Japanese "video game metal" music

[dogman91]

Not Japanese, but my favorite music in this regard is Killer Instinct! Also, F-Zero X.

[dogman91]

Thought of another nomination... the Boss Fight music from Monster Lair for the Turbografx-CD!
Thanks to Game Sack btw for me discovering this game!
Plus there's this catchy song from the game I'll throw in for a honorable mention (not metal... lol)

Plus... another Rare metal-esque track... the final boss battle for Donkey Kong Country 1! (not Japanese either! sorry!)
edit: More Rareware: Battletoads Arcade Stage 1

[Menegrothx]

Yeah that 1:15-> part in the DKC final boss music is one of the songs I thought of mentioning while I wrote my original post

[AppleQueso]

Pretty sure the Guilty Gear stuff uses actual recorded instruments, not programming.

Could be off, but I believe Guilty Gear X was synth, and XX (and after) were actual recordings.

Yeah but he specifically posted GGXX songs.

idk I think you could probably remove the programmed/sequenced requirement entirely, just specify that it must be original music unique to the game (so no licensed tracks).

[J T]

The first thing that jumped to mind was the opening to Tales of the Abyss. I've linked to the Japanese version because it doesn't have the vocals stripped out. It's a very catchy song. The track is called "Karma" and it's by a Japanese rock band called Bump of Chicken. If you like this style, their other music is worth checking out.

[J T]

Silver Surfer. Tim Follin rocks your face off.

Hell yeah he does! Anyone that can make Pictionary seem this exciting is a musical mastermind.

[brunoafh]

Speaking of Ishiwatari and GG music being awesome, awhile ago I found out that the Korean version of GG XX #Reload has an entirely different soundtrack with new themes for everyone. As expected, it's really good. You guys should check some of it out if you're into GG music. You can find stuff on YT by just searching "guilty gear korean ost" or something similar.

Slayer's Theme
Chip's Theme
I-no's Theme
Ky's Theme

I don't think it's Ishiwatari's work though. I could be wrong, but it doesn't sound like him to me.

[Sarge]

Castlevania tunes tend to go to rock quite well. See the Dracula Battle CDs and the countless remixes.

Also, Hard Corps: Uprising has a soundtrack done by the same guys that did Guilty Gear, so it's worth checking out. (The game is pretty spiffy, too.)

EDIT: And yes to Silver Surfer. Those tunes are absolutely amazing, and I'm still waiting for a decent cover or remix of those tunes. There's a version that I can hear in my head, but I have no musical skills to make it so.

[dogman91]

Tim Follin is flat-out awesome.

Btw, more (hair) metal: Cadillacs and Dinosaurs by Capcom

and this is just bad-ass:

[Menegrothx]

Tales of Symphonia Battle Theme "Full Force"