Street Fighter Tribute Album :: Review by Z-Freak

	Album Title:	Street Fighter Tribute Album
	Record Label:	Sulepeter
	Catalog Number:	CPCA-1083
	Release Date:	December 17, 2003
	Content:	1 CD - 12 Tracks
	Purchase:	Buy at AnimeNation / Buy at Game Music Online

Overview

Street Fighter II is easily the most popular fighting game of all time. Imagine my surprise when learning the majority of the music was composed by Yôko Shimomura, who has become quite popular at Square, which led me to her discovery in the first place. Eleven years after the Street Fighter II score was created, Shimomura herself took up the task of creating a tribute album while choosing eleven legends of game music to provide the arrangements. She knew exactly who she was dealing with because all arrangers created the perfect arrangements for such a tribute. Let's look at these one by one.

Track-by-Track Reviews

1) Ryu Stage

Takenobu Mitsuyoshi is a former member of Sega's S.S.T. Band, having worked on a variety of scores like Virtua Fighter, Daytona USA, and even Shenmue. His specialty is singing his own vocal in the zaniest Engrish ever heard! The lyrics are very hard to make out on this arrangement, but they make an interesting impression, as Mitsuyoshi mixes his vocals with guitars and Asian percussion instruments. (9/10)

2) Ken Stage

Hiroaki "Maro" Yoshida is one of Data East's famous Gamadelic guitarists, having created scores like Wolf Fang, Dragon Gun, Edward Randy, and Fighter's History to name a few. His arrangement is straightforward with some improvisation for good measure, in which he showcases his mastery of the electric guitar. This is the hardest arrangement on the disc. (10/10)

3) Chun-Li Stage

Ayako Saso, well-known for her contributions to the Street Fighter EX series, Ridge Racer, and more, doesn't hold back with her opportunity to shine through. She successfully mixes various forces, using Chun-Li's voice and a techno beat for rhythmical effect, while some powerful guitar improvisation and the original's oriental melody shines above. She creates a fast-paced track, which creates a lot of tension and excitement. The synth solo halfway through is easily the best feature on this arrangement. (10/10)

4) Guile Stage

Motoaki Furukawa is not only responsible for creating some scores like Gradius, Salamander, and GuitarFreaks, but is also the founder of Konami's Kukeiha Club. With his arrangement, he takes a slightly laid-back approach with his guitar and presents his usual fusion style. The melody may be slower than others, but it still has a feel of excitement and fighting spirit as it progresses. (10/10)

5) Dhalsim Stage

Yôko Shimomura herself joins in the fun and arranges the most mystical theme of them all. Starting off with a female choir, it soon develops to include some Indian percussion use, some flute melodies, and some string samples, which all give an ethereal feel. The rhythm speeds up a little halfway through but the melody remains the same. It offers a new perspective on a classic theme. (10/10)

6) Zangief Stage

Manami Matsumae is accredited to contributing on the early Mega Man games. His arrangement of Zangief shows no signs of any particular musical trait he may be famous for. It's a decent trance arrangement with a slight jazz flavour as brass comes in on some occasions. Unfortunately, I don't see anything that really makes this one stand out from the rest. (7/10)

7) Blanka Stage

Yasunori Mitsuda provides what I believe is his most disappointing arrangement thus far. Being done with a slight electronica flavour, the theme mostly comprises of percussion instruments and a backbeat, which just doesn't do anything for me. The electric guitar solo halfway just does not overwhelm me at all. It's easily the worst track presented here, and it is a shame such a high profile composer couldn't have put more effort in his arrangement. (4/10)

8) E. Honda Stage

Koji Hayama is mostly famous for the Cho Aniki series, and carries some of its traits into this arrangement. The first one is the ability of mixing vocal effects and making them work with the melody. His music's other definitive feature is its particular guitar sound, which even a slightly familiar fan of his works would recognize instantly. The guitar, shamisen, and backbeats blend perfectly as this oriental theme displays the might of E. Honda. This is certainly another favorite of mine. (10/10)

9) M. Bison Stage

Yuzo Koshiro is mostly known for his work on ActRaiser, but there is also Streets of Rage, which is remembered by most fans. This arrangement harkens back to his works of that series. Opening with some sound effects of a player losing, the bell announces the first major section of the track, in which fast turntable effects leads the theme into a classy disco arrangement. The beat is steady and the electronic melody used really gets one into a trance. The second half has a more decisive air to it, as if to convey a 'It's win or lose !!' feel. You could say it even sounds epic in some way, despite being completely electronic-based. A solid arrangement if you can endure the long duration. (10/10)

10) Balrog Stage

Yasuhisa "Yack" Watanabe is a former member of Taito's venerable sound team 'Zuntata'. Having some opportunities to compose for fighting games like Kaiser Knuckle and Fighter's Impact, you can tell he feels right at home with this arrangement. In a clever choice of instruments, the Spanish guitar and accordion take the meat of the melody as some beats act as backing. While this may be the most relaxing arrangement thus far, Yack shows that he can switch a theme with any instrument and make it sound great. I think we have another winner here. (10/10)

11) Sagat Stage

Takayuki "J99" Aihara brings us a stylistic arrangement of "Sagat" here. Like his works on Rave Racer, Victorious Boxers, and even Street Fighter EX, he creates a jazz-inspired piece that simply roars with some of the best brass and guitar out there. You can feel his grandeur when the guitar is featured as the main instrument, while strings and brass support it. Another high point. (10/10)

12) Vega Stage

Shinji "Megaten" Hosoe creates his arrangement of Vega with some percussion instruments, an organ, synth, and a little bit of guitar on the side. The organ and synth work as one, while some choruses show up from time-to-time, only to be swallowed by a nice guitar solo. He displayed these guitar skills on Street Fighter EX and Victorious Boxers most prominently last, so it's really interesting to see Hosoe displaying a little bit of affinity towards rock once in a while in more recent works. (10/10)

Summary

This tribute album may have a few lows, but the good surpasses the bad to the extent that this doesn't matter in the end. It you like arranged albums with variety, you cannot go wrong with this album. Even if you are not a Street Fighter fan, the arrangers have done some quality work and should be heard.