I'll throw this one into the mix. Use any music that signals the end of the game--so that includes ending credits music, game over screens, deaths, "you lose" moments, etc. I usually don't like ending credits music, so I'm curious to see what you all suggest. Needless to say, possible spoilers if you click on the YouTube links.

Here are my favorites:

Total Distortion - You Are Dead (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pPQnhhUqtU)
Final Fantasy VI - Ending Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xld0vsX9ynM)
Legend of Mana - Nostalgic Song ~ Ending Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTqj_JxPwUQ)
Mega Man 2 - Ending (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=460qy5mdELg)
Shin Megami Tensei - Game Over (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K3SwwrStc8) (4:35)
R.C. Pro-Am - Game Over (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiVTsCi7fMI)
Mega Man 9 - Ending (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP13CHL_gss)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 - Credits Roll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VcsyV42Q08) (32:25)
Shadow of the Ninja - Ending ~ Staff (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBsmCWlRhiE)
Earthworm Jim 2 - Continue? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPiM3J98OsQ&feature=PlayList&p=67591CB9342F001C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11)
Splatterhouse - Ending (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvdVOMAVhqs)
Double Dragon 2 - Staff Roll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w8SpJjLnL4)
Ristar - Ending 1 (Star Humming) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk6Mi5SnMnQ)
Space Quest V - Restart/Restore/Quit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxfh0yj9YwA&feature=PlayList&p=ED6A4B776FA6A345&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11)
Metal Gear Solid - The Best Is Yet to Come (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6miaTf1gF4g)
Final Fantasy IV - Epilogue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GXQcw30K1A) Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-D5jQONTiY)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - The Goddess Appears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOIAH03lu6s)
Mike Tyson's Punch Out! - Game Over (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jlXd9XpvlM)
Super Mario RPG - Happy Parade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koI5ouy-JZQ)
Robotrek - Game Credits (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHldtdKNW0A)

Paper Mario - Character Parade (credits)
Credits for Most Pokemon games except for D/P/Pt
Super Mario Bros 1 and 3, Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door game overs
Mario Party 2 and 3 Credits
Game Over and Eight Melodies - Mother/EarthBound Zero
Game Over (Defeated Courage), Cast Roll and Smiles and Tears - EarthBound
Stand Up Strong, Cast Roll and 16 Melodies - Mother 3

They're some pretty good ones.

Wild Guns (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww3OpmFkIFo)
Ninja Warriors Again(Credits) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx6b6kRg1c4)
Ninja Warriors Again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpkvXu8qZBs)
Develish (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phKFI3yc0dI)
Star Cruiser(Genesis) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df05c0kYryE)
Contra Hard Corps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8w2_QNJcXQ)
Thunder Force IV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUfLiFFwKVY)
Alien Soldier (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEMcbpJ-Jac)
King of Fighter '99 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiUKVMWKKU4)

Hahaha, the Total Distortion one is fantastic!

This one isn't really a game over, but a bad ending music, which imo still counts as "you didn't finish the game as intended"

Knuckles Chaotix - Destructive Power (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm2SEHHnr80&feature=related)

Fun fact: the song "Echoes Of Innocence" from Fear Factory's album "Concrete" starts with pretty much the exact same chord progression. The original song was written in 1991, way before Chaotix =D

Hahaha, the Total Distortion one is fantastic...Fun fact: the song "Echoes Of Innocence" from Fear Factory's album "Concrete" starts with pretty much the exact same chord progression. The original song was written in 1991, way before Chaotix =D

All of Total Distortion is fantastic! An extremely underappreciated gem.

I didn't know that about "Destructive Power." Maybe we'll have to start a video game music trivia thread, because there are at least two Uematsu songs that are very similar to Radiohead songs, making me wonder if he's a fan...

Ninja Warriors Again(Credits) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx6b6kRg1c4)
Ninja Warriors Again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpkvXu8qZBs)

FUCK YES YOU ARE THE BEST GAME EVER

Altered beast.

FUCK YES YOU ARE THE BEST GAME EVER

Iwatsuki is easily one of the best composers of all time.Every thing he makes is gold.

Keep the recommendations coming.

