Known in the West as Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, ANUBIS is Hideo Kojima's mecha action masterpiece, and this soundtrack by Norihiko Hibino and the KCE Japan Sound Team is every bit as ambitious as the game itself.
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"Beyond the Bounds" in its full version is one of the most iconic tracks in Konami's entire catalog -- that driving trance beat paired with Sana's ethereal vocals became the definitive anthem for orbital frame combat. The Mitsuto Suzuki remix included here offers a more club-ready take that's equally compelling.
The in-game score matches the relentless pace of the action beautifully. "Jehuty - Vivid Transparency" captures the elegance and power of piloting the titular mech, while "Leo! Leo!" brings urgent energy to the returning character's scenes.
The battle tracks are the backbone of the album -- "Chaotic Fight" and "Final Battle" deliver the kind of escalating intensity that made ANUBIS's combat encounters feel so cinematic. "Ardjet" stands out for its tension, scoring the memorable confrontation with the rival frame.
What elevates this soundtrack above typical mecha game fare is the emotional range. "Trusting Peace" closes the album with a sense of hard-won resolution, and "Explosion & Aftermath" captures the weight of consequences that Kojima always insisted on even in his action-focused titles.
"Descending Aumaan" builds an incredible sense of scale for the endgame. For a PS2 game from 2003, the production quality here is remarkable, and it remains one of the finest soundtracks in the mecha genre -- a perfect complement to what many consider the best high-speed robot action game ever made.