Fighting Game Music!

[LaserMoose]

Fighting games are well known for having great soundtracks - do you have any favorites? Are there any that you find to be under appreciated?

Here are some themes that I really love from the genre:

Phoenix Wright's objection theme from UMVC3 is a great rendition of the music. The cool and collected feel works well as a mirror to his Pursuit theme.

Moonlit Wilderness from Tekken 5: super unique atmosphere of this one, also using my favorite instrument (piano) during the refrain.

Street Fighter 5's main theme: probably my favorite in the soundtrack, which is no easy competition. The breakdown at the end is beautiful.

Is it really a fighting game OST thread without a version of Tears from KOF?

Obligatory pinging of my fighting game accomplice @AkiraSO4.

I'd love to hear some of RGT's favorites!

 

[AkiraSO4]

A good recent discovery. DOA1 is weird, making new soundtracks for every console release of the game but ONLY for SOME characters, go figure.

The ONE thing I like from Tekken 5:

The OST that makes everyone's pants explode (lol):

The best Geese theme you've probably never heard of:

And one of the best final boss themes you might never heard of:

And sure, let's show 2nd Impact some love, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyKxNbRMg_4

There's so much more I could post here honestly, Taskmaster's UMVC3 theme, Kasumi's DOA3 Theme, SVC Chaos's Blockade Space, Crystal Shrine AND Obsolete Station, almost every track from KOF XI, the list goes on.

 

[Lokgamer]

For me, nothing beats bloody roar 2 soundtrack

 

[Amakuchi]

Some of my favorites

(The whole soundtrack is amazing but this is my favorite)

(Best version of his theme, by far)

 

[AkiraSO4]

Some of my favorites

(The whole soundtrack is amazing but this is my favorite)

(Best version of his theme, by far)

Dammit I forgot to mention the Alpha 2 Gold soundtrack lol. SFV's version of this theme couldn't be any weaker compared to this.

 

[Amakuchi]

Dammit I forgot to mention the Alpha 2 Gold soundtrack lol. SFV's version of this theme couldn't be any weaker compared to this.

It's such a subdued remix lol. Not only is it missing the piano melody but the main "riff" is done by an acoustic guitar which doesn't capture the same final showdown energy as the brass instruments do in the original, it's also missing the cool solo. Overall just felt like a really watered down version of the theme.

 

[AkiraSO4]

It's such a subdued remix lol. Not only is it missing the piano melody but the main "riff" is done by an acoustic guitar which doesn't capture the same final showdown energy as the brass instruments do in the original, it's also missing the cool solo. Overall just felt like a really watered down version of the theme.

This could apply to MANY of SFV's remixes, sadly. There are good themes, City in Chaos, Kanzuki Estate, Nash's theme, Balrog's theme, Ryu's theme, Necalli's theme starts great but kinda loses steam in the middle (pretty much Necalli in a nutshell sadly), but most of them are just a big load of meh.

 

[Cu1tur3D_Gam3R]

In my honest opinion, Tekken 3, hands down, has the best soundtracks for any fighting game. Nothing but absolute bangers left & right, for both the Arcade & Arranged tracks. Here's Jin Kazama's iconic Tekken 3 arranged theme.

 

[Amakuchi]

This could apply to MANY of SFV's remixes, sadly. There are good themes, City in Chaos, Kanzuki Estate, Nash's theme, Balrog's theme, Ryu's theme, Necalli's theme starts great but kinda loses steam in the middle (pretty much Necalli in a nutshell sadly), but most of them are just a big load of meh.

I feel you, I kinda saw some signs of this coming in SF4, but SFV really fumbled quite a good number of the themes. I get what they're trying to go for, but it's like you said just a big pile of meh, it seems like with a lot of the themes they're trying to go for a certain genre rather than using them as a way to introduce or share the narrative of the characters themselves.

 

[SecretStrategist]

Star Gladiator's Stage 10 and Special Stage:

Plasma Sword's Holy Graveyard and Fate of the Galaxy:

Psychic Force 2012's Control X and Overcoming Empty Time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5MSQfCph88

Rival Schools' Taiyo High School Rooftop, Taiyo High School School Yard, Justice High School Main Gate, and Space of Illusion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt0_IhoFwww
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm0L-sjcwVQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GPOPDcuSAw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cVWfTER6jU

Tech Romancer's City Zone B - Night, Sunset, and Great Glacier Stages:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WMnI5X9jXs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImE_M-tidyk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxlCSShDyKY

 

[AkiraSO4]

I feel you, I kinda saw some signs of this coming in SF4, but SFV really fumbled quite a good number of the themes. I get what they're trying to go for, but it's like you said just a big pile of meh, it seems like with a lot of the themes they're trying to go for a certain genre rather than using them as a way to introduce or share the narrative of the characters themselves.

At least when it came to SF4 and its soundtrack, it fit for SOME characters. I know people meme on Balrog's SF4 theme, but goddamn, it's so sleazy it fits him perfectly. Seth having TWO good themes is nothing to scoff at, either. Abel has a good one. Juri's isn't great but it's ages better than the SFV version. Vega's is decent as well. But when it came to some stages, while there were good examples (Volcanic Rim, Old Temple, Drive-in at Night), some really feel just kind of there.

