Disc One Final Dungeon

[Wolf Kanno]

For those curious about the title...

Which game did you feel had the best midpoint section where all hell breaks loose or felt like it was going to be the end until... well all hell broke loose?

[Rez09]

Final Fantasy 6. The Floating Continent is a narrative climax: you've explored the entire world, the Emperor is there, Kefka is there, you believe they have nigh ultimate power, and you need to stop them NOW. Then you face a pseudo-boss gauntlet to even GET to the island, Atma shows up with then-unique boss music, you can't leave in a traditional manner, and even the way the savepoint before Atma is 'hidden' feels final dungeon-ish.

[Karifean]

Final Fantasy V. ExDeath's castle. That is all.

[metagloria]

Final Fantasy 6. The Floating Continent is a narrative climax: you've explored the entire world, the Emperor is there, Kefka is there, you believe they have nigh ultimate power, and you need to stop them NOW. Then you face a pseudo-boss gauntlet to even GET to the island, Atma shows up with then-unique boss music, you can't leave in a traditional manner, and even the way the savepoint before Atma is 'hidden' feels final dungeon-ish.

This is a good one. Northern Crater is probably the best. Zanarkand too, because that really does have an air of finality.

[Sephiroth]

Final Fantasy IV:

1. After Golbez flying fortress/tower
2. After the Tower of Babil
3. Theodore is awoken
4. Moon, Lunar Subterraine

Final Fantasy V:

1. Right before entering the otherworld (so the whole crystal and meteor thing being the final dungeon)
2. X-Death's Castle
3. After getting the books, so the last dungeon of them
4. The Rift

Final Fantasy VI:

1. Narshe or Zozo, Terra flies away or finding Terra or wake up Terra (Terra)
2. Floating Continent, Kefka activates the statues and everything is about to be devastated (Kefka)
3. Mobliz, Terra joining (Terra)
4. Kefka's Junktower (Kefka)

Not always classical a dungeon but an important plot moment.

[Pete for President]

Ni No Kuni has some good ones of these in it, although it takes forever to get to that point so I wouldn't call it disc one.

FFT, end of chapter 1 is epic.

And of course Anor Londo featuring Ornstein & Smough in Dark Souls is a grand halfway finale.

[The Man]

Final Fantasy 6. The Floating Continent is a narrative climax: you've explored the entire world, the Emperor is there, Kefka is there, you believe they have nigh ultimate power, and you need to stop them NOW. Then you face a pseudo-boss gauntlet to even GET to the island, Atma shows up with then-unique boss music, you can't leave in a traditional manner, and even the way the savepoint before Atma is 'hidden' feels final dungeon-ish.

This.

[Sefie1999AD]

Final Fantasy VI and the Floating Continent fit your description perfectly. Other worthy mentions go to Exdeath's Castle in FFV, Midgar at the end of FFVII Disc 2, Clash of the Gardens at the end of FFVIII Disc 2 and Airship Palamecia in FFXIII.