The X68000 port of Gradius II sounds absolutely unreal for 1992 hardware. Konami's sound team arranged these tracks for the Sharp X68000's superior sound chip and the results are stunning. "Burning Heat" hits with this crisp, punchy FM tone that makes the arcade version sound muffled by comparison.
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"Synthetic Life" has a groove to it that just locks in while you're dodging walls of bullets. "Maximum Speed" lives up to its name with relentless tempo and tight percussion. The way they handled the classic boss themes from Gradius and Salamander in Stage 7 is basically a victory lap.
If you care about shmup music at all, this is the definitive way to hear Gradius II's score.