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2025

Star Gladiator's Stage 10 and Special Stage:

Plasma Sword's Holy Graveyard and Fate of the Galaxy:

Psychic Force 2012's Control X and Overcoming Empty Time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5MSQfCph88

Rival Schools' Taiyo High School Rooftop, Taiyo High School School Yard, Justice High School Main Gate, and Space of Illusion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt0_IhoFwww
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm0L-sjcwVQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GPOPDcuSAw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cVWfTER6jU

Tech Romancer's City Zone B - Night, Sunset, and Great Glacier Stages:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WMnI5X9jXs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImE_M-tidyk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxlCSShDyKY

It's downright CRIMINAL we didn't get a single Rival Schools/Project Justice remix in SFV. They stuck Akira (unrelated to my username,lol) in there for no reason, least they could've done is add one of the MANY good themes in the game.

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2025

And oh yeah, the EX series. Just good themes all around. Even for this shithead, lol.

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Seriously, this artwork makes Ken look like he's eating his own face.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Underrated fighting game osts (and I mean literally underrated not semi known like Blazblue) include:

-Asuka 120% (blank) Fest
-Astra Superstars
-Tales of VS
-Touki Denshou Angel Eyes
-Hinokakera
-Senko no Ronde
-Variable Geo franchise
-Metal & Lace 2
-Castlevania Judgement
-Rabbit
-Kaiser Knuckle/Dan Ku Ga
-Kirby Fighters duology

(Will post a few individual tracks a little later)

 

[AkiraSO4]

The Toshinden series are all over the place gameplay-wise, but I'll be damned, there's some good stuff when it comes to soundtracks.

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How could I have forgotten this banger?

 

[Amakuchi]

At least when it came to SF4 and its soundtrack, it fit for SOME characters. I know people meme on Balrog's SF4 theme, but goddamn, it's so sleazy it fits him perfectly. Seth having TWO good themes is nothing to scoff at, either. Abel has a good one. Juri's isn't great but it's ages better than the SFV version. Vega's is decent as well. But when it came to some stages, while there were good examples (Volcanic Rim, Old Temple, Drive-in at Night), some really feel just kind of there.

I actually thought Juri's SF4 theme felt like something Capcom would do back in the day lol, but yes you're pretty spot on for the most part. Volcanic Rim and Old Temple are really solid themes.

 

[LaserMoose]

I neglected a few others as well:

Hinnamatoom from Killer Instinct 2013. Special mention to Enter the Battletoads and Inferno, too. KI in general is still rather forgotten in FG discussion, which is unfortunate. I don't mention it as much as I should, which doesn't help either.

Any Morrigan theme. This one is from Tatsunoko vs Capcom:

Could've picked this or Momentary Life (Baiken's GGX2 theme). I admittedly am not a fan of Guilty Gear Strive's decision to give all characters vocal themes, but I still really like a few earlier tracks from the series.

This could apply to MANY of SFV's remixes, sadly. There are good themes, City in Chaos, Kanzuki Estate, Nash's theme, Balrog's theme, Ryu's theme, Necalli's theme starts great but kinda loses steam in the middle (pretty much Necalli in a nutshell sadly), but most of them are just a big load of meh.

I like a few remixes, like Gill's theme, but I do agree that there a few that are just okay or meh. My opinions of the new themes, like Ring of Power alongside Zeku's and G's themes were better received on my end. Plus I like Ibuki's theme in SFV, too. Thank you for mentioning Kanzuki Estate, as that one is also a favorite of mine.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

here's a few obscure picks. FGs are one of my favourite genres so I dig a bit deep.

 

[Super Funky Piece]

i feel the need to share some of the alternate Guilty Gear XX soundtrack in the Korean versions. some songs may not quite suit the characters but theyre pretty good all the same

Spoiler

i'm still miffed ArcSys had the rights to include them in the Switch port and said they'd get added to Strive then never did

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

Strive sucks anyway. Go play the good Guilty Gear games instead.

 

[LaserMoose]

If I'm being honest, I'm more of a Street Fighter/Marvel player myself. I play +R casually, but not much beyond that. I didn't much care for Xrd, but I do like the soundtrack.

 

[Zerohour2k12]

Same Ones from a previous thread and here's some more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ-SG_CqFEM&pp=ygUSZ2Vlc2UgaG93YXJkIHRoZW1l
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkoJrly1HIk&pp=ygUTZGVzdGlueSBrb2YgMjAwMiB1bQ==
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwqpjLfmjeQ&pp=ygUaYXJhc2hpIG5vIHNheG9waG9uZSBrb2YgMTM=

 

[Viviana Santos]

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2025

Tobal No.1 has an absolutely fantastic soundtrack.

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2025

The soundtrack was composed by several SquareSoft composers (including talented composers such as Yoko Shimomura, Yasunori Mitsuda, Kenji Ito, Masashi Hamauzu and Ryuji Sasai) and each of these musicians showcases their unique styles in every song in the game. It's an incredibly underrated soundtrack.

 

[Your_Homie_Gale]

I have a few that I would love to share:

Others that I recommend:
SF EX: SKULLOMANIA'S theme
Marvel VS Capcom 1: Hulk's Theme
3rd Strike Street Fighter 3: KILLING MOON - Akuma's theme

 

[Deleted member 257420]

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2025

 

[Amakuchi]

(Pretty sure this is a cover, but I think it outshines the original imo)

 

[Duke_11037]

No SFIII mentioned in a fighting game music thread?