[Soundtrack] King of Fighters XI Sound Collection
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 03:03
King of Fighters XI Sound Collection
For possibly the first time, SNK Playmore has released a KOF soundtrack that includes both the OST and the AST in one nice package. So how does it fare on the whole?
The KOF XI Sound Collection consists of 2 CDs, one with the original/arcade versions of the tracks and the other with the arranged/console tracks. This would normally be a good thing, except for a few problems.
First of all, each disc has a total of 37 tracks on it, meaning that track lengths are woefully short. There are no tracks that exceed 4 minutes in length, meaning that they are over all to soon, which is especially annoying given that a lot of these tracks are pretty good. At least the composers saw fit to compose "endings" to the tracks rather than just have them fade out at the end.
The other problem relates to the arranged tracks. Quite simply put, they're rather disappointing. They hardly exhibit any creativity over the regular OST tracks, instead just augmenting them with better instrument samples and some added riffs here and there. They're not bad, by any means, but compared to KOF'96 or even KOF2003's AST, the lack of creative rearrangement is stark. Part of this might be attributed to the fact that the OST tracks aren't limited by the NeoGeo's synthesizer any more, so there is less room for creativity in rearranging the tracks.
In addition, some of the arrangements totally ruin the feel of the OST tracks altogether, which is really quite annoying.
Anyhow, As with my earlier KOF2003 AST review, I'll do a track-by-track overview and comparision.
1. THE KING OF FIGHTERS XI
OST - Not bad...it has a rather catchy beat. It sounds like a cross between the intros of old and those from KOF2000 with their techno leanings.
AST - Not too diferent except for better-sounding samples.
2. HOW TO PLAY
OST - Just a simple synth refrain + percussion beat.
AST - Almost the same as the OST, but better samples.
3. PLAYER SELECT
OST - Has a nice "Let's get this show on the road!" feeling to it with the mix of synth and guitars, but otherwise, quite nondescript.
AST - Sounds a bit more subdued than the OST version for some reason.
4. ORDER SELECT
OST - More synth, but with a faster percussion beat. Good at getting you pumped for the upcoming match.
AST - virtually identical to the OST track.
5. joker- HERO TEAM BGM
OST - A synth/rock melody that blends the two quite well. You can hear the refrain from "Splendid Evil" near the beginning, and it smoothly transitions into a wailing guitar solo near the end. Good track.
AST - I'd say the AST version is better than the OST version, if only because the guitar and percussion are more varied, and therefore sound more interesting. Also, the synth refrain is slightly more subdued, which works quite well for the overall "feel" of the track. And of course, the guitar solo at the end sounds a lot cooler too.
6. WINNER
OST - Quite nice, but not much to say about it since it's only 16 seconds long.
AST - Sounds more subdued and less forceful than the OST version, for some reason.
7. Queen - RIVAL TEAM BGM
OST - Awesome track. A great blend of guitars, synth and piano, and a great "mysterious" feel to it. It really sounds like it came out of a Castlevania game, but the fast-paced percussion beat means it's very well-suited to KOF.
AST - Better samples help the track somewhat, but it more or less sounds the same as the OST version.
8. Street dancer - FATAL FURY TEAM BGM
OST - Unlike their 2003 BGM, this track sounds MUCH more "Fatal Fury"-ish with its mix of synth melody, slow guitars and piano chords, and really suits the team it's meant for (Terry and Duck, that is...not so much Kim).
AST - Sounds quite similar to the OST version, although - you guessed it - a little more subdued. This is largely because of the more muted guitar backdrop. Still sounds good though.
9. Jack - BURIKI ONE HIDDENS BGM
OST - A fairly straightforward hard rock BGM with some synth mixed in. It's certainly not too shabby, although it could be more interesting.
AST - Mostly the same, but better samples.
10. After a long absence - KYOKUGEN TEAM BGM
OST - Starts out with a nice acoustic guitar riff, then transitions into the traditional synth melody-type Kyokugen Team BGMs that we all know and love. However, it unexpectedly segues into a short, pleasant xylophone/bass interlude before returning to the main chorus. A nice track, but the climax could be more forceful and majestic.
AST - More or less the same track with better samples, but the synth lead sounds downright weird - it has this "rasping" quality to it that doesn't fit with the feel of the track at all.
