Being the precursor of all modern Fighting Games, you know that the Street Fighter series is rife with Awesome Music.
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Street Fighter
Let's appropriately begin with the game that started it all, shall we?
- Gen's original theme. It's crazy what composers could do with 16-bit back in the day.
- Lee has good fortune. Yes, he does.
- Birdie, before he became a Scary Black Man.
- Joe and Geki, We Hardly Knew Ye.
- Retsu's theme. Some Big Ol' Eyebrows!
- The original Stage Select BGM.
- Eagle's theme. And the show got better with the arranged version.
- The bonus stages.
- The entire arranged soundtrack for Fighting Street. Making Sagat's and Mike's theme actually sound good makes it deserving of calling it a good soundtrack. It was also the first video game to be released on a CD-ROM all the way back in 1988, so hearing an arranged video game soundtrack made in the 80s is quite fascinating.
Street Fighter II
It goes without saying that the title that made Capcom almost synonymous with fighting games was known for its music just as well as it was known for its gameplay. We placed multiple names here because there are multiple versions of the same track.
- The themes of the original eight World Warriors. Despite being composed for the stages and not the characters themselves, the themes fit so well that it became a Street Fighter requirement for new character stage themes to become associated with them.
- First, there's Ryu's, which carries a heroic flare that fits the series' mascot - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC, USF2.
- Ken's theme is blaring with energy that makes it one of the game's standout tracks - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC, USF2.
- Then there's Guile's theme. This glorious track, brimming with a feeling of determination that few other pieces of video game music can match, is positively legendary, and it's not just because it goes with everything. - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC, USF2.
- Chun-Li's theme is a graceful track fit for the First Lady of fighting games - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC, USF2.
- Zangief's theme is a groovin' piece that complements the fight club setting of his home stage - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC, USF2.
- Dhalsim's mystic sounding theme does wonders in selling the Yogi as a sagely fighter - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC.
- Blanka's stage has an appropriately wild and fun tone to it - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC.
- E. Honda's theme has a powerful sound to it, a fine match for the sumo wrestler - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC.
- The bonus stage theme. Smashing a car never sounded so glorious. CPS1, CPS2, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES.
- Balrog's theme is a jazzy piece fit for the casino setting - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC.
- Vegas has a flamenco inspired theme perfect for the Spaniard - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC.
- Sagat's theme is an incredibly peppy track for the penultimate boss of the game - CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC.
- M. Bison's theme - a dread-inducing track fit for the Final Boss -CPS1, CPS2, 3DO, SFII SNES, SSFII SNES, SSFIIT PC.
- Super Street Fighter II would then give us:
- Dee Jay's theme, a happy, tropical sounding piece - CPS2, 3DO, SNES, SSFIIT PC, retraux CPS1.
- Cammy's theme is an aggressive piece that helps contrast her with Chun-Li - CPS2, 3DO, SNES, SSFIIT PC, retraux CPS1, USF2.
- T. Hawk's theme stands out for being a rather mournful piece compared to the other fighters - CPS2, 3DO, SNES, SSFIIT PC, retraux CPS1.
- Fei Long has an incredibly energetic rock sounding action theme - CPS2, 3DO, SNES, SSF2T PC, Retraux CPS1.
- The Turbo version also gives us the first appearance of Akuma, and he was given an incredible theme to come with him. The blazing intensity of it helps hammer the surprise appearance of him quite well. (CPS2, 3DO, retraux CPS1).
- Ultra Street Fighter II has Violent Ken's theme, a darker reimagining of Ken's original theme song.
Street Fighter Alpha
- With the Street Fighter Alpha series came newcomers and their own awesome tracks: Charlie/Nash, Rose, Guy, Dan, and Sakura.
- Sakura's theme ("I Want You to Know") has lyrics. So hear the totally cool vocal version.
- The fiendishly new track "Brave or Grave" made for M. Bison in Alpha 3. Combine this with SNK Boss Syndrome and you've got possibly one of the most satisfying defeats in video game boss history.
- The dramatic battle theme from the first Street Fighter Alpha, which is actually a CPS2 cover of the theme that plays when Ryu and Ken take on M. Bison in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.
- Alpha 3, along with "Brave or Grave", added a new theme for Dan, which is arguably better than his old one.
- Karin's most suiting theme, "A Simple Rating." Hate her for being a Canon Immigrant, hate her for being incredibly cheap, but RESPECT the theme.
- Also "The Road," "Kakugo," "Hi-Tech," Fei Long's theme, and the training theme?
- Ditto for "No More Swingin'" (Guy's Theme), "Stripes" (Cody's Theme), "Doll Eyes" (Cammy's Theme), "Shining One" (Sagat's Theme), "Moments" (Gen's Theme), and "Prismatic Stars" (R. Mika's Theme). All of the Leitmotifs may have been removed, but most of Alpha 3's soundtrack made up for it.
- Even without the iconic nature of his older themes (especially the Street Fighter II incarnation), even Guile gets a sweet theme when he shows up in the console versions of Alpha 3, despite said theme apparently not even having a name. Except some sources list this as "Wisdom."
- Shin Akuma's theme, "Groan", is exactly what you'd expect from a Superboss/SNK Boss fight soundtrack. Frantic, intense, and worthy of the monster that Shin Akuma is.
- Credits. Just credits. Tell us if you don't skip the credits just because of THIS theme.
- Sagat vs. Ryu from Street Fighter Alpha 2. The BEST version of Sagat's theme, bar none.
- Dialing back the clock a bit, there was Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold, which was the final bow for each character's respective theme in the main series until IV. Feast your ears on Guy, Ryu, Ken, Akuma, Dan, Sagat, Adon, Gen, Rolento, Zangief, and Birdie. What an encore!
- Rose's Theme in Street Fighter Alpha 3 is possibly even better than her Alpha 2 theme. Also comes with a remix.
