In case you haven’t noticed, Street Fighter IV launched this week to great jubilation. Being a huge SF fan, I had been anxiously awaiting the game for quite some time, and I was not disappointed. The gameplay is superb, the characters are true to form, and the online competition is some of the fiercest I’ve ever seen on Xbox Live. I soon found myself focusing on the soundtrack (duh), and I found that the new original tracks for the new stages are as good as the remixed tracks from some of the classic SF tunes.
Classic SF tunes…that gives me an idea!!!
If you’re like me, Street Fighter has been part of your gaming life since you started. I was given a Super Nintendo when I was 5 years old, and Street Fighter II was one of the games that was sitting underneath the Christmas tree with it. As often as the characters and the fighting comes to mind, you know a Street Fighter stage theme when you hear one. I’ve decided that this week’s column should be devoted to the Sounds of Street Fighters, from the music to the memorable quotes and yells. Enjoy.
Guile Stage
I used to love fighting Guile, his stage was amazing. A bunch of random fighter pilots not in the air sit around the airfield and get to watch their boy Guile do battle with whoever strayed his way, all in the shadow of a F-14 fighter jet. The tune that accompanied the stage was an upbeat, rocking tune, easily comparable to an American rock band. This is easily one of the most recognizeable songs from my childhood, hands down.
M. Bison Theme (Vega to all you Japanese players)
That damn bell haunted my dreams for months as a child. I could always get to Bison with my beloved Dhalsim (yep, Dhalsim) in no time, but I could never finish the job. He would jump in, sweep under my Yoga Fire, then throw me as soon as I got up. I can’t even tell you how many Psycho Crushers I felt after a jump. This song is perfect for the final match in the game, as the driving beat and the bell rings set the tone (no pun intended) for a grueling match.
Zangief Ending
Just watch it. The song at the end, and what the characters are doing on screeen during that song, make the best ending in Street Fighter II. Quick fact: The game was only out for nine months when the USSR fell. It took nine months for this ending to become outdated, but who cares? It’s awesome.
Ken’s Theme and Sound Effects
One of the iconic Street Fighter anthems, this theme serves as the backdrop for anyone facing the blond-haired American Shotokan, Ken. This is a hard-rocking tune that was perfect for a fight. A couple of my friends growing up would only fight at Ken’s stage, so this song is synonymous with a lot of wins and losses during sleep-overs and days after school. This is another classic SF tune, but it isn’t the one, the song that everyone knows as soon as they hear it. That title belongs to…
Ryu Theme
Any who hears this immediately thinks Street Fighter. And why shouldn’t they? This is the theme song to the most recognizable and iconic street fighter there is. Ryu has become the face of the franchise; everyone knows who he is and where he’s from. Any time I hear this song, I picture him sitting atop his dojo and waiting for the next fighter to challenge him. They don’t make characters like Ryu anymore, guys who just fight because they love it and strive to get better, just so they can keep fighting. This is the Street Fighter song, without question.
Wasn’t that a great walk down memory lane? Street Fighter holds a special place in my gaming heart and always will, as it was the first game that I truly played non-stop for an extended period of time. All of the music is terrific, even the ones I left out, and the one-on-one fighting style that the game employs is one of those "easy to learn, hard to master" types. Enjoy your Street Fighter IV everyone out there in GamerNodeLand, I know I will be. If you want a challenge, hit up BigManFanelli. I’ll gladly take you on.
That’s all for this week, but remember always:
Keep listening. You’ll never know what you’re missing if you don’t.
SHORYUKEN!