11. Shiroi Sekai (WHITE WORLD) - MIDBOSS CUTSCENE BGM
OST - A short percussion/chanting interlude. Nothing worth mentioning really.
AST - See OST comments.
12. kiss or poison - MOTW TEAM BGM
OST - Sounds like a theme typical of B. Jenet - an upbeat, happy-sounding theme with a brass section and a piano backup. It doesn't really fit Griffon or Gato, though. A good track, but the brass instruments sound way too "synth-y."
AST - The AST version sounds a LOT better, largely because of the improved instrument samples. Otherwise, no major differences.
13. Smell of Gunpowder - IKARI TEAM BGM
OST - If you're familiar with the Ikari Team themes, you know what to expect, really. Pre, hard rock that starts out slow, but picks up the pace later into the track with a synth/guitar duet. A bit slow to start, but decent nonetheless.
AST - Improved guitar and percussion samples help this track a lot, seeing how it relies so much on them. Definitely sounds a lot better than the OST version.
14. PURE~at good old days~ - PSYCHO SOLDIER TEAM BGM
OST - Starts out like the sugary J-pop the team has become known for in recent years, with a nice mix of synth and piano, but slowly segues into a very majestic, oriental-sounding theme. Great track!
AST - The nice piano chord intro got replaced with synth, and the peaceful-sounding flute-ish instrument got replaced by a guitar. Overall, the track sounds a bit more "edgy." I'm not sure I really like that, although it's not really unpleasant to listen to.
15. King - ADELHEID BGM
OST - Fast-paced synth rock for he who would inherit the mantle of "R". Definitely not a bad track, although a little bland. Also, if you listen carefully you can hear bits of Ketchaku R&D here and there!
AST - The AST version sounds quite a bit more powerful than the OST version, thanks to better guitars. It's still rather bland, though.
16. Secret Circumstances - AGENT TEAM BGM
OST - Starts out sounding like lounge music, then transitions into something you might hear in a James Bond film. an upbeat, mysterious jazzy theme that definitely suits the purpose of the team (they are agents, after all
), and is arranged really well overall. One of my personal favourites.
AST - This track improves a LOT on the AST - the improved instrument samples are that good. Sounds really great.
17. Continue
OST/AST - Synth + percussion, nondescript, yadda yadda.
18. Service
OST/AST - See "Continue."
19. Rinrin - ANTI-KYOKUGEN TEAM BGM
OST - A fast-paced blend of strings, percussion and piano. It sounds like something that might have come out of AOF, hence it suits this team really well. The climax with the Indian percussion instruments and string melody is done very well.
AST - The strings on the OST have been replaced by a funny hollow-tube-sounding synth instrument that really kills the feel of the track for me. Quite a shame, because the rest of the track sounds really great.
20. KDD-0075 - K' TEAM BGM
OST - This track is probably the single biggest reason I bought this album. It marks a return to the heavy techno-rock prevalent in early K' team themes. Incredibly catchy melody, a kickass beat, and awesome climax. One of my favourite tracks on the OST!
AST - The AST version, however...ugh. It starts out sounding decent enough, but the percussion is overstated, and the use of guitar as the driving instrument in the melody just doesn't work. I'd take the OST version over this any day.
21. New Order - KYO&IORI TEAM BGM
OST - Another awesome OST track. Addictive beat and catchy guitar riffs make this theme a winner. It even manages to incorporate an Iori-ish saxophone riff, so it definitely suits this otherwise oddball team to a "T."
AST - Another awesome OST track...completely ruined. The percussion has been redone, making the track sound like a cross between hard rock and a Beach Boys song. Even including maracas. It just doesn't work AT ALL, and totally ruins the mood of an awesome OST track.
22. Cha-cha-cha - KIZUNA ENCOUNTER HIDDENS BGM
OST - This track is purportedly straight off the Kizuna OST, and I must say it sounds rather good, with a nice majestic sound to it. I particularly like the string ensemble in the background of the main synth/guitar melody.
AST - Quite similar to the OST version, although the better string and guitar samples help make it quite a bit better. Also, for some reason it's the only track on the AST that actually loops. Uh.
23. Unaru Sekai (The world that roars) - PRE-SHION CUTSCENE BGM
OST/AST - more chanting, yadda yadda.
