
** King Théoden gets one when he declares that [[GondorCallsForAid Rohan will fight alongside Gondor]].
** At the start of the Battle of the Black Gate, you can hear a full orchestral version of the Fellowship theme as Aragorn and the men of Gondor and Rohan charge against the armies of Mordor. However, they know it's a hopeless fight, and that's indeed what the theme (and the Elvish lyrics to go with it) means: that they're making a HeroicSacrifice to give Frodo a chance to destroy the Ring.

* The main theme of ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina'' plays whenever Jet Li's heroic lead, Wong Fei Hong, takes on the forces of evil in said-movie-series.
** It's traditional to use that for Wong Fei Hung's theme song in any movie about him. Example: Creator/JackieChan's Film/DrunkenMaster plays it when Fei Hung is winning his fight against the BigBad.
* In Creator/QuentinTarantino's ''Film/KillBill'', whenever the theme from ''Series/Ironside1967'' starts playing, the Bride is about to go completely vicious on someone.

** Said theme was so awesome that ''Film/TheManWhoSavesTheWorld'' shamelessly stole it and used it for Every. Single. Freakin'. Fight scene.

* In the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' films, Spidey's action scenes are usually accompanied by his distinctive {{leitmotif}}. The villains also get their own theme music. In climax of the third one, Spider-Man's theme gets very noticeably cut off whenever the villains get the upper hand.
* "Holding Out for a Hero" in ''Film/ShortCircuit2''; for those too young to remember that one, it was also in ''Shrek 2''. With full orchestra support from Harry Gregson-Williams in the latter case.
* ''Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries'':
** At the end of the ''Film/MissionImpossible'' movie.
** Even better in the ''Film/MissionImpossibleII'', when [[spoiler:the hero is dead and the villain victorious (complete with his own music rising to climax), only to change abruptly to the hero theme as we see that he (and we) have been deceived.]]
* Right towards the end of the ''Film/TheMatrix'', [[spoiler:when Neo becomes [[TheChosenOne The One]]]], and is seeing the "code" for the first time. One-handed kickassery follows.
** Most people will never be able to hear The Propellerheads' "Spybreak!" without thinking of the lobby shootout scene again.
* The ''Franchise/{{Rocky}}'' movies are no doubt well-known for their sudden comebacks, almost always accompanied by one of Rocky's many theme tunes. Usually, just as the finishing blows are made, the music builds to a dramatic climax.
** This is no more evident than in the [[Film/RockyV fifth movie]] where, as Rocky lies concussed in the streets during a brawl with Tommy Gunn, he goes into an almighty hallucination, remembering his dead trainer Mickey before finally snapping out of it as Mickey screams at him "Get up, you son if a bitch... 'cause Mickey loves ya." The music swells as Rocky rises again... then it suddenly bursts into a weird ghetto remix.
** Swedish composer Ludwig Goransson seamlessly integrated Bill Conti's themes in ''Film/{{Creed}}'' quietly and subtlety, only to deliver the full on "Gotta Fly Now" anthem in the 12th Round of The Big Fight, when you know shit just got real.

* ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'' uses this to masterful effect along with other spine-chillingly tenseful and beautiful music courtesy of James Newton Howard. The most [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtt3ax73Vs triumphant example]] is after David is knocked into pool by the [[SerialKiller Orange Man]] and almost drowns only to be saved by the kids he freed earlier, the music swells as David gets to his feet in a HeroicSecondWind before he takes down Orange Man in a unbreakable chokehold all while music blazes louder as David has finally become the superhero we want him to be.
** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] example at the end, the triumphant score [[https://youtu.be/10TK19duC3s?t=170 returns]] [[spoiler: ''but it's playing for the villain'' Eljiah since by discovering his {{Archenmey}} (David his exact opposite) he has valditated his existence and the murders he has commited. It's his victory music]].
** [[spoiler: TheStinger of ''Film/{{Split}}'' has Howard's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAiILXUdxL0 score come back]] in all it's glory along with Mr Dunn himself]]
* Sometimes done just before a scene's climax, when the heroes have the upper hand and the enemy hasn't made his final play yet -- such as in the ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' movie, where a remix of the classic theme plays for a while before the gang really winds up in trouble.
* "Secret Agent Man" playing in the final battle of the first ''Film/{{Austin Powers|International Man of Mystery}}'' movie may qualify; again, it dies down before Austin's final confrontation with Doctor Evil.
* Backs up the Guarani a couple times in ''The Mission''. Sadly, [[HopeSpot it is not quite enough]].
* The first twenty seconds of the track "Beelzeboss" from ''Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny'' act as a ThemeMusicPowerUp for [[{{Satan}} the Devil.]]
* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''
** At the end of ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'', Jack Sparrow's confrontation against the kraken is made even more awesome by the remix of ''He's A Pirate'' that plays during it.
*** And then abruptly turns tragic as the heroic strings drop into a dying fall... just as the ''Black Pearl'' is pulled beneath the waves.
** Averted in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl''. Jack Sparrow's first scene in the film is standing on the mast of his sinking ship, and yet the music that scores this scene is unabashedly heroic (and serious to the point of self-parody).
*** Unaverted in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd'', when Jack Sparrow comes over the sand dunes in Davy Jones' Locker in a reference to his first entrance.
** The sinking of the Endeavour.
** Done subtly in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd''. The "Hoist the Colors" shanty, introduced in that movie and generally used as the theme of the Pirate Lords, is given a TriumphantReprise in the form of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2nMwMOUIos "What Shall We Die For"]] during [[spoiler:Elizabeth's]] rousing speech as Pirate King before taking on Davy Jones and the EITC.
* ''Film/{{Excalibur}}'', which popularized "O Fortuna".
* ''Franchise/StarWars'' has a general rule: if the [[http://youtu.be/HcZ9kQ1h-ZY "Force Theme"]] is playing, it's because the characters are doing something epic. If the ''title'' theme plays, it's because they're being just plain badass.
** ''Film/{{Return Of The Jedi}}'' gives Luke a big ThemeMusicPowerUp in the Sarlacc pit scene.
** The Emperor gets one as well when his rather creepy theme plays as he [[ColdBloodedTorture electrocutes Luke with Force lightning]]. Has elements of TheDayTheMusicLied, though, since that's when [[spoiler: Darth Vader returns to the Light side of the Force and saves Luke.]]
** [[spoiler: The moment where Vader lunges at the Emperor to save his son, a bombastic version of The Force theme plays signifying the end of Darth Vader and the return of Anakin Skywalker.]]
** Also, of course, there is a general rule in all ''Franchise/StarWars'' films that if you can hear Imperial March, it means TheDragon is being awesome again.
** Even detractors of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels admit that one of the coolest moments in the series was near the climax of ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' when just as the heroes are ready to flee the scene, a door opens, a cloaked figure appears (Darth Maul), and the first few notes of the "Duel of the Fates" theme [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W57UTi3pHTc are heard]].
** In the original film, the power up music comes at an interesting moment: when Luke shuts off his targeting device the score shifts from tense to triumphant. It means he's decided to trust the Force and is on the path to becoming a Jedi. Actually blowing up the Death Star is just a detail.
** And true to form, the Force Theme again plays in The Force Awakens after being curiously absent all film [[spoiler: when Anakin's saber is picked up by Rey, and reveals that she, not Finn is in fact the heroine of the story and the next lead Jedi.]]
** ''Film/TheLastJedi'' strikes up [[spoiler: the Falcon's {{Leitmotif}} from "TIE Fighter Attack"/"Into the Death Star" during its GunshipRescue moment at the Battle of Crait]].
** A variation of "Princess Leia's theme" plays when [[spoiler: she uses the Force to survive the First Order's destruction of the Resistance flagship.]]
** And let us not forget the utterly thrilling music composition that plays when [[spoiler: LUKE SKYWALKER makes his epic return to delay the attacking First Order forces, enabling the Resistance to escape.]]
** The full version of the Resistance theme is used once a movie in the Sequel Trilogy - when [[TheCavalry the X-Wings first show up]] in ''The Force Awakens'', when the speeders get ready to HoldTheLine in ''The Last Jedi'', and in the LockAndLoadMontage during Poe's RousingSpeech in ''The Rise of Skywalker''.
** The classic "Throne Room Fanfare" gets a truly spectacular reprisal in ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' when Lando Calrissian returns in the ''Millennium Falcon''...[[spoiler:leading a [[TheCavalry massive fleet]] composed of '''THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF SHIPS''' coming to the aid of the Resistance in their time of greatest need.]]
* Mr. Mistoffelees on the filmed version of ''Theater/{{Cats}}''. His song, though enjoyable, is so odd and repetitive and full of praise that it seems he's doing the song mostly to get the crowd to [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe in his powers]] so he can actually ''do'' anything.
** However, since the song is actually performed by Rum Tum Tugger, it could be argued that Tugger is actually trying to convince Mistoffelees that he can [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre do the magic that needs to be done]].
* When it's time for a dogfight, what's the first thing the hero does in ''[[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091278/ Iron Eagle]]''? Put some rock into his tape deck, of course.
* In ''Film/GodzillaFinalWars'', Godzilla's new theme "King of the Monsters" kicks in just as he blasts off one of Keizer Ghidorah's heads after being revived by Ozaki in the Gotengo. Godzilla then proceeds to utterly destroy Ghidorah by tossing him into the air and blasting him with a spiral beam.
** A possible subversion or inversion could be the laughably quick death that the American Zilla receives from the true Godzilla while the English (but not American) song "We're All to Blame" plays over its fight.
* In ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', at the end of the movie, the real ''Protector'', with the cast members on it, crash-lands at a ''Galaxy Quest'' convention. The film's BigBad, Serris, is still alive -- until he's shot, in full view of the entire convention audience, by "Commander Peter Quincy Taggart". The film's triumphant theme music plays. It's over. However, in the beginning of the movie, the guy was a pure egotist, basking in the spotlight at appearances and so on. Now, he's learned his lesson, and he invites the crew up to take a bow. When this happens, the music switches to a higher, remixed triumphant version with plenty of choir -- the Commander's won the ''real'' battle. The movie ends there.

* ''Film/YorTheHunterfromTheFuture'': "Yor's world, he's the man!"
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
** Two moments from ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'' spring to mind: the battle against the Borg cube at the start of the movie, where the ''Enterprise'' [[GunshipRescue swoops to the rescue]] to the sound of an absolutely ''epic'' [[https://youtu.be/PCrrqtqehg8 fanfare]], and the fight on the deflector dish, where each time the Borg gain the upper hand, a more thunderous version of their {{Leitmotif}} [[https://youtu.be/YEJZeh9U-xI plays]].
** In ''[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan The Wrath of Khan]]'', we get ''three'' power-ups: Once when the [[https://youtu.be/g_7-qq26P9s Enterprise leaves its dock]], one for Khan during his [[https://youtu.be/eoit0OdKt-I surprise attack]], and [[https://youtu.be/j_xN0LOLG3I again]] for the Enterprise during the LockAndLoadMontage.
** In ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock'', the [[https://youtu.be/mkJ3--2K7yo powering up of the Enterprise]] is accompanied by louder and louder versions of the classic series fanfare, followed by the orchestra going ''absolutely berserk'' once the damn thing starts to actually move.
** Happens subtly in ''Film/StarTrek2009''. If you hear a snippet of the main riff from "Enterprising Young Men", ass-kicking will soon ensue. Especially egregious when Sulu [[LetsGetDangerous gets dangerous]].

* Whenever [[Film/TransformersFilmSeries Optimus Prime]] enters the big ending battle in the first two movies, the music soars as Prime either [[TechnologyPorn epically transforms]] or [[spoiler: gets new armor, weapons and flight capability donated from the deceased Jetfire.]] Both complete with a one-liner to emphasize that yes, this is awesome.
-->"Let's roll!"
* Just before the 'two against five' sequence in ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'', a burst of the theme music plays as Blondie asks Tuco "[[YouAreNotAlone Were you going to die alone?]]" and joins him to fight Angel-Eyes' men.
* In ''Film/{{Halloween 2007}}'', Michael gets better from his sister stabbing him through the shoulder and recovers his discarded mask when his "stalking" theme starts up.
* In ''Film/BeverlyHillsNinja'', there is a fight with the obligatory Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. When the fight gets more intense, it hilariously speeds up.
* ''Film/TheManWhoSavesTheWorld'' is really shameless about this. ''Every single time'' the hero starts winning a fight, his music starts playing. The real kicker is that his music is just the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' theme.
* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'' Sergio Leone is pretty good at this, especially in OUATITW, where Charles Bronson has one of the best themes ever associated with a movie protagonist. The spooky sound of the hamonica accompanies his raging revenge through the movie, and every time you hear it you know that he'll do something awesome.
* When watching the original 1989 ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'', the minute you hear any version of Danny Elfman's classic Batman theme, there's gonna be some kicked ass. No questions asked.
** This applies to ''Film/BatmanReturns'' as well.
** This also happens in the Nolan films. Zimmer's Batman anthem is maybe less memorable than Elfman's, but it's always there when Batman kicks serious ass (listen to the score in the "Swarm of Bats" scene from ''Film/BatmanBegins'').
%%* ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' by Music/BasilPoledouris.

* In ''Film/{{Gladiator}},'' General Maximus has a driving, forceful orchestral battle theme only heard twice, once on the German battlefield and once in the Colosseum. In both moments he is leading armies to victory like a true frontline general.
* The ending of the original ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978''. The main guy is trapped in a room with a hoard of zombies about to come in. He gets ready to kill himself, but he suddenly turns the gun around and shoots a zombie instead. Cue the cheesiest patriotic fanfare you can think of as he pushes zombies out of his way and runs to escape with the main girl. It's a good thing that music came out of nowhere and made the zombies completely ineffectual, or it would have really been a DownerEnding, which is actually what the original script called for.
* Film/KickAss, Hit-Girl and "Bad Reputation"; exactly as it says in the title ensues.
* ''Film/JurassicPark'': During first film's moment of Tyrannosaurus.
* Whenever the main theme is playing, something awesome is happening in ''Film/PacificRim'', but one of the best examples is when Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon are destroyed, Striker Eureka is disabled, all hope is lost... and then the rebuilt Gipsy Danger arrives to ''kick ass.''
* ''Film/TheLoneRanger'': When the classic Lone Ranger theme starts to play, you know things are about to get real!

