The companion piece to the Clash Volume, and honestly this one gets even darker. THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97 Fate Volume leans into the Orochi saga's apocalyptic energy with tracks like "The Awakening Time is Now" that feel genuinely ominous.
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"Athena, Go! '97!" breaks things up with her signature brightness, but then "Covenant of Blood" drags you right back into cursed bloodline territory. The way these drama CDs build tension between rounds of voice acting is something fighting games just don't do anymore.
"The Origin-Revealing Rain" as a closer... that title alone. The radio announcements are fun bonus material if you want the full 1997 SNK media blitz experience. Essential listening for anyone who thinks KOF's story peaked with the Orochi arc.