Raw arcade PCM and Famicom square waves, straight from the source. Konami Music Masterpiece Collection is a 2004 compilation tracing the lineage from Scramble and Super Cobra through every stage of the original Gradius. "Beginning Of The History" lives up to its name as that first air battle theme, "Challenger 1985" is the volcano stage banger everyone remembers, and "Mazed Music" from the tentacle stage still sounds oppressive in the best way.
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Every Gradius track is labeled with its stage and subtitle. Put together by people who cared about the details. FDS and NES hardware doing heavy lifting. Every limitation turned into style. If you have ever hummed a Gradius melody without knowing the track name, this is where you find out.