Chapter-based stage themes that tell you Toaplan was thinking about these games as stories, not just quarter munchers. Volume 4 covers multiple arcade titles and the range is wild. "The Undertaker of OZ" has this sinister FM groove that creeps along, while "Soldier Barrels Along" is pure forward momentum.
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The second game on the disc shifts into something harder with tracks like "Fixer" and "Superexistence" pushing the FM chip into overdrive. Two versions of the opening chapter exist here and comparing them is a nerdy treat.
Even the utility tracks like "Name Entry - Everlasting Life" have real melodic content. If you're working through Toaplan's discography, this volume is where things start getting ambitious.