Haven't played the actual game yet, but aside from the visuals and aesthetics in presentation which received a MASSIVE overhaul. It has a completely new soundtrack. None of the old original themes are used AT ALL. Don't have any soundtrack rips (but there IS an OST out), but there are some full videos showcasing the themes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjFkCkzcpYg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMjjljZAZJY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKNsiiGQhpY

There's a new Esaka!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyUf9B5v2mU

And a new Psycho Soldier rendition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4RK4c0T4_A

The surprising thing is, according to the credits, there's a new team of 4 composers that I don't recognize. Anyone? They're Twofive, Yasafumi Fukuda, Makoto Asai, and Teruo Konishi.

And on a related note, there's been no clear videos showing the music yet, but a video of the credits confirms SNK is in top form doing the XII Soundtrack: Sha-V, Tate-Norio and Usako X (all from the SGZ)

Don't tease! I just checked the vid and it says "Yasufumi Fukuda" (6:21). But, Takada or not, that soundtrack sounds hot.

GAH! I'm so so sorry. I SWEAR that was an unintentional mispelling. I didn't even know who he was until I googled the name, I KID YOU NOT!

Maybe since I enjoyed No More Heroes, it was a Freudian slip? That was one hell of a coincidental typo. Anyway, post has been fixed. Sorry about that.

Still, you have to wonder what he'd come up with for a fighter.

Hmm, well after watching the vids with the Esaka and Psycho Soldier BGMs, which are among my favorites for the KOF series, it's what I'd expect from them, but they didn't blow me away or anything (which is what I'd HOPE for).

The main melody line isn't as much "out in front" (in your face) as I'd like, leaving plenty of room to go totally balls out and I'd really like them to just ROCK THE F--K OUT!!   

Take the instruments from Lord of Vermillion and then play KOF music with them please.

Samples up at Amazon JP:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/KING-FIGHTER-UN … 662&sr=8-1

Considering how universally shunned the KOF 2001 and 2002 OST's are even by fans of SNK music, that doesn't sound too bad. 2002's original soundtrack reused a lot of themes anyway, so a new soundtrack is probably a good thing. However, there are quite a few remakes on here, so this isn't completely new...Desert Requiem, Art of Fight, Esaka !! (which is based on Esaka?), KD-0079 and In Spite of One's Age are all series staples.

Can't wait for XII's OST.

Yeah too true. I was actually thinking they were going to do something akin to the NESTS Collection and actually arrange the original music (2001 Actually sounded decent. Still the worst in the series, but decent)'

And wow at those samples. Thanks! Can't wait for my OST to arrive. There's definitely a slightly different feel to the soundtrack, kind of like the MI games. But unlike MI which was slower paced and more ambient, I feel these are much closer to original KoF compositions.

OK, listening to the CD release now and yes it does sufficiently rock.
I retract my earlier statement.