One of the Wangan Midnight franchise's best-known elements is its video game soundtracks. Composed mainly by Yuzo Koshiro, they've gone from stuff you'd hear in 70's and 80's chase scenes to trance that transports you to another world; many regard these soundtracks as Koshiro's best work since Streets of Rage.
Wangan Midnight and Wangan Midnight R
The first game and its Updated Re-release have a distinctly different style in their soundtrack, creating a racing atmosphere that may remind one of older street racing and car chase scenes.
- The "Opening" theme
plays every time you start up the game. After thirty seconds of a Lonely Piano Piece, an energetic rock melody kicks in, creating a feel of rushing through the highway ASAP. - "Kuroki's Theme" starts off with some intense chords, soon after giving away to guitar riffs and a saxaphone.
- "R200CLUB's Theme" is a very dramatic piece well-suited for a heated 300 km/h chase wherein three members of R200CLUB try to shut you out.
- "Reina's Theme" is even darker than the other tracks, featuring a One-Woman Wail as you race against the first of two Final Bosses.
- The "Ending" theme plays once you beat the game. Its dark, melancholy theme fits surprisingly well, giving you the impression that Akio's "Devil Z" is no more thanks to all of your efforts to face the impossible odds.
Maximum Tune
- "Entry (Maxi1 Version)". Picture this: It is 2004, and you see a new racing game at your arcade with a distinct 6-position shifter. You insert your coins, maybe expecting a So Okay, It's Average or novelty racing game at best, only to hear this through the game's 4.1 sound system, and are promptly blown away. You know that what you're about to play is going to be good.
- "Maximum Acceleration": Maxi1 version, Maxi2 version. The track used for the very first stage of Story Mode in the first two games, setting the tone for fast-paced highway racing.
- "Destination Blackout": Maxi1 version, Maxi2 version. The Blackbird's first theme track in the Maximum Tune series.
Maximum Tune 2
- "Ghost in the Resonance", a very dark theme that will send chills down your spine. Perfect for driving Hakone at night.
- "Last Utopia" and "Holy Land Anthem", tracks that are used to relax with a haunting theme. Some people have combined the songs together since the end of LU links up to HLA.
Maximum Tune 3
- "Love to Rise in the Summer Morning" is, as the title indicates, light and cheerful enough for those early morning drives.
- "Phantom of Blue", the theme of the Devil Z in 3 and the final boss theme for 3DX and 3DX+. An epic, triumphant track to signify the arrival of Akio and the Z, as well as to set the mood for the final showdown between you, the Devil Z, Blackbird and Ogishima's FD3S.
Maximum Tune 3DX+
- "Loop of Fortune", a track well-suited for determined players. It is also one of the longest gameplay tracks in the game, at about 3:40 per loop...until the record was broken by "Driving Instinct", which is around five minutes per loop, five games later.
Maximum Tune 4
- "Entry Maxi4" is here to bring in a new era of Maximum Tune games.
- "Never Throw Away" is hauntingly beautiful, if full of sorrow.
- "Highway Discipline" is, surprisingly, more rock than trance, and for many players it makes the track brilliantly stand out.
- "Dark Side Style" is used as R200CLUB's theme in 4 and 5 (including its Updated Rereleases), reflecting the intent of the club's members to destroy your car, literally.
- "The Final Count Down"note is an absolutely chilling track with choir chants throughout the song, used for stages 10 (the last stage of the "The Return of the Devil Z" arc), 20 (last stage of "The Akasaka Straight" arc), and 60 (the final stage of Story Mode).
Maximum Tune 5
- "Entry Maxi5" gets you in the mood with some killer guitar riffs in the background. Sadly, this track is exclusive to the Japanese version. (The non-Japan versions reuse "Entry Maxi4").
- "Daystar" is another great "daytime" track.
Maximum Tune 5DX
- Thought "Highway Discipline" was an interesting change of pace? How about "The Race Is On", which is entirely rock mixed with Drum and Bass and sounds like something you'd hear in Daytona USA? Definitely an eyebrow-raising experience!
Maximum Tune 5DX+
- "Entry (Maxi5DX+ Version)" has a drop that segues into one of the boldest "Entry" tracks in the series yet.
- "Drive Me Crazy" delves into house elements.
- "High Speed Monster", the very first track you listen to at the beginning of Story Mode in 5DX+, with a fitting name too, as its energetic melody is indeed suitable for high speed action on the highway.
Maximum Tune 6
Maximum Tune 6 seems to take on a more diverse music direction than past games, with Yuzo Koshiro breaking out of the trance mold to explore other genres:
- "Entry (Maxi6 Version)" (officially named "Reborn") is the first Entry theme with sung lyrics (compare Maximum Tune 3's, which uses spoken-word samples, and 3 DX's which samples vocals from the Rival and Course Select theme from 3), getting you pumped up to take on the road.
- "Burning Away", which plays during the game's opening movie. Very upbeat and makes you feel like nothing's stopping you from being a racer.
- "New Generation", which plays during the very first chapter of Story Mode in MT6 as well as the game's initial reveal trailer. With an energetic, uplifting tone, it's sure to get you excited for, as its name suggests, the new generation of this series.
- "Love And Gold". Your ears are not lying to you: That's eurobeat in a Wangan Midnight game, rather than a Initial D Arcade Stage game. As expected of modern eurobeat, it's well-suited for a high-speed drive with its upbeat tempo, passionate lyrics, flashy synths, and rockin' guitar solo. Reminiscent of The '80s Synth-Pop disco music too. Shakotan Boogie or Miami Vice anyone?
- "Silver And Gold" is one of the slowest driving tracks in the series, perfect for more relaxed driving.
- "Sky Beauty" sounds like something you'd hear at a carnival, and is Sweet Dreams Fuel from start to end.
- "Driving Instinct" is a chilling, somber track with a sense of finality to it. Especially so, considering it plays in the grand finale of Story Mode, once the Devil Z enters the fray in the final dogfight between you, Blackbird and Ogishima's FD RX-7.
- "Black Phoenix" is a chilling yet upbeat track that makes you utter "Oh, Crap!" whenever the Blackbird arrives just by looking at it.
Maximum Tune 6RR
- "Entry (Maxi6RR Version)" brings back the Maximum Tune hype, welcoming players the entry that gives extra energy to play.
- "Midnight Wave" plays during the very first chapter of Story Mode, full of energy and mixed with 80's retro-style vibes that give players a hyped-up play.
- "Happy Moment" screams "heartbeat" as it delves into a hybrid of hardbass and nightcore that kicks in the game real hard. No wonder players would play that tune for hard fought VS Battles.
Maximum Tune 6RR+
- "Entry (Maxi6RR+ Version)" is a much more intense version of the already energetic Entry (Maxi6RR Version), which hits as hard its hype.
- "Maximum Overdrive" pays homage to the original "Maximum Acceleration" and "Overdrive Neurotransmitter" from both Maxi1 and Maxi2. Veteran players who long played the series, especially the first two Maximum Tune games from 20 years ago, will sense some "nostalgic déjà vu" from this track.