* In ''Film/ConAir'', Cameron Poe's fight with both Cyrus and Billy also during his run/drive in the boneyard.
* Mothra from ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' had this in spades in nearly every movie she had where she was fighting another kaiju, particularly in the Heisei Era with her Godzilla crossover and the ''Film/RebirthOfMothra'' films. Said songs being preformed in-story by her fairy priestesses.
* Done awesomely in ''Film/HardcoreHenry'': [[spoiler: In the FinalBattle, as Henry injects adrenaline into himself, he then fights off Akan's army of cyborgs to the tune of Music/{{Queen}}'s "Don't Stop Me Now". Unfortunately, it becomes TheDayTheMusicLied when Akan finally starts fighting Henry and nearly defeats him.]]
* When [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN2RnSyxLf4 this music]] plays in ''Film/TheEqualizer'', expect the villain on screen to be brutally killed off by Robert.
* A triumphant reprise of the ''Film/SpiderMan2'' theme plays as soon as Peter's glasses hit the floor after Peter gets his powers back, signifying that at last, HesBack.

* The, uh, climax, of ''Film/UltramanTaigaTheMovieNewGenerationClimax'' features an entire team of Ultramen fighting against the villainous Ultraman Tregear and his team of monsters. As the main heroes, the Tri-Squad consisting of Taiga, Titas and Fuma, battles Tregear, the remaining Ultramen fights Tregear's monster legion, whereupon the background music frantically swaps (corresponding with the Ultramen being featured at the time) from [[Series/UltramanGeed Geed's Primitive Theme]] to [[Series/UltramanOrb Orb's Melody]] to [[Series/UltramanX X's M-6 score]] to [[Series/UltramanRB Ultraman RB's Reversal Dominance]] and the [[Series/UltramanGinga Ginga No Uta]] before going back to the [[Series/UltramanTaiga Tri-Squad's combined score]], all within the span of under a minute.

* Literature/ArtemisFowl sometimes has Plotting Music in his head when he's coming up with his plans. It's generally classical, like [[http://youtu.be/s8eigkwmMEo Beethoven's Symphony No. 7]].

* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'', as sung by the Bulgarian Women's Choir.
* Numerous examples in ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' in all of its incarnations. For example, after Tommy lost his Green Ranger powers in the first season, yet proceeded to fight off Goldar anyway (to the tune of "Go Green Ranger Go").
** Theme Music Power Up is the only context where we get to hear the original Power Ranger theme with ''lyrics'' in its verses. ("No one will ever take them down / The power lies on their si~i~i~i~i~ide! / Go, go, Power Rangers...") Giving a previously instrumental theme some lyrics, when done right, seems to give a power-up ''to'' the theme music.
** In ''SPD's'' finale, the theme music roared when backup arrived and powered the rangers as they exploited Omni's FantasticFragility.
** Particularly, in the crossover episodes, the visiting team gets the theme music for the previous season when they escalate. In ''Operation Overdrive'''s "Once a Ranger", we're treated to five earlier incarnations of the theme music, cleverly mixing together (Well, four; for some presumably legal reason, Adam gets a new theme song rather than the original "Go, Go Power Rangers" theme.).
** A notable non team up example happens in Lost Galaxy right after the Rangers [[http://youtu.be/DChIkG0PwT4&feature=related receive the Lights of Orion.]]
** Some ''Power Rangers'' series have also inverted this trope, giving Mooks like the Cogs and Tenga theme music when they fight the Rangers. They almost always lose.
*** This happened in Sentai too, dating [[OlderThanYouThink all the way back to Goranger]], with "Akuma no Kurojuujigun" being the theme of the Kurojuujigun.
** At times in ''Wild Force'', if there were no music during a Ranger fight, you know they're going to get whupped.
* Happens in ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' too... although ''Series/ChikyuuSentaiFiveman'' [[http://youtu.be/yuYPrmUWQFk took it too far.]]
** ''Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman'' had this to the extreme, with an opening theme made to sync to the FinishingMove, the Super Dynamite.
** ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger vs. Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger ended up [[LampshadeHanging Lampshading]] the whole thing:
-->'''Jasmine:''' Please excuse me. ''(place hand on Ryouga's hand)''\\
'''Narrator:''' ''(while clipshow of Abaranger goes on)'' Jasmine is an [=ESPer=]. Whoever she touches, Jasmine recaps his memories.\\
'''Jasmine:''' Seems true for now. I have my doubts for them though -- ''(walks to the camera)'' -- ''[[DancingTheme Aba-Aba-Aba-Aba-Abaranger!]]''\\
'''Umeko:''' What the heck was that?\\
'''Jasmine:''' Don't know either. It was on loop in his brain.
** Happens in the opening fight scene in ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'', and on the same footage in the OriginsEpisode of ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai''.
** ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' takes this concept and runs with it. As an anniversary series for the franchise, the Gokaigers not only get a ThemeMusicPowerUp from their own theme, but the theme music of whatever past sentai team is getting spotlighted that episode.
** ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGobusters'' uses this trope to great effect in the second half of the series. Despite it having been replaced by a new theme song by that point, the show still uses the original theme song for its climactic battles.
** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'' did this [[spoiler:in the final episode. It's Earth's true Melody]].

* ''Franchise/KamenRider'' has both the show's main theme, which is often used as an insert for particularly dramatic fights, and specialized insert songs written for a specific character or form:
** Though it doesn't quite fit under a category, when one of the Riders in ''Kamen Rider SPIRITS'' is about to have a nice big one-against-all-of-his-monsters-of-the-week-ever battles, the lyrics to an appropriate theme song are written out on the page (V3's sequence is notably impressive).
** Especially powerful in Kamen Rider BLACK's final episode when [[spoiler: Kotaro powers up with Long Long Ago 20th Century in the background to fight his brother, Shadow Moon one last time.]]
** ''Series/KamenRiderDenO'' has a different version of "Double-Action" for each of Ryotaro's five forms. Ryuutaros, however, takes it a step further. He gets a hip-hop remix of the show's ThemeSong and the above mentioned "Double-Action", that play almost every time he shows up. This includes when he's stalking rival Sakurai Yuuto. Speaking of, Yuuto and his partner Deneb get their own theme music, called Action-ZERO.
** "W-B-X ~W-Boiled Extreme~", the theme song for ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'', plays exactly three times during the series: during the fight where the Riders finally get the upper hand on [[TheDragon the Weather Dopant]], in the penultimate episode when Shotaro faces off against [[BigBad the Utopia Dopant]] '''without''' transforming into Double, and at the end of the final episode. It also gets played in TheMovie during the final battle with Kamen Rider Eternal, specifically when Double gets his EleventhHourSuperpower and Rider Kicks Eternal into the stratosphere.
** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' uses "Ranbu Escalation", the insert song for Kiwami Arms, as an insert for some of its later story battles, particularly the final showdown between Kouta and Kaito. The show's main theme, "Just Live More", is used in the postscript episode to give a more upbeat theme to the finale.
** The {{Crossover}} movies for both ''Kamen Rider'' by itself and its team-ups with ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' tend to use the theme song for every show at appropriate moments. However, the cake has to go to ''[[Film/KamenRiderHeiseiGenerationsFinalBuildAndExAidWithLegendRiders Heisei Generations FINAL: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Riders]]'', which doesn't simply use the original theme songs but makes a medley out of them, starting with [[Series/KamenRiderBuild Be The One]] before transitioning to [[Series/KamenRiderExAid EXCITE]], [[Series/KamenRiderGhost We Think, Therefore We Are]], [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Switch On!]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim Just Live More]], and [[Series/KamenRiderOOO Anything Goes!]] before going back to Be The One for the finish.
* ''Franchise/{{Ultra Series}}'' uses this several times, most noticeably ''Series/UltramanTiga'', ''Series/UltramanGaia'' and ''Series/UltramanMebius'', though the use predates all three; Some of the mid-Showa entries in the series, such as ''Series/UltramanAce'', and arguably, the most famous example of this trope within the Ultra Series, ''Series/UltramanTaro'' did this as well.
--->"TARO! ULTRAMAN [[YouAreNumberSix NUMBER SIX!]]"

* ''Series/{{Airwolf}}'', a lot, including literal cases, where the theme tune plays as Airwolf starts up, and goes full-blast during the climactic fight scenes. In fact, you can usually predict down to the second when the final explosion will take place as it will be in time with the climax of the theme.

* ''Series/Batman1966'' usually fought goons to the sound of his theme music. And it was ''AWESOME''.
** Doubly awesome as every BIFF and POW is accented by a musical sting.
* ''Series/{{Spaced}}'' spoofs by powering with another show's theme: Mike gets brooding MadArtist Brian to go from mouse to man by playing the ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' theme.
** Another episode uses a drum and bass remix of the [[Franchise/StarWars Imperial March]] over a MissionBriefing scene as Tim tries to power up the rest of the gang.
** "Where's Mike?" "He's over there!" Dancing to a dance remix of the A-Team theme.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' did this in its first-season finale "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E12ProphecyGirl Prophecy Girl]]", playing the show's theme (performed by Nerf Herder) during the climactic fight - the only use of that arrangement of the theme music within an episode.
* In an example of the character playing their ''own'' theme song, basically any time Omar Little of ''Series/TheWire'' whistles "The Farmer in the Dell," odds are he's about to add yet another act of pure badassery to his resume.
* Everytime Grover transforms into Super Grover in ''Series/SesameStreet'' (He gets a version with Rock Guitar in ''Elmo Loves You'')
* ''Series/RedDwarf'' has a few of these:
** In the episode "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIVDimensionJump Dimesion Jump]]" MemeticBadass Ace Rimmer gets his own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YWkNADUSRY music score]] in his introduction as well as an epic trumpet theme that turns into 90s synth music when he decides to save the boys after accidently making them crash into a ocean moon. The theme is used effectively much later in "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonVIIStokeMeAClipper Stoke Me a Clipper]]" when Ace is revealed to have surived the Nazi plane exploding, ''[[https://youtu.be/gXYfnWRp1Q0?t=108 by surfing on the SS's officer pet crocodile]]''.
** In the first series a hauntingly [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbG1hlbFw8Y awesome track]] plays when Lister learns he is the SoleSurvivor of the crew after a Radiation Leak and signals that the show has now really began. The theme reurns in "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonIIBetterThanLife Better Than Life]]" as Lister, Rimmer and Cat enter the Artfacial Reality Game.
** In "[[Recap/RedDwarfSeasonVIGunmenOfTheApocalypse Gunmen of The Apocalypse]]" the boys get a very badass [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrLEPpBIHWI western theme]] as they mowsy on into town as cowboys to help Kryten defeat a computer virus. The theme returns gloriously at the end of the episode (and continues into the credits) when they managed to get control of Starbug back again JustInTime as crashes into a lava moon before flying off back into space complete with a sunset and collective "YEEHAW" from the Dwarfers.
* Happens in the very first episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', when the crew successfully pull off the [[http://youtu.be/7u0nM_nLhB0 first saucer separation]] while at Warp 9.5.
* Oddly enough, even a network can be powered up through theme music. Remember [[http://youtu.be/i1NKoMNy5bY "HBO in Space"]], the [[StationIdent ident]] to new movies {{Creator/HBO}} used in the 80s and 90s?
-->"This intro makes me feel like I am about to witness the most important event in the universe." -sterpinator, Website/YouTube commenter
* This happens twice in a single episode of ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. In "Exodus Part 2", [[spoiler:during the escape from New Caprica some fairly standard, percussion-heavy music is playing, until the Galactica shows up ''falling from the upper atmosphere, launches vipers, and jumps away at the last second'', all of which is set to the most triumphant bagpipes you can imagine. Later, as Galactica is getting pounded by four Cylon basestars and everyone has given up hope, the music is slow and somber. The camera pans out until a missile appears from off screen, and then another one, until the camera turns around to reveal the Pegasus [[BigDamnHeroes in the nick of time]] and the music the music goes back to the exciting drum music.]]
* The ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' episode "[[Recap/FireflyE01Serenity Serenity]]" features dueling theme music during the aerial chase between ''Serenity'' and the Reaver ship, with the Reaver's theme growing louder and more ominous the closer they get - only to be blown away by ''Serenity'''s theme when the ship pulls its Crazy Ivan maneuver and leaves them in the dust.
* The season 2 finale of ''Series/TeenWolf'' uses the season's opening credits theme in the climactic fight against [[spoiler: Grandpa Argent]].
** It's subverted, however. Despite working together better than they have all season, the werewolves and their allies are still utterly thrashed.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' brings the series to life for a last time, delivering [[spoiler: Superman's original theme from the movies when Clark is throwing away his glasses and opening his shirt to reveal the "S" symbol on the last scene of the series. The last redeeming moment in 10 years]].

* ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy2019'' much like the ''Guardains of the Galaxy'' example makes liberal use of it's jukebox soundtrack in relation to it's characters. The highlights include:
** A rock version of Andrew Lyod Webber's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYwqBCskfsM&list=PLmP8dO-Wh4EOqEj0sD4CGuk7MXEJZgpoi&index=2 Phantom of the Opera]]" theme palyed by Vanya in the series introductry scene
** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZC8UcfYEY0 The Walker]]" by ''Fitz & The Tantrums'' which plays during a FlashBack where the siblings foil a bank robbery and show off their superpowers.
** ''The Four Lads'''s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TuJKsfpfNI Istanbul]]" plays when Five has [[OneManArmy One Boy Army]] moment againist some {{Mooks}} from the Commission. Five also gets another song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-wrYEw7xKg Run Boy Run]]" by ''Woolkid'' in a FlashBack as he tests his powers and travels foward in time.
** InUniverse [[ObliviousJanitorCut a very unware]] Klaus listens to "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8asWH-xPWk Sinnerman]]" by Nina Simone which [[LeaningOntheFourthWall becomes the battle music]] as Hazel and Cha-Cha fight Luther, Diego and Allsion.
** Tom Swoon's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XQCGWgbBac Shingaling]]" plays as Hazel and Cha-Cha unknowningly get high while triumphantly burning down the eyeball lab.
** [[spoiler: ''Heart'''s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYb8tT9Dl_s Barrcuda]]" plays during Vanya's HeelFaceTurn and OneWingedAngel transformation into the White Violin which is the trigger for the apocalypse]].
** Season 2 begins with Maxine Nightingale's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KyJNEixLNE Right Back Where We Started From]]" as the siblings land in Dallas and then followed up by Frank Sinatra's "[[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qQzdAsjWGPg My Way]]" [[spoiler: as Five lands much later and sees his brothers and sister kick ass in the BadFuture he has unwittingly caused]].
** Kiss' "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJjomVKbt7c I was made for Loving You]]" plays in a awesome fight scene between Five, Deigo and Lila and the QuirkyMiniBossSquad the Swedes.
** Boney M's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HddPrwMUGVc Sunny]]" plays during Klaus's fake MessianicArchetype montage as he travels the world with his cult and escapes from them.
** ''DJ Shadow'', ''De La Soul'''s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7SxUeUDfAg Rocket Fuel]]" plays during Luther's boxing match as he clobbers his opponent.
** ''Generation X'''s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmA5LUcFXSA Dancing With Myself]]" plays [[spoiler: when Five has a TeleportSpam battle with his past self]].
** Gerard Way's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsx_nK8KbgY Here Comes the End]]" plays during the FinalBattle [[spoiler: as it revealed little Harlan has absorbed some Vanya's powers and blows the roof off the barn]].

* Many game shows since the 1970s would cue up their theme after a contestant wins big in a bonus round/end game.
* You know when ''Series/{{MacGyver|1985}}'' has come up with an innovative solution to the problem of the week when the music starts playing.
* Happens in the penultimate episode of ''Series/BreakingBad'', "[[Recap/BreakingBadS5E15GraniteState Granite State]]", when Walt is his at his DarkestHour and having a last drink at a bar before surrendering to the police, but happens to watch an interview on the bar's TV with his old business partners, Gretchen and Elliott, who manage to seriously push his main BerserkButton by attacking his {{Pride}}, as they downplay his contributions to the Gray Matter company. As Walt's fury grows as he watches the interview, resulting in him changing his mind about surrendering himself, the show's main theme song starts kicking for the first and only time during an episode, and the "power-up" lasts Walt until the very end of the finale.
* In the first season finale of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', [[spoiler:the Penguin]]'s {{Leitmotif}} goes into overdrive as he charges into a fray spraying fire from an M-16.
* In the first season finale of ''Series/CloakAndDagger2018'' [[spoiler:Ty and Tandy combine their powers to save New Orleans. During this climax, a cover of the show’s main theme “Come Sail Away”, performed by series lead actress Olivia Holt, is played.]]

* In ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'', the first appearance of the ''Enterprise'' is accompanied by TOS music. Same for the ship's fly-by after [[spoiler:the ''Discovery'' jumps 930 years into the future]].
* In ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'', as Sam trains with the shield to face [[spoiler: a rogue John Walker]], the show’s theme "Louisiana Hero" plays in the background.

* In the GrandFinale of ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneAmnesty'', the electronic music that had been the soundtrack of the episode to that point segues into the familiar bluegrass twang of the main theme right as [[TheChosenOne Duck]] realizes how to [[spoiler:destroy the D.O.M.]] and fulfill his destiny.

* ''VisualNovel/{{Polyphonica}}'' features many in-universe examples of this, since the series is based on MagicMusic, which really does power the spirits up.
* ''VisualNovel/MajikoiLoveMeSeriously'':
** Men are about courage, bgm that was played each time Yamato or any other male character do something awesome.
** Sword Dance, bgm that was played each time Mayucchi get serious in her battle.
** Bushi, song that was played during the battle between Momoyo against three deva of the martial art [[spoiler: which is played when the Otome the last of four devas appears to help Mayucchi and Ageha to defeat Momoyo]].
* Forget opening a can of ass-kicking; If [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUs8FEsDUZ4 Emiya]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgAKvZEdHXI Sword of Promised Victory]] starts playing in ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Fate/Stay Night]]'' you know that Shirou and/or Saber are about to open a whole case of ass-kicking.
* ''VisualNovel/PrincessWaltz'' has [[http://youtu.be/20agR_7VnSQ Battlefield of Steel]] to tell you when something awesome is about to happen. Perhaps the single most awesome moment being [[spoiler: when the ShrinkingViolet Riko transforms into the [[LightningBruiser strong, fast,]] and [[GeniusBruiser calculating]] Liesel right before Arata's eyes just when it looked like they were cornered by the token monsters.]]

* ''[[VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend Hatoful Boyfriend]]'' has two notable instances. First, at the end of the secret route, you get [[spoiler:Angel's Battle, a completely awesome rock theme which plays as you take out Himnesia.]] Then, at the end of the TrueEnding route, a theme known only as "[[spoiler:Final Battle]]" plays as you foil the villain's scheme in the most heartwarmingly badass way possible.

* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'': After the animation got kicked up the series started denoting the shift into the epic CGI action phases with this trope. Most evident when the teams unite to take on [[spoiler:the army of Tex clones]] in Season 10, using the classic theme song.

* Used frequently in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. Basically, if you hear the voice of Casey Lee Williams accompanied by electric guitars, there's some epic fight choreography approaching.
** A tragic example: Ruby's TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening after witnessing [[spoiler: Pyrrha's death]] is a somber, distorted version of ''This Will Be the day'', the first opening theme.

* A very literal variant in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''; Agatha (the main character) starts playing a very complex version of the music she always hums while working during a climactic battle. As an added bonus, it controls the clanks (robots) she's made.

* Averted in ''Leapfrogs: Numbers Ahoy!'': When the young male protagonist mispronounces the villain's name, the dread!Theme actually pulls itself off the record.
* Used and combined with AutobotsRockOut in the finale of ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', when [[spoiler:the shack-turned-mech comes out to fight Bill Cipher's henchmaniacs]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOWzQDQGtaI It has to be seen to be believed, but spoilers abound.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters''. The chorus and some of the instrumentals from the Ghostbusters theme song would sometimes play, typically starting during formulation of the plan (which is usually CrazyEnoughToWork) to defeat the episode's MonsterOfTheWeek, and then afterwards during the FinalBattle with the MonsterOfTheWeek itself; which often also involved Egon coming up with a brilliant IndyPloy during combat.
* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Popeye}}'' cartoons, with Popeye's spinach-induced theme music, a fanfare remix of the "Popeye the Sailor Man" theme. Some could say the original shorts were among the earliest innovators of this trope.
* Lampshaded in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheThirteenGhostsOfScoobyDoo'', where the ''Popeye'' theme plays as Scooby downs a box of Scooby Snacks.
* The heroes of most shows in the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse.
** In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', Green Arrow even sang along to his theme as he kicked butt.
** In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "Hereafter", Batman fights Kalibak while a fairly quiet orchestral version of the 1966 TV theme song plays in the background.
** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'':
*** A particularly awesome example comes from the episode "Disappearing Inque". Terry gets kidnapped by the villainess Inque, and she threatens to kill kim unless Bruce shows up. Later on, we see a large figure in a trench coat walking towards Inque... which turns out to be Bruce, in a massive Batman mech suit. The moment he starts whaling on her, an orchestrated version of the Batman theme from ''Batman the Animated Series'' starts playing.
*** Something similar happens in "Out of the Past", where Bruce, rejuvenated by a couple dips into a Lazarus Pit, fights side-by-side with Terry, with the ''BTAS'' theme going, except it's electric guitars instead of trumpets soaring.
* Parodied in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Towelie", as whenever the titular Towelie got high, Popeye's theme music played and Towelie became dumber than he already was.
* Most of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'''s flipping, fighting, and swinging is accompanied by a guitar-and-strings action {{leitmotif}} that's re-used in every episode. A few of the recurring villains also get their own theme music; the mini-episode "Adventures in Rufus-Sitting" features a four-way fight in which the soundtrack changes several times in the space of a few minutes to reflect whichever combatant currently has the upper hand. Check out [[http://www.veoh.com/videos/v9543065rcW5gPy this clip]].
* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' direct-to-video movie, "Bender's Big Score" has the climactic battle with the theme playing in the background.
* The fifth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' (not counting the ''last''-last episode) has a particularly stirring version of the show's theme playing during the final battle with the Brotherhood of Evil.

* In ''WesternAnimation/PacManAndTheGhostlyAdventures'', this is standard fare - whenever the title hero's about to do something awesome, his theme kicks in--not the show's theme, his ''personal'' theme: "Pac-Man's Park", which was brought back all the way from ''Pac-Mania'', where even ''there'' it was a remix of the cinematic song from the original game. In short, the new Pac-Man has the same leitmotif of the original Pac-Man.
* Optimus in a post-movie ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' episode still has "The Touch" in "The Return of Optimus Prime" when he opens up the Matrix of Leadership to wipe out the HatePlague. His eventual successor, [[Anime/TransformersSuperGodMasterforce Ginrai]], gets the rather cool "Don't Cry".
* ''Anime/TransformersCybertron'' gave us the instrumental song "Our Ally". Ass-kicking ensues whenever it plays. It has been favorably compared with The Touch. It most notably accompanied [[spoiler: [[Awesome/{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime running Galvatron through]]]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats1985'', Lion-O got to trigger his own theme music when he powered up the Sword of Omens. Ta-ta-TAA! And not only did he get to start kicking ass, but all the other Thundercats, no matter where or how captured/restrained they were, could see the Lion-signal, hear the roar, and naturally break free.
** This also applies to the other Thundercats with their own {{Leitmotif}}s any time they're kicking ass individually. Panthro's can be especially epic, as the Leitmotif ''itself'' gets powered up if he's doing his ass-kicking in the [[CoolTank Thundertank]].
* In the first episode and first two season finales of ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'', a particularly rousing take on the show's theme backs up the heroes in the final battle. Then the third season started applying it to roughly every other fight they got into, and it kind of lost its potency.
** An interesting variation occurred when the team made a guest appearance in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', in the episode "The Mutant Agenda". [[LetsYouAndHimFight Spider-Man invades the X-Mansion looking for Professor Xavier, only to be captured by its defenses and confronted by the X-Men]]. Spidey's motif plays briefly as he breaks free, only to swiftly change to the X-Men theme when the mansion goes on lockdown.
* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'': He-Man's [[ByThePowerOfGreyskull transformation sequences]] are always accompanied by stirring theme music, no matter what incarnation you're referring to.
** Even in the Live Action movie, where He-Man has no alternate persona and therefore doesn't have a transformation sequence, gets a musically enhanced Power Up when necessary. [[http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7ceERPc3pyw He Has the Power!]]

* Any time that WesternAnimation/{{Captain Planet|and the Planeteers}} is summoned. Most of the time it's the title theme, but there are a couple of other music cues that are equally awesome.
* In the first episode of the '80s ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Ninja Turtles]]'' toon, the turtles discover that the Foot Ninja they're fighting [[RoboticReveal are actually]] [[MechaMooks robots]], and the theme music starts up as they proceed to go to town on them.
* TheEighties loved this one. On ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers Galaxy Rangers]]'', once you heard the electric guitar music, you knew ''something'' awesome was coming in.

* In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'' when Anakin is fighting Asajj Ventress on Yavin 4, the fight reaches its peak when he loses his lightsaber but Annie grabs her arms as Ventress swings her sabers down and [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HbBKHB1Sffg&t=425s Duel of the Fates kicks]] in as the tide of battle turns.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBigKnights'', whenever Sir Morris and Sir Boris are about to perform their idea of heroics (which usually means [[BoisterousBruiser smashing everything]]), the show's thunderous orchestral theme music kicks in.
* The season one finale of ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' uses the theme tune when [[spoiler: the heroes take back their headquarters from Van Kleiss' forces]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}'': [[spoiler: After spending the majority of the series averting this by not using any of the iconic Castlevania music by Kinuyo Yamashita and Satoe Terashima, the FinalBattle of Season 2 plays this gloriously straight. As when Trevor, Alucard and Sypha arrive in Dracula's castle attracting the attention of all vampires present, "Bloody Tears" at last [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV6m6s22r4I starts playing]] to the ensuring CurbStompBattle for the bloodsuckers. It's Fanservice at its finest]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'' sometimes played "Better Than a Dream" whenever the heroes got to business. Usually subverted with the Urpneys, whose anthem usually played as they were goofing up (though played straight in "The Dream Beam Invasion", where the theme plays as [[TeamRocketWins they sabotage dreams and later scare off the heroes]]).
* Happens a few times in ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' with the low brass line of the theme song. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmeprzFOA64&t=1m30s One notable example occurs when A Pimp Named Slickback first appears.]]
* Multiple times in ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'':
** In "The Third Temple", a slowed-down triumphant version of Sasha's song "Heartstomper" plays as she is fighting the robot guardian.
** In the second season finale, "True Colors", a slow, instrumental version of "No Big Deal" plays as Anne goes into SuperMode for the first time and fights King Andrias.
** A rare licensed song example in the penultimate episode "All In": a burned-out Anne gains a second wind when Mr. X starts blasting her favorite song, Blackpink's "As If It's Your Last".
** Finally, in the series finale, “The Hardest Thing”, Anne, Sasha and Marcy are powered up to their ultimate forms and take on the Core to another, more triumphant remix of “No Big Deal”.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinotrux}}'' features a mix of the main theme that plays whenever anyone is building. Later seasons introduce different mixes depending on who is building.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987'' had its awesome battle theme for the Turtles, which was a remix of the main theme song.
* ''WesternAnimation/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeries'' usually had a Leitmotif of the B*Witched theme at the beginning of each episode and the theme itself would play during hectic moments(I.E. [[ItMakesSenseInContext Sabrina chasing after a pocketwatch as an adult so she can return to being a kid before it's too late]])
* In the ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'' episode "Crossover Nexus", as [[WesternAnimation/Ben102016 Ben 10]] prepares to deliver the final blow to Strike by turning into various Creator/CartoonNetwork stars, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuerU1QUk6w a remixed version]] of the Cartoon Cartoons theme begins to play.
* In the season 1 finale of ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'', [[spoiler:the ''Titan''[='s=] GunshipRescue of the ''Cerritos'' is accompanied by the TNG main theme. Makes sense, given that she's Riker's ship]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR'' has the instrumental of "Chicks Dig Giant Robots" play during the final battle in "Rearview Mirror, Mirror Part 2". [[https://youtu.be/Cumc7AoEONs?t=28 Every inch as epic as it sounds.]]