Forgot Super Star Soldier - Ending (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6TADw6U998).

Iwatsuki is easily one of the best composers of all time.Every thing he makes is gold.


Shatterhand,Legend of Kage,Wild Guns,Choujin Sentai Jetman - has the man ever made anything bad?

IWATSUKI HIJACK LOL

All of Total Distortion is fantastic! An extremely underappreciated gem.

I didn't know that about "Destructive Power." Maybe we'll have to start a video game music trivia thread, because there are at least two Uematsu songs that are very similar to Radiohead songs, making me wonder if he's a fan...

I'm definitely up for a VGM trivia thread like that :)

Here I did a rudimentary mash-up to illustrate my find:

echoesofdestructivepower.mp3 (http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/2576043_yzqou/echoesofdestructivepower.mp3)


I'll have to start looking for other resemblances, haha.

Right now I need to get some sleep. But I'll create a trivia thread tomorrow. I found a funny one earlier...

BTW, good job on the mash-up. It's a good illustration!

Super Mario Bros. game over theme is classic!

PS: I'll keep that Misato pic.

Previously Lost, Lamp - Chrono Cross

mario world game over
marvel vs capcom
darkstalkers

as of this moment? Silent Hill 2's Overdose Delusion.



.....and if the Player Result screen counts, Pianissimo Epilogue

Ladies and gents,THE BEST GAME OVER THEME EVER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6aRwky0W5Y

Ladies and gents,THE BEST GAME OVER THEME EVER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6aRwky0W5Y

Ha. That one's pretty awesome. But I still like the one from Total Distortion better (the first one in the OP).

Oh wow,you're right! XD I just now checked it out,and it's pure awesome.

I'm surprised no one said DOnkey Kong Country yet.

MOTHER 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3agbHjfDQw)

Simple, yet effective.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time end credits (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xdEcmpXLHI) - It's a classic, IMO

Genesis
Decapattack(Game Over, Death, and Ending)
Ghouls n' Ghosts(Game Over and Ending)
Granada(Game Over and Ending)
Phantasy Star 4(Ending)
Thunder Force 3(Game Over and Ending)

Super NES
Wing Commander(Game Over and Ending)

Nintendo
Shadowgate(Game Over) - Seriously, who could forget the music accompanying, "It's a sad thing your adventures have ended here!"?

As you can see, I have a tendency to enjoy ending music, but I hear my fair share of Game Overs as well.:D

Castlevania SotN game over music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao7ATGYquBU)

So far I have to go with the endings:
- (NES) Megaman 2
- (NES) Megaman 3
- (Genesis) Sonic the Hedgehog
- (Genesis) Phantasy Star 4: Ending
- (SNES) Final Fantasy IV: Ending
- (PSX) Puyo Puyo Sun (San)
- (PSX) Battle Arena Toshinden 3: (I only liked the ending song)
- (PSX) Wild ARMs: Ending, Staff Roll (imo, way better than the JP ending)
- (PSX) Metal Gear Solid: (I only liked the ending song)
- (PS2) Disgaea -good ending-

As for game over screens (or do you want to continue):
- (NES) Super Mario Brothers
- (NES) Gradius
- (Genesis) El Viento

Paper Mario's Game Over and Kirby 64's Game Over. Actually, they sound pretty similar.

Paper Mario: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXwrSAUMQIU
Kirby 64 Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzdI7qYJar0&feature=related&fmt=18
Kirby 64 Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djXI2svcu3c&feature=related&fmt=18

Basically, if Paper Mario's G/O was split into section A and section B, and Paper Mario was AB, then Kirby 64 is BA, but A has a bit extra. So if the game over part in K64 was reduced to the intro, then it would be almost matching.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'm making my way through them when I can.

Here's another one: Vagrant Story - Staff Roll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saqn1PNlFx4)

I wanna be the guy's Game Over music.

I wanna be the guy's Game Over music.

That's a song called "Might Is Right But Tight" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSXnYdgutpk) and is originally from Guilty Gear Isuka.

