Music to My Ears is looking ahead this week. Bravely Default’s only been out a few days now, but it’s worth featuring right now.

“Serpent Eating the Ground” is the final boss theme. I don’t know who the final boss is because I’m only about eight hours into the game at this point, but all that means is that I can’t spoil it for you either. Synergy!

This track is kinda like five or six songs in one. Just when you think the face melting is over and you can go back to your regularly scheduled life, here comes something new! It runs the gamut from squeadly guitars to staccato choirs to a soothing piano and back again. Hell, this 6:40 track doesn’t even loop. That’s what you’re in for here.

But perhaps the neatest part is that this song includes the music that plays in the background for each of your four characters’ special attacks. That music is important because you get party bonuses that stack for as long as the tune is playing. Here, the final boss theme reintroduces that idea thematically, which is super cool. Right around 4:40 is an example.

As mentioned yesterday, Bravely Default is a game that you should be playing if you’re not already. It’s a perfect hybrid of new-age design and old-school RPG mechanics, and it’s another reason why the 3DS is becoming a hell of a contender for the best system ever (or at least the best game library).

Serpent Eating the Ground

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlsWk-9UGT4

Music to My Ears covers soundtracks or individual songs from video games every Tuesday. You can view all posts in the series by clicking here.