* In Creator/QuentinTarantino's ''Film/KillBill'', whenever the theme from Ironside starts playing, the Bride is about to go completely vicious on someone.

** A rare licensed song example in the penultimate episode "All In": a bruned-out Anne gains a second wind when Mr. X starts blasting her favorite song, Blackpink's "As if it's your Last".

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': After the animation got kicked up the series started denoting the shift into the epic CGI action phases with this trope. Most evident when the teams unite to take on [[spoiler:the army of Tex clones]] in Season 10, using the classic theme song.

* Wonder Woman brings back the rocking leitmotif she had in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' for many action scenes in [[Film/WonderWoman2017 her solo film]].

** In ''Franchise/WonderWoman vs ComicBook/{{Rogue}}'' [[spoiler: the [[WesternAnimation/XMen 90s X-Men cartoon main theme]] plays after Rogue touches Diana gains Wondy’s abilities on top of her own allowing her to turn the tide of battle.]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/SpaceAce'', when Dexter turns into Space Ace. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX43op0oOD8 And it is AWESOME.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Vanguard}}'' used "Vultan's Theme" when powering up. No one legally threatened Centuri apparently, since they also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhPaim4frj8 shamelessly used]] the main theme of ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'' (later of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'') as the opening theme.
* Played with in ''VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw''. Juliet's ass-kicking theme in Star Soul Mode? The chorus of "Hey, Mickey" ("Oh, Mickey, you're so fine..."), originally by Toni Basil (the version in-game is the B*Witched cover). Oddly appropriate, given that it's sung from the point of view of a cheerleader.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' has this in arcade mode when you reach a x8 score multiplier. While it is not the official theme of the game that plays and your abilities don't change, it does indicate that you have killed a huge amount of enemies in a short time, so it is more of an indication of how bad ass you are.
* In the Gamecube version of ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur 2'', Link's theme starts blaring as he begins his destined battle against Raphael. Hearing the tune really pumps you up to kick Raph's arse.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' has dozens of awesome music tracks for bosses and the like, but here are the real standouts.
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'':
*** After getting wrecked by Vergil, Dante gets a HeroicSecondWind the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DReUg3OY2Us track "Temen-Ni-Gru Dive" starts]] as Dante discovers his new strength and skydives town the EvilTowerOfOminousness. "Whatever Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger" indeed.
*** The epic track "Vergil 2" [[https://youtu.be/09IpDe7V8ZE?t=44 plays]] when Dante confronts his EvilTwin a second time. Fittingly, this track has become Vergil's theme music for other games e.g ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.
** In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', Nero's theme "The Time Has Come" [[https://youtu.be/sO8br0CTRo8?t=230 plays]] during the CreativeClosingCredits.
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'':
*** Casey Edwards's excellent "Devil Trigger" [[https://youtu.be/g_2VZvi0fQ0?t=39 as the main theme]], with a remixed version titled [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULWRuDzHmoA "Silver Bullet"]] for the FinalBattle.
*** Vergil in the [[UpdatedRerelease Special Edition]] has his own theme song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrg9KxGNeJY "Bury the Light"]] also by Casey Edwards which has become much loved since it's debut. The track will blaze whenever Vergil is DemonSlaying in game.
* The little-known unlicensed Mega Drive shooter "Divine Sealing" plays its title screen music during a boss encounter.
* All of the companion missions in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' use that companion's theme music, which steadily gets more awesome over the course of the mission.
** [[http://youtu.be/-aZPq-vMTd8 This]] plays during the sequence on Rannoch where [[spoiler:Shepard [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu blows up a Reaper]] with a target designator linked to [[MoreDakka the entire Migrant Fleet]]]].
*** Also, in ''Mass Effect 3'': [[http://youtu.be/q6qVvbZC2Gs This]] happens. Doubles as a TriumphantReprise of the ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' theme.
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
** ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'''s FinalBattle. After the titular Metroid rescues Samus, is killed by Mother Brain, and confers the Hyper Beam to Samus, Samus begins to glow, and the remixed Crateria theme starts thundering over her HeroicSecondWind against Mother Brain.
** The "Theme of Super Metroid" itself becomes a ThemeMusicPowerUp during ''Super Smash Bros Brawl: Subspace Emissary''. It plays when Samus gets her Power Suit back on the FloatingContinent.
** ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' has a double instance in the late game: Throughout the game, whenever Samus picks up an item, the game plays a remix of the (rather subdued) ItemGet fanfare from the first game. Then comes a NoGearLevel where Samus is stripped of her armor, and is forced to sneak past a pack of murderous space pirates who can kill her in one shot. When she finally receives a new, more powerful version of her armor in the Chozo Ruins, two things happen:
*** This time, the item fanfare is [[http://youtu.be/jBOE2zMxFgw a glorious rendition of the one from Super Metroid and later]].
*** The music switches to an [[http://youtu.be/wEPmfXUQGgw up tempo version]] of the Brinstar theme song. After the oppressing ambiance sounds of the stealth section, this upbeat music signals it's time to retaliate against the pirates with a vengeance, Samus now able to destroy ''them'' in one shot.
** The final boss of ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' is accompanied by the already slightly creepy, OminousLatinChanting filled main menu music, warped to sound even stranger and more alien. Given that the main menu has the interior of a Metroid for its backdrop, this really drives home just how ''wrong'' the final boss is, even compared to life energy sucking floating fanged jellyfish.
*** Both Ridley and Dark Samus have Evil Theme Music Power Ups in ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption''. In the case of Dark Samus, it's a [[BigDamnHeroes Big Damn Villain]] moment too.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' invokes the song ''Snake Eater'' if the player is running out of time in the final battle [[spoiler: with The Boss]].
** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' plays with this, where playing certain songs on the iPod provides ingame bonuses. Naturally the ridiculously awesome ''[=MGS3=]'' theme (''Someday, you walk through the raaaaaaain, some day you'll feed on a treeeee frog!'') makes you almost unstoppable.
*** Then there's the finale of ''[=MGS4=]'', where [[spoiler:a final fistfight with Liquid Ocelot comes in four parts, with music from each main game of the series (and matching health bars) for each section, until the music runs out of steam and it's just two old men throwing their last ounces of strength at each other.]]
** ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' does something similar with the Winds of Destruction and other bosses. Normally, the music is instrumental. But when Raiden begins to push them to their limits, [[LetsGetDangerous their attacks begin to change]] and the songs begin to add vocals. It can be skipped in certain situations (for example, killing [[spoiler:Sundowner without breaking his shields]]), but why would you do that?
* ''Mega Man'' series examples:
** Zero in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' games has a different theme song in every game, and it always plays when he does something awesome (blowing off Vile's mech's arm in the first game, sacrificing himself, destroying a copy of himself in just three shots, etc.).
** This holds true in the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' saga. Whenever that particular game's Zero theme song starts sounding, rest assured -- you're about to do something very cool.
*** Also, the music changes into the foreboding final stage theme after the first form of the final boss is defeated and [[spoiler:the Ragnarok satellite is plummeting toward the planet with Weil making a last bid by [[BodyHorror hooking up to the remains of its control system]] and directing it towards Area Zero.]] Then Zero has his NoMoreHoldingBackSpeech and the absolutely awesome final boss music starts up.
** And ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' games have a theme in each game, based around the same two tunes throughout the series, which is played for no other reason other than to show off how something heroic is going on.
*** The tracks are actually called "Heroism".
*** Not to mention "You're Not Alone" for the BigDamnHeroes moments.
*** In what can only be described as MoodWhiplash, the 6th game has a slow, sad version of the theme, as [[spoiler:Iris and Colonel reveal that they are going to fuse, deleting them]] to get rid of the Cybeast inside the eponymous character, then "You're Not Alone" plays as the event actually ''happens''.
*** The ''Anime/MegaManNTWarrior'' anime even did this in the Japanese version -- if you heard the theme song, it was time for the heroes to start winning. Without fail. The dub did not retain this tradition.
*** The final match of the [[TournamentArc N-1 Grand Prix]] was, of course, between Netto and Rockman and [[TheRival Enzan and Blues]]. The fight takes place while the AnimeThemeSong, "Kaze wo Tsukinukete", blares in the background, and both Navis pull off the Program Advance Beta Sword and commence a swordfight so epic the holographic display almost can't contain it. And then Blues ''wins'' by way of SingleStrokeBattle. Rock falls over, and Blues and Netto both congratulate Rock on his hard fight while a slow, sad ballad version of the very same opening theme plays.
** In ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'', you get a brief moment of your protagonist's bright idealism, accompanied by Green Grass Gradation (the very upbeat and optimistic Area A music from the very beginning of the game), before commencing the final battle. The music gets even more epic when you enter into the second part of the battle; [[http://youtu.be/rB3cgHSkuCQ&feature=related click here to see what I mean.]]
** In the promo video showing Mega Man joining ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', he starts fighting backed up by the ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' theme, which [[TheDayTheMusicLied ends when he other Smashers fight back]]. Down but not out, Mega Man taps into his old Robot Master weapons and tears up the others to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX2KNyaoNV4&feature=youtu.be&t=54s Mega Man 2 - Wily Theme 1]].
** ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 3'' plays Sonia's song from earlier in the game right before the final boss, which is itself a take on the series theme.
* During the second fight with Dracula in ''VideoGame/SuperCastlevaniaIV'', the music changes from the level music to Simon Belmont's theme. Note that this has worked in reverse as well; Dracula's theme music, Dance of Illusions, usually plays in the fights where he's the most difficult to defeat (like in ''Dracula X'', where the battle takes place over a series of bottomless pits).
** Two examples of this one in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow''. In the first example, when you enter the boss room for The Arena, the normal boss music plays, as a cloud of bats flies outward and reforms into one Giant Bat. ''Then,'' a giant hand stretches out from the background (a huge shattered cage) and crushes the bat in its grip, just as the music changes to an entirely new boss theme. You end up fighting Balore (a giant ogre), one of the tougher bosses in the game.\\
The second example is in the extended ending. If you fight the normal final boss, Graham, a certain way, you will [[spoiler: inherit Dracula's powers once you defeat him.]] This allows you access to a previously sealed area of the castle... [[spoiler:where you get to fight Julius Belmont himself!]] The battle is a tough one, too -- especially because [[spoiler: Julius]] has the best theme music in the game.
* This is essentially the effect of Star Power in the ''VideoGame/GuitarHero'' games. Once activated, every note you successfully hit earns you double points, and the crowd rhythmically claps in unison. This is a great way to save you from certain death on difficult songs like "Bark at the Moon" and the faster second half of "Hangar 18".
* The final mission of ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2'' switches on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xvEOTQu600 this]] when TheCavalry shows up and you get to go on the offensive.
* Used throughout the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' series. The Halo Theme generally starts playing whenever things get particularly exciting -- a narrow, timed escape, a huge, 3-way battle, etc. And, of course, whenever Master Chief does something utterly awesome, the theme WILL be playing.
** Depending on how awesome whatever Master Chief is doing is, you might get the "Brothers in Arms" mix, the "Rock Anthem / Mjolnir Mix", or the "Covenant Dance" mix.
** One of the best examples is the final mission of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', which consists of one of the most epic escape sequences in video game history.
** The Arbiter actually gets a mix of his own as well: "Unyielding," introduced in ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'', which plays when riding into battle against the Brutes in the last few levels. This track is later spliced into the ''Halo 3'' version ("One Final Effort") that plays during the big escape at the end.
** The "Breaking Benjamin Room" of ''Halo 2''[='s=] "Gravemind mission". Towards the end of the level, the player must go through a room full of combatants from both the Elite and Brute factions in a firefight. Breaking Benjamin's "Blow Me Away" plays through here, and the rock quite fits the awesome battle the player is about to participate in.
** In ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST'', expect varients of "The Menagerie" or "Orbital Drop Shock Trooper" to kick in whenever something awesome happens. And of course, ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' continues the tradition with variants of "Unreconciled", "Lone Wolf", or "Noble Mission" kicking in whenever Noble Team readies up for asskicking.
** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' introduces "[[MiniMecha Mantis]]", which starts playing whenever you're about to kick ass in a Mantis (it returns in ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' as "[[IronicName Walk Softly]]").
* Even the ''VideoGame/ProfessorLayton'' series gets in on this. Don't believe me? How about [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkbvs5ATws&list=PLKUfPW-h8YsTjToJsNpN4wsbVWenb-tEa&index=33 this]] scene from Curious Village when Layton makes an escape from the Tower of St. Mystere using a glider he created out of household objects? Or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrUZLZnh1cM this scene]] where Layton takes on Anton in a no-holds-barred swordfight in Pandora's Box? Or even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JO598HqE8M&index=32&list=PLKUfPW-h8YsTRnhyqGyGKpEy6tynZqB2Z the scene in Lost Future where the Laytonmobile transforms into a freaking plane during a death drop]], immediately followed by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1VGiBmRC0M&index=33&list=PLKUfPW-h8YsTRnhyqGyGKpEy6tynZqB2Z THIS SCENE?!]]
