Theme Music Power-Up: Difference between revisions

A character's strength and abilities are directly proportional with how [[Rule of Cool|cool]] their [[Leitmotif|personal theme music]] is. The more suddenly it starts up and the louder it is, the more butt-kicking is about to commence. This applies to both heroes and villains and is a power that the [[Badass Normal]] is allowed to use. Alternatively, the music is a representation of the character getting into "the zone".

If a [['''Theme Music Power-Up]]''' is defeated, then it's [[The Day the Music Lied]]. If it's in particularly spectacular fashion, it may end with a [[Record Needle Scratch]] or by [[Letting the Air Out of the Band]] (or, if you're ''really'' unlucky, a [[Last-Note Nightmare]]).

** A bit different in the final season, in which the new addition to the cast -- thecast—the Sailor Starlights -- hadStarlights—had an appearance theme very different to the traditional "sudden and loud" ones: starting quiet and subtle and then getting louder during the close-up on them.

* Ichigo of ''[[Bleach]]''; whenever he was about to kick serious ass, his [[Image Song]] ("Number One" by Hazel Fernandez) would kick in. This was subverted at one point: Ichigo moves to attack an unusually powerful badass, and his [[Theme Music Power-Up]] stops almost as soon as it starts when his opponent blocks the attack with a single finger. Yeah, that's right... {{spoiler|Aizen}} is so tough he can even defeat your ''theme music''.

** As [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXCVzlGsZP4 this video] shows, "Number One" did provide a [[Theme Music Power-Up]], but for the wrong character. "Number One" allows Renji to display some awesome, but as soon as Ichigo jumps into action, the fickle theme song is cutdown by {{spoiler|Aizen}}'s finger of doom.

* Saiyuki has the OP theme "For Real"; it's not surprising that the rockin' guitar version brings the pain to you, but what's more interesting is that the gentle, tinkling piano version can either be the theme to character growth and introspection... or the warning that Genjo Sanzo is about to deliver a [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown]] on whoever's in his way -- completeway—complete with some snarky deconstruction of whatever BS the poor yutz was trying to spout at the time.

** In the first season's English dub, Kaiba's theme, "I'm Back," plays in a few choice [[Theme Music Power-Up]] spots.

* During episodes 18 and 19 of the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX|GX]]'' dub, the duelist who purloined Yugi's deck and was dueling Jaden kept having musical overtures from the previous series playing. Towards the end, they were even being played in the same musical style as a lot of GX music.

* ''[[Dokkoida?!]]'' hangs a [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshade]] on this; the hero's power suit is able to induce this state by playing a heroic theme song. At least if the company that made the suit actually got that feature working before they released it. But the hero doesn't know that, and he [[Magic Feather|manages to get the same effect]] just from suggestion and enjoying the [[Hot-Blooded]] music.

** ''[[Digimon Savers]]'' adheres ''doubly'' so. There's a set of [[Leitmotif|leitmotifsleitmotif]]s for various stages of evolution, but whenever [[Autobots Rock Out|the J-Rock theme tune]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Yh68qgU78 "Believer"] cues up, you know the [[Monster of the Week]] is about to get beaten in a spectacularly flashy, [[Hot-Blooded]] manner. Sadly, due to the song being Japanese and the dubbing company having a music budget of about a nickel, it was cut in the domestic release, replaced with the more standard evolution [[Leitmotif|leitmotifsleitmotif]]s.

*** Another [[The Movie]] dub example: the fight between Parrotmon and Greymon. 15 minutes in and with only a narmy rap remix of the theme heard so far, Greymon introduces himself to Tai. The distant sound of records scratching echoes across the 5.1, and three glorious almost-words, despite being only whispered, are still louder than the biggest explosion: "[[Crowning Music of Awesome|DI- DI- DI-...]]"

** In episode 2, when Kamina and Simon hijack the Gunzan, later named Gurren, the [[Surprisingly Good English]] song "Gattai Nante Kusokurae" (AKA "To Hell with Gattai") starts playing.

* ''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure]]'': Nagisa and Honoka are undefeatable when the instrumental version of the theme song is playing. And if the background music has lyrics, they can accomplish miracles like defeating Jaaku King or getting Kiriya to turn good. At the end of ''Futari Wa Pretty Cure Max Heart,'' {{spoiler|the theme song was played with lyrics, which was both at once and thus gave Pretty Cure the ability to defeat the Jaaku King [[Back Fromfrom the Dead|for real this time]]}}.