- Dan's Theme in Alpha 2. Not as original as his old one but improved, nonetheless. Ryu's Theme in Alpha 2, as well.
- VEGA'S THEME.
Street Fighter III
Words can't do enough to describe Street Fighter III's library of sound, but we can say that it put the "Street" in "Street Fighter". For New Generation and 2nd Impact, a vibrant mix of jazz, hip hop, and 1960s throwbacks; with Third Strike, a truly legit lexicon of hip-hop, drum n' bass sample throwing turntable expertise with all sorts of genres of music, and Vancouver rap talent Infinite on the mic to let the people know what the word on the street is in the world of fighting.
- While having theme songs was not something new to the franchise, Third Strike started a trend that IV and V eventually followed in making these songs more than just tunes. The main theme and "Let's Get It On", which has some parts of it playing in the character selection screen, are easily two of the most recognizable things in 3S's aesthetic and are completely iconic of the game they represent. Case in point, both themes are popular even among gamers who can't stand mainstream Rap, not unlike the soundtrack of MadWorld.Make your first move, so what's it gonna be? You're trapped in the new world of Street Fighter III! The third chapter, so what's it gonna be? You're trapped in the new world of Street Fighter III!
- "Kobu", Ryu's theme from 3rd Strike, has to be the most intense theme he's ever received, channeling both the game's environment and Ryu's fighting spirit into one song.
- "Jazzy NYC '99", Alex's theme from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, which he shares with Ken, is by far the most recognizable song from the game. One song you never get tired of, no matter how many matches you play.
- Keep in mind that this was so great a song, that it spawned seven versions, each one radically different: the aforementioned 3rd Strike mix, the original version (complete with a Latin Mix!), Sean's ~Street~ version in New Generation (and its Light Edit arrangement), the 2nd Impact -NY House Mix-, and the Tatsunoko vs. Capcom rendition.
- How awesome is it? So awesome, that any song that relies on jazz will channel this song, and have the words "Jazzy [Insert Home City/Affiliated Locale Here]" slapped on it.
- There's also "China Vox" for Chun-Li's stage, well reflecting of the environment.
- Makoto's Ensemble Dark Horse status in 3rd Strike is also reflected in her theme, "Spunky". It got a neat remix when she came back for Super Street Fighter IV.
- "You Blow My Mind", Dudley's 3rd Strike theme. Gets the feet moving, ya know? And by what we can hear of his new theme in SSFIV trailer, it's safe to say it Took A Level In Catchy.
- Elena's "Beats In My Head". If you didn't already know African Techno would be an awesome combination, here's your proof. A DJ took Elena's 3rd Strike theme, "Beats In My Head" (or the arranged version), put it in his mix for the night and rocked the house with it.
- Ibuki's 3rd Strike theme, "Twilight", is easily her most recognizable theme, enough for her subsequent appearance in SSFIV getting a modern mix of the song, while her SFV rendition gets a rocked-out mix.
- "Killing Moon", Akuma's theme from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, could quite possibly be the ultimate fighting game music, if not Akuma's ultimate theme.
- Ladies and gentlemen, Urien's 3rd Strike theme, "Crazy Chili Dog". Despite the goofy name, it's as technical and intense as the character. It's also one of the few themes in the game whose arranged version rivals the original due to its unique spin for the Round 1 part.
- "Psych Out", Gill's theme from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is awesome as well. For a Final Boss that fancies himself a god-king and can resurrect himself to full life if you're not careful, this fits extremely well. Also, it definitely encompasses the hopelessness of you beating him and how apocalyptic the world would be if you lost to him.
- As for Sean (and Oro, who he shares a stage with) in 3rd Strike, there's "The Longshoreman." Necro and Twelve got "Snowland". And lest we forget about Q. Even the bonus stage had great music! Q's theme can only be described as funky X-Files music.
- The 3rd Strike version of "Crowded Street". If there was a Chinese James Bond, this would be the score to it.
- Before that, 2nd Impact gave Yun an ~Action Movie Edit~ and Yang a more low-key and relaxed Drum & Bass Mix.
- The original version found in New Generation was good, but its Midnight Ver. from the arrange album is amazing.
- From New Generation we have "Leave Alone" for Dudley. Don't forget to catch its -UK House Mix- version from 2nd Impact either.
- Likewise, Ibuki's "Sharp Eyes", and the Piano Melo version from 2I.
- From the NG arranged album, Dudley got a Rare Mix of "Leave Alone", while "Sharp Eyes" was given a For Dancers rearrangement.
- Sean got "San Paolo" in 2nd Impact, while Ken received the aptly-named "Funky Bay".
- Ryu and Ken shared "Good Fighter" in NG. Then came the -2nd Edit-. The Brilliant Mix is Exactly What It Says on the Tin.
- "The Flame", for Akuma's big return in 2I.
- "Bottoms Up", Hugo! His 3S theme, "The Circuit", also kicks all kinds of ass, being very fast-paced, deep and menacing; fitting for fighting — or fighting with — an enormous giant intent on moonsaulting you from 20 feet in the air. The two themes even got remixed together for Hugo's USF4 theme!
- "The Judgement Day", Gill's theme from NG. KNEEL BEFORE YOUR MASTER!
- Its Heavy Tone mix is just as godly as Gill thinks he is- Not only coming down in hard with a mellow and dark urban score, it is the earliest feature of Infinite on the microphone to lay it down that this was the coming of The Rap Finest. For bonus points, this arrangement is the earliest known work of Hideyuki Fukasawa, the man responsible for not only scoring the phenomenal soundtracks of (among others) Onimusha (games two and four) and Chaos Legion, but for composing for Capcom's seventh generation fighters, SFIV included.
- When Urien was introduced in 2I to be the Cain to Gill's Abel, two versions of "The Nile" were created: a Drum & Bass Mix for Gill and a funky Afro Edit for Urien.
