Undertale Leitmotif/Themes

[Blake]

I apologize if this belongs in music, instead. Couldn't decide.

 

Anyways, the game is absolutely chock full of leitmotif, as most who played it know, but there are some examples that completely stood out, to me... and one theme that did.

 

Spoilers are here, as the leitmotifs are invovled with the bosses.

 

[spoiler=ASGORE]Comprised of Bergentruckung, Heartache, and Determination.

 

Bergentruckung, King in the Mountain, denotes a powerful character who will make things right when his time comes, despite being hidden/in slumber.

 

Asgore subverts this, being scared as hell of histime arriving, and doing everything he can to avoid it.

 

Heartache showsh is connection to Toriel, but also how much it tears him up inside that he's hurting an innocent being.

 

Determination is all that keeps him going, despite the two other parts, and that's why he pushes on; to live up to his word.

 

Determination is also the Game Over theme... which shows his determination to stop you.

 

[spoiler=The Ruins and Spear of Justice]The Ruins/Spear of Justice:

This leitmotif appears consistently throughout the game, from the very start. The Ruins, Waterfall, Quiet water, Ngaah!, Spear of Justice, An Ending, Don't Give Up, Reprise, and one other.

 

People argue if this theme belongs to Toriel or Undyne, due to where you first hear it, but... I think it's neither/Undyne. Why? Aside from Undyne's constant association with the theme, aside from her silent hunting of the human, it plays into her role; She represents the Underground, monsters. Their hopes, dreams, desires. It's why Ngaah!, Spear of Justice, and An Ending are all part of the same battle.

 

Unlike every other character, who has personal reasons of some sort, Undyne is purely fighting for the underground's freedom, future, happiness.

 

So then... what about the last theme I didn't mention? Battle Agaisnt a True Hero.

 

This has 2 themes and extra mixed in; Power of NEO's 30 second loop + the Ruins leitmotif.

 

Why? In Genocide, Undyne represents the ENTIRE WORLD. This is why the theme isn't JUST the ruins, and why the theme differs so greatly.

 

But what about power of NEO? Mettaton adores humanity, and is the human proxy for the game, so it makes sense that Power of NEO represents humanity... meaning the inbetween is Undyne's true theme as a hero. She begins with Humanity, and ends with the monsters, while showing herself in the fight. It's honestly a really beautiful idea, when you think about it, and it's nice to see thought put into it.

 

[spoiler=Main Theme]It's EVERYWHERE. From start to finish, the game subtly, or not so subtly, gives you the main theme in differing doses, finally ending in Part 1 of the true final boss... and then it comes back for the credits.

 

It's not as deep, but it is impressive, considering how much it makes you connect to the music/characters, through clever use of leitmotif.

 

 

 

Honorably mention to the Your Best Friend leitmotif.