* When you hear Fate's voice actress, [[Nana Mizuki]], start to sing her insert song for thatthe season of ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' that you're watching, expect every villain currently on screen to have their asses handed to them within the next five minutes. Fate gets a particularly big one of these in the form of the awesome "Pray" during the final showdown with Jail Scaglietti and the Numbers.

* ''[[Mobile Fighter G Gundam|G Gundam]]'' had two themes dedicated to Domon's [[Finishing Move|Finishing Moves]]s, "Moegare Toushi" for the Shining Finger and the other "Waga Kokoro, Meikyo Shisui" for just about anything God Gundam did.

** The first opening song, "Days", also lends itself to a [[Theme Music Power-Up]] for Renton and Eureka in episode 32.

** And whenever you hear it fire up during [[RODR.O.D the TV|the sequel]], strap in tight, because someone's about to kick some major ass.

* [[Hellsing|Seras Victoria]] transforms into a Draculina and tears through her enemies as Suilen's beautiful, haunting 'Zakuro' plays in the background.

** To be more precise, the songs are called "Shinuki Time!", "Succession", "Hibari's Theme" and "Tsuna Awakens", respectively.

*** Don't forget Yuuki aru Tatakai. When this piece starts, no one will survive from Guy's attacks. NO EXCEPTIONS. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYFYZZtnH-E Example.]{{spoiler|1=Sure, Palparepa gets better, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6TDhVCg18 we will have another TMPUTheme Music Power-Up for him shortly after (starting from 2:28).]}}

* Almost the entire last episode of ''[[Stellvia of the Universe]]'' is accompanied by various theme music pieces, including the OP. The [[Crowning Moment of Awesome (Sugar Wiki)/Anime and Manga|sheer awesome]] of its [[Grand Finale]] takes more than words to convey.

* Inverted in ''[[Paranoia Agent]]'', where the Theme Music belongs to [[Big Bad]] Lil' Slugger. If it starts playing, you're ''extremely'' screwed -- Sluggerscrewed—Slugger gets the powerup.

*** The entirety of episode 25 {{spoiler|is pretty much THE defining example of Macross [[Theme Music Power-Up|Theme Music Power Ups]], combining almost every song in ''Frontier'' plus "Do You Remember Love?" }}

* ''[[Genesis of Aquarion]]'' has a [[Theme Music Power-Up]] in nearly every episode (along with the usual subversion with stopping the song when the attack fails), and the last episode gets an awesome, gospel style version of the first theme song.

* ''[[Burst Angel]]'' only has this happen in the last episode, {{spoiler|when textbook [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]] Meg, [[Percussive Prevention|Percussively Prevented]] by her [[Heterosexual Life Partners|partner]] Jo from suicidally [[Storming the Castle]], finally starts to stand on her own, taking the first steps toward [[Took a Level Inin Badass|Taking A Level In Badass]].}}

** One aversion however, is Jackal, a powerless dynamite-[[Spam|Spamming]]ming mook, who manages to live all through that music. And Ken was just fucking with him all that time anyway... up until Jackal calls upon Devil Rebirth.

* Whenever [[Yuki Kajiura]] and the strings and chimes of Awesome strike up in ''[[KaranoKara no Kyoukai:]]'', not only is the unkillable going to be killed, it's going to be ''spectacular.''

* In ''[[Seto no Hanayome]]'', San's "Song of Heroes" ''is'' a [[Theme Music Power-Up]], thanks to the [[Magic Music|Mermaid's Ancient Lyrics]]. Any time San starts singing it, [[Badass Normal|Nagasumi]] is about to do something impossibly badass. And then there's the time that {{spoiler|Nagasumi pulls it off ''before San starts singing'', because he's just [[Unstoppable Rage|that pissed off]]. The "Song of Heroes" starts picking up just as the asskicking begins.}}

* In the ''Mazinkaiser'' [[OVA|OVAs]]s, whenever Kouji lays the pain down his opponents, the song ''Mazinkaiser's Theme'' starts playing, though it's the short version. In the final episode, "Decisive Battle! Burning Hell Castle", the ''full'' version of it is played the moment Mazinkaiser unleashes Kaiser Blade and doesn't stop until he delivers the final blow onto Hell King Gorgon.