* Each area in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' has two songs (or parts if you see the song listing in the Sound Test or the OST). Part one is soft and calm while part two, which starts up when enemies attack, is more intense and has a harder beat to it. Both parts last almost the same length and have the same BPM, which lets the BG music flow from one song to another as if it were just the same song just getting more intenser. The intensity between the parts goes up with each episode as well.
* The major raid bosses of ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' have the background music transition to a rendition of "The whole new world", the original opening theme, when the fight reaches its final phase. The first, Dark Falz Elder, uses it verbatim while each subsequent one has had their own remix.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** With the ''Adventure'' series giving each playable character theme song, said theme tunes were often used as leitmotifs, which ended up having this effect at times. Take, for example, ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''. Dr Eggman's Egg Golem. In the Dark Story, Eggman moves to strike Sonic, to his own theme music. Then Sonic's theme tune suddenly takes over. Sonic dodges the attack, jumps on the Golem's head, and--with a TERIAAAAA!--delivers a single flying kick to the mind-control device on the Golem's back, which destroys it and sends it attacking Eggman instead.
** In the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', an orchestrated version of 'Reach for the Stars' (arranged in a MIDI format) kicks in (for about ten seconds before you beat the boss, unfortunately) when you activate the 'Final Color Blaster'.
** ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'':
*** In the Shadow rival battle, the stage's music gets replaced by "Live and Learn" or "All Hail Shadow", when Sonic or Shadow (respectively) gain full power of the power-up they're chasing.
*** Another time is during the [[spoiler:Time Eater]] boss fight, using the Super Sonic theme from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'' mixed into the soundtrack. Does it first in the cutscene at the start when both Sonics turn super, and again for the last hit on the boss.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', the main theme "Fist Bump" plays when Sonic and the [[CharacterCustomization Avatar]] team up to use [[NitroBoost Double Boost]].
%%** The series has been doing this lately. When someone goes Super at the end of each game, it is ''always'' accompanied with a ThemeMusicPowerUp.
%%** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' did it first with the Super Sonic theme--music that tells you immediately that all bets are off.
* The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series has a ton of examples of this; practically one per game.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', when BigBad Zeromus has all but obliterated the party, the Elder of Mysidia clears his throat, asks all the former party members for help, and "Final Fantasy", the theme song for the entire series (also known as "Prologue") plays. Cue the CombinedEnergyAttack that revives the party to full fighting strength.
** Musical motifs from Exdeath's already evil and imposing theme in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' are used in his even more awesome personal battle theme.
*** Also, during an optional boss fight near the end of the game, a certain song starts playing when it becomes apparent that the party can't win. The song is [[spoiler:Gilgamesh's theme song, "Battle at the Big Bridge"]], and sure enough he shows up to save the day.
** Locke's Theme is the standard ThemeMusicPowerUp in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI''.
** Inverted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': A FlashBack to the BigBad's deteriorating mental state is accompanied by a few, looping malevolent chords. When he snaps, they extend and turn out to be the opening of his {{leitmotif}}.
*** Not to mention the full-on OminousLatinChanting excellence of the final boss fight.
*** "One Winged Angel" is used several times through the VII Compilation as a Theme Music Power Up, most notably the above-listed transformation into Safer Sephiroth, as well as the fact that the song pretty much ''brought Sephiroth back from the dead.''
** In ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', there's a cutscene showing Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal having some fun on top of a virtual version of the Junon Cannon. When Genesis gets a little too serious about the fight, a version of "One Winged Angel" kicks in to show that Sephiroth is [[OhCrap no longer playing around]].
** The last true boss of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is heralded by a massively muscled arm clawing up to a platform -- and much more importantly, metal guitar.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' has one for the battle theme; a lively D&B arrangement.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has one in the Heavensward expansion: ''Dragonsong'', the vocal theme of the expansion, plays as [[spoiler:the Warrior of Light absorbs the eye of Hraesvelgr before a climactic fight with Nidhogg.]]
*** A more humorous example appears in the trial "Kugane Ohashi" in ''Stormblood'': [[spoiler:When the battle begins, the music starts with the standard dungeon boss theme as players fight Yojimbo. Then Yojimbo reveals his true identity, and the music switches over to "Battle on the Big Bridge", the theme of none other than Gilgamesh.]]
*** And then again in ''Shadowbringers,'' [[spoiler:when [[FusionDance the ghost of your alternate universe self merges with you]] to break the Lightwarden's curse for the final showdown with Emet-Selch.]]
* When the main plot of ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' starts up, they even let you bask in the theme music during enemy encounters.
** Also, characters' personal themes. [[http://youtu.be/wTBb1OBYA_I Frog]] is particularly notable for this.
** Magus has a theme song that's awesome enough when your party is fighting him. However, if you happen to have him in your party when fighting the BonusBoss, [[spoiler:his mother]], he personally taunts his enemy and replaces the normal boss song with his own.
** When Dalton commandeers the [[spoiler:Epoch]], he complains about the heroic music (which is in fact the main protagonist's theme) that starts as it engages ("No, no, no, no...! [[LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn Stop the music]]!") and replaces it with a more villainous tune. ("Ha! There we go!")
* Gig, OmnicidalManiac hero of ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'', has ''three'' theme songs. Consequently, he has three different stages of ThemeMusicPowerUp depending on which one's used, ranging from "you'll receive a [[DeadpanSnarker verbal smackdown]]" to "you're DeaderThanDead, and so's your ThrowAwayCountry AndYourLittleDogToo".
* In the ''[[VideoGame/NintendoWars Advance Wars 2/DS/Days of Ruin]]'', when a CO Power is used, the normal CO theme will be replaced by a heavy metal tune depending on the CO's faction.
** Also happens when Will/Ed appears in the middle of Hope Rising to save everyone from [[spoiler:Greyfield/Sigismundo]]. Before he arrives, you have no CO, so you have the frantic, desperate no CO music; once he shows up, his rocking theme takes over, and you know it's time to kick some ass.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'': When a special power is used, the normal Zelda theme will be replaced by a heavy metal tune.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'': In the beginning, you're harmless and must make your way to the beach by pushing enemies around with your shield. Find your sword, though, and after a brief cue the music switches to the ''Legend of Zelda'' main theme.
** ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'': In the first stage, the main Zelda theme starts playing after Link awakens to the Triforce of Courage (and, in doing so, No Sells a One-Hit KO done by Volga).
* ''VideoGame/StarFox'' has Star Wolf's theme which remain pretty much the same (just with different instruments) throughout the series. You can't have a Star Wolf theme without Star Wolf team after all! Including a Mariachi Band in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' uses this by ''default''.
** The music that plays during any unit's Attack animation is often its series theme song. Same for the non-BadassNormal characters in the OriginalGeneration games, until the remake gave everybody their own. In all SRW games, they will also play the trope completely straight at appropriate moments in the plot, and will play an entire game's theme song when some ''serious'' beatdown is about to commence. Through the Alpha and OG series', Elzam Branstein's "Trombe!" is so badass, overrides almost all other theme music (even bosses), and results in much ass-kicking. Particularly from Alpha 3 onwards, there is the option to change the unit's battle music, with exceptions (such as "Goldion Hammer" and "Goldion Crusher", which only play during their attacks--their badass attacks). In addition, the Sound Force from ''Anime/{{Macross 7}}'' literally defeat enemies by singing at them--and can also power up your other units with their music.
** The spin-off game ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'' also uses this liberally: while the normal battle themes are randomly selected from 4 different possibilities depending on who's in the party, the character-specific theme starts playing whenever someone uses one of their special attacks.
** SRW manages to take this to a true extreme in ''Alpha 3'' when a song composed as a collaboration between [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Minmay]] and Basara (in the story, at least) actually saves the day in [[spoiler: the final stage, by galvanizing the heroes against a wave of malice that comes from the series' ultimate BigBad.]] It's no coincidence that the song was created in RealLife by Music/JAMProject for that game.
** Interesting to note, "Trombe!" was ''not'' the first instance of theme song override in the series. In Alpha Gaiden at least, certain units had "super attacks" that would trigger a different song. [[Anime/AfterWarGundamX "Satellite Cannon"]], [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam "Riders In the Skies"]] and [[Anime/TurnAGundam "Dark History"]] were not programmed to have a lower priority than boss songs.
** [[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Ruri]] [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this by playing the ''Gekiganger3'' theme during [[http://youtu.be/e02RkB6FxXc a key battle]] in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW'', giving everyone the extra dose of HotBlooded they need to save the day. [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Sousuke]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Heero]] try to resist this, as they must be stoic.
** Sheryl, in [[http://youtu.be/y47snC3G6Iw Scenario 18-A]] of ''VideoGame/{{Super Robot Wars Z}}2: Hakai Hen'', sings "Iteza Go Go Kuji Don't Be Late" to pump up the heroes so much that they all instantly shoot to 130 Will and beat the Beastmen mooks. Baron Ashura arrives with some Kikaijuu, so Ranka takes the stage and sings her song "What 'Bout My Star?". Simon and Kamina get pumped up even further, to the point that Kamina debuts Gurren Lagann's famous Giga Drill Break(er), nearly obliterating the Kikaijuu Taros D-7 with it
** ''VideoGame/BattleMoonWars'' does the same thing. Villains will always override songs with their own themes when they are engaged, and several characters have their multiple themes. For example, Shirou's default music is the one used for VisualNovel/FateStayNight characters, but when using Nine Lives Blade Works, it changes into a remix of Emiya.
* The ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' games have Lu Bu, the greatest warrior of the Three Kingdoms, whose rock theme takes over from the stage's music whenever he is fought. His equivalent in ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' is Honda Tadakatsu of the Tokugawa. The latter series also offers a more conventional example in that a TriumphantReprise of the main theme will often start playing at the turning point of a battle.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'': At one point in Subspace Emissary, after [[spoiler:Ganondorf and Bowser's gigantic Subspace Battleship shoots down the heroes' recovered Halberd, the heroes escape in their personal fighters to the ThemeMusicPowerUp.]] The music being [[OminousLatinChanting Dramatic Latin Chanting]] doesn't hurt.
* {{Boss battle}}s in ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' are accompanied by music that changes according to how well the player is doing. If the player's party has taken a lot of damage, the music is ominous and fractured; if the player is only a few turns from victory, it's upbeat and triumphant.
* In the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona 1}}'', during battles where a new party member is introduced, the game uses a special battle theme called "Awakening". In these battles, the character(s) in question go from being regular high school students to [[MagicKnight full blown Magic Knights]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'':
** The final boss battle is accompanied by a remix of ''Burn My Dread'', the game's theme tune. It's appropriate for this trope because [[spoiler:as the battle progresses, the Main Character [[CombinedEnergyAttack powers up his final ability]]]].
** ''Every'' version of ''Burn My Dread'' has the ability to either rock you in the face or [[PlayerPunch punch you in the soul]]. The version in the final battle is incredibly tense, but also uplifting, with the slow rise of the chorus in the background and the solid, rhythmic hip-hop lead vocals creating this eternal escalator of pumped-upness. [[spoiler:And once you've played that scene, you'll never be able to hear it without hearing Shinji helping you out.]]
** The boss battle against TheDragon, and true ([[ScriptedBattle non-scripted]]) [[spoiler:FinalBattle]], is fought to the sound of "Battle Hymn of the Soul" --a glorious power-rock remix of the LeitMotif for the ''entire'' ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series, "Aria of the Soul".
*** Alternatively, when you're visiting P3's town in the sequel, the ambient music is from the third game.
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' has music for the FinalBoss that [[VariableMix starts out slow and ominous, then gradually picks up as you wear down the boss]]. The last stage of the music is an instrumental arrangement of the main battle theme, ''Reach Out to the Truth''.
* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', "Life Will Change", the theme song of the [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Phantom Thieves of Hearts]], can be heard in the last section of Palace gameplay before you steal said Palace's treasure. There's also "Awakening", which kicks in any time a character awakens to their FightingSpirit and destroys a bunch of {{Mook}}s
*** The third semester Palace in Royal has "I Believe", which is lyrically a sequel to "Life Will Change" and represents the Phantom Thieves going from vigilantes seeking revenge against society to champions of humanity who will confront anyone who would steal the world’s future.
* ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers'': An instrumental version of "You Are Stronger", the game's opening theme, plays as the Thieves [[spoiler: destroy the Demiurge, the final boss, with an All-Out-Attack performed by every member except Futaba]].
* In ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIII'', the world map theme adds instruments and background to the main melody as more characters join your party. However, if the main character of the generation falls in combat, a much more tense and negative tune plays until said character is resurrected.
* This occurs at least once in each chapter of ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', usually using that particular chapter's battle music. A notable example is during the Near Future chapter's giant robot Steel Titan (whose theme music is acknowledged by an NPC saying "Start the music!" whenever the player tries to activate it). Also notable is that the game's main theme is used as the battle music for the final chapter, making nearly every battle a Theme Music Power Up.