End Title - Metal Slug
Graveyard - Metal Slug
Daybreak - Street Fighter Alpha 3
Staff Roll - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future
Credits - Megaman 5
Special Credits - Rockman Complete Works

Themes that I remember now:

Game Over: Ys I, Ys II, Ys VI, Ys Origin - So Much for Today (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDwT-BsBrl4) (sorry, I didn't find the original :() .

Ending: Portal - Still Alive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ljFaKRTrI)

Hmm Chrono Cross and Legend of Dragoon in my opinion were beautiful

Mercenaries 2 Oh No You Didn't (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs2_MSZmE0Q) makes me smile.

DAYTONA USA G,A,M,E,O,V,E,R! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esx6kqauC9A) You got to love this song :)


Sega Rally Championship 2 GAME OVER YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6aRwky0W5Y)

The best Gave Over songs I like are from:
Thunderforce VI,
Neo-Contra,
Soul Calibur 3: Chronicles of the Sword,
Resident Evil 4,
R-Type: Final,
Silpheed: The Lost Planet,
Ratchet: Deadlocked; "Challenge Failed..." (well, not EXACTLY a "Game Over!" song, but..... :p )

DAYTONA USA G,A,M,E,O,V,E,R! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esx6kqauC9A) You got to love this song :)


Sega Rally Championship 2 GAME OVER YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6aRwky0W5Y)

Very funny! XD

I've remembered the ending theme of You Have To Burn The Rope (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/432872) (indie flash game). Hilarious! XD

I've remembered the ending theme of You Have To Burn The Rope (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/432872) (indie flash game). Hilarious! XD

Hahaha. I completely forgot about this game and the ending song. Good call!

Okay, I know it's not exactly a game over tune but I used to like throwing Lara off high Platforms just to hear the bitch scream and crunch as she hit the ground. That'll teach her to be so damn unresponsive!!

Okay, I know it's not exactly a game over tune but I used to like throwing Lara off high Platforms just to hear the bitch scream and crunch as she hit the ground. That'll teach her to be so damn unresponsive!!

What game would this be from?

Tomb Raider... All of them; those games drove me insane. But I still played them for some reason. It was like a test of endurance.

STAFF ROLL - Hitoshi Sakimoto - Gradius V
Game Over - Machinae Supremacy - Jets'n'Guns
Hard Metal - Purple Motion - Death Rally
Late Goodbye - Poets of the Fall - Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Spirit Being - Hiroshi Iuchi - Ikaruga
Loonyland End Song - Mike Hommel - Loonyland: Halloween Hill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5gGVnz9nGY

Whoo! Nazi Zombies game over. Full version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfwfMEbGQF4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi_41p0Wmp0
Losing never sounded so good. Castlevania always delivers!

Metal Gear Solid - The Best Is Yet to Come is EPIC

game over themes include:

super mario bros. (yes, that is a classic)
super mario land
final fantasy tactics
disgaea 2: cursed memories

ending themes include:

final fantasy ii
final fantasy iv
final fantasy vi (21:35)
suikoden iv
disgaea 2: cursed memories
super mario bros. 3

just to name a few.

Batman Returns Sega CD - Continue Screen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr_zVbrETg&p=EAC96B9F8BAD9562&playnext=1&index=15)

Ninja Gaiden (arcade) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVz9__a8x-I) - Minimal, but perfect with the visuals

I got that from this guy's channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/GameOverContinue#g/u), which has hundreds of videos uploaded--all of them game over screens from various games.

It's awesome, but I don't know how you decide that's your niche. :-\

Shadowgate (NES) has one of the best "Game Over" themes ever.
It's a sad thing that your adventures have ended here!! (http://www.playthenes.com/6.5.0.Tunes/mp3/Met_Your_Death.mp3)

Best Game Over Music:
Super Mario Sunshine - Game Over (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDsMGJbsaQs)

Best End Credits Theme:
Super Mario Galaxy - Staff Credits (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBrwceBdDQQ)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Staff Credits (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhNdvIdpEoM)
Pok�mon Black/White - Ending ~To Each Future~ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9sX4VxOK8g)

Wow, second major necro in a couple days - I'd definitely put Zelda AND Zelda II in there.

Sonic CD (JP) Game Over screen music. Need I say more?