24. Koubai (Melody of Confrontation) - SHION BGM
OST - A slow rock track (which gradually gets faster) that has a strong Oriental feel to it, due to the use of a shamisen and Japanese percussion instruments. Definitely suits Shion very well, and quite a nice boss BGM.
AST - Better samples, overall better-sounding track. Not many changes otherwise.
25. Yugamu Sekai (The warped world) - PRE-MAGAKI CUTSCENE BGM
OST - This really sounds like it should be in an RPG of some sort. Lots of strings that climb higher and reach a climax, but with a synth bass. Not bad for an interlude, I guess.
AST - Sounds more synth-y than the OST version, but otherwise not much difference.
26. an improvised concerto - MAGAKI BGM
OST - An excellent boss BGM! A pure orchestral instrumental, with a slight Oriental feel to it. It's very powerful and majestic sounding, and very worthy of being the background music to the final battle of the game. Magaki may look like a queer, but his BGM kicks ass.
AST - Better samples obviously make an already great boss track even better. Excellent track.
27. Kakusei (Awakening) - POST-MAGAKI CUTSCENE BGM
OST - Starts out like all the other cutscene BGMs, with heavy piano chords and percussion, but eventually gains a string melody that rises to a climax, with a melancholic piano outro. Pretty damn good for music set to still pictures
AST - Sounds a lot better, simply by virtue of the better-quality sound samples.
28. Ending - Rain
OST - Starts out with a catchy synth riff set to a simple percussion/bass backdrop, but escalates into a cool guitar solo. Nice ending BGM.
AST - The synth has more echo to it, and the better samples make the guitar climax sound really, really cool.
29. Ending - PAO PAO
OST - As you might expect, a piano and organ-heavy theme to reflect the laid-back atmosphere of the Pao Pao Cafe. It works for the ending it's composed for, certainly
AST - The piano sounds a lot better, but other than that, it's more or less the same BGM.
30. Ending - Rest
OST - I swear, this reminds me of an FFVII track. Even more laid back than the previous track, if that's possible. Quite relaxing.
AST - Better samples, yadda yadda.
31. Ending - Conference
OST - A relaxed, somewhat melancholic track with light percussion, synth and piano. Easy on the ears.
AST - Be- eh, you already know what I'm going to say. I think the synth in this version of the track sounds better though.
32. Ending - Worm
OST - An ominous-sounding slow techno BGM. Not much I can say otherwise.
AST - Ditto.
33. Ending - Sky
OST - A peppy ending theme for the team which loves sugary J-pop. Has a very relaxing feel to it, like you're lying on the grass and staring up at the, uh...sky Although it has some instrumentation problems...
AST - ...which are solved by the AST version. Which, for some reason, is a full minute longer than the OST version of the track because it loops.
34. Ending - Agent
OST - A very military-sounding track, which of course entirely suits the team it was composed for.
AST - Sounds quite a bit more powerful than the OST version, which works to its benefit.
35. Ending - Collection
OST - Another nondescript ominous sounding track.
AST - Not much to add, really
36. Ending - Parting
OST - A piano theme with a strings/choral backup and light percussion that segues into a guitar solo outro. I *think* this is from Adelheid's ending, in which case, it works quite well.
AST - New samples, sounds better, you get the picture.
37. SeeYou - CREDITS
OST - Starts off quietly, as a string melody to a piano/percussion backdrop. About halfway through the Indian-style chanting from the interlude BGMs returns, and the mood of the track changes to one sounding somewhat foreboding in nature. Not quite as catchy as Heavens, the 2003 credits BGM.
AST - Better samples improve the track, as usual, but not much else has changed.
Is this album worth a purchase? I won't deny that the KOF XI OST is definitely one of the best in years. However, the short track length and disappointing arranged tracks makes one feel rather shortchanged. This album would have vastly better had it been released as a 4-CD collection rather than just 2, and had more effort been put into the actual rearrangement of the tracks.
FINAL SCORE:
OST: 8.5/10
Overall, there's very little to dislike about the OST, except for the tracks' unfairly short length. It's a solid album, easily the best OST in years.
AST: 7/10
It's "OK," but that's really the problem - nothing really remarkable, and some of the rearrangements are just plain bad.
Overall: 7.5/10
Kickass OST + average AST. There's a lot to like about this collection, but there are things that will annoy you as well.
