I've been on a fighting-game OST kick lately.

It started when I bought Star Gladiator for the PS1 to get the redbook audio then I bought the arcade soundtrack of that and topped it off with Star Gladiator 2.

I wanted more music from Takayuki Iwai since Star Gladiator 2's music is better than I gave it credit for back when I owned the game. Really lackluster sequel IMO, but I probably like the original game too much. Anyway, I went and got the Street Fighter Zero 3 soundtrack since it has both Iwai's and the last time I visited the whole thing was a decade ago.

I see how SFZ3 could rub someone the wrong way since it has no reprises of classic themes. I like Alpha 2's music myself, but I like the music from the somewhat poor SNES port since I grew up with it. That said, I like how alpha 3 does it own thing. There were always tracks I liked and it's growing on me.

However, for some reason (I'm not sure why) this lead me to look up Marvel Super Heroes music on Youtube and the music just hit me upside the head. How did I forget about this one? I absolutely adore Spidy's theme (I'll always associate that piece of music w/Spider Man) and I was really caught off guard when I saw who wrote this. Additionally, it sounds great despite the limits of the QSound technology.

Are there any other fighting games either Iwai had a hand in? I'm guessing they were responsible for most of the VS's spinoffs?

Can't really speak much for the SF Zero series of music, they just functioned as background music for me. But as far as old fighting game music go, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (the middle one between X-Men vs SF and M vs Capcom) is one of my personal favourites. What Daisuke Ishiwatari did for Guilty Gear (1), Yuki Iwai and Yuko Kadota did for MSH vs. SF: express the Marvel characters' personalities within their themes. Captain America's theme has a suitably heroic feeling. Cyclops is similar but more subdued. From the opening piano notes, Wolverine's is tinged with sadness. Solid themes all round, including the Capcom characters. The fact that most of the songs are rockin' with guitars helps. Wolverine and the Hidden Character theme (this one is basically metal) are favs. Marvel vs. Capcom was good too but Iwai doesn't seem to be involved so I'll refrain from commeting on this one. Also, didn't even realise there were two Iwais until you mentioned it.

Also, I'm going to cheat a bit and mention another "Iwai": Hiroyuki Iwatsuki and his Shin Kidou Senki Gundam W: Endless Duel. Not only a (way) above average licensed anime game (a versus fighter) but one that has a top notch soundtrack to go with it too. This the same guy who composed for the Super Famicom Japanese-made Power Ranger games. Interestingly enough, above average too (soundtrack + game itself).

It's funny you mention Wolverine's theme. That's the theme in MSH I have have the most problems with. It's not bad by any means, it just feels a bit weird to me. Still. I'll have to check out MSH vs SF if Yuko Kadota's involved, thanks.

Funny you bring this up. I already know about this one. That character select theme alone is gold.

Wolverine's Theme in MSH Vs SF always stood out to me in contrast to other themes in the same way EX+a did with Guile's/Allen's Theme (Strange Sunset). It's got a latin-jazz tinge with the percussions, definitely sad, written for guitar and a synth saxophone at the end. Capcom's VS fighters really needed a "battle arrange" treatment to bring them alive.