- "Get On A Train" for Necro, as well as -Drum & Bass Mix- in 2I, and its pretty damn snazzy Backing Repeat version.
- The character select theme from III: 2I.
- "Knock You Out" the new theme for 3rd Strike's Updated Re-release on PSN and Xbox Live Arcade by Adam Tensta and Simon Viklund. "You know what they say, that 3rd Strike is what counts".
Street Fighter IV
- The original Street Fighter IV is packed with awesome music:
- Drive-in at Night.
- Snowy Rail Yard.
- Old Temple.
- Beautiful Bay.
- Volcanic Rim aka the song of one of the trailers and in many ways the theme of IV itself.
- Small Airfield.
- Deserted Temple.
- Crimson Viper's theme.
- Abel's theme.
- Seth's theme, which better be awesome due to how often you'll be hearing it...
- El Fuerte's theme, a very energetic and traditional sounding theme for the chef Luchador himself!
- Rufus' theme, which could count as more Funny Music with Rufus' Kiais in the background.
- THIS IS WAAAAAAR...!
- Gouken's theme, a Triumphant Reprise of Akuma's theme.
- Bison's remixed theme deserves mention. The heroic intro, the bizarre, techno riff thrown in at 0:13, and the epic way his main theme is introduced all tells you that this song belongs to a man who's very existence is fundamentally WRONG.
- The Ryu vs. Akuma rival theme is potentially the most epic version of Ryu's theme to date. It paints a perfect picture of the final battle between the two warriors.
- Guile's theme. It's all of the man's grief, depression, and suffering boiled down into audio form which, once again, goes with everything.
- While Sagat's theme is missing the aggression of his past self, it makes up for that with Thai instruments and ambience. It's perfect for the Emperor of Muay Thai who finally realized that revenge is meaningless and that there should only be honor on the battlefield.
- The newest version of Cammy's theme, thanks in part to that guitar.
- And who could forget about "Jazzy Russia", Zangief's theme. Notable for being frequently reported for saxual content.
- Ken and Sakura, anyone?
- Rose's theme sounds like the Herald for Doomsday. But face it; if you could listen to such a song as fierce and graceful as the woman herself while the world was going up in flames, you would.
- While Street Fighter Alpha 3 brought us "The Way to the Glory," a victory track full of the supreme awesomeness that can only come of having thoroughly kicking someone's ass eight ways to Sunday, Street Fighter IV brought out the a track that completely and totally takes your confidence and says, you are NOT in the clear, yet. Yet it remains INCREDIBLY worthy of the Crown of Awesome.
- While a lot of folks didn't like it at first, many fans now think the main theme from SFIV "The Next Door" by Japanese male pop group Exile was pretty badass. Fan-favorite is putting it mildly for this song because the crowd in EVO 2014 sang along to it.
- The song used in advertisements, "War" by Sick Puppies, is equally badass, with a segment of fans complaining that it wasn't used in the game proper. There's also a version with an extended intro.
- The extremely catchy Training Stage theme. It's lively and energetic, making it the perfect song to workout to. Coincidentally, that's exactly what the fighters are doing too.
- Super Street Fighter IV adds some brand new remixes.
- Here's Dee Jay's theme, which gives off a Santana-style vibe.
- Cody's theme, based off of the original Final Fight intro theme, now made about 60% Darker and Edgier and 40% more tragic.
- Hakan's theme, unfortunately not as fast-paced and funny as his reveal trailer theme. Still good, though. On the subject of said trailer, it counts as both Awesome and Funny Music, since (in the words of someone else) you are watching Hakan "violate" most of SF history while a singing Yakko Warner is serenading you.
- Ibuki's theme, given the title of "Jazzy Kyoto."
- Adon's theme is about as metal as you can get in Street Fighter IV.
- The characters who didn't have a theme in the original SFIV get some awesome music as well: here is the best version of Vega's theme ever made.
- Balrog's theme which sounds something akin to a Daft Punk song. It has been christened "FUCK YO' DIGNITY" as a Take That! to Dudley, his rival.
- Here's Gen's, which the kind of theme you don't want to hear in a dark corner of China.
- Seth gets a brand-new theme to go with his new stage (which is, coincidentally, a post-destruction version of his old stage). It's agreed unanimously that it is a lot better than his old theme.
- Juri's theme, in all its horror thanks to the screams you can hear in the background.
- THIS IS A STUPID DOPE MIX! NOW GET ON THE DANCE FLOOR, KEEP IT CLASSY, AND LET'S FIGHT LIKE GENTLEMEN!
- Guy's theme, christened "Jazzy Metro" to combat Zangief's "Jazzy Russia."
- Fei Long's theme, which combines hard rock and one hell of a Chinese violin/flute one-two punch. Finally, people can stop mistaking it for Rufus' theme.
- Dan's theme. Retro funk Saikyo groove!
- Makoto's theme. Not quite as "Spunky" as before, but good nevertheless.
- Listening to Blanka's theme with its drum, bass, and bongos makes you think that he's landed in a Mega Man game and shit is going to get real.
- T. Hawk's theme. Viva Native America!
- Korea. Don't forget the new stage music! Also, Solar Eclipse, India and last, but not least, the awesome Metro City stage theme, Skyscraper Under Construction.
- The Trial Stage theme, which sounds like an awesome Mega Man boss theme.
- The credit roll theme. The vanilla SFIV version, though it was also a medley of the themes, just used the actual stage themes mostly unchanged. The Super version, however, keeps them stylistically similar and it flows much better.
- The trial theme.
- Arcade Edition gives us more new themes.
- There are two remixed versions of "Crowded Street" to go with each twin. Here's Yun's version, which is very fast paced and aggressive, more akin to the New Generation and Third Strike versions of the theme.
