The Neo Geo was at the absolute peak of its power here and you can hear it in every track. THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97 is where SNK's sound team locked in completely. ESAKA FOREVER takes Kyo's theme and turns it into this triumphant anthem that still gets people hyped at tournaments decades later.
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BLUE MARY'S BLUES is genuinely soulful, this jazzy slow burn that feels completely out of place in a fighting game and yet totally right. Bloody for the New Face Team has that raw, almost punk energy. C62 -Shirokuni- gives Yamazaki this unsettling swagger.
Still Green for Shingo is low-key one of the best character themes in the whole series, all youthful determination. If KOF '97 is your favorite entry, the soundtrack is a huge reason why.