Top 5.....Character Select tunes
Time for my favourite tunes from character select screens. It's hard to think that such a particular type of tunes are important, but they really are - you're going to be at select screen more than any of the game arenas. And really, in 10 years time, it'll be these tunes that you'll listen to and start to have those flooding memories.
Of course these are just my personal favourites, so there will be some glaring omissions like Street Fighter II and Soul Calibur - but I just find those accompanying tunes aren't as awesome or appropriately orchastrated as the following:
5. Tekken 5 or 'THE KING OF IRONFIST TOURNAMENT FIVE!'
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zav6jnhHWvc
Tekken has always had great character select themes - maybe it's because they do it so differently from 'the rest'. Maybe it's because they strum guitars in dark alley ways because it sounds better. Whatever it is, it works, and Tekken 5 is the 2nd best example in the franchise on how to do a character select theme right.
No BS. No Frills. Just rocking hard....well....Tekken. The glamour of the select screen is very well complimented by this fast-paced tune and really performs a musical slap to the face in order to brace yourself against some stranger Asian who's been in the same arcade as you for 4 hours. Yep, this is Tekken alright.
4. Super Smash Bros Melee
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHWrjSRTtes
The original Smash Bros. character select theme also has something special to it, but I found this theme edges for multiple reasons: it's beautifully orchestrated, it's applied to arguably the best game in the series and contains that Nintendo magic of sounding playful, yet great on its own merit - it's hard to describe in words. But as soon as you heard this theme, you know this means Smash Bros time, you know this means Smash parties and you know this means an overly enthusiastic announcer screaming MEEELEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I already have very, very fond memories of this tune. Thankyou HAL!
3. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU5s9oofOVg
Although Deception features a more appropriate and ambient score to its darker and impressive selection cast, it takes too long to ramp up and really unleash those cool beats. But Deadly Alliance doesn't do as much fooling around. It offers that classic MK score but also informs you that this no longer the same MK in the past - things have changed; aspects have been reinvented. And not only does this song tell you that, but it's highly appropriate to a rockin hard cast of characters, and the rebirth or 'modernisation' of a franchise.
2. DBZ: SuperSonic Warriors
song (partially): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWpG5kEnu_U
I couldn't find the actual song (unfortunately), and the vid only offers a snippet of what the song has to off. However this song not only fits so well in the DBZ's soundtrack of awesome and j-pop/rock, but the balance between the tense backing beats and simulated trumpet sounds later on in the song offers a soothing and terribly catchy melody, that doesn't sound like it works for selecting a character, but it somehow does. And it does wonderfully. This song I will particularly remember fondly.
1. Tekken 3 (ARC)
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-fVwzdnEaw
While the PS1 version is also good and fits well into the realm of Tekken, this theme contains more shades of awesome. There is ABSOLUTELY no delay in what the song wants you to hear - the composer knows you'll be selecting your main within 1-3 seconds. But should you take a bit longer, your ears will be feasted by an incredibly up-tempo and addictive riffs that gets you prepped for the fight - YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING SUM TEKKEN, BITCH! THIS IS IT!
If this doesn't get you in the mood for Tekken, with the (mostly) A-list of characters sitting right there for your choosing, then nothing simply will.
Of course these are just my personal favourites, so there will be some glaring omissions like Street Fighter II and Soul Calibur - but I just find those accompanying tunes aren't as awesome or appropriately orchastrated as the following:
5. Tekken 5 or 'THE KING OF IRONFIST TOURNAMENT FIVE!'
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zav6jnhHWvc
Tekken has always had great character select themes - maybe it's because they do it so differently from 'the rest'. Maybe it's because they strum guitars in dark alley ways because it sounds better. Whatever it is, it works, and Tekken 5 is the 2nd best example in the franchise on how to do a character select theme right.
No BS. No Frills. Just rocking hard....well....Tekken. The glamour of the select screen is very well complimented by this fast-paced tune and really performs a musical slap to the face in order to brace yourself against some stranger Asian who's been in the same arcade as you for 4 hours. Yep, this is Tekken alright.