- And Yang's version. Much slower and calm, comparable to the Second Impact versions of the theme.
- Evil Ryu's theme, a Dubstep fusion remix of Ryu and Akuma's themes, representing the corruption of the Satsui no Hadou within Ryu.
- Oni's theme, a more evil sounding, techno-metal remix of Akuma's theme.
- Ultra gives us even more.
- Rolento's Theme, instead of the Bay Area theme from Alpha, is now a remix of his original boss theme from Final Fight, where you battle him on the Skyscraper Elevator.
- Poison's Theme has a jazzy, seductive feel to it, yet leaves you with the feeling that there's something off about it.
- Hugo's Theme, a fusion of The Circuit from Third Strike and Bottoms Up from 2nd Impact.
- Elena's Theme, a trance-like remix of Beats in My Head, her theme from Third Strike, with hints of Tomboy, her 2nd Impact theme, thrown into the mix.
- Decapre's Theme, a rather somber-sounding theme reminiscent of Alpha 3's compositions.
- The Jurassic Era Research Facility theme sounds adventurous, and gets even better once the near-KO segment kicks in.
- Pit Stop 109's theme may be out of place in East Asia, but otherwise, it's got a Wild West feel to it, which, if taking only the name and trucks into account, is fitting.
- The Half Pipe theme, you can't help singing along to the lyrics proclaiming that "This is our war, Street Fighter IV."
Street Fighter V
- The character select theme for the vanilla version, one of the first tracks in the game to be heard by the general public, is pretty hype. Though dropped in Arcade Edition as the main character select theme, the theme persists as the character select theme for the Street Fighter V route in Arcade Mode.
- M. Bison's reveal trailer gives us Prepare for the End, an intense tune with an epic scope.
- The stage music, as usual.
- The first stage BGM to be unveiled was Forgotten Waterfall (New Zealand), an adventurous theme with an incredible sense of wonder to it. The version that plays during round 1 features a unique flute segment that adds a distinct "frontier" feel.
- Hillside Plaza (Brazil), which accurately reflects the vibrant party atmosphere of Brazil.
- Bustling Side Street (China), specifically when round two hits. This was used in a lot of early trailers for the game, and it's easy to see why.
- Kanzuki Estate (Japan), which has an awesomely dramatic and traditional feel to it.
- Union Station (England), a rocky orchestra theme, evoking the very best of British rock and roll, with so much energetic and epicness, especially round 2.
- Underground Arena (Russia), instead of having the usual style one may expect from a stage set here, goes with something that's electronic, upbeat, and wouldn't feel out of place in Tekken.
- Apprentice Alley (India) melds traditional and modern styles together for one energetic piece.
- Lair of the Four Kings starts with a theme that instills a sense of ominous dread, and switches to one that gives a feeling of a desperate fight.
- Air Force Base (USA), because Guile is too awesome for just one remix of his theme.
- High Roller Casino (Las Vegas, USA), a club remix of Balrog's theme used for this recreation of his original SF2 stage.
- Kanzuki Beach (Japan). Jazzy and upbeat, just the kind of thing you want to hear on a tropical paradise.
- Ring of Destiny is an excellent rocking remix of the main theme which this time makes you feel ready to fight someone with epic proportions. There is also an alternate version.
- Skies of Honor (Dubai, UAE), a reinterpretation of Rashid's theme that fits perfectly with the mood of the stage: soaring through the skies of Dubai at sunset on Rashid's private jet. The alternate version has lyrics that perfectly describe the situation.
- Spooky Arena (Russia), appropriately ominous and twisted.
- The original version of Temple Hideout (Thailand), M. Bison's legendary stage from SF2, gets an orchestral, ambient remix of his theme. Note the "original" description, as the theme contains the infamous Quran prayer sound byte which was removed from the Fire Temple theme and got the game Kakuto Chojin banned from being sold past the initial release. Capcom had to remove the stage from the in-game shop to edit the song. Here's the updated version without the chant.
- And now Vega joins his fellow Shadaloo cohorts in getting a remake of his original SF2 stage, along with what may very well be the most epic remix of his classic theme yet, featuring a duel between Spanish guitar and electric bass that can only be described as beautiful. Ladies and gentlemen, Flamenco Tavern (Spain).
- Ring of Pride has a subtle tension to it. It makes the battles on it feel like the climax of a big event. Appropriate, considering that the stage was chosen to be used for the finals of EVO 2017.
- Metro City Bay Area (USA), a rocking blast from the past that combines both themes of the stage into one smooth medley. The first round plays the signature theme associated with the stage, which became Rolento's theme in Alpha 2. The second round switches things up to the origin of Abigail's theme in this game, the second half of the stage.
- Now Cammy joins in on the stage remake fun with English Manor (England), offering a completely different feeling from her actual theme via clever use of a medieval lute to complement the castle setting.
- Heralding the return of one of the most popular characters in the franchise, Kasugano Residence (Japan) remixes Sakura's theme to sound more mellow but no less confident and upbeat, reminding us that though she may be older, Sakura is still the cheerful individual we all know and love.
- Ring of Power, a perfect theme for a battle being overseen by the Four Kings of Shadaloo themselves. It gives off very strong anime opening vibes. The Alternative mix ramps up the pace and makes it sound even more epic.
- Sagat's old stage from Street Fighter II, King's Court, gets a remix that gives off a very aggressive and powerful vibe befitting the King of Muay Thai. It even manages to mix in his theme from Street Fighter and make it work with his new theme.
- Ring of Prosperity sounds like something out of Darkstalkers mixed with the Street Fighter series' traditional techno, fitting for the colosseum where fighters engage in combat for Gill's amusement. The Alternative mix gives the track more speed and intensity by adding more electronic elements.
