Hearing Raiden and Raiden II back to back on one release really shows how the series' sound evolved across arcade hardware. The original Raiden tracks carry that sharp early-90s FM punch, GALLANTRY looping with infectious determination while GO TO BLAZES cranks up the intensity for boss encounters.
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Then Raiden II's side opens with Repeated Tragedy and suddenly the sound palette feels wider, moodier, the FM Towns and PlayStation versions adding depth the arcade boards couldn't quite reach. Burnt Field and Depression push into surprisingly dark territory for a shoot-em-up.
The compilation format works because you hear the DNA connecting both scores, same compositional instincts just filtered through better chips. Essential if you want to trace how shmup music grew up in real time.