** Also inverted in one chapter. [[spoiler:Whenever you play as [[TheWoobie Oersted and somehing awful happens to him]], he has a flashback of sorts and a loud droning noise is heard. By the end of the chapter where [[FallenHero he reanounces humanity and becomes the Lord of Dark, Odio]], the droning returns, but eventually becomes a song. The song name? "Odio, Lord of Dark", which has been used frequently in the game as a lead up to the boss battles of each chapter.]]
* ''VideoGame/SaGaFrontier'' had Alkaiser's theme, which plays [[spoiler: Once Red receives his upgrade to superhero status, when you fight Shuzer the 2nd time and when you fight Arachne (Cindy Campbell)]]
* In ''Age of Mythology'', when the player's units attack an opponent's major buildings (Town Center, Palace, etc.) the music switches to a more stirring track.
* In ''VideoGame/ThunderForce V'', as you fly into space you encounter a replica of the ship you flew in ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' as a boss, accompanied by an (even more) awesome remix of the [[PowerOfRock heavy metal theme tune]] of ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' (although this could be considered an inversion, considering its a ThemeMusicPowerUp for your foe).
** This happens yet again during the boss battle with Orn's very own version of Vasteel in ''VideoGame/ThunderForce VI'', but not only do you fight Rynex, but you also fight Styx and Gauntlet as well!
* ''VideoGame/CaptainAmericaAndTheAvengers'' would play a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3x12BpqcHY cool Super-Hero type music]] when the level's boss was down below 30% health.
* Played for laughs in ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge'', when Guybrush swinging heroically to grab a chest prompts the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' theme tune. Then it's quickly subverted as Guybrush is left hanging from the rope and the music meekly fades out.
* In the arcade game ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Fate/unlimited codes]]'', when Archer gets to the "Yet, these hands will never hold anything" part of his chant, the regular background music cuts off and [[spoiler:"Emiya"]] kicks in. Unlimited Blade Works ownage follows.
** This happens in the original Visual Novel as well. As soon as [[http://youtu.be/4uvhmN5EJNI Emiya]] starts playing, ass will be thoroughly kicked. By Shirou, a good 90% of the time. If Asskicking was a country, "Emiya" would be the national anthem, and Shirou would be the Grand Emperor.
* ''VideoGame/FateExtra'' does this for all three playable servants, whenever a character uses their [[SuperMode Noble Phantasm]] the scenery changes and their personal {{leitmotif}} plays for the duration.
** Red!Saber's theme ''[[http://youtu.be/wS6uCIqrs0g Saber, Everything is in Your Hands]]'' plays when she uses her Noble Phantasm '''[[http://typemoon.wikia.com/wiki/Aestus_Domus_Aurea Aestus Domus Aurea]]'''.
** Archer's theme is a remixed version of EMIYA here called ''[[http://youtu.be/tIkp-roj3Mc&feature=relmfu Archer, The Hero Who Nobody Knows]]'' that plays when he uses '''[[http://typemoon.wikia.com/wiki/Unlimited_Blade_Works Unlimited Blade Works]]'''.
** [[LittleBitBeastly Fox]]!Caster's theme is a remix of the menu theme from the original Fate Visual Novel here called ''[[http://youtu.be/4uf3O_99AQc&feature=relmfu Caster, An Extra Life With Anyone She Wants]]'' and plays when she uses '''[[http://typemoon.wikia.com/wiki/Suiten_Nikkou_Amaterasu_Yanoshisu_Ishi Suiten Nikkou Amaterasu Yanoshisu Ishi]]'''
* It's difficult to say whether Kratos' theme music in ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' is this or a particularly bloody version of MickeyMousing. Either way, it's awesome on spoons.
** "Rage Of Sparta" from God Of War III definitely qualifies as this, as when it kicks in, Kratos is about to fuck somebody up.
* In ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders Extreme'', picking up a powerup [[VariableMix remixes the music into something louder and more intense]] for the duration of your powerup, and the music becomes even more epic if you go into [[LimitBreak Fever Time]].
* The final boss battle of ''VideoGame/LaMulana'' begins with a fairly standard boss theme for the game: all the bosses have their own themes that nonetheless open with the same chord sequence. Then, for the second form onward, "Good Night Mom" kicks in: a remix of the protagonist's own theme (the Surface theme, "Mr. Explorer") that opens instead on the fanfare that last played the very first time Lemeza entered the ruins.
* In ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' the battle with [[spoiler:[[PerfectRunFinalBoss Ballos]]]] has three different songs. His first form is accompanied by "Gravity," the normal boss music. Then when you reach his second form, the music switches over to "Eyes of Flame," which is usually reserved for more dangerous bosses. Finally, his third and fourth forms come with a side of "Last Battle," the background music to the battle with the Undead Core.
* The FinalBattle of ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' actually has ''two'' ThemeMusicPowerUp. The protagonist: Amaterasu, ''Sun Goddess''. The enemy: [[spoiler: Yami]], Lord of Eternal Darkness. Amaterasu is weak, beaten and on the verge of giving up until she [[spoiler: she receives the prayers of ''every single person in Nippon'', being inspired by Issun]]. Cue her not only healing, but [[spoiler: gaining full godhood as she becomes Shiranui]] while "Okami White Light" plays majestically, leaving the player in awe. Once she is fully prepared and [[spoiler: Yami]] decides to charger her, the second song starts playing: "The Sun Rises". Yeah, the FinalBoss doesn't stand a chance.
* In the game ''VideoGame/GodHand'', the song that plays in the first level, the western-style one is an awesome surf song called "Gene's Rock-A-Bye". Whenever Gene unleashes his God Hand, a much faster version of "Gene's Rock-A-Bye", called "Broncobuster" plays, even drowning out the themes of bosses he's fighting. Even Azel, who has the Devil Hand and his own Theme Music Power Up (from "Devil May Sly" to "Duel Storm") can't win against "Broncobuster".
* Grand Papillon (AKA Joachim Valentine) from ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant'' plays this semi-straight several times throughout the game, and parodies it in one scene. [[spoiler: During his first fight with Veronica, though not actually the first time you meet her in the game, Joachim is beaten around rather badly until Yuma throws his trademark mask to him. he crawls toward the mask and puts it on. Cue dramatic theme music and a lensflare, after which he proceeds to win the battle without breaking a sweat.]] The parody comes from the fact that the mask in no way helps him -- it's all in his head.
* The ''VideoGame/SpaceChannel5'' games also feature this trope. In the first one at the end, when Ulala is fighting [[spoiler:Blank]], the music starts with a small, acapella version of the game's theme song "Mexican Flyer". The better Ulala does in the battle, the more voices join in with the singing. As she gets closer to winning, even real instruments start to play, finally culminating in a thick and triumphant rendition of "Mexican Flyer" as Ulala defeats the BigBad.
** Similarly, the final battle of the second game, ''Space Channel 5, Part 2'' features Ulala fighting against the new BigBad named Purge. The song that plays there is called "Connected Hearts" and is also a triumphant rendition of "Mexican Flyer", complete with the characters singing ''lyrics'' to it!
* Play with the Spartans in ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'', and every time your troops are fighting you'll hear an absolutely badass heavy metal theme.
* ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'' replaces the usual ethnic rhythms with military fanfares every time your troops are kicking some enemy ass.
* As well as ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals''.
** While you can choose the music playing in the earlier ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'', in ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSun Tiberian Sun]]: Firestorm'', when Cabal activated his last line of defense, a huge and powerful HumongousMecha, the song "Slave To The System" immediately plays unless you switch off the music. This applies for both GDI and NOD versions of the mission.
** Also in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'', the background music immediately changes when the player's unit is engaging the enemy in battle (and likewise changed again when the battle ends, to different songs depending on whether you won or lost).
* ''[[VideoGame/DefJamSeries Def Jam: Icon]]''. When two players fight, they each choose a song. Whomever is winning the fight will have "their" background music playing (and the background shimmies and dances to its beat). Certain areas of the level explode during bass hits, and the fighters actually control the music by making DJ scratching motions in the air to wound their opponent. [[http://youtu.be/0iapGFosF_0 See how it works here]], though the lyrics are {{NSFW}}.
* ''VideoGame/WanganMidnight'' Maximum Tune marks the introduction of a major character into an arc-ending race with his or her {{Leitmotif}}.
** The "Challenge" soundtrack really comes into its own as a TMPU in the way it builds up in the cutscene in The Beyond and its peak when the fight against [[spoiler:Yunalesca]] finally begins.
* In ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus'', the music is usually a mournful, slow-moving tune when you start fighting a colossus, but when you grab onto the thing and prepare to stab, the music swells into a louder, (usually) faster, and more awesome song that certainly fits the theme of you stabbing a thing well over 10 times your size to death. [[spoiler:And when you realize you're pulling a NiceJobBreakingItHero, the music turns bitterly ironic.]]
** Link gets one of these in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' whenever he gets in the position to actually hurt the boss.
* In ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'', the agents fight off against music-hating aliens by getting everybody in the world to dance to an ''epic'' cover of The Rolling Stones' ''Jumping Jack Flash''. In fact, the entire game (as well as the Ouendan series it's based on) revolves around this.
** Speaking of, Ouendan's final mission involves destroying an asteroid. The name of the music? [[Music/LArcEnCiel Ready Steady]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsjaQJf7ZCA Go!]]
* In ''VideoGame/AceCombat Zero'', whenever something particularly awesome happens the Latin guitar from the final boss fight kicks in for a short duration. And of course there is that final boss music.
** For those of you who haven't played the game: it's a mix of flamenco music, OneWomanWail, OminousLatinChanting, and pure awesome.
** VideoGame/AceCombat 5 has "The Unsung War", which combines your theme song with OminousLatinChanting for 7 minutes of awesome. Did I mention the fact that you're shooting down a SATELLITE while being attacked by the best aces of the last war?
** The entire series has a tradition of playing the game's main theme during the climactic battle.
* The original ''VideoGame/StarSoldier'' ShootEmUp for the NES changes the music when you power up...and in a later remake for the [=PS2=], GCN, and PSP a rock remix of the power up theme plays. AWESOME.
* In ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Guilty Gear 2: Overture]]'' whenever one player gains a clear upper hand their character's theme music plays.
** Also, special music plays when certain characters face off in a Master vs. Master battle.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs}}'' series, with the exception of the first and third games, have a tendency to have the game's theme song serve as the final boss's BGM. Possibly among the most awesome usages of this trope; ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs 2}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs 4}}'' in particular use ThePowerOfFriendship and a CombinedEnergyAttack completely shamelessly in the course of the fight, which when combined with the [[AwesomeMusic/VideoGames incredible songs]] makes for moments of total awesome.
** ''VideoGame/WildArms2'' also has [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Nightblaze/Knight Blazer]], the protagonist's SuperMode. When triggered, it overrides the current music with an ass-kicking beat, no matter how dramatic a boss you're supposed to be fighting. The exception is the final boss which, as mentioned above, has its own SuperMode with its own music.
* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'': You're about to face down the final boss alone, leaving you practically powerless. Suddenly, your friends [[MyNameIsInigoMontoya decide to stop being unconscious and help out]]. Cue the SurrealThemeTune.
* In the console version of ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', if a player performs Bang Shishigami's Furinkazan super move, the music suddenly changes to a brand-new song by [[Music/JAMProject Hironobu Kageyama]] called "Omae no Tetsui ni Kugi wo Ute". It's an over-the-top song about how much of a HotBlooded badass Bang is. And it is awesome.
** '''''BANG BANG BANG [[http://youtu.be/FYKPmkOF-z8 BAAAAANG!!!]]'''''
** Chrono Phantasma updated his theme song with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssJglCNctOc Bang! Bang! Big Bang!]]
** Also, the final battle in story mode, rather than simply playing the same final boss theme as arcade mode, instead has the game's opening theme as its BGM.
*** A similar thing happens in [[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift Continnum Shift's]] True Ending as well, except it happens twice. First it plays [[VideoGame/BlazBlueCalamityTrigger Calamity Trigger's]] opening theme when the main character gets his EleventhHourSuperpower. Then it plays [[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift Continnum Shift's]] opening theme against the TrueFinalBoss.
** And in the console version of the sequel, ''Continuum Shift,'' when you perform an [[FinishingMove Astral Heat]]), the chorus of the opening song plays in the background.
* During the climax of ''Continuum Shift'' when Ragna, who's story left off with Terumi having forced his back against the wall, regains access to his Azure Grimoire thanks to Nu's sacrifice Ragna's theme song Rebellion kicks in full stop as he powers up. And the second it's active he makes it very clear [[PreAssKickingOneLiner how badly he's going to destroy Terumi]].
-->'''Ragna:''' '''''TIME TO DIE, YOU DEGENERATE SON OF A BITCH!!!'''''
* ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCrossTagBattle'' continues the tradition in two ways. Firstly, using an [[OneHitKill Astral Finish]] will play a theme song from the character's respective series[[note]]''[=BlazBlue=]'' uses "Crossing Fate", ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' gets "Fog", ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'' gets "Unknown Actor", and ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' uses "This Will Be the Day"[[/note]]. Secondly, Yang Xiao Long's battle theme [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYlQF39LBi4 I Burn]] kicks in when her [[SuperMode Rage Mode]] activates, [[BackgroundMusicOverride overriding whatever BGM was currently playing]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea|HourOfDarkness}}'' is fond of this. An interesting point is Kurtis' awesome [[spoiler:return]], which makes the music his theme by default.
** Also, the anime switches to an instrumental version of Lord Laharl's Hymn whenever the Prince gets angry. But that's nothing next to what [[spoiler:The earth SDF]] does when ''their'' theme music is first played.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' has this used ''against'' the party in the optional Arena battle with four previous Tales characters; at first, the game is playing [[http://youtu.be/cxH5zaTQHzk "Everlasting Fight,"]] which is a medley of previous Tales battle themes. If you don't defeat them fast enough, Reid will activate Aurora Wall, revive any of his fallen party members, deal tons of damage to you, and a remix of [[http://youtu.be/W70Rr2wFWQ8 "Eternal Mind"]] suddenly starts up. This is about when any average player goes "OhCrap."
-->'''Reid:''' "''We will not'' '''''LOSE!!'''''"
* A traditional example shows up in the final battle of ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'' when Ludger [[spoiler: unlocks the full potential of his Corpse Shell]] and an awesome remix of the game's theme song starts playing. It can easily be subverted, though, as the boss is just capable of wiping out the party as before.
* ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'':
** The TrueFinalBoss knocks the PowerTrio on its ass a few minutes into the fight, but then [[spoiler:Malpercio gives Sagi a RousingSpeech]], 'Le Ali Del Principio' starts up, and the trio get back on their feet. And this time, you ''know'' it's going down.
** Earlier than that, the songs 'The Power of a Pure Heart and the Path to the Distant Future' and 'Bitter Enemies in the Same Boat' are both used at powering-up points (namely, [[spoiler:the end of the Heart-to-Heart and when Sagi first gets the power to destroy machina arma]], respectively).
* The final boss of ''Devil Summoner 2: VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon'', comes in three stages. The first stage has a unique battle theme, the second is recycled from earlier, but the third plays ''Raidou's'' theme, as a nice reminder of just how epic he is.
** The themes of the final boss isn't about how grand he is as much as it is about Raidou kicking his ass.
* Inverted [[OhCrap much to any Survivor's dismay]] by the Tank's theme in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2''.
** Can be taken one step further once you figure out how to change the music that plays when a tank arrives. Switch to something with OminousLatinChanting for extra effect.
*** [[http://youtu.be/e64i1tUj3iQ COME ON AND SLAM, AND WELCOME TO THE JAM!]]
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'': One of the playable characters, Kratos, has his own theme tune that plays slowly. However, during a certain event in the game, a faster, more upbeat and more complex version is played.
* The ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon'' title theme is played during the final battle in the first game instead of the usual boss theme. ''Return of Double Dragon'' (the Japanese version of ''Super Double Dragon'') is the only other game in the series to do this as well.
** Oddly, in the NES version, the music switches to the City Slum theme when you fight [[MirrorBoss Jimmy]].
** The battle with Willy in the arcade version of ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon 2'' uses a BossRemix of the title theme.
** Oddly enough, the original Double Dragon theme starts playing ''within a song'' in Music/{{Dragonforce}}'s [[HeavyMithril "Black Fire"]], and [[PunctuatedForEmphasis IT IS]] GLORIOUS!
** [[http://youtu.be/jxgwZiCM6wA And finally]], the TrueFinalBoss battle with [[OneWingedAngel Giga]] [[BigBad Skullmageddon]] in ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon Neon''.
** The main theme plays in ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonIV'' when you face off against [[BigBadDuumvirate Casey and Shannon]].
* One of the best things about ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' is that music is only played in certain situations, the rest of the game is devoid of BGM. This usually translates into intense battles cranking things up to 11 by adding music. The mad dash through the canals in the Water Hazard chapter or the showdown with the strider in Episode 1 comes to mind.
** You can gauge whether or not it's safe to let your guard down by whether or not the music's still playing.
** Episode 2, when every alarm goes off in the underground.
** In the more traditional sense of this trope, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UthQ2gR1bU4 Valve]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRyAuSE949w theme]] itself plays when you finally regain the HEV suit in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''.
* Whenever a character enters [[LimitBreak Border of Death mode]] in ''VideoGame/TouhouSoccer'', the character's accompanying theme takes over as the BGM briefly (assuming that a theme exists).
** Gengetsu, the BonusBoss of ''VideoGame/TouhouGensokyoLotusLandStory'' gets a remix of the game's title theme. Needless to say, this is your signal that the fight will be a little [[BulletHell intense]].
** An EasterEgg in ''VideoGame/TouhouHisoutensokuChoudokyuuGinyoruNoNazoOOe'' includes this. If Reimu is able to successfully pull off the Fantasy Heaven spell card in Round 3 of a fight, a remix of her theme (only accessible through that spell card) plays in addition to [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill a 330-hit instant KO.]]
** And from the "mainstream" Windows ''Touhou'' games, Yuyuko, the final boss of ''VideoGame/TouhouYouyoumuPerfectCherryBlossom'', gets one of these when she activates her final spell.
** In ''VideoGame/TouhouShinkirouHopelessMasquerade'', every fight against a character is accompanied by said character's theme as usual... except for Hata no Kokoro's final story mode fight against Reimu, Byakuren and Miko, which is set to her own theme music.
* Used as a game ''mechanic'' in ''VideoGame/BeatHazard'', the more intense the music you plug into it, the more powerful and more spread your shots are. You can also grab volume up powerups to make it that much better. On the other hand, intense music makes explosions larger and makes enemies and their shots that much harder to see.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Pitfall}} II: The Lost Caverns'' every time you grab a treasure or rescue someone a galvanizing, heroic, upbeat theme vaguely reminiscent of the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' anthem plays. One of the oldest ones in the book, as it was the first console game to feature PSG music, in fact the only 2600 game to have a custom sound chip.
* Also whenever you hear Reunion in ''VideoGame/ThreadsOfFate''. Expect something awesome will happen
* In ''VideoGame/BombermanGeneration'', the boss battles start off with a slower, more foreboding version of the game's ThemeSong. However, when Bomberman brings a boss's health down to critical levels, the music changes to the main theme.
* The Neon Mixtape Tour world in ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2ItsAboutTime'' introduces Jams, songs that give specific zombies special abilities when played. Jams are brought back in ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesGardenWarfare 2'', playing during a character's [[SuperMode Legendary Mode]], even reusing some of Neon Mixtape Tour's music.
* In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', when you've got the Gym Leader down to their last Pokémon [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FPz7yklWrA this music cues up.]]
** [[http://youtu.be/8s6IkFafrK4 N's Last Battle]] theme.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', [[spoiler:the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dkK9r57BNk Champion Battle theme]] ]].
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'', an absolutely glorious example of this trope plays as the battle music during [[spoiler:the Third Phase of the battle against Eternatus]].
* The final boss of ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'' cuts the music for its final form and starts up "Stone Like", a remix of the first level's theme. As an added bonus, if you [[PlayingTennisWithTheBoss play your tennis]] right, the boss explodes right at the end of the musical phrase.
* Meridian Dance plays when the Sword is finally revived in ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana''.
* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ: Raging Blast 2'', when you activate Raging Soul, the battle music turns from normal to the theme song sung by [[Music/JAMProject Hironobu Kageyama]].
* The ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' series and its cousin the VideoGame/CallOfDuty series will usually have the most dramatic music possible occur as you charge headlong into battle.
** Especially when [[http://youtu.be/6oD2xQjyAmg storming Fort Schmerzen]] at the end of ''Allied Assault'', and [[http://youtu.be/kyzUJT6isnc driving the King Tiger tank]] in the fifth mission.
** And [[http://youtu.be/TRAnjj43L_w Operation Repunzel]] in ''Frontline''.
*** The BigBad of ''Frontline'', Rudolf von Sturmgeist, gets this when you board his train, and during the final battle with him.
* The N64 / UsefulNotes/PlayStation ''VideoGame/MissionImpossible1997'' game powers up the MI theme during the Embassy Escape, Tunnel, and Gunboat levels.
* The true final stage of ''VideoGame/{{Raiden}} IV'' uses [[http://youtu.be/qTUmz6Asd0Q a remix of]] ''Raiden II'''s first stage theme, and the TrueFinalBoss's theme is a metal remix of the ''Raiden 1'' boss theme.
* The River of Souls stage in ''VideoGame/{{Turok}} 2'' uses an extended remix of the game's title theme. In the {{sound test}}, there's another [[CutSong unused remix]] that was apparently intended for the FinalBoss battle.
* The [[http://youtu.be/V_uNB3PnKOc final battle music]] in the original ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' is an epic, [[BossRemix albeit dark]], remix of the series' main theme. Even more prominent in ''Omega Strain'', eg [[http://youtu.be/n_OPVMfLiW4 Carthage Mall]], and [[http://youtu.be/JDs-xlo2pCU Belaya Vezha]], both of which also feature Cherubic Choir / OminousLatinChanting.
* ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal 3'' reprises "[[RealSongThemeTune Meet The Creeper]]" for the final stage.
* The theme song to the [[ShowWithinAShow show-within-a-game]] ''[[VideoGame/SplitSecond2010 Split/Second]]''. Plays during the Elite races, which will most likely be the point of highest tension. Dynamically changes as you pull ahead or fall behind. Only serves to make whatever victories you can pull off against the most springy of RubberbandAI sweeter.
* The TrueFinalBoss of ''VideoGame/BlasterMaster'' reuses the epic Stage 7 theme.
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' has ''three'' ThemeMusicPowerUp moments. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53gjP-TtGE "Power" by Kanye West]] plays when you [[spoiler:parachute onto a rooftop party held by the Syndicate and take the building over for the Saints.]] Later, in a wrestling match with the head of the Luchadors, Killbane, and you have to fend off a ton of his lackeys with a {{chainsaw|Good}}, you get [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-WHW-QNswE You're The Best Around.]] Finally, [[spoiler:The Boss is forced to choose between killing Killbane before he skips town or rescuing Shaundi and Viola from a STAG plot to blow up the Statue of Liberty expy and frame the Saints. If you choose the latter, [[http://youtu.be/4UpqLhYQz28 this]] plays. There are no words.]]
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'' cues "You've Got the Touch" when [[spoiler:the Boss dons PowerArmor before the final boss, letting him use all his simulation superpowers in the real world]]
* ''VideoGame/ChildOfEden'' fully powers up "Heavenly Star", the Genki Rockets' SignatureSong, at the end of the final battle, after two remixes of it in the preceding BossRush and SequentialBoss battle.
* In ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' 3 when either Ieyasu or Mitsunari face off against each other in the end of their story paths, "Naked Arms" will play in the background. Also, characters will have their Leitmotif play whenever they're fought.
* Inverted in the final boss fight of ''VideoGame/NieR'', where the Shadowlord's very powerful theme gets weaker and weaker as the fight progresses until all that's left is a music box rendition of his theme for his final sliver of health.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', "One They Fear" is a triumphant version of the main theme that occasionally plays during battles with dragons. It certainly ''feels'' like one if you can take the dragon down before the song ends.
** The serie's ActionAdventure GaidenGame ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsAdventuresRedguard'' has this for an instance of glorious verbal butt-kicking by the protagonist Cyrus. Things are looking dark, the previous goal has failed, your allies are leaving... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEPYlJLvcEM&t=4m28s and then the game's theme music softly starts up and Cyrus turns around]] for one hell of a RousingSpeech.
* The last stage of ''VideoGame/PN03'' uses the full version of the attract/intro music.
* In ''VideoGame/WinBack'', the final boss battle with Cecile reuses the opening theme.
* ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' has [[http://youtu.be/g4CpOUndnfs Surge of Mantra]], which is played upon [[spoiler: Asura getting his ultimate form through the power of prayer and to beat down the will oof the planet's ass flat.]]
* In ''VideoGame/BleachThe3rdPhantom'', whenever a character activates their Bankai [[spoiler: or Release, in Grimmjow's case]], an instrumental version of the game's theme song plays. Same with the cutscene where you acquire (depending on Free Time choices) either Rengoku, Rasen, Shunko, or [[spoiler: Bankai.]]
* In ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'':
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNCLuYBYwfQ Whenever Kirby gets a Super Ability]].
** Also, the [[BonusBoss True Arena's secret boss]] gets his personal theme for when it TurnsRed. [[spoiler:It's Galacta Knight!]]
* In ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'':
** The final boss of its Extra Mode [[spoiler:Dededetour]] plays his own theme when he TurnsRed. [[spoiler:This time, it's Dark Meta Knight.]]
*** In Triple Deluxe's main story, the second-to-last boss, [[spoiler:a possessed Dedede]], starts off with the BossRush theme despite it being [[spoiler:Masked Dedede]] you're fighting. However, when the boss is seemingly defeated, [[spoiler:he grabs a giant axe from a coat of arms, starts swinging and destroying pillars, and the REAL Masked Dedede remix starts to play.]] The same happens in [[spoiler:Dededetour]] when fighting [[spoiler:Shadow Dedede]].
* In ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'':
** Stage 4-4 ends with a rematch against C.O.G.S. Once beaten, however, an old foe emerges. [[spoiler:It's a mechanized Kabula, accompanied with its Bootstrapped Leitmotif]].
** The boss of Rhythm Route is a clone of Dedede. [[spoiler:After beating its split form, the clones jump into a cannon and gain yet another remix of Dedede's theme]].
** In a delayed variation, we have the boss of Gigabyte Grounds, a mechanized Meta Knight. [[spoiler:He returns as the first part of the final battle, now accompanied with his theme from ''Super Star'']].
** The final use of Robobot Armor in a regular level is soundtracked by a BGMOverride c/o the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'' version of Green Greens.
** The FinalBoss in its final form. [[spoiler:As it's related to Nova, the battle theme contains parts of Nova's own theme. Its True Final Boss variant also uses a straight remix of Nova's theme for a part of it]].
** Once again, [[spoiler:Galacta Knight does this in Meta Knightmare Returns. After having the Grand Doomer's theme for his first phase, he suddenly gains a techno remix of his own theme for his second phase]].
* The final part of the final boss theme in ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' is a remix of the Invincible Candy theme, with snippets of the game's main theme thrown in, going as hard as [[spoiler: the truck Kirby is using to ram the boss with]], proving that you can power-up a power-up that already makes you invincible.
* The Chapter 1 theme in ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead'' is remixed for the FinalBoss battle with the Magician. In turn, this version is reused for the rematch with the Magician in the second game.
* In VideoGame/RazingStorm, during the final battle with [[spoiler: Paulo Guerra in the [=PS3=] sequel,]] the Music/FiveFingerDeathPunch song [[http://youtu.be/owbt1_slgN4 Ashes]] plays.
* The climax of the ''Anime/GalaxyAngel'' [[VideoGame/GalaxyAngel games]] always follows the ThemeSong variant, playing that year's version of Eternal Love (or, in ''Galaxy Angel II'' games, Wing of Destiny).
* During the boss battle against [[VideoGame/{{Gradius}} Vic Viper]] in ''VideoGame/ZoneOfTheEnders: The 2nd Runner'', a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQOf1-EdUjk remix]] of the ''Gradius'' boss theme, Aircraft Carrier, will be heard playing during the fight, complete with the crowd in the song chanting "Leo, Leo, Leo, let's go!" since the Vic Viper is piloted by the first game's protagonist Leo Stenbuck.
* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'':