4. Super Smash Bros Melee
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHWrjSRTtes
The original Smash Bros. character select theme also has something special to it, but I found this theme edges for multiple reasons: it's beautifully orchestrated, it's applied to arguably the best game in the series and contains that Nintendo magic of sounding playful, yet great on its own merit - it's hard to describe in words. But as soon as you heard this theme, you know this means Smash Bros time, you know this means Smash parties and you know this means an overly enthusiastic announcer screaming MEEELEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I already have very, very fond memories of this tune. Thankyou HAL!
3. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU5s9oofOVg
Although Deception features a more appropriate and ambient score to its darker and impressive selection cast, it takes too long to ramp up and really unleash those cool beats. But Deadly Alliance doesn't do as much fooling around. It offers that classic MK score but also informs you that this no longer the same MK in the past - things have changed; aspects have been reinvented. And not only does this song tell you that, but it's highly appropriate to a rockin hard cast of characters, and the rebirth or 'modernisation' of a franchise.
2. DBZ: SuperSonic Warriors
song (partially): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWpG5kEnu_U
I couldn't find the actual song (unfortunately), and the vid only offers a snippet of what the song has to off. However this song not only fits so well in the DBZ's soundtrack of awesome and j-pop/rock, but the balance between the tense backing beats and simulated trumpet sounds later on in the song offers a soothing and terribly catchy melody, that doesn't sound like it works for selecting a character, but it somehow does. And it does wonderfully. This song I will particularly remember fondly.
1. Tekken 3 (ARC)
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-fVwzdnEaw
While the PS1 version is also good and fits well into the realm of Tekken, this theme contains more shades of awesome. There is ABSOLUTELY no delay in what the song wants you to hear - the composer knows you'll be selecting your main within 1-3 seconds. But should you take a bit longer, your ears will be feasted by an incredibly up-tempo and addictive riffs that gets you prepped for the fight - YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING SUM TEKKEN, BITCH! THIS IS IT!
If this doesn't get you in the mood for Tekken, with the (mostly) A-list of characters sitting right there for your choosing, then nothing simply will.
Total Comments 9
Comments
-
...isn't that DBZ on the GameBoy Color? Maybe I'm getting them mixed up.
Yeah, I think I'm getting them mixed up.Posted 29-03-2009 at 05:15 PM by Boo! 
-
GBA, Boomeister.
There was DBZ: Legendary Super Warriors on the GBC, but that was more of a roleplaying/strategy game.Posted 29-03-2009 at 06:34 PM by Aladdin Sane
Updated 29-03-2009 at 06:37 PM by Aladdin Sane -
Correct Aladdin, but given the plethora....no, assplosion of DBZ games on handhelds, I can see how you can get mixed up.
I actually just place the gba speaker to my ear, close my eyes, and soak in the character theme - it's so great.
That's normal, right?Posted 30-03-2009 at 09:41 AM by Kabal 
-
A nice list there Kabal, I see the images have been updated :P
I'm not sure what my Top 5 character select tunes would be. It depends on whether I have to limit my selection to fighting games or perhaps bend the rules to include themes from other games like the Combat Simulator menu in Perfect Dark or the Robot Masters / Maverick select screens in the Mega Man series.
Regardless, looking back at my experience with character select screens, there has always been one that IMO that stands out above others. That theme of course was:
SpoilerPosted 30-03-2009 at 12:26 PM by Leon
Updated 30-03-2009 at 12:30 PM by Leon -
Ah, Tekken 3, that was awesome. CHICKEN!
Now I feel like bashing some heads in as King. xDPosted 31-03-2009 at 02:59 PM by ChaosTH
-
Ah, thanks Aladdin, I have Legendary Super Warriors, which is why I was confused (the image didn't load for me).
I like the character select screen from F-Zero X though! :]Posted 31-03-2009 at 04:35 PM by Boo!
-
Cheers for the comments, guys! And great ballad for 'One Must Fall' Leon! I'm actually digging it a lot.
I love the menu/character theme from F-Zero X. It ALMOST makes this list, but I thought it's quite un-fzero-y given its futuristic theme.Posted 02-04-2009 at 09:35 AM by Kabal
Updated 02-04-2009 at 09:38 AM by Kabal -
Needs more Super Mario Bros 2 :P
Posted 13-04-2009 at 02:43 AM by Gookanheimer
-
Always liked Tekken 2 music over Tekken 3.
Posted 06-09-2009 at 09:58 PM by Elena
