One of the biggest things to look forward to in Guilty Gear Strive when there’s a new character is the inevitable banger that is their theme song, as was the case with returning fan-favorite, Baiken.

Now, the Guilty Gear Strive soundtrack has always contained a broad spectrum of character themes, from the bright and bubbly Disaster of Passion (May’s Theme), the prog rock banger Necessary Discrepancy (Ramlethal) to the literally-a-Queen-song Let Me Carve Your Way (Zato-1).

After the reveal of Baiken and her theme for Guilty Gear Strive last week, you might have noticed some sick chanting at the start of the song. It’s not just any chanting- it’s a Mantra called the Mantra of Light.

The Mantra is used by Shingon and Kegon sects of Buddhism, and is taken from the Sutra of the Mantra of the Unfailing Rope Snare of the Buddha Vairocana’s Great Baptism.

Professor Mark Unno translates the Mantra as follows:

Praise be to the flawless, all-pervasive illumination of the great mudra [or seal of the Buddha ]. Turn over to me the jewel, lotus and radiant light.

Guilty Gear Strive places a lot more focus on vocal themes compared to its predecessors- these songs are used as character pieces, letting you know where these characters are without having to play the game’s story mode.

In the case of Baiken, her theme music deals with her troubled past- dealing with the fact Japan was reduced to a crater, the death of her people and her  quest for revenge against That Man, the mantra is played and then immediately rebuked by the rest of the song’s lyrics which paint the portrait of someone definitely not dealing with it.

It also deals with another implication: that giving your character badass monk chanting in their theme is a good way to make an absolute banger, especially when paired with a Shamisen solo.

Guilty Gear Strive

Publisher: Arc System Works

Developer: Arc System Works

Release Date: 2021-06-11

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam

Experience the thrill of battle with the in-depth mechanics and gorgeous animations of Guilty Gear -Strive-, the latest entry in the cutting edge Guilty Gear series! - Graphics so stunning they look like hand-drawn animation! Graphical advances make for a game so beautiful it could be mistaken for hand-drawn animation. The new generation of graphics are a delight for the eyes down to the tiniest detail! - The cutting edge of the fighting game genre! We set out with the goal to innovate the fighting game genre with this title. This game appeals to a wider audience, while maintaining the deep game mechanics that define the Guilty Gear series. The complex mechanics such as the dramatic new wall break system create opportunities for the mind games associated with fighting games. One clash after the next tells a story unique to each battle! - Their fates come to a conclusion! The story of Guilty Gear has been told over more than 20 years. At long last, each character's fate comes to a conclusion! What shocking truth awaits them? Content of the Ultimate Edition : - Guilty Gear -Strive- - Guilty Gear -Strive- : Season Pass 1 - Guilty Gear -Strive- : Soundtrack and Artbook - Guilty Gear -Strive- : Ultimate Edition Special Colours