Chunky retro synths dripping with 80s action movie swagger from the first note. Ultionus is a 2013 indie run-and-gun platformer and A_Rival's soundtrack treats every zone like a neon-lit setpiece. Orbital Bombardment opens with driving arpeggios and punchy drums that immediately put you in that Contra headspace.
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Forbidden Cavern drops the tempo and goes heavier with these reverb-drenched pads and a bass line that grooves underneath everything. Then Climactic Escape ramps the BPM back up with urgent lead melodies layered over rapid-fire percussion.
The whole thing just bleeds Saturday morning cartoon energy mixed with arcade grit. If you miss when platformers had soundtracks that made you feel like the coolest person alive, this one's calling your name.