Your Top-5 shmup soundtracks

[hwl]

Not necessarily a top five, just 5 memorable ones.

DOJ
Futari
Tatsujin Oh
RF2
Xenon :X

[Volteccer_Jack]

Rayforce (duh)
Ikaruga (also duh)
Donpachi (way better music than the sequels imo)
Battle Bakraid (I've been known to play it just to hear Terrible Object)
Ketsui

Honorable mention to Batrider's "Let Ass Kick Together". And even though I'm sure I'm alone in this, I feel like Biometal's soundtrack really fits the flow of the game.

[astroid]

Crimzon CLOVER
Mushi Futari
DDP DFK
Darius Gaiden
KETSUI

[MX7]

No order:

Dairius Gaiden
Pink Sweets
Recca
Ikaruga
Tatsujin
Mystic Square

That's six, but who cares.

Worst soundtracks:

Every Psikyo game ever
DoDonpachi

[Hagane]

I detest Darius Gaiden's soundtrack; I can't think of a less fitting OST for a shooter.

- Armed Police Batrider
- Undefined Fantastic Object
- Arashi no Progear
- Hellsinker
- Strikers 1945 II

[Deca]

That's what makes it great, the less "fitting" it is the more it stands out and makes for an interesting experience. Playing through Darius Gaiden is like sitting through a Zuntata concert, it's fantastic.

[dunpeal2064]

Ketsui
Battle Garegga
Flying Shark
DDP-DFK BL
DDP DOJ

Wow, 4 out of 5 of those would also be on my list. Although I think I prefer the DOJ arrange tracks (were these used for Black Label? Its what I had running for it in the BLEX port)

I haven't heard enough of Flying Shark's tunes, only made it to stage 2 so far I love Toaplan's music, but haven't heard enough of it to pick a favorite.

[EmperorIng]

The way OGR works is that when he goes for a soundtrack he tries to have the songs molded around a certain theme or keyword (for Darius II, it was "Bible," interestingly enough; for G-Darius, it was "Chimera.").

Darius Gaiden's score is very unconventional (which, as mentioned, is partly why it is so memorable) but it elevates the mood and really adds a certain bizarre surreal atmosphere to the entire proceeding. Especially the melancholy final level/boss theme, SELF - which along with Kimera II is my favorite OGR composition. It lends a weight to the entire encounter[s] that just would not be there otherwise if it was a more conventional soundtrack.

[emphatic]

I haven't heard enough of Flying Shark's tunes, only made it to stage 2 so far I love Toaplan's music, but haven't heard enough of it to pick a favorite.

My personal fave of the Flying Shark tunes is the last stage. It starts all moody and just fits the scenery really well. And then...

[Hagane]

I don't get the "it's good because it's unconventional" argument. If I'm going through a tension filled segment of the game such as a boss battle, I'd expect a theme that conveys tension, terror, badassery, action (something Raizing did masterfully most of the time) or something on those lines, not something completely detached from what's going on screen.

[End of Darius Gaiden music hate]

[moh]

HAS NOBODY MENTIONED SDOJ?

HOLY SHIT THAT ALBUM GETS ME WET.

[lilmanjs]

Under Defeat (especially the extended tracks versions)
psyvariar 2
Border Down
Viper Phase 1
Hotdog Storm

[KAI]

[End of Darius Gaiden music hate]

Close your eyes, Close your head.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

5: Xenon II
4: Apidya
3: X-Out C64
2: R-Type C64
1: Warhawk Atari 2600

[DJ Incompetent]

1.
Symphony
Gradius V
Bullet Soul
DeathSmiles
Gradius 3
5.
Battle Garegga
G-Darius
Ketsui
Raiden 4
Space Invaders Infinity Gene


Using MX7 rules. Seconded on Psikyo.

[Pulsewidth]

1. Battle Garegga
2. Ketsui
3. DDP DOJ
4. Darius Gaiden
5. Einhander

[ZacharyB]

Border Down - So many styles and moods.
Darius Gaiden - Haunting.
Radiant Silvergun - The music really aids in telling the story.
Einhänder - A piece of music for every occasion.
Mushihimesama - The driving beat and instrumentation is perfect for the game's theme.