- Rival Riverside perfectly captures the music style of Rival Schools, with its stylish synth groove and hard rock elements, as if it came straight from the '90s. The Alternative mix adds more techno elements that still keep it faithful to the original franchise. And if that's not enough, if any player is low on health, the fast-paced remix of the first game's opening, "Atsui Kodou", starts playing, hitting hard with nostalgia.
- The game's main menu theme during the first two beta phases was quite heroic and epic.
- As usual, the character themes are top notch.
- Ryu's theme, now with a mixture of both orchestra and rock, similar to his Alpha theme.
- Chun-Li's theme is once again very traditionally Chinese, but like Ryu has a very heavy orchestrated rock sound, making it more heroic and determined sounding than past versions. (Come to think of it, her theme comes with the cool kung fu fighting music!)
- Charlie Nash's theme, a darker remix of his Alpha theme. Static distortions, synthesized drums, and an ominous distorted guitar crescendo every so often paint a horrifying picture of a man brought back from death.
- M. Bison's theme still has a techno feel to it, but it's more aggressive this time instead of trance-like, showing that this time, he's going all-out. (Come to think of it, that seems to be a pattern with returning characters here.)
- Birdie's theme calls back to his roots as a British punk rocker, with a very grimy remix of his old theme from SFI and the Alpha series. Very befitting of his newfound slob status.
- Cammy's theme is much faster paced than before with an energetic electronic rock sound backing a classy piano riff.
- Ken's theme, one of the first character theme samples that Capcom released during development. And it rocks hard and fast, perhaps the most blood-pumping his theme has ever been.
- Necalli's theme. Heavy horns, ominous choir stings, and powerful jungle percussion create a fittingly ominous theme for this new frightening monster who brings a certain vibe of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure villainy to Street Fighter. "Soul Destroying Darkness" indeed.
- Vega's classic theme is darker and more sinister sounding than ever, with an undercurrent of madness behind the vanity. It has a very cinematic orchestra sound to it, with a lot of cellos, Spanish guitar and flamenco sounds.
- R. Mika's theme, a reinterpretation of her theme from Alpha 3, "Prismatic Stars", given a Puroresu-style treatment. It sounds like something you'd hear in Virtua Fighter.
- Rashid's theme, a fast-paced Arabesque dubstep piece befitting a man known as the "Turbulent Wind". It starts out almost sounding like ARIA's theme, ".execute" from Killer Instinct, but about a minute in, a Tokusatsu chorus kicks in and it gets awesome. RAAAAA-SHIIIII-DOOOOOOOOOO!!!
- Karin's theme is as elegant as you'd expect from her, with a very jazzy and classy sound. It even includes a sample of her Alpha 3 theme, which was one of the most popular tracks on that game's OST, toward the middle.
- Zangief's theme, a triumphant, military orchestra-style remix of his iconic SF2 theme to let you know that the Red Cyclone is back and ready to protect the Russian skies once again.
- Laura's theme, an upbeat Berimbau-style tune with electro elements.
- Dhalsim's theme, a more mystical, rock remix of his SF2 theme, sounding like something you'd hear from The Beatles. It combines elements of his original theme and his often-overlooked theme from Alpha 2.
- F.A.N.G's theme has a very laid-back, Austin Powers feel to it. It's a jazzy techno track with many Chinese elements abound, but midway through the song, the sound begins to twist and warp, fading in and out at random, emulating the feeling of being poisoned.
- Alex's theme returns with an updated funky urban rock sound. He's Back!!
- Guile's theme, now with Eric Clapton/Carlos Santana-esque riffs to rock out even more, and it still goes with everything.
- Ibuki's theme is a lot more intense this time around, where it was previously very quiet, making battles with her much more exciting.
- Balrog's theme has also gone up in intensity from IV and samples his Alpha 3 theme to make him sound a lot more foreboding and violent.
- Urien's theme starts out with a fanfare of sinister-sounding strings and drums accompanied by a foreboding choir that gives off Final Boss vibes, fitting for a leader of the organization that orchestrated Shadaloo's downfall and will play a villainous role in the future, with a piece of his Third Strike theme "Crazy Chili Dog" playing in the background. But after about a minute in, an electric guitar kicks in to accompany the orchestra in playing the starting part of "Crazy Chili Dog", celebrating Urien's long-awaited return to the series.
- Juri's theme is a calmer sounding mix of her IV theme, but with hints of a sinister tone that are heard as the song plays.
- Akuma's theme. Potentially the weakest rendition of Akuma's theme, but there's no denying that the electronic pulsing seems to invoke the power of the Satsui no Hado that is slowly taking over Akuma completely, and will more than deliver as a backing track to any fight involving the Raging Demon.
- Kolin's theme is a mysterious sounding piece that starts off peaceful, with chanting and some light drums, but eventually steps up in intensity, with a guitar joining in and the drums getting louder and louder. Fitting for her, since the Mood-Swinger Kolin can become extremely scary if you defy the prophecy of Gill.
- Ed's theme is a rap song with a catchy beat and lyrics that detail his backstory, fear of being taken over by Bison, and drive to fight against the odds.
- Abigail's theme is a heavy metal song that both figuratively and literally screams tough while occasionally throwing in bits of his original boss theme from Final Fight.
- Menat's theme, a slow guitar piece with a mystical ambiance to it that grows in intensity as the song progresses, conveying the character's underlying power that is shrouded beneath an air of mystery and playfulness.
- Zeku's theme, a combination of jazz and traditional Japanese instruments (similar to Guy's theme in IV), became a quick fan favorite, with some saying that it wouldn't be out of place in a Lupin III intro. In addition, right before the song loops, it begins the transition with a nod to the beginning of Strider Hiryu's theme, giving more evidence to the theory that Zeku is the founder of the Strider organization.
- Sakura's theme is a laid-back remix of her Alpha 2 theme, perfect for a schoolgirl who's finally moved into adulthood.