** ''[[Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-hen]]'' manages to pack three one after the other in the final episode, as the second opening, second ending, and finally first ending play in sequence over the final battle.

* The second anime of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' has the fight against Sloth, where Olivier Armstrong is {{spoiler|cornered and [[Large Ham|her brother]] gloriously saves her with his supreme manliness complete with an epic theme song that could only be described as the armstrong national anthem.}} The exact same thing happens a few moments later when {{spoiler|Izumi's husband and aforementioned brother meet for the first time.}} Starts around 3:00 in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8RU0gWfWz4 this video].

* [[ToA AruCertain Majutsu noMagical Index]] has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf-us97tuvg "Jellyfish"] by Mami Kawada. This plays when Index is alone and Sherry Cromwell's Golem attacks her. {{spoiler|Index then goes on to show that even in her normal mode she is able to call upon the power of the 103,000 grimores she has memorized and [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|easily repels the Golem's attacks]]}} until Touma comes along and cancels the whole summoning.

* In ''[[To Aru Kagaku no Railgun|A Certain Scientific Railgun]]'' we have [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGAA4IFEPb0 only my railgun], which plays when Misaka faces the AIM dispersion field beast (By giving a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|pep talk]] to [["I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight|the part of Saten's consciousness inside the beast]]). Kiyama-sensei even expressed awe at how much more powerful Misaka could be when fighting seriously. "This is... Level 5..."

** Also at the end of the first season when they {{spoiler|defeat Telestina and save Kiyama-sensei's kids. The same Saten-san who needed the pep talk before became the [[Big Damn Heroes|big hero]] by delivering a [[Shut UP, Hannibal]] to Telestina and smashing the [[Power Nullifier|Capacity]] [[Gratuitous English|Down]] with her baseball bat.}}

** With her being [[Put on a Bus|put on a boat]]{{when}} resident [[Genki Girl]] Mizuno seems to have taken over for her.

*** And now{{when}} with Mizuno leaving, TMPUTheme Music Power-Up has fallen to the east maiden {{spoiler|Keito.}}

* The final battle (against [[The Rival]] Papillion) in [[Busou Renkin]] is accompanied by the title theme. It is, like their first fight, fast paced and impressively choreographed, even if it is more down to earth than the fights involving gravity manipulation and [[Humongous Mecha]].

* When [[Getter Robo|Shin Getter Robo uses Stoner Sunshine against Shin Dragon]], a [[Badass]] [[Theme Music Power-Up]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92-iROXtd6A starts up raising the level of epicness in the scene.]

* ''[[Black Butler]]'' has a discordant version of "[[Ironic Nursery Rhyme|London BridgesBridge Is Falling Down]]" play during Sebastian's final battle with {{spoiler|[[Big Bad|Ash/Angela]]}} at the end of the first season. [[Better Than It Sounds|Seriously]]. [[It Makes Sense in Context|And in context]] ''[[Crowning Moment of Awesome|it was awesome]]''.

* [[Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt|Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt]] plays "Fly Away (Now)" during pretty much any scene which tops the awesomeness of the previous scene in which "Fly Away (Now)" was played.

** It is fairly common before Ep.episode 5, but afterward becomes less and less common until the [[Battle Royale With Cheese]] at which point you will cheer and applaud when it plays.

* ''[[Persona 4: The Animation]]''. It is the dead of night. All hope seems lost. Yu is alone, beaten but not defeated. All his efforts have been in vain, and it seems nothing he can do will help him overcome. But then he stands, determination burning in his heart. He rallies his strength and summons the [[Persona 4|original game]]'s battle [[Theme Tune]], "Reach Out To The Truth," and he ''faces out'', he ''holds out'', he {{spoiler|[[Fishing Minigame|casts his fishing line]] and [[That One Sidequest|finally catches]] [[TheLegendary Catfish|the Guardian]]}}.

* In ''[[Rental Magica]]'', when Itsuki removes his eye-patch, the music starts, and he says a variant of, "ThisPresident's is an order from the PresidentOrders!" asskicking will commence. {{spoiler|Except that one time in the last [[Anachronic Order|chronological episode]], where he [[Genre Savvy|abused]] it just to get them topeople's listenattention}}.

* In ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'', Mami has a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QEa4TiHDBA&feature=related pretty awesome one] when transforming into her magical girl outfit.

