Awesome shmup themes

[AxelMill]

Spoiler

This is a topic that has been sort of made before, with the one about favorite OSTs, but hey, you can't get enough of good music.
So, what are your favorite shmup themes? Please, share it with us, and post a link of it if you want.

I'll start this off with DariusBurst's World of Spirit. Of course it would be a Darius song.
While in some other themes of the game the singer weirds me out, namely Iron Corridor, I really, really enjoyed this one's "vocals", especially during the second part.
That's what I also like: like with Say PaPa and Visionnerz before, and Suite Photoconductivity later, this one also plays both during the stage and the boss. And when Gluttons or Knives approach, that's when it gets really epic.

Ignore this post and jump down to Durandal's.

[Skykid]

is "musics" a word?

[Stevens]

Allow me to direct you here -

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... aring+game

d3vak also made the tracks in that thread into a youtube playlist.

[AxelMill]

is "musics" a word?

Ugh. That's why I always use themes.

Allow me to direct you here -

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... aring+game

d3vak also made the tracks in that thread into a youtube playlist.

Oh. I knew there would be an identical topic somewhere. My research was just not enough.

Then we'll let this one slowly fade into oblivion, unless there's a way to delete it.

[Durandal]

On the other hand, what would you guys consider
Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle:
Your favourite First Stage theme:
Your favourite Stage theme:
Your favourite Last Stage theme:
Your favourite Boss theme:
Your favourite Stage Clear theme:
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss):
Your favourite menu/intro theme:
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme:

For me it'd be
Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle: the Darius 1 jingle
Your favourite First Stage theme: Soukyugurentai/Terra Diver - Above Ota City
Your favourite general Stage theme: Thunder Force IV - Metal Squad
Your favourite Last Stage theme: Battle Garegga - Marginal Consciousness
Your favourite Boss theme: Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi - DARKENED
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: G-Darius - One Down
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): Darius Gaiden - SELF
Your favourite menu/intro theme: Dodonpachi Daioujou - Bukei
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: G-Darius - Network

[Squire Grooktook]

Garegga is my favorite insert coin theme for sure.

[Mr Halibut]

L33t insert coin sounds:
- Nemesis/Gradius
- Commando
- Kung Fu Master, even though it isn't a shmup

[Xyga]

Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle: DFKBL
Your favourite First Stage theme: Nexzr -> Still goosebumps after all those years. You don't beat that one. You don't.
Your favourite Stage theme: MMP Arrange stage 4 *oink* -> anyone who's got a link to that one (music only) please share! it's not youtubed or anything apparently.
Your favourite Last Stage theme: Thunder Force III
Your favourite Boss theme: Stab and Stomp (Garegga)
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: Dimahoo
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): for the too few I met; never payed attention to the music lol)
Your favourite menu/intro theme: Garegga
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: For the Love Of (MUSHA)

[CloudyMusic]

Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle: Gradius
Your favourite First Stage theme: Ketsui (EXTRA version)
Your favourite Stage theme: Armed Police Batrider highway stage
Your favourite Last Stage theme: Battle Garegga stage 7
Your favourite Boss theme: Armed Police Batrider air boss
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: Muchi Muchi Pork
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): Ketsui (EXTRA version)
Your favourite menu/intro theme: DFKBL
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: DFKBL

[Shepardus]

On the other hand, what would you guys consider
Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle:
Your favourite First Stage theme:
Your favourite Stage theme:
Your favourite Last Stage theme:
Your favourite Boss theme:
Your favourite Stage Clear theme:
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss):
Your favourite menu/intro theme:
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme:

I don't think I can say any of these for sure except the first stage theme and ending/ranking theme. The ones with the most to choose from (stage theme, boss theme) are hardest to choose from, and so is last stage theme because so many games pull out all their stops for the last stage.

Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle: On Standby (Rayforce) (this video doesn't include the actual insert coin sound though, and most games don't have a separate theme playing between inserting a coin and pressing start like Rayforce does)
Your favourite First Stage theme: Planet the E.A.R.T.H (Cho Ren Sha 68k)
Your favourite Stage theme: EVAC INDUSTRY - Judgement Day (Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi) (this is also a last-stage theme but I couldn't choose just one for that)
Your favourite Last Stage theme: All or Nothing (Cho Ren Sha 68k)
Your favourite Boss theme: Satori Maiden ~ 3rd Eye (Touhou 11 - Subterranean Animism)
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: Induction (Darius Gaiden)
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): Cookin' on the Hell (Cho Ren Sha 68k)
Your favourite menu/intro theme: Tengu's Notebook ~ Mysterious Note (Touhou 9.5 - Shoot the Bullet)
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: We Love the E.A.R.T.H (Cho Ren Sha 68k)

I swear I didn't mean to put Cho Ren Sha 68k for so many of these...

