SNK's Neo Geo sound hardware absolutely singing across fourteen character themes that each nail a fighter's personality in under three minutes. Art of Fighting 2's original soundtrack is one of the best character-theme collections from the early '90s fighting game boom, and this 2015 release preserves every FM-synth punch.
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"SWING THE HOUSE" for Robert Garcia is pure groove, a funk-jazz number that matches his flashy Italian-trained karate style perfectly. "Uma to Boku" (The Horse and Me) gives Ryo Sakazaki something earnest and driving, while "BLUE MOON FACTORY -Oh Oh BIG MIX-" turns Mr.
Big's theme into a nightclub event. "Geese ni kiss n~CYBER EDIT~" is a remixed take on the SNK boss legend's theme that drips with menace. "Diet" for Yuri Sakazaki is surprisingly upbeat and playful, and "Kabocha to Piero" (The Pumpkin and the Clown) gives King an enigmatic, slightly melancholy edge.
Every track here doubles as a character study. "Shinobi no Michi" brings ninja atmosphere for Eiji Kisaragi, "Shihan" carries the gravity of master Takuma, and "Chuugoku Roujin -NEO ASIAN MIX-" channels old-school martial arts cinema for Lee Pai Long.
Peak Neo Geo audio craftsmanship.