- Blanka's theme, an even wilder remix of his classic SF2 theme that has a mixture of tranquility and ferocity to it. The iconic melody is played on a soft keyboard while furious tribal drums and an electrifying bass riff accompany it, capturing Blanka's easygoing personality and the wild side that emerges when he fights.
- Falke's theme begins as a calming combination of piano and EDM beats, right until the 1:10 mark, where it suddenly kicks up in intensity.
- Cody's theme is a remix of his classic theme from IV, but with more upbeat hip-hop elements to it, reflecting Cody's new attitude.
- G's theme begins with the sound of a distant explosion, alluding to the Big Bang, and starts off sounding like something you'd hear in a planetarium, before transitioning into a sinister sounding synth piece. Then jazz elements are introduced, including horns and a fiddle.
- Sagat's theme is a remix of his classic theme but with a festival-like quality to it.
- Kage's theme, a Djent remix of Evil Ryu's Alpha 3 theme, "Black Power", that perfectly encapsulates the savage monster formed from the Satsui no Hado within Ryu.
- E. Honda's theme is a fast-paced remix of his SF2 theme, complete with authentic Japanese instruments and chanting.
- Lucia's theme is a remix of the Bay Area theme from the original Final Fight, with a touch of Final Fight 3's "Explosive Situation" for good measure.
- Poison's theme is a more relaxed, fashion show-esque version of her IV theme, and combines more techno-sounding tones to perfectly encapsulate her overall swagger and charm.
- Gill's theme mixes his 2nd Impact theme "Nile" and includes orchestral humming and chimes to represent Gill's mystical existence.
- Seth's theme is a remix of his personal IV theme from the Secret Laboratory stage where it becomes a mix of techno and orchestra. It's become more fast paced and chaotic sounding as the song plays out, perfectly fitting the character who was once a mighty being, now reduced to a deluded madman.
- Dan's theme goes full funk, with the guitar work reminiscent of artists popular in the 80's and absolutely smooth synths to show that while goofy and seemingly weak, Dan is still capable of being an amazing fighter.
- Rose's theme is an updated take on her IV theme that features an orchestra and choir in addition to the original techno beats, giving it an added layer of class and mysticism without lacking in the power department.
- Oro's theme is a lo-fi remix of his theme from 2nd Impact, "Cave Man." Compared to the original, this rendition sounds more calm and relaxed, introducing Oro not as a mysterious new figure, but as an old friend we haven't seen in a long time.
- Akira's theme remixes "Yamato River Bridge" from Project Justice and gives it a modern touch, keeping it close to the roots while still adding new elements to it.
- Luke's theme is a heroic-sounding rock track befitting his Boisterous Bruiser persona, complete with a catchy bass, electric guitar, and record scratching that would come to foreshadow his role in the next game.
- The 3rd Beta Phase has brought us a new Online Menu Theme, and it is sure to get players pumped up for another fight coming their way with Guilty Gear style heavy metal. The song also gets used as part of the game's CG trailer. So good that on the official soundtrack, it's just named "Street Fighter V."
- The full character lineup trailer gives us the debut of the game's theme song, "Survivor" by Japanese band Man With a Mission. With its catchy beat, it's almost certainly going to be to SF V what "Indestructible" was to SF IV.
- The theme music for the story mode A Shadow Falls, all composed by Fukasawa, is surprisingly well done.
- The Nash vs. Hologram!Bison theme "An Avenger in the Darkness" is the first fight theme of the story and it instantly sets the tone for both Nash's quest and the story at large, carrying a more foreboding air than most of the regular game's music with cinematic chords and choir.
- The Illuminati arena battle theme "An Awkward Alliance" is appropriately dark yet more cool than dramatic, fitting the initial exhibition for Juri and Urien both in-universe against their new allies and as playable characters.
- The Karin battle theme "The World Warriors" is a dramatic fight-ready rearrangement of the game's main theme, symbolizing the matured Kanzuki heiress's role as the organizational leader for the heroes.
- The Ryu vs. Ken first theme "Eternal Rivals" introduces the Shoryuken Bros. to the story nicely, accompanying their sparring match with a fighting beat and choir rendition of the music used for their scenes at the waterfall.
- The Laura vs. Ken theme "Hot Wind of Brazil" has a techno sound with a Brazilian party vibe yet a more fast-paced, intense air about it than Laura's or the Rio stage's normal themes, matching the intensity of an angered Laura's Brazilian heat.
- The Cammy vs. Decapre theme "Two Souls" is a light techno/piano arrangement that combines Cammy and Decapre's regular themes in a tragic yet exciting fusion representing the inner and outer turmoil of the two sisters fighting each other.
- The Rashid vs. F.A.N.G finale theme "The Turbulent Wind" fits its title perfectly with a beat of pounding strings accompanied by choir, serving as an ideal backdrop to what happened when Rashid, faced with the smug confession of the man who murdered his friend, finally decides to get serious and show exactly why he got that title as his nickname in the first place.
- The Nash vs. Bison finale theme "The Final Mission" carries with it the hopeful air of a once more clear-headed Nash returning to battle against Bison. Despite knowing he's short on time and outmatched by his arch-enemy's power, Charlie is ready to do what he knows he must to help set up the tyrant's downfall.
- The Ryu vs. Bison ultimate battle theme "Final Battle" combines a steady pace, cinematic flair, and acoustic strings to deliver a sound worthy of the long-awaited exhibit of power's ultimate destination, pitting the karate-man of quiet strength who through training has finally achieved the Power of Nothingness against the megalomaniacal dictator who plunged the world into chaos to reach the pinnacle of his evil Psycho Power.
- The credits theme "The Beginning of a Legend" starts out as relaxing and smooth, and shifts to a rocking tune, fitting because it symbolizes the end of Shadaloo and that the ones who suffered can now finally have peace with their lives (as long they don't cross the Illuminati).
