Pounding drum and bass kicks slamming under distorted synth lines while asteroids explode in every direction. Ari Pulkkinen's Super Stardust HD soundtrack is basically three albums in one, with every planet scored in Arcade, Orchestral, and Retro flavors.
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The Arcade tracks run on pure adrenaline with relentless breakbeats and buzzing electronics, while the Orchestral versions of those same planets transform them into these massive cinematic pieces with full symphonic arrangements.
Then the Retro mode strips everything back to crunchy house beats and old-school textures. Coventina's Arcade version is an absolute standout, just pure forward momentum. The whole structure means you hear familiar melodic ideas completely recontextualized three different ways.
If you need proof that PS3-era shooters had no business sounding this good, queue up any planet and pick your flavor.