For possibly the first time, SNK Playmore has released a KOF soundtrack that includes both the OST and the AST in one nice package. So how does it fare on the whole?
The KOF XI Sound Collection consists of 2 CDs, one with the original/arcade versions of the tracks and the other with the arranged/console tracks. This would normally be a good thing, except for a few problems.
First of all, each disc has a total of 37 tracks on it, meaning that track lengths are woefully short. There are no tracks that exceed 4 minutes in length, meaning that they are over all to soon, which is especially annoying given that a lot of these tracks are pretty good. At least the composers saw fit to compose "endings" to the tracks rather than just have them fade out at the end.
The other problem relates to the arranged tracks. Quite simply put, they're rather disappointing. They hardly exhibit any creativity over the regular OST tracks, instead just augmenting them with better instrument samples and some added riffs here and there. They're not bad, by any means, but compared to KOF'96 or even KOF2003's AST, the lack of creative rearrangement is stark. Part of this might be attributed to the fact that the OST tracks aren't limited by the NeoGeo's synthesizer any more, so there is less room for creativity in rearranging the tracks.
In addition, some of the arrangements totally ruin the feel of the OST tracks altogether, which is really quite annoying.
Anyhow, As with my earlier KOF2003 AST review, I'll do a track-by-track overview and comparision.
1. THE KING OF FIGHTERS XI
OST - Not bad...it has a rather catchy beat. It sounds like a cross between the intros of old and those from KOF2000 with their techno leanings.
AST - Not too diferent except for better-sounding samples.
2. HOW TO PLAY
OST - Just a simple synth refrain + percussion beat.
AST - Almost the same as the OST, but better samples.
3. PLAYER SELECT
OST - Has a nice "Let's get this show on the road!" feeling to it with the mix of synth and guitars, but otherwise, quite nondescript.
AST - Sounds a bit more subdued than the OST version for some reason.
4. ORDER SELECT
OST - More synth, but with a faster percussion beat. Good at getting you pumped for the upcoming match.
AST - virtually identical to the OST track.
5. joker- HERO TEAM BGM
OST - A synth/rock melody that blends the two quite well. You can hear the refrain from "Splendid Evil" near the beginning, and it smoothly transitions into a wailing guitar solo near the end. Good track.
AST - I'd say the AST version is better than the OST version, if only because the guitar and percussion are more varied, and therefore sound more interesting. Also, the synth refrain is slightly more subdued, which works quite well for the overall "feel" of the track. And of course, the guitar solo at the end sounds a lot cooler too.
6. WINNER
OST - Quite nice, but not much to say about it since it's only 16 seconds long.
AST - Sounds more subdued and less forceful than the OST version, for some reason.
7. Queen - RIVAL TEAM BGM
OST - Awesome track. A great blend of guitars, synth and piano, and a great "mysterious" feel to it. It really sounds like it came out of a Castlevania game, but the fast-paced percussion beat means it's very well-suited to KOF.
AST - Better samples help the track somewhat, but it more or less sounds the same as the OST version.
8. Street dancer - FATAL FURY TEAM BGM
OST - Unlike their 2003 BGM, this track sounds MUCH more "Fatal Fury"-ish with its mix of synth melody, slow guitars and piano chords, and really suits the team it's meant for (Terry and Duck, that is...not so much Kim).
AST - Sounds quite similar to the OST version, although - you guessed it - a little more subdued. This is largely because of the more muted guitar backdrop. Still sounds good though.
9. Jack - BURIKI ONE HIDDENS BGM
OST - A fairly straightforward hard rock BGM with some synth mixed in. It's certainly not too shabby, although it could be more interesting.
AST - Mostly the same, but better samples.
10. After a long absence - KYOKUGEN TEAM BGM
OST - Starts out with a nice acoustic guitar riff, then transitions into the traditional synth melody-type Kyokugen Team BGMs that we all know and love. However, it unexpectedly segues into a short, pleasant xylophone/bass interlude before returning to the main chorus. A nice track, but the climax could be more forceful and majestic.
AST - More or less the same track with better samples, but the synth lead sounds downright weird - it has this "rasping" quality to it that doesn't fit with the feel of the track at all.