** In the original, a rousing version of Peach's theme is played when she [[MakeAWish Makes a Wish]] to power up the Star Spirits.
** This happens twice in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'', both times when an otherwise NighInvulnerable boss is [[AttackItsWeakPoint opened up to your attacks]]. First, when you use a [[spoiler:sponge]] to send the [[DanceBattler musically-inclined]] Gooper Blooper's poison back at him, the music switches to a remix of the original ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' theme. Then, much later, after [[spoiler:Kersti sacrifices herself to give Mario the power to defeat Bowser]], a triumphant version of the series' invincibility theme [[spoiler:mixed with Kersti's {{Leitmotif}}]] starts up.
* The FinalDungeon of ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' uses an OrchestralBombing arrangement of the main theme, which incorporates either the NCR's or the Legion's {{leitmotif}}, depending on which faction you are supporting, and powers up a step further when you engage the FinalBoss. Other incidences include the leitmotif that plays if the Mysterious Stranger perk is taken and he shows up during a battle, and companion ED-E's battle theme whenever it notices and engages an enemy.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': After all the [[GottaCatchEmAll pendant hunting]], you reach the forest to pull [[InfinityMinusOneSword The Master Sword]] from its resting place. Cue the powerful [[OrchestralBombing "Legend of Zelda" theme music]] as Link and sword opens up a new dimension of whoopass. Even after 20 years, that's still a great moment to play.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' does this for its overworld themes three times. A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LevdcF9Aqkg happy, upbeat tune]] for the prologue, which gets upgraded to the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jux1PCGJb1Y standard overworld theme]]... until Link gets the Master Sword, and then [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTww6juWsAM an even more heroic and glorious version]] plays. Then, the Lorule theme starts out with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYc_Vosp9_Y a theme]] that may sound disappointing after the Dark World theme from ''A Link To The Past'', but once Link has rescued all the sages, it, too, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4ZEYeanOW4 gets an upgrade]] to scratch that epic music itch.
* ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' plays with this. The final boss has a remix of the title theme when he gains the upper hand in a cutscene, but the same theme is also used when the protagonist is on the verge of defeating him in the final boss fight. [[spoiler: Since both of them are Overlords it's quite fitting]]
* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', each class has a Heroic Moment ability (they do gradual healing and usually finish the cooldown on a stun move). Using it triggers that class's {{Leitmotif}}. Also, the Final Bosses are all set to "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhcH9jSDPY8 Battle of the Fates]]".
* In ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' and its sequel, activating Wonderwing plays the Banjo-Kazooie title theme. Though not as dramatically, so does donning a pair of the special shoes.
* ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' has music that starts playing when you activate a special move. Each character has a [[{{Leitmotif}} different theme]] for this. In a quite ''literal'' example, {{status buff}}s are applied to the party after using the moves that last exactly as long as the music does; you can extend their effects by using another special, as its music will override the previous one's but the buffs will carry over.
** The game also combines this trope with LastEpisodeThemeReprise in the final boss theme. [[spoiler:After the heroes recieve the aid they need in order to stop Ouroboros from devouring the other worlds, and the fight draws towards the end, the music first plays a reprise of all four characters' themes, building in intensity, before launching into a triumphant final reprise of the game's main theme.]]
** ''VideoGame/BravelySecond'' and ''VideoGame/BravelyDefaultII'' both continue the trend of playing the characters' themes during special moves. [[spoiler:They also incorporate said themes into the end of their final boss tracks.]]
* As it runs on MagicMusic, this is common in ''VideoGame/ExaPico''. Most notably with [[VideoGame/ArTonelicoIIMelodyOfMetafalica "METHOD_REPLIKA"]], which plays when supercharging an attack spell.
* ''VideoGame/TheSmurfs2'', the videogame adaptation of [[Film/TheSmurfs2 the movie]], has ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' theme tune play whenever the True Blue Spell is activated.
* The final stage of ''Videogame/FarCry3BloodDragon'' is set to the game's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8SM3aWjRZ8 main theme]].
* The final chapter of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' is set to "Id (Purpose)", a TriumphantReprise of [[PlayerCharacter Robin's]] {{Leitmotif}}, complete with BGMOverride. Bonus points for said {{Leitmotif}} featuring part of the series theme, making the piece fit this trope on multiple levels.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne 3'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEH_LSL4rVw "Tears"]] during its final battle.
* ''Final Zone II'' has Momoko Ring's {{image song}} [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hXHRHmChBo "Don't Stop"]] in Stage 4, the first stage where she is playable.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Nectaris}}'', the ordinary music during the player's turn changes when the player gains a 2:1 advantage in unit count. There are also alternate player turn and computer turn themes that play if the computer gains a 2:1 advantage. (The latter doesn't necessarily mean that the player is doing badly in combat, since the distribution of neutral factories in some levels allows the computer to unstoppably acquire loads of additional units during the first few turns.)
* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2ItsAboutTime's'' Neon Mixtape Tour world has this as a level mechanic. A Jam will be playing, which affects the speed of all zombies on screen as well as giving certain zombies special abilities.
** Punk Jam: Punk Zombie gains the ability to KnockBack plants, and kick them out of the lawn if there's no space for it to land on.
** Pop Jam: Glitter Zombie projects a rainbow that makes zombies behind her NighInvulnerable while also removing statuses from them, it also allows her to OneHitKill plants.
** Rap Jam: MC Zom-B gains the ability to use an InstantDeathRadius attack by spinning his microphone to deal massive damage to all plants around him, enough to kill anything that's not defensive. Breakdancer Zombie gains the ability to kick other zombies forwards, combined with MC's microphone, this becomes a deadly CombinationAttack.
** 8-bit Jam: Arcade Zombie's UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame machine gains the ability to spawn 8-bit zombies that can come in regular, [[HeavilyArmoredMook conehead and buckethead]] flavours.
** Metal Jam: Hair Metal Gargantuar gains the ability to send out a sonic blast projectile with each smash of his guitar, dealing massive damage to the plant it hits.
* Exaggerated in the ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'' series, where the last phase of every FinalBoss fight consists of your MissionControl blasting out some sick beats to motivate you during the final push, usually overriding ''[[LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn the boss's own background music]]'' in the process.
* When you fight [[BattleshipRaid Fire Fossil]] or any of the [[FinalBoss Final Bosses]] in ''[[VideoGame/{{Darius}} G-Darius]]'', with the exception of Lighting Coronatus, the main theme [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEcZxw4isao Adam]] plays.
* ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'' uses epic arrangements of the main theme during the dungeon {{escape sequence}}s, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaiJKLROq5M "Restoring the Light, Facing the Dark"]]. Likewise, [[VideoGame/OriAndTheWillOfTheWisps the sequel]] reprises "Restoring The Light" when Ori is near victory during certain boss battles, notably [[https://youtu.be/AVChO2jMQM4?t=4m0s Mora the Spider]] and the FinalBoss [[https://youtu.be/ClCW2A1355A?t=3m38s Shriek]]. Ori's own leitmotif also gets a power-up while escaping the SandWorm in the Windtorn Ruins.
* Videogame/{{Awesomenauts}} has this in two ways. If you are on a killing spree a remix of your character's theme is playing. If your whole team is on a killing spree , that CMOA will be accompanied by its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAD0aV8qU34 "main theme"]].
* ''VideoGame/FreedomPlanet'' does when you get an invincibility power up.
* ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'' the final battle appears to have been won when the Soul of Cinder falls to the ground. However seconds later the piano keys of Gwyn ring in the background, Soul of Cinder gets on its feet charges its blade and channels the soul of the original Lord of Cinder Gwyn himself starting the real final boss.
* ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt'' loves this trope:
** The game justifies it: Joule's Septima ability, The Muse, increases the power of Adepts to extraordinary levels (as well as revive the dead) by [[MagicMusic singing]]. [[PlotDevice This is the reason why many people want to obtain it.]]
** When Lumen uses Anthem during the first game, Gunvolt revives with full health, unlimited EP, ability to air dash and air jump with no limit, and "Reincarnation" overrides the BGM.
** The sequel extends the mechanic to Copen due to Lola obtaining the power of the Muse. In his case, "Igniter" overrides the BGM.
** The sequel manages to ''invoke this trope.'' [[spoiler: To stop the FinalBoss's otherwise NighInvulnerable DesperationAttack, Gunvolt invokes the Muse's Anthem, "Reincarnation". Then a mic prompt appears in the top left, and the lyrics appear onscreen. That's right, ''you need to sing the song to defeat the final boss.'' Once you sing the opening lines, the song proper begins playing while the battle resumes, accompanied by onscreen lyrics for you to sing.]]
** Finally, the sequel plays with this trope in an unexpected way. [[spoiler: Mytyl uses Anthem and the duet version of "Indigo Destiny" plays, not for you, but for the ''TrueFinalBoss''. Cue OhCrap reaction from the player.]]
* ''VideoGame/ChildOfLight'''s FinalBoss theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNt_90Kt4xA "Hymn of Light"]], is an OminousLatinChanting-heavy arrangement of Aurora's theme.
* Most bosses in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' use a more upbeat remix of their Leitmotif for their boss battle theme, but the biggest of this is the FinalBoss of the [[KillEmAll No Mercy Route]] where their normally relaxing leitmotif is outright ''replaced'' with [[spoiler:MEGALOVANIA.]] Anyone hearing that music plays knows that when said boss warns them that they're going to have a bad time, ''[[SNKBoss it's not just empty boast.]]''
-->'''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8pJAo02rZQ GaLm:]]''' [[OhCrap Oh]] ''[[OhCrap shit]]''. ''This'' music. Oh God. I'm gonna ''[[ThisIsGonnaSuck die]]'' today.
* Whilst ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' normally runs a VariableMix for its soundtrack, the expansion pack gives each of the Chosen their own {{Leitmotif}}. Once the Chosen deploy to the field, the normal music cuts out and is replaced by an ominous version of their theme. When the Chosen is ''engaged in battle'', it ramps up to full intensity.
* In ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'', when player characters who are in the Drum Master Class get a full chain burst, the party has their attack and defense boosted for five turns and whatever music is playing is immediately [[BackgroundMusicOverride overridden]] by the song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRK_RWDXqCI Song of the Three Old Men]]" for as long as the boost lasts.
* A side effect of the VariableMix in ''VideoGame/ThemsFightinHerds'': if a player connects with a super, the music's likely to start playing their way.
* The final boss of ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'''s first story arc plays an instrumental arrangement of the game's main theme, "Shikisai".
* In ''VideoGame/FairyFencerF'', anytime players have their characters unleash their SuperMode, "Full Contact" will play and override the background music [[spoiler:for the first timeline. Once Fang and Eryn travel back to the past, it's replaced with the calmer but just as energetic "All Our Might Tonight"]].
* ''VideoGame/MegadimensionNeptuniaVII'' has "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KevvoZY_y0U Absolute]]" playing when the [[PhysicalGod CPUs]] unlock their [[NextTierPowerUp Next Forms]], and from then on, the theme performs a BackgroundMusicOverride whenever Next Form is activated in battle.
** Also worth mentioning are "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcTPTxCcthQ Will Be Venus]]", which plays whenever one of the [=CPUs=] activate [[SuperMode HDD]] (the level below Next Form) or one of the [[EmpoweredBadassNormal Gold Third]] activate their Gold Form in battle, and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNEh2Wv1t1Q Drive Away]]", which plays whenever a character uses their LimitBreak if one of the previous themes aren't playing. In fact, ''Will Be Venus'' was [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWRKcbLu_8E later used as background music]] in an OVA when Neptune and Nepgear transformed together to defeat a horde of monsters.
* ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'' has this in the final battle with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9HjQ8dQEVA Bloody Marie]].
* In ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma'' while fighting one of the larger creatures, each of which has its own unique battle theme, whenever you knock that enemy down or otherwise get it into a disadvantageous position, the creature's own theme will end and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTNfuztCMgM "End of the Struggle"]] starts to play for the rest of the battle.
* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake'' "Last Judgement" [[https://youtu.be/UtvbwltyqNM?t=131 plays]] during Leon's FinalBattle with the Tyrant aka Mr X. Similarly "Third Demise" [[https://youtu.be/N-QjEXPB2lg?t=148 plays]] when Claire faces G-Creature in it’s third stage.
** "Black Impact" is the [[https://youtu.be/kgol5frIfHg?t=26 theme music]] of everybody's favourite ImplacableMan.
* ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'': If Miriam equips Zangetsu's sword during the battle against his nemesis, the normal boss theme is replaced by Zangetsu's theme and your attacks will always land critical hits on the boss.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Celeste}}'', the most epic variation of the main theme is deployed in [[https://youtu.be/iDVM9KED46Q Chapter 7]], [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon the final leg of the main story]].
* ''VideoGame/RigidForceAlpha'' reprises its opening theme for the final stage, "The Hive".
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' plays its leitmotif of "Proof of a Hero" in the final stretches of its [[TheDreaded extremely dangerous beasts]], such as Zorah Magdaros, Safi'jiiva, Lao-shan Lung, Gogmazios, Ahtal-Ka, Fatalis, Narwa or Gaismagorm, usually after siccing the [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice Dragonator]] on them. Once it starts up in any capacity, it's no longer you fighting the monster; it's the monster fighting ''you.'' If the monster has their own boss theme, "Proof of a Hero" is ''your'' boss theme.
* In the ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' series, entering [[LimitBreak Fever/Henshin]] mode changes the music to a more up-beat song.
* ''VideoGame/Haven2020'' plays an extended version of its title theme starting when Yu and Kay launch the fully repaired Nest and head off towards TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, and continuing though the sequence of severing the Flow Bridge and escaping the volcano.
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