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

My favorite Coin Inserted jingle: Raiden II/DX
My favorite First Stage theme: Ashura Blaster- Take Off/Stage 1
My favorite Stage theme: Raiden III- Dawn of Sorrow
My favorite Last Stage theme: Gun Frontier- Yunfore (I consider this the final stage because the next one is basically just the final boss)
My favorite Boss theme: DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu- Longhena Cantata
My favorite Stage Clear theme: Ketsui- Breakthru
My favorite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): RefleX- Final Hour
My favorite menu theme: Lightning Fighter 2- Main Menu Theme (ends at 0:59)
My favorite intro theme: Sonic Wings 3- Illusion
My favorite ending theme: DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu- Who Decided About "Dying Peacefully"?
My favorite ranking theme: Raiden II- Name Entry

[chum]

Your favourite First Stage theme: Paleozoic Era, Dragon Spirit
Your favourite Stage theme: Stage 6, Rocket Knight Adventures
Your favourite Last Stage theme: Ultimate Truth, Perfect Cherry Blossom
Your favourite Boss theme: Retrospective Kyoto, Shoot the Bullet
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: I can't think an outstanding one so im gonna cheat
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): Cosmic Mind, UFO
Your favourite menu/intro theme: Shippu Mahou Daisakusen
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: Ripple no theme 2, Magical Chase

[Hagane]

- Favourite First Stage theme: Showtime - Ibara

Yeah, Stratovarius ripoff but still really good.

- Favourite Stage theme: Battle of Extreme North - Strikers 1945 II

Amazing composition despite the awful sound chip.

- Favourite Last Stage theme: Grave of being - Mountain of Faith

Probably my favorite STG theme, it's so great that makes the final boss theme sound rather plain in comparison.

- Favourite Boss theme: The Genius of Battle - Great Mahou Daisakusen

Boss battle, the theme. Raizing were masters at choosing the right themes for the right moments.

- Favourite TLB theme: Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind - UFO

Had a hard time with this, there aren't many final boss themes I really like. Chum made me remember this one, so I'll second his choice.

- Favourite menu/intro theme: Saddle Horn - Shippu Mahou Daisakusen

My favorite intro theme + intro movie combo in any game. Yeah, they were geniuses.

- Favourite Ending/Ranking theme: Flashback - Batrider

A relaxed theme, after all your hard effort.

[ProjectAKo]

- Favourite First Stage theme: Showtime - Ibara

Yeah, Stratovarius ripoff but still really good.

- Favourite Stage theme: Battle of Extreme North - Strikers 1945 II

Amazing composition despite the awful sound chip.

- Favourite Last Stage theme: Grave of being - Mountain of Faith

Probably my favorite STG theme, it's so great that makes the final boss theme sound rather plain in comparison.

- Favourite Boss theme: The Genius of Battle - Great Mahou Daisakusen

Boss battle, the theme. Raizing were masters at choosing the right themes for the right moments.

- Favourite TLB theme: Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind - UFO

Had a hard time with this, there aren't many final boss themes I really like. Chum made me remember this one, so I'll second his choice.

- Favourite menu/intro theme: Saddle Horn - Shippu Mahou Daisakusen

My favorite intro theme + intro movie combo in any game. Yeah, they were geniuses.

- Favourite Ending/Ranking theme: Flashback - Batrider

A relaxed theme, after all your hard effort.

Someone needs to upload Yashiki of Ninja to youtube

[Ebbo]

Just a few favorites from the top of my head.

Your favourite First Stage theme: Ikaruga - Ideal
Your favourite Stage theme: Cho Ren Sha 68k - Pleasure Trip
Your favourite Last Stage theme: Flame Zapper Kotsujin - Into the Last Battle
Your favourite Boss theme: RefleX - Crazy Goddess Virgo (Type Human)
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: Soldier Blade - Operation Complete
Your favourite TLB theme: Crimzon Clover - DEVIL'S SPHERE (Gryzor87 arrange)
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: Gradius - Historic Soldier

[chum]

crummy attempt at favorites list 1 per game..