- The Ryu vs. Ken post-credits final battle theme "The Fist That Knows No End" transitions from an end-of-adventure style remix of Ryu's classic theme to a heightened take on his Third Strike theme "Kobu" with added powerful choir and drums. After shaking off the influence of the Satsui no Hado and putting an end to Shadaloo, Ryu and the Street Fighter story in general are finally ready to move forward to the next chapter.
- Arcade Edition: as usual, the music is fantastic. As if the Character Select theme from vanilla wasn't enough, Arcade Mode features remixes of the original character select themes, and all are great.
- Street Fighter, with a retro-techno style remix of the Country Select theme perfect for an older game.
- Street Fighter II, the old classic returns, now with a rock style that wouldn't be out of place in Guilty Gear.
- Street Fighter Alpha, in a jazzy style which matches the energy heard in Zeku's theme.
- Street Fighter III, a beatbox jazz mix that'll put those familiar lyrics back in your head.
- Street Fighter IV, a remix of the Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition track that combines both the 1P and 2P select themes into a single rockin' track.
- The ending themes are no slouch either, all of them being remixes of the intros to each game.
- Street Fighter II, taking the original and making it sound like a triumphant rock anthem.
- Street Fighter Alpha, a jazzy remix of the classic Alpha 2 intro theme, combined with bits of the Alpha 3 intro theme.
- Street Fighter III, an even harder, jazzier remix of Third Strike.
- Street Fighter IV, a metal remix of the iconic main theme which was used as the theme for the Volcanic Rim stage.
- When fighting the time limited Extra Battle challenges for the Monster Hunter crossover costumes, the main theme from that franchise, "Proof of a Hero" (specifically the Monster Hunter 4 version) plays instead of the regular stage music.
Street Fighter 6
- The game's main theme, "Not on the Sidelines" by Rocco 808 and Randy Marx, was introduced via two videos: the official music video and the game's announcement trailer. Capcom decided to produce an absolute jam to kick off the hype cycle of this game; the song brings back the hip-hop roots of III, with a pulsing rhythm and invigorating lyrics to get you ready to fight. As per Capcom standard (just ask Devil May Cry 5 fans), both videos are only teasers of the full song, as each one includes bars missing in the other. This fan edit including all bars from both versions (with full combat sound effects on the trailer-exclusive bars) demonstrates that whatever rest of the track remains to be released is just as hot a banger as what we currently have.
- "Reinvent the Game" is a unique beast among the existing character select themes in that it's a three-part song, each part synchronizing with the stage select, character select and the Versus Character Splash walkout between the fighters. The lyrics are, if anything, absolutely representative of the glory-seeking and grinding mentality the cast (and by extension, the players) have to prove themselves as the greatest combatants in the world.
- The character themes, which were first gradually revealed in the pre-game hype, reintroduce dynamic streetwise hits which can be heard seamlessly in a full sitting as well as split into round-by-round sections. Even the returning World Warriors would receive brand new music made to fit the game's dynamics:
- Chun Li kicks things off with "Not a Little Girl", a techno trance beat similar to China Vox from III mixed with traditional instruments heard in modern rearranges of II, matching how her outfit combines multiple eras of her character to culminate in her new journey as an adoptive mother and martial arts instructor. As the first released character theme, this track officially signifies that the series has finally passed the interlude between II and III, with 6 operating as a true sequel to all that came before in every way.
- Luke's theme, "Taking Aim", is a more electronic rearrange of his pop-rock theme from his introduction as the final character in V, showing more depth and grit while staying true to his initial vibe. Where the previous version featured his Hot-Blooded past self guest-starring as a teaser to this game, this is when we finally get to see the streetwise MMA fighter more or less fully-defined both in- and out-of-universe.
- Ryu's theme, "Viator", is a celebratory funk-jazz fusion with occasional traditional Japanese instruments, ditching his Suzaku Castle roots for something that would feel at home in an American martial arts flick from The '70s or The '90s. The Fighting Game Icon has long moved past his prior struggles with the Satsui no Hado and now travels the world on a master's journey much like Oro and Gouken before him.
- Three words - "Mr. Top Player". Jamie makes his mark on the Street Fighter series and, boy, does he do it in style! A very funky and upbeat track, that, like Chun-Li's theme above, harkens back to the 3rd Strike days and nicely ties into his roots, with some traditional instruments being sprinkled throughout the funk. On top of that, it also references Yun and Yang's motif from SFIII - Crowded Street, making this song feel like a Triumphant Reprise as a contrast.
- Guile's theme, "Sharpened Sonic", is a stylish techno beat that has overtones of incidental music in the Top Gun movies, and bears some similarities to his Alpha 3 theme, with some nice jazzy elements like trumpets and a saxophone. It's a much more subdued track than his older theme but still with plenty of energy in it, symbolizing him moving on from trying to avenge Nash and embarking on new ventures as an Older and Wiser family man with a cooler head.
- "Ninjastar Pop", Kimberly's theme, pays homage to Final Fight by remixing Guy's theme with a powerful trap beat before moving to a more upbeat section with pronounced brass and synths. But if there is a Mirror Match, and both Kimberlies activate their Critical Art, the music changes to "Bushin NinjaStar Cypher", a hip-hop track with a funky beat and full-on vocals that becomes a Bragging Theme Tune for the young ninja.
- Juri's new theme, "ÅrachniD**", can be only described as derangement and paranoia put into a musical form, with disjointed rhythms being pulled together by a forceful techno beat, coupled with some chiptune and powerful percussion that makes it truly feel like a spider is crawling inside the track, and several moments clearly pay homage to Darkstalkers music, specifically Jedah's theme.
