Yasunori Mitsuda's "Gale" from Chrono Cross rips in with those frantic violin arpeggios and instantly reminds you why PS1 battle themes hit different. This third volume of Square's battle compilation covers 1999-2000 and it's stacked.
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"Don't be Afraid" from FFVIII drives with Uematsu's signature brass and urgent rhythm. SaGa Frontier 2's "Feldschlacht I" goes full classical with Hamauzu's piano-forward combat writing. "Pain the Universe" from Legend of Mana brings Shimomura's theatrical intensity.
Dewprism's "Battle" is this scrappy, underappreciated banger. Then Vagrant Story closes with "Minotaur" and its dense, oppressive orchestration. Late-era PS1 composers were absolutely pushing that sound chip to its limits.
A murderer's row of turn-of-millennium Square combat music.