1. Stage 6, from Rocket Knight Adventures
2. Ripple no theme 2, from Magical Chase
3. BGM #1, from Silver Surfer
4. Ray Future, from Flame Zapper Kotsujin
5. Cosmic Mind, from UFO
6. Stage 4-6, from Sonic Sisters
7. Retrospective Kyoto, from Shoot the Bullet
8. Ultimate Truth, from Perfect Cherry Blossom
9. Crimson Belvedere, from The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
10. Volcano, from Dragon Spirit
11. Complimentary Ticket, From Batsugun
12. Hellfire Mantle, from Subterranean Animism
13. On the Verge of Madness, from Mushihimesama Futari
14. Fighting Back, from Lightening Force
15. Stab and Stomp, from Battle Garegga
16. In the Sky, from Gun Frontier
17. Stage 5, from Tatsujin (PCE version)
18. Memorial Fragment, from Mahou Daisakusen
19. The Shining Needle Castle Sinking in the Air, from Double Dealing Character
20. Futatsuiwa from Sado, from Ten Desires
21. Stage 3, from Elemental Master
22. Brawing Up, from Battle Mania Daiginjou
23. Point of No Return, from Eschatos
25. Born to be Free, from Metal Black
25. Meadows Edge 2, from Apidya

Batrider, Chorensha, and others have amazing ost also...

games with the most favorite tracks are either EoSD or Kotsujin I think

[KAI]

Your favourite First Stage theme: Darius Gaiden - VISIONNERZ (because OGR)
Your favourite Stage theme: Tobi Tsukihime - Rampage! (Because Yano)
Your favourite Last Stage theme: Radirgy - 24/7 (because k.h.d.n.)
Your favourite Boss theme: Garegga - Stab and Stomp! (because Namiki)
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: Caladrius - Acquisition (because Namiki again)
Your favourite TLB theme: Broken Thunder - The Justice Ray 3 (because Tsukumo)
Your favourite menu/intro theme: Bullet Soul - Stirring Movement (Because Ito and Kamikura)
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: Ibara - Bonds of Steel (because Hosoe)

[Strikers1945guy]

Not normally one for the whole techno or whatever you want to call it but this music always gets my blood pumping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huJZr30Va7w

[LordHypnos]

Hard to pick favorites, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some better track on a lot of these, but here's my picks.

Your favourite First Stage theme: Eschatos or ExZeal maybe.
Your favourite Stage theme: Especially tough choice with so many options. Maybe Space Walk from TFIV, or maybe Pleasure Trip from CRS68k or maybe Hunger Made them Desperate. Alice Maestra also a contender.
Your favourite Last Stage theme: Almost definitely Mars Matrix. It just fits the mood so well.
Your favourite Boss theme: Probably the Stage 7 boss from Elemental Master
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): Gluon, of course
Your favourite menu/intro theme: The most memorable ones to me were Gunbird 2 and Armed Police Batrider
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: I'll go with Stand Up Against Myself, for now, i think.

Haven't paid enough attention to coin sfx or stage transition themes to be able to answer those. Also recommend the shmup music sharing thread for sure. There's all kinds of awesome tracks there.

[MathU]

Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: Ibara - Bonds of Steel (because Hosoe)

Sure you don't wanna rethink that?

[AxelMill]

I like where this is going! Keep it up!
And thanks, Durandal. Thank you a lot for turning this generic and dying topic into something original.

Need some thinking to post my list. Will come back at some point.

[Perikles]

I couldn't restrict myself to just one theme per category, will probably think of some more later. Also some great tunes you picked there, chum, glad to see stuff like PCE Tatsujin, Dragon Spirit and Silver Surfer getting mentioned.

Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle: All the Gradius games
Your favourite First Stage theme: BioMetal (SFC) - Dark Clouds, Kidou Soukou Dion/Imperium - Invaded City, Side Arms (PCE - HuCard) - Stage 1, Soldier Blade - Operation 1
Your favourite Stage theme: Battle Mania Daiginjou - Iron Casanova, BlaZeon (SFC) - Fighting Machine, Kiki Kaikai: Nazo no Kuro Manto/Pocky & Rocky - Battle in the Sky, Metamor Jupiter - Stage 9, Salamander (PCE) - Planet Ratis, Salamander 2 - Sensation, Super Star Soldier - Stage 4, Task Force Harrier EX (MD) - Base at the Desert Front, Thunder Force IV - Metal Squad, Verytex - Act 5
Your favourite Last Stage theme: BlaZeon (SFC) - Battle of Silence, G-Darius - Kimera II, Gradius III (SFC) - Uncharted Territory, R-Type Delta - Stage 7, Viper Phase 1 - Stage 8
Your favourite Boss theme: Gradius Gaiden - Boss Rush 1, Gradius Gaiden - Big Ducker, Undeadline - Boss Theme, Vapor Trail (MD) - Bloody Road, V-V - Boss Theme
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: Rayxanber III
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): G-Darius - Adam, Kidou Soukou Dion/Imperium - Last Boss
Your favourite menu/intro theme: BioMetal (SFC) - Main Theme, Gradius III (SFC) - Invitation/Weapon Select, Undeadline - Opening Theme
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: BioMetal (SFC) - Staff Roll, Gradius (I, Deluxe Pack) - Ending, Parodius Da! (SFC) - Ranking Da!