* Subverted ''twice'' in a very short time in the [[The Lord of the Rings]] film ''Return of the King.'' 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=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 Mumakil war-elephants-on-steroids and the warchants of their riders, the Maori-reminiscent Haradim.

* ''[[James Bond (film)|James Bond]]'' is in the rare and enviable position of having ''two'' [[Theme Music Power-Up|Theme Music Power Ups]] -- theUps—the "James Bond Theme", and the music from the opening titles of each movie. See the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WgVUzVxUkM pre-credits sequence] from ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' for a particularly badass example. On the other hand, if the opening song is a ''[[Villain Song]]'', Bond had better watch out when it starts playing on the soundtrack. Example: [[Goldfinger|Goldfinger's]] [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|aerial raid on Fort Knox]], set to a thunderous version of his [["The Villain Sucks" Song]].

*** Bond re-entering the scene in a ''tank'' by taking the shortest route ''through'' a concrete wall in ''[[GoldeneyeGoldenEye (film)|GoldenEye]]''.

* 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 -- suchyet—such as in the ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' movie, where a remix of the classic theme plays for a while before the gang really winds up in trouble.

* The first twenty seconds of the track "Beelzeboss" from ''Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny'' act as a [[Theme Music Power-Up]] for [[Satan|the Devil.]]

** 'Film/'[[Return of the Jedi]]'' gives Luke a big [[Theme Music Power-Up]] in the Sarlacc pit scene.

** Even detractors of the [[Star Wars]] prequels admit that one of the coolest moments in the series was near the climax of ''[[The Phantom Menace]]'' 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 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPLXwrj7i7Q "Duel of the Fates"] theme are heard.

** 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 [[You Are Better Than You Think You Are|do the magic that needs to be done]].

* In ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'', 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 [[Big Bad]], Serris, is still alive -- untilalive—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 -- thechoir—the Commander's won the ''real'' battle. The movie ends there.

* Two moments from ''[[Star Trek: First Contact|Star Trek First Contact]]'' spring to mind: the battle against the Borg cube at the start of the movie, where the ''Enterprise'' [[Gunship Rescue|swoops to the rescue]] to the sound of an absolutely ''epic'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miaOx3UrLA4 fanfare], and the fight on the deflector dish, where each time the Borg gain the upper hand, a more thunderous version of their [[Leitmotif]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWxOCuk6rMs plays].

* Happens subtly in ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]''. If you hear a snippet of the main riff from "Enterprising Young Men", ass-kicking will soon ensue. Especially egregious when Sulu [[Let's Get Dangerous|gets dangerous]].

** This applies to Batman Returns as well.

* Blatant in [[Jimmy Neutron]]: [[The Movie]] - whenever he starts implementing a new plan, or is in the middle of using ANY invention for WHATEVER reason, a variation on his theme tune starts playing. Yes, even when he's just getting ready for school. Either that, or some new-wave, boppy, pop song comes on (as evidenced during the defeat of the Yolkians in the arena).

* [[Kick-Ass]], Hit-Girl and Bad Reputation; exactly as it says in the title ensues.

** A notable non team up example happens in Lost Galaxy right after the Rangers [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DChIkG0PwT4&feature=related receive the Lights of Orion.]

'''Jasmine:''' Seems true for now. I have my doubts for them though -- ''(walks to the camera)'' -- ''[[Dancing Theme|Aba-Aba-Aba-Aba-Abaranger!]]''<br />

'''Umeko:''' What the heck was that?<br />

** ''[[Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger]]'' takes this concept and runs with it. As an anniversary series for the franchise, the Gokaigers not only get a [[Theme Music Power-Up]] from their own theme, but the theme music of whatever past sentai team is getting spotlighted that episode.

* Happens in the very first episode of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek the Next Generation]]'', when the crew successfully pull off the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u0nM_nLhB0 first saucer separation] while at Warp 9.5.

* The pilot episode of ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' 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.

** Samus does have her own theme music by this point in the series, which plays over her revival (both times) in ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption'' and over ''Super Metroid's'' opening text crawl and end credits. It also gets an orchestral remix in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]] Brawl''.

*** That Brawl remix itself becomes a [[Theme Music Power-Up]] during ''Subspace Emissary''. It plays when Samus gets her Power Suit back on the [[Floating Continent]].

* ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'' invokes the song ''Snake Eater'' if the player is running out of time in the final battle {{spoiler|with The Boss}}.

** ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'' plays with this, where playing certain songs on the [[I Pod]] provides ingame bonuses. Naturally the ridiculously awesome ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 3'' theme (''Someday, you walk through the raaaaaaain, some day you'll feed on a treeeee frog!'') makes you almost unstoppable.

** This holds true in the ''[[Mega Man Zero]]'' saga. Whenever that particular game's Zero theme song starts sounding, rest assured -- youassured—you're about to do something very cool.

*** The ''[[Mega Man NT Warrior]]'' anime even did this in the Japanese version -- ifversion—if you heard the theme song, it was time for the heroes to start winning. Without fail. The dub did not retain this tradition.

** Two examples of this one in ''[[Castlevania]]: Aria of Sorrow''. 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.<br />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 -- especiallytoo—especially because {{spoiler|Julius}} has the best theme music in the game.

* Used throughout the ''[[Halo]]'' series. The Halo Theme generally starts playing whenever things get particularly exciting -- aexciting—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.

* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' has been doing this lately. When someone goes Super at the end of each game, it is ''always'' accompanied with a [[Theme Music Power-Up]].

* Locke's theme is the standard [[Theme Music Power-Up]] in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''

* Gig, [[Omnicidal Maniac|Omnicidal]] [[Heroic Sociopath]] of ''[[Soul Nomad and The World Eaters]]'', has ''three'' theme songs. Consequently, he has three different stages of [[Theme Music Power-Up]] depending on which one's used, ranging from "you'll receive a [[Deadpan Snarker|verbal smackdown]]" to "you're [[Deader Than Dead]], and so's your [[Throwaway Country]] [[And Your Little Dog, Too]]".

* ''[[Star Fox (series)|Star FoxFOX]]'' 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!

* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' uses this by ''default''. The music that plays during any unit's Attack animation is often it's series theme song. Same for the non-[[Badass Normal]] characters in the [[Original Generation]] 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 -- theirattacks—their [[Badass]] attacks). In addition, the Sound Force from Macross 7 literally defeat enemies by singing at them -- andthem—and can also power up your other units with their music.

** 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. [[After War Gundam X|"Satellite Cannon"]], [[Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam|"Riders In the Skies"]] and [[Turn aA Gundam (Anime)|"Dark History"]] were not programmed to have a lower priority than boss songs.

** [[Martian Successor Nadesico|Ruri]] [[Invoked Trope|invokes]] this by playing the ''Gekiganger3'' theme during [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e02RkB6FxXc a key battle] in [[Super Robot Wars W]], giving everyone the extra dose of [[Hot-Blooded]] they need to save the day. [[Full Metal Panic!|Sousuke]] and [[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing|Heero]] try to resist this, as they must be stoic.

* In the [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|best scene]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]. Brawl'''s 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 [[Theme Music Power-Up]].}} The music being [[Ominous Latin Chanting|Dramatic Latin Chanting]] doesn't hurt.

** Pretty much all the music in ''Persona 3'' was awesome, but ''every'' version of ''Burn My Dread'' has the ability to either [[Crowning Music of Awesome|rock you in the face]] or [[Player Punch|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 [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|hearing Shinji helping you out]].}}

** The boss battle against [[The Dragon]], and true ([[Scripted Battle|non-scripted]]) {{spoiler|[[Final Battle]]}}, is fought at the sound of "Battle Hymn of the Soul" --a—a [[Crowning Music of Awesome|glorious power-rock remix]] of the [[Leitmotif]] for the ''entire'' ''[[Persona]]'' series, "Aria of the Soul".

* ''[[SagaSaGa Frontier]]'' 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 ''[[Thunder Force]] 5'', as you fly into space you encounter a replica of the ship you flew in [[Thunder Force]] 4 as a boss, accompanied by an (even more) awesome remix of the [[Power of Rock|heavy metal theme tune]] of ''[[Thunder Force]] 4'' (although this could be considered an inversion, considering its a [[Theme Music Power-Up]] for your foe).

* Grand Papillon (AKA Joachim Valentine) from ''[[Shadow Hearts]]: Covenant'' 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 -- ithim—it's all in his head.

* As well as ''[[Command and& Conquer]]: Generals''.