11. Shiroi Sekai (WHITE WORLD) - MIDBOSS CUTSCENE BGM
OST - A short percussion/chanting interlude. Nothing worth mentioning really.
AST - See OST comments.
12. kiss or poison - MOTW TEAM BGM
OST - Sounds like a theme typical of B. Jenet - an upbeat, happy-sounding theme with a brass section and a piano backup. It doesn't really fit Griffon or Gato, though. A good track, but the brass instruments sound way too "synth-y."
AST - The AST version sounds a LOT better, largely because of the improved instrument samples. Otherwise, no major differences.
13. Smell of Gunpowder - IKARI TEAM BGM
OST - If you're familiar with the Ikari Team themes, you know what to expect, really. Pre, hard rock that starts out slow, but picks up the pace later into the track with a synth/guitar duet. A bit slow to start, but decent nonetheless.
AST - Improved guitar and percussion samples help this track a lot, seeing how it relies so much on them. Definitely sounds a lot better than the OST version.
14. PURE~at good old days~ - PSYCHO SOLDIER TEAM BGM
OST - Starts out like the sugary J-pop the team has become known for in recent years, with a nice mix of synth and piano, but slowly segues into a very majestic, oriental-sounding theme. Great track!
AST - The nice piano chord intro got replaced with synth, and the peaceful-sounding flute-ish instrument got replaced by a guitar. Overall, the track sounds a bit more "edgy." I'm not sure I really like that, although it's not really unpleasant to listen to.
15. King - ADELHEID BGM
OST - Fast-paced synth rock for he who would inherit the mantle of "R". Definitely not a bad track, although a little bland. Also, if you listen carefully you can hear bits of Ketchaku R&D here and there!
AST - The AST version sounds quite a bit more powerful than the OST version, thanks to better guitars. It's still rather bland, though.
16. Secret Circumstances - AGENT TEAM BGM
OST - Starts out sounding like lounge music, then transitions into something you might hear in a James Bond film. an upbeat, mysterious jazzy theme that definitely suits the purpose of the team (they are agents, after all
), and is arranged really well overall. One of my personal favourites.AST - This track improves a LOT on the AST - the improved instrument samples are that good. Sounds really great.
17. Continue
OST/AST - Synth + percussion, nondescript, yadda yadda.
18. Service
OST/AST - See "Continue."
19. Rinrin - ANTI-KYOKUGEN TEAM BGM
OST - A fast-paced blend of strings, percussion and piano. It sounds like something that might have come out of AOF, hence it suits this team really well. The climax with the Indian percussion instruments and string melody is done very well.
AST - The strings on the OST have been replaced by a funny hollow-tube-sounding synth instrument that really kills the feel of the track for me. Quite a shame, because the rest of the track sounds really great.
20. KDD-0075 - K' TEAM BGM
OST - This track is probably the single biggest reason I bought this album. It marks a return to the heavy techno-rock prevalent in early K' team themes. Incredibly catchy melody, a kickass beat, and awesome climax. One of my favourite tracks on the OST!
AST - The AST version, however...ugh. It starts out sounding decent enough, but the percussion is overstated, and the use of guitar as the driving instrument in the melody just doesn't work. I'd take the OST version over this any day.
21. New Order - KYO&IORI TEAM BGM
OST - Another awesome OST track. Addictive beat and catchy guitar riffs make this theme a winner. It even manages to incorporate an Iori-ish saxophone riff, so it definitely suits this otherwise oddball team to a "T."
AST - Another awesome OST track...completely ruined. The percussion has been redone, making the track sound like a cross between hard rock and a Beach Boys song. Even including maracas. It just doesn't work AT ALL, and totally ruins the mood of an awesome OST track.
22. Cha-cha-cha - KIZUNA ENCOUNTER HIDDENS BGM
OST - This track is purportedly straight off the Kizuna OST, and I must say it sounds rather good, with a nice majestic sound to it. I particularly like the string ensemble in the background of the main synth/guitar melody.
AST - Quite similar to the OST version, although the better string and guitar samples help make it quite a bit better. Also, for some reason it's the only track on the AST that actually loops. Uh.
23. Unaru Sekai (The world that roars) - PRE-SHION CUTSCENE BGM
OST/AST - more chanting, yadda yadda.