- Ken's new theme, "Spirit of the Flame", doing justice to the fact that he's the first returning World Warrior to be put on hard times entering this campaign, takes an ambient-yet-fierce techno melody with a rather frantic bassline and adds a rock guitar underscore, hip hop beat, and a few select bursts of retro synthwave power drumming, to create the most intense of the character themes thus far. The bassline in particular shows shades of Ryu's classic theme, as if transferring the role of troubled shoto traveler searching for answers, while Ken's own theme, and his fiery combat spirit which burns as strongly as ever, is represented by a techno sample within the track's final climax.
- "zilra zilra" goes to Blanka and represents a whole different type of awesome. Foreign characters of Caribbean origin in fighting game media usually get standard beach party electronica with trumpets or jungle style music depending on which part of the culture they represent. While this is normally acceptable if the track itself is good, there's something to be said for accuracy and variety. Which is why Brazilians who clicked on the video proceeded to shower praise on this track out of sheer pleasure that they get to hear an actual carioca funk beat complete with berimbau, timbal, and MC background hype sounds made to represent one of their most iconic characters welcoming tourists to his home.
- "The Plunderer", JP's theme. Fitting for his status as M. Bison's successor, he gets a sinister techno beat mixed in with an ominous yet classy piano and some dubstep. It also incorporates elements from both Bison's boss theme from Alpha 3, as well as Seth's theme.
- Ed's new theme, "König oder Feigling"note is written and performed by German-born Japanese rapper Blumio. Like his previous theme, it is a hard-hitting rap track continuing from Ed's story in V, detailing his struggles, fears, and the motivation to be the kind of leader his Neo Shadaloo comrades need. The Gratuitous German lyrics serve as a reminder of his native roots and how his past drives him forward towards attaining freedom.
- Fête Foraine, the France stage. A fusion of accordion, piano and trumpet set against a Trap-genre bass and drumbeat, guaranteed to get you worked up for a fight while also commanding an air of class. Special mention must go to the Final Round section, which is a frantic instrumental breakdown to match the high stakes in such a situation.
- To commemorate their collaboration, CAP-JAMS (along with none other than Aleks Le himself) provided their own take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) main theme, and it's about as excellently executed as can be, giving Capcom's signature flair on the tune that made the heroes in a half-shell famous.
Street Fighter EX
- Say what you want about Street Fighter EX, but you cannot deny that the games had great music. Our hats go off to the composers over at Arika who were genius enough to come up with these tracks, namely: Takayuki Aihara, Ayako Saso, Shinji Hosoe, and Yasuhisa Watanabe (who came along starting in EX2 Plus). Starting with the themes from EX Plus Alpha/EX3:
- Ryu's Theme by Takayuki Aihara, "Rising Dragon."
- Ken's Theme by Ayako Saso, "Guardian of Light."
- Chun-Li's Theme by Shinji Hosoe, "Spinning Bird."
- Guile and Allen Snider's Theme by Ayako Saso, "Strange Sunset."
- Zangief's theme by Ayako Saso, "Cold Pipe."
- Sagat's Theme, "Before Moon."
- Kairi's Theme, "Passage of Lotus."
- M. Bison's Theme by Takayuki Aihara, "Irreconcilably."
- Vega's Theme by Takayuki Aihara, "Matador."
- Sakura's Theme by Takayuki Aihara, "Precious Heart."
- Dhalsim's Theme by Ayako Saso, "Heat Wind."
- Blanka's Theme by Ayako Saso, "BIRI-BIRI Red Heat."
- Hokuto's Theme by Shinji Hosoe, "Sakura Mankai."
- Pullum Purna's Theme by Takayuki Aihara, "Arabesque."
- Skullomania's Theme by Takayuki Aihara, "Amusementive Crime."
- Blair Dame and Cracker Jack's Theme by Ayako Saso, "Garnet Sky."
- Doctrine Dark's Theme by Shinji Hosoe, "Under Tube."
- Darun's Theme by Shinji Hosoe, "INDRA Bridge of TA·SO·GA·RE."
- Nanase's Theme by Yasuhisa Watanabe, "Cute Mafia."
- Sharon's Theme by Ayako Saso, "Temptation Gun."
- Vulcano Rosso's Theme by Shinji Hosoe, "Coolman Rosso."
- Area's Theme by Takayuki Aihara, "Iron Eyes."
- Ace's Theme by Yasuhisa Watanabe, "Harem Beat."
- Cycloid Beta & Gamma's Theme by Shinji Hosoe, "Future Objects."
- And in what might be one of the most badass themes to ever grace the series... Garuda's Theme by Shinji Hosoe, "Stronger."
- His EX2 theme and EX3 midboss theme, "More Stronger" and "Great Stronger," weren't anything to scoff at either.
- There should be a law that states that you can't bring up the EX series' music without mentioning "Digital Ignition" at least once.
- If you like trains, then "Flash Train" is most definitely for you.
- "Regenerate" might be perhaps the most epic credits roll BGM in SF history. And this might possibly be the most epic character select theme this side of 3rd Strike.
- Sure, he was only there for one game, but Akuma received the aptly-named "God Hands", composed by Takayuki Aihara.
- Original Mode of EX3 threw a musical curveball by giving each stage its own theme instead of your opponent's respective theme. Aside from the aforementioned "Great Stronger", check out "Move" (Stage 1), "Add on Love Tree" (Stage 2), "Ancient Zone" (Stage 4), "Burry Home" (Stage 5), and "Final Battle."
Others
- Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie's English dub has KMFDM's "Ultra", which greatly enhances the scene where Chun-Li battles Vega.
- Say what you will about the American cartoon series, but the arrangement of the Street Fighter II theme is pretty rockin'.
- The Italian dub of Street Fighter II V has both opening and ending provided by the song "Tra Cielo e Terra" ("Between Heaven and Earth") by Dhamm, a song about fighters facing superior opponents and coming back to try and win, perfect for Street Fighter.