My personal favorites:
Gradius V
Kenta Cho's works
Everyday Shooter
XOP
Raiden Fighters 2

[Klatrymadon]

Metal Black (Sorry - the crushing inevitability of that one made me groan.)
Darius*
Shippu Mahou Daisakusen (Can I cheat and have the full series?)
X-Multiply
Nemesis 2

These are just the first that spring to mind, and will doubtless seem like a bizarre selection if I see them again tomorrow. Hell, I'm already wondering where R-Type Delta is, and Darius and Nem 2 could easily be substituted for a good deal of other games in their respective series.

*As much as I love them, it isn't really the fan favourites that make this soundtrack so special, for me. It's all the weird and mysterious ones, and the panicky battle themes with strange time signatures, etc. Chaos, The Sea, all of the Boss Scene pieces...

[ProcoTaito]

I would have to say....

1. G-Darius (Zuntata is like gods making music)
2. Dariusburst / AC
3. Eschatos (My personal favorite from 2011, really catchy tracks!)
4. Einhander
5. Gradius V (Because I really like Hitoshi Sakimoto)

Plus, a quick mention to R-Type Final for having a very interesting atmospheric soundtrack.
That and I love pretty much anything that comes from Manabu Namiki.

Oddly enough, my absolute favorite composer of all time is actually Shinji Hosoe.
Except he didn't really write anything in the Shmups category that I found would make this top 5 list.
If we branched out beyond Shmups, then I would be talking A LOT about the Ridge Racer series.
That's for another time though.

But I would say those would be it for me.
I am a Darius guy though, so.... you know

[xbl0x180]

Damn it! How the hell did I forget Ikaruga?!

[KAI]

Oddly enough, my absolute favorite composer of all time is actually Shinji Hosoe.

You are not alone.

[louisg]

- Darius Gaiden (explained below)

- Battle Squadron - Great hummable chiptune grooves. And how about that solo on the title screen? It's worth it just for that.

- Metal Black - Very creative (as is DG). I like the Morricone-inspired track, the stage 2 theme which is just straight out jazz riffage, and the overall mood all of this creates.

- Any 16-bit era Technosoft soundtrack. No explanation needed

- Under Defeat arrange - Good songs, intelligently written, made better by great guitar shredding.

... kinda want to add Lethal Xcess (Amiga) and Hybris onto this list too Both are pretty damn groovy. RayForce has some standout tracks too. And I'll be damned if I don't feel like humming along to Fire Shark. And you know which one hasn't come up much? Omega Five. THAT's some good music.

I don't get the Darius Gaiden hate. It's a great, dreamy, dramatic, surreal soundtrack for a dreamy, dramatic, and surreal game. And I love how the st1 music stretches across 2 stages. It seems actually generally well-timed with how it synchs up with the gameplay. Not everything can be constant timpani rolls, and cymbal crashes! And I can only take so much generic by-the-numbers trance before I'm ready to freakin' explode.

I'm surprised I don't see any mention of Sol Deace. That's some good stuff!

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Metal Black
Ikaruga
Mushihimesama 1
Gradius V
Darius Burst

[Giest118]

Every DoDonPachi game other than DonPachi.

Also Mushihimesama Futari.

Special mention goes to the smartphone-specific tracks in Daifukkatsu.

[cj iwakura]

Oddly enough, my absolute favorite composer of all time is actually Shinji Hosoe.

You are not alone.

You'd love 999.

[Rupert H]

Metal Black
G Darius
Darius Gaiden
Einhander
Border Down

You have impeccable taste. I'd have a hard time not having all of those in my top five.

[KAI]

You'd love 999.

Actually, that's one of my less favorite soundtracks, I prefer Hosoe's Electonica/Techno fusions and Electronic rock compositions (Like the SFEX series)

I'm sure his music on Ginga Force will be the shit, can't wait hear it.

[Cagar]

1-5 Dodonpachi Saidaioujou

OMFG IT'S DUBSTEP
No it's not, and even if it was, it wouldn't make the soundtrack any worse JUST BECAUSE IT'S MAINSTREAM.
Stages 3-5 are fantastic, just don't keep your bass-volume too high and you'll notice it's the same old, but better than ever, Manabu.

[Chirpy13]

.

[RaidenViper]

My 5 favorite soundtracks:
(no order)

Eschatos
Gradius III (arcade)
Fast Striker
Pink Sweets
Thunder Force III (MD)

5 honorable mentions:

G-Darius
Thunder Force V
Winds of Thunder
Nexzr
And:

Worst soundtracks:
DoDonpachi