24. Koubai (Melody of Confrontation) - SHION BGM
OST - A slow rock track (which gradually gets faster) that has a strong Oriental feel to it, due to the use of a shamisen and Japanese percussion instruments. Definitely suits Shion very well, and quite a nice boss BGM.
AST - Better samples, overall better-sounding track. Not many changes otherwise.
25. Yugamu Sekai (The warped world) - PRE-MAGAKI CUTSCENE BGM
OST - This really sounds like it should be in an RPG of some sort. Lots of strings that climb higher and reach a climax, but with a synth bass. Not bad for an interlude, I guess.
AST - Sounds more synth-y than the OST version, but otherwise not much difference.
26. an improvised concerto - MAGAKI BGM
OST - An excellent boss BGM! A pure orchestral instrumental, with a slight Oriental feel to it. It's very powerful and majestic sounding, and very worthy of being the background music to the final battle of the game. Magaki may look like a queer, but his BGM kicks ass.
AST - Better samples obviously make an already great boss track even better. Excellent track.
27. Kakusei (Awakening) - POST-MAGAKI CUTSCENE BGM
OST - Starts out like all the other cutscene BGMs, with heavy piano chords and percussion, but eventually gains a string melody that rises to a climax, with a melancholic piano outro. Pretty damn good for music set to still pictures
AST - Sounds a lot better, simply by virtue of the better-quality sound samples.
28. Ending - Rain
OST - Starts out with a catchy synth riff set to a simple percussion/bass backdrop, but escalates into a cool guitar solo. Nice ending BGM.
AST - The synth has more echo to it, and the better samples make the guitar climax sound really, really cool.
29. Ending - PAO PAO
OST - As you might expect, a piano and organ-heavy theme to reflect the laid-back atmosphere of the Pao Pao Cafe. It works for the ending it's composed for, certainly
AST - The piano sounds a lot better, but other than that, it's more or less the same BGM.
30. Ending - Rest
OST - I swear, this reminds me of an FFVII track. Even more laid back than the previous track, if that's possible. Quite relaxing.
AST - Better samples, yadda yadda.
31. Ending - Conference
OST - A relaxed, somewhat melancholic track with light percussion, synth and piano. Easy on the ears.
AST - Be- eh, you already know what I'm going to say. I think the synth in this version of the track sounds better though.
32. Ending - Worm
OST - An ominous-sounding slow techno BGM. Not much I can say otherwise.
AST - Ditto.
33. Ending - Sky
OST - A peppy ending theme for the team which loves sugary J-pop. Has a very relaxing feel to it, like you're lying on the grass and staring up at the, uh...sky
Although it has some instrumentation problems...AST - ...which are solved by the AST version. Which, for some reason, is a full minute longer than the OST version of the track because it loops.
34. Ending - Agent
OST - A very military-sounding track, which of course entirely suits the team it was composed for.
AST - Sounds quite a bit more powerful than the OST version, which works to its benefit.
35. Ending - Collection
OST - Another nondescript ominous sounding track.
AST - Not much to add, really
36. Ending - Parting
OST - A piano theme with a strings/choral backup and light percussion that segues into a guitar solo outro. I *think* this is from Adelheid's ending, in which case, it works quite well.
AST - New samples, sounds better, you get the picture.
37. SeeYou - CREDITS
OST - Starts off quietly, as a string melody to a piano/percussion backdrop. About halfway through the Indian-style chanting from the interlude BGMs returns, and the mood of the track changes to one sounding somewhat foreboding in nature. Not quite as catchy as Heavens, the 2003 credits BGM.
AST - Better samples improve the track, as usual, but not much else has changed.
Is this album worth a purchase? I won't deny that the KOF XI OST is definitely one of the best in years. However, the short track length and disappointing arranged tracks makes one feel rather shortchanged. This album would have vastly better had it been released as a 4-CD collection rather than just 2, and had more effort been put into the actual rearrangement of the tracks.
FINAL SCORE:
OST: 8.5/10
Overall, there's very little to dislike about the OST, except for the tracks' unfairly short length. It's a solid album, easily the best OST in years.
AST: 7/10
It's "OK," but that's really the problem - nothing really remarkable, and some of the rearrangements are just plain bad.
Overall: 7.5/10
Kickass OST + average AST. There's a lot to like about this collection, but there are things that will annoy you as well.
