What if Mick Gordon did Season 3's/3.5's soundtrack? What would his version sound like?

General Discussion
,
1

We all know Mick Gordon did a fantastic job with Killer Instinct Season 1 and Season 2, even allowing himself to make one final secret song via Herald of Gargos’ epiologue. Which sorta felt like his farewell song given how melancholy it was.

But I always wondered, what would Mick Gordon’s version of Season 3 sound like?

How different would’ve he made Tusk’s, Kim Wu, Mira, Rash, General Raam, Arbiter, Gargos, Eyedol-etc themes and so on compared to Celldweller and Atlas Plug’s versions? This mystery always fascinated me as we’ll never truly know.

If he did work on Season 3’s OST, do you think it would sound Any different than what we currently have? What direction would he take for the characters?

FURTHER MORE, What would’ve happened if Atlas Plug and Celldweller did Season 1 and 2 soundtrack also? What would their version of Jago or Fulgore’s theme sound like? Among other characters like Orchid, Thunder TJ Combo or Spinal?

Ngl would’ve been cool if they added something like that as a “Every character gets TWO theme songs: one by Mick the other by AP&CD.” Really making good use of the “Chararcter Theme Selector” during Stage Select.

Idk guys, this question seems to bother me latley, as I am very curious what differences the two groups would make compared to eachother.

Frankly I love both soundtracks, but it does make me wonder….. @UltraSupport @Fwufikins @KevBones10 @SkullBangaXB @UltraZeroX7 @Bodiedbykim @Iago407 @Evolution @G1GlaciusPrime @Kanae_Uzumaki

(Tagging some other past forum users simply to hear their input on the subject. If they ever return to this site.)

2

It is a good question in terms of how Mick would have done 3 and 3.5. I’d love to see two tracks for all the characters by both him, Atlas Plug and Celldweller, although in the case of Riptor and ARIA, I’d rather see better versions of those, the former especially since that had been rushed.

Tusk, personally I’d like to think it would be his classic KI2 theme, but orchestral and with lyrics added to the KI2 theme.

Imagine this, but with a Viking choir:

Eyedol, I really like what was done for his theme with the 80s synth.

Gargos’ theme, Mick kind of did it in Omen’s theme, which was awesome, but I would have loved to have heard his take. Gargos’ Season 3 theme, while technically was a remix of his KI2 theme, it felt waaaay too fast and rushed, not as menacing as it could have been. Maybe more of a horror influence perhaps? I mean, this is Gargos we’re talking about, this scary powerful big boss.

Kim Wu’s, not a bad remix of her KI2 theme imo. Maybe some influence or inspiration could have been taken from the Akira soundtrack, if not “Ghost In The Shell”?

I think one of my misgivings with the 2013 game is, it doesn’t lean into the cyberpunk dystopian aspect as much as it could have imo. I mean, you can find traces of it in places, but at the same time, it felt very much like an alternate universe take on the modern world with some suggestions of cyberpunk dystopia.

Mira’s theme was okay, but I think more could have been done to convey the fact she was Maya’s corrupted sister imo. It was interesting hearing some of the Russian influences in the song such as Shostakovich, but Mira as a character is South American, so, in theory, that aspect should have been present in the song imo.

Eagle’s okay.

1 Like
3

I will admit, though I do like Season 3’s ost, something definitely feels missing compared to Season 1 and 2. Not sure what specifically that would be, but it’s one of those instances where you can just tell it’s made by two different people, if that makes sense.

Season 1/2 were more heavy and raw sounding. Something I never heard before prior to KI2013 when it comes to fighting game OSTs. Meanwhile Season 3 feels a little more formulaic by comparison. Clearly using Mick’s template (Intro, high combo, idle theme, danger theme) but just missing something extra to make it “perfect”.

Now yes, Riptor’s theme is a blacksheep given a rushed deadline. So I’ll agree that should’ve been more distinct, as really it’s just background noise. (And the Killer Cuts version wipes out most of the fun parts of the song so it ends up feeling even more hollow. Very disappointing compared to KI1’s Rumble)

Aria’s though I didn’t mind it that much. And I usually DESPISE DubStep in general, so If I think it sounds good that’s gotta count for something. It Fits her character.

Now Tusk’s is the major factor in this, because I thought his theme Watchman of the Gods was pretty ■■■■ good! The viking choir and overall guitar shreds really made it a fun song to listen to.

But thats really what spanwed this post. After watching Atlas Plug and Celldweller’s Behind the Scenes video of the soundtrack, the guys know their stuff. So I’m not trying discredit any of their work. However, I am morbidly curious how Mick’s version would’ve been handled, given he may had different ideas for it. Like you said, using more of the old-school KI2 Tusk theme (Kinda like Inferno) rather than just having it be a reference for the idle theme.

I mean this the same guy who flew to Tibet to learn tibetan throat singing for Jago’s theme, or surrounding a bunch of metal singers with skulls and fake blood for Doom Eternal’s OST, that type of dedication is what I’m referring to mostly. Or less we forget, Spinal’s “Singers from around the world” choir using real leg bone flutes for Warlord.

All in all, It’s just a fascinating thing to wonder about, and it pains me to think we may never know how he would handle it.

1 Like
4

I think S3 might have been less diverse music-wise in some aspects? There’s been a consistent use of certain instruments compared to previous seasons.

“Rumble” is my favorite track in KI1 along with “Full-bore”, “Trailblazer” and “Do It Now”. Even to this day, that song still slaps.

I don’t mind the idea of dubstep being her theme, or synth or something electronic, but given the fact her name is ARIA, one would have thought we’d get to hear an actual aria in her own theme song.

“Now Tusk’s is the major factor in this, because I thought his theme Watchman of the Gods was pretty ■■■■ good! The viking choir and overall guitar shreds really made it a fun song to listen to.”

Oh yeah, I thought it was good as well.

Just to correct you, Mick didn’t fly to Tibet to learn throat-singing. He went to a Buddhist temple in Australia. I mean, as cool as the former scenario would have been, it wouldn’t have been feasible for a variety of reasons, especially since the messy business with China.

Here’s hoping Mick returns! :slight_smile:

5

Strange, could’ve sworn it was the other way around. I just remember him showing how he was able to do throat singing via one of the mini documentaries he did for KI.

That may be a possibility. I noticed they used a simmilar vibe for most of S3’s tracks, which admittedly makes them sound same-y (Kilgore and General Raam come to mind.)

But again you also get tracks like Champion of Sanghelios and Enter the Battletoad, so it’s sorta a mixed bag imo.

Guess it’s sorta how KI1 had distinct songs that were molded for a CD album, like Way You Move ir Lets Do It Now having each track sound appropriate to match it, with heavilymodified versions of the ingame tunes, meanwhile KI2 was strictly “in game audio” Give or take the Jago Shakuhachi remix ofc.

Idk, just something I noticed looking back at it.

1 Like
6

Oh yeah, he definitely showed how he did the throat-singing in the documentaries, but the stuff about him travelling all the way to Tibet was mistaken information.

1 Like
7

Well my 2026 is ruined lol.

17691301240686364812014684051042
17691301240686364812014684051042458×436 62.2 KB
1 Like
8

In terms of Gargos’ theme, because he was the Tiger Spirit, I think it would have been interesting to have something like the Heart Sutra or something used for his theme, kind of like what had been done for Ghidorah’s theme here: