One of the weirdest and most entertaining fighting game soundtracks of the 90s, and that is saying something. Gouketsuji Ichizoku 2 -- known as Power Instinct 2 in the West -- hit arcades in 1994 from Atlus and absolutely refused to take itself seriously.
Read more
"Give Me Money" as Angela Belti's theme is pure comedy gold, and the fact that Keith Wayne gets three different versions of "I Want to Be a Hero" -- a Questionable Version, a Heavy Version, and a Refreshing Version -- tells you everything about this game's sense of humor.
"Mijikon March" on the start screen sets the playful tone immediately, and "Jokers" for player select has this carnival energy that makes picking a character feel like a party. "The Night of the Amiyai" for White Buffalo goes in a completely different atmospheric direction, proving the composers could shift gears at will.
"Leave it to Super Kurara" is the kind of upbeat character theme that gets permanently stuck in your head. The Power Instinct series never got the recognition of Street Fighter or King of Fighters, but its soundtracks were consistently more fun and more daring than either.
"Monk Dadada" alone is worth the listen. If you want a fighting game OST that makes you laugh as much as it pumps you up, Gouketsuji Ichizoku 2 is essential.