That opening cascade of NES pulse channels immediately tells you Capcom meant business going retro. Mega Man 9, composed largely by Ippo Yamada, is a deliberate love letter to 8-bit sound design released in 2008. Galaxy Fantasy floats with this dreamy arpeggiated shimmer that sounds impossible on the hardware, while Concrete Jungle punches with thick, aggressive bass and tight rhythmic hooks.
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Flash in the Dark absolutely owns the Wily fortress stretch with a tension-building melody that ranks among the series' best. Splash Blue has this gorgeous aquatic bounce... just effortless. The shop theme is weirdly cozy too.
Anyone who thought chiptune composition peaked in 1990 needs to hear what this team pulled off with deliberate limitations.