* Keeping up with the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' references, the last true boss of ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' is heralded by a massively muscled arm clawing up to a platform -- andplatform—and much more importantly, metal guitar.

* The original ''Star Soldier'' [[Shoot'Em Up]] for the NES changes the music when you power up...and in a later remake for the [[Play StationPlayStation 2]], GCN, and PSP a rock remix of the power up theme plays. AWESOME.

* The ''[[Wild ArmsARMs]]'' 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; ''[[Wild ArmsARMs 2]]'' and ''[[Wild ArmsARMs 4]]'' in particular use [[The Power of Friendship]] and a [[Combined Energy Attack]] completely shamelessly in the course of the fight, which when combined with the [[Video Games/Awesome Music|incredible songs]] makes for [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|moments of total awesome.]]

** ''[[Wild ArmsARMs 2]]'' also has [[Spell My Name with an "S"|Nightblaze/Knight Blazer]], the protagonist's [[Super Mode]]. 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 [[Super Mode]] with its own [[Crowning Music of Awesome]].

* In the console version of ''[[Blaz BlueBlazBlue]]'', if a player performs Bang Shishigami's Furinkazan super move, the music suddenly changes to a brand-new song by [[JAM Project|Hironobu Kageyama]] called "Omae no Tetsui ni Kugi wo Ute". It's an over-the-top song about how much of a [[Hot-Blooded]] [[Badass]] Bang is. And it is ''[[Crowning Music of Awesome|awesome.]]''

*** A similar thing happens in [[Blaz BlueBlazBlue: Continuum Shift|Continnum Shift's]] True Ending as well, except it happens twice. First it plays [[Blaz BlueBlazBlue: Calamity Trigger|Calamity Trigger's]] opening theme when the main character gets his [[Eleventh-Hour Superpower]]. Then it plays [[Blaz BlueBlazBlue: Continuum Shift|Continnum Shift's]] opening theme against the [[True Final Boss]].

** Oddly enough, the original double dragon theme starts playing ''within a song'' in [[Dragon Force (video game)]]'s [[Heavy Mithril|''Black Fire'']], and [[ThisPunctuated! IsFor! SpartaEmphasis!|IT IS]] [[Your Mileage May Vary|GLORIOUS!]]

** And from the "mainstream" Windows [[Touhou]] games, Yuyuko, the final boss of ''Perfect Cherry Blossom'', gets one of these when she activates her final spell.

* The N64 / [[Play StationPlayStation]] ''[[Mission: Impossible]]'' game powers up the MI theme during the Embassy Escape, Tunnel, and Gunboat levels.

* ''[[Saints Row: The Third|Saints Row the Third]]'' has -three- [[Theme Music Power-Up]] moments. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53gjP-TtGE&ob=av2e "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 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jYcW1nEsGk You're The Best Around.] Finally, {{spoiler|1=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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UpqLhYQz28 this] plays. There are no words.}}

* Inverted in the final boss fight of ''[[Nie RNieR]]'', 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.

* In [[Bleach: theThe 3rd Phantom]], 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.}}

* When Aerith and Zexion played ''[[One-Winged Angel]]'' in the murder-off in ''[[Ansem Retort]]'', it was intended to [[Brown Note|stop Cloud]]. They didn't figure out until too late that it was also Axel's [[Theme Music Power-Up]].

** Dave's theme song, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20130922081857/http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/upward-movement-dave-owns-2 Dave Fucking Owns At This Game]'', appears to have been promoted to an all-purpose power up theme song, as it's been renamed ''[[Arc Words|Upward Movement]]'' and features prominently in the [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|End of Act 4 animation.]]

** John's theme, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130922074122/http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/doctor-2 Doctor], gets the same treatment, eventually being hijacked by [[Physical God|Jade]] in [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|Cascade]].

* Most of ''[[Kim Possible]]'''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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20080608113135/http://www.veoh.com/videos/v9543065rcW5gPy this clip].

** This also applies to the other Thundercats with their own [[Leitmotif|Leitmotifs]]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 [[Cool Tank|Thundertank]].

* On [[Lilo and& Stitch: The Series]], the show's theme song "Aloha E Komo Mai" would usually play in an upbeat rock format whenever Stitch or someone else was kicking major butt.

* Whenever [[Mario]] (and/or Luigi) powered up in ''[[Super Mario Bros Super Show]]'', the transformation was accompanied by the "level clear" fanfare from ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''.