Although RPGs are all different, they nevertheless boast similar groups of music.

There is always at least one track for villages (and one for towns when there is such a distinction). The latter always such more lively as in Phantasy Star IV and Lufia and the Fortress of Doom, while the latter is calmer and more laid-back as in Sword of Vermillion and Phantasy Star IV (on Motavia).

Characters usually get a theme too. Except for Aerith's, I can't say I've ever found a theme that was out-of-this-world so I can't really elaborate...

There are always a few themes for the overworld map, especially if dramatic changes happen (as in Final Fantasy VI and VII) or if you go to another world (like the Dwarven World and the moon in Final Fantasy IV). The most common overworld theme is usually something epic, and Final Fantasy exemplifies that style perfectly, except for Final Fantasy II and VIII, all the themes are this idea of grandeur and grand quest waiting for you (the Final Fantasy Origins version of Final Fantasy is one of the best on that matter).

There are of course various dungeon themes, and sometimes different themes for towers or temples. The latter ones usually sound more solemn (like in Lufia: Rise of the Sinistrals or Paladin's Quest) while dungeons usually sound more intriguing and mysterious (like in FF IV or Breath of Fire II). Final dungeons - their last part when it's subdivided - usually sound quite epic like FF VI or even Final Fantasy II (FF O version).

For more advanced RPGs, you also get a different theme for your means of transportation. Airships usually sound epic (Final Fantasy III's various airships all sound very good, but FF VII's is probably the most epic) while boats can either sound calmer (like in Dragon Warrior III) or just less epic than the airship (like in Dragon Warrior VI).

Of course, no RPG would be complete without battles. The regular battle theme is usually light and joyful (although FF VI had it more "serious" than its predecessors) while the boss theme sounds a little more dramatic. Starting around the time of Final Fantasy V, final bosses started having more than one step, yielding more than one theme. In FF VI, there are like 3-4 or those themes before you actually face Kefka.

But the best of the best is usually found in what I call the "major boss" battle theme. It's one usually more dramatic than the regular boss fight but usually not quite as much as the final boss fight.

There are two excellent examples. In PS IV, the "major boss" battle theme (Laughter) sounds much more epic that the regular boss battle theme (defeat at a blow) and loops after like 2.5 minutes. And in FF IV, the "major boss" battle (Dreadful Fight) also sounds much more epic that the regular boss theme. Oh, speaking of "epicness", Chrono Trigger's Boss Battle 2 is probably the best illustration of "epicness".

So, what category of music do YOU prefer in an RPG? Feel free to include a category I might have missed.

Meh, I honestly feel Chrono Trigger's boss 1 theme is better than boss 2 because I feel like it's far more intense and epic.

As far as my favorite group of JRPG music goes, I'd have to say that I usually like some form of a boss theme, whether it's the main boss theme like Chrono Trigger or Xenoblade Chronicles, the Major boss battle like Final Fantasy VI or Tales of the Abyss, or the final boss theme like Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Final Fantasy X.

Personally, my favourite RPG music is usually the victory music. You know, the little short ditty you get upon defeating an enemy, whether  a level 1 nothing to the end boss. I just like how there is no real distinction, usually. A victory is a victory. 

That said, I tend to like opening/ overworld themes. Case in point is Suikoden III's opening. I have yet to find one that I like better, to the point that I have it as an mp3 on my computer. I can sit and listen to the opening theme for hours without ever actually starting the game, which is a bit sad on my part, I suppose, but it's just THAT GOOD. 

gamerforlifeforever2 : Really? I admit that the "organ" for Boss Battle 1 gave it a dramatic tone, but the trumpet bursts in Boss Battle 2 gave it far more drama. Also, I did love the FF X final boss theme. The piano sounded very dramatic.

Yunimori I guess I included them with battle themes . However, I do like it when there is a distinction; in Paladin's Quest, the victory fanfare against a boss sounded more epic.

My favorite kind of RPG music is the energetic one that usually gets you pumped, like the battle music and boss music. These kinds of songs are usually fast and electric and this is the kind that I love the most, like the battle music for Persona 4, and a couple Pokemon songs.

zanderlex : That's usually why I tend to favor major boss battles. Try listening to Laughter (Phantasy Star IV) with maximum volume and bass to see what I mean - Ooze too will get you pumped