[LordHypnos]

After Listening to a few insert coin jingles, I'm gonna go with Batsugun with an honorable mention of Fantasy Zone II system-16 redux

[iconoclast]

Akai Katana Shin's stage 4 theme is the GOAT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrQ2FWoo0ro

Ryu Umemoto was the man.

[Despatche]

darius force from darius force

too bad the upload sucks and the game has bad instruments

the common names you see around the internet are made up, the songs have names but we only know two at the moment

[pegboy]

Honestly I could fill this entire list out with just Gradius music but I'll try to mix it up a bit

My favorite First Stage theme: Gradius III AC - Sandstorm
My favorite Stage theme: Space Megaforce (Super Aleste) - Space Cruiser. Also Salamander 2 - Planet Ratis
My favorite Last Stage theme: Gradius Gaiden - Part 1 - Speed, Part 2 - Inside Mission
My favorite Boss theme: Mushihimesama Futari - Beastial Beat
My favorite Stage Clear theme: Contra Stage Clear - Ok this this isn't a shmup, but fuck it if this isn't the most iconic stage clear of all time
My favorite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): Thunder Force AC - Be Menaced by Orn
My favorite intro theme: Strikers 1945 II Android port - Devil's Tower Arranged version - This is kind of cheating, but they actually did use this as the intro to the android port and it kicks some major ass
My favorite ending theme: Gradius Deluxe Pack Ending - This one is not going to be topped, sorry.

[Stevens]

Akai Katana Shin's stage 4 theme is the GOAT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrQ2FWoo0ro

Ryu Umemoto was the man.

Great tune. I love how it kind of syncs with leaving the water and the mid boss.

[copy-paster]

Honestly I could fill this entire list out with just Gradius music

My list coming later, I'm tired now.

[Durandal]

I couldn't restrict myself to just one theme per category, will probably think of some more later. Also some great tunes you picked there, chum, glad to see stuff like PCE Tatsujin, Dragon Spirit and Silver Surfer getting mentioned.

Your favourite Coin Inserted jingle: All the Gradius games
Your favourite First Stage theme: BioMetal (SFC) - Dark Clouds, Kidou Soukou Dion/Imperium - Invaded City, Side Arms (PCE - HuCard) - Stage 1, Soldier Blade - Operation 1
Your favourite Stage theme: Battle Mania Daiginjou - Iron Casanova, BlaZeon (SFC) - Fighting Machine, Kiki Kaikai: Nazo no Kuro Manto/Pocky & Rocky - Battle in the Sky, Metamor Jupiter - Stage 9, Salamander (PCE) - Planet Ratis, Salamander 2 - Sensation, Super Star Soldier - Stage 4, Task Force Harrier EX (MD) - Base at the Desert Front, Thunder Force IV - Metal Squad, Verytex - Act 5
Your favourite Last Stage theme: BlaZeon (SFC) - Battle of Silence, G-Darius - Kimera II, Gradius III (SFC) - Uncharted Territory, R-Type Delta - Stage 7, Viper Phase 1 - Stage 8
Your favourite Boss theme: Gradius Gaiden - Boss Rush 1, Gradius Gaiden - Big Ducker, Undeadline - Boss Theme, Vapor Trail (MD) - Bloody Road, V-V - Boss Theme
Your favourite Stage Clear theme: Rayxanber III
Your favourite TLB theme (be it a true or not-true final boss): G-Darius - Adam, Kidou Soukou Dion/Imperium - Last Boss
Your favourite menu/intro theme: BioMetal (SFC) - Main Theme, Gradius III (SFC) - Invitation/Weapon Select, Undeadline - Opening Theme
Your favourite Ending/Ranking theme: BioMetal (SFC) - Staff Roll, Gradius (I, Deluxe Pack) - Ending, Parodius Da! (SFC) - Ranking Da!

I think Biometal (JP) has got to be one of my most favourite SFC soundtracks of all time after listening a hundred times to it. I've tried looking up the composer, Yoshio Nagashima, everywhere on the internet, but only found him working on a Saturn MK-ripoff called Battle Brothers and some obscure PC-98 game. That guy really should have made more music, a shame that alot of great composers work on shitty games and never get the attention they deserve.

[trap15]

He worked on a very large number of UPL and Athena games. Ones that come to mind: J.J. Squawkers, Uchuu Senkan Gomorrah (unfortunately a huge turd), Kotetsu Yousai Strahl, Vandyke, Acrobat Mission, Gomola Speed. He's one of my favorite composers, can you tell?