Gradius III
GRADIUS III ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
[ KICA-1001 ]
Release Date:
2-21-1990		 Producer:
Konami		 1 disc
System:
Arcade		 Composer:
Konami Kukeiha Club		 Rating:
5 out of 5
Track Listing:
  1. In the Wind (Arranged) (4:30)
  2. Hit and Away (Arranged) (5:45)
  3. Legend (Arranged) (6:48)
  4. Unknown (Omake Track) (9:48)
  5. Prelude of a Legend ~ Invitation (2:43)
  6. Departure for Space ~ Sand Storm; Aqua Illusion ~ In the Wind ~ Underground ~ Congratulations ~ Game Over (10:01)
  7. High Speed Demension ~ Try to Star ~ Easter Stone ~ Dead End Cell (7:27)
  8. Fire Scramble ~ Cosmo Plant ~ Crystal Labyrinth ~ King of Kings (8:35)
  9. Unknown (tracks from Gradius, Salamander and Gradius II); Mechanical Base ~ Final Shot (5:58)
  10. Unknown (tracks from Gradius and Salamander) (3:32)
  11. Dark Force ~ Escape to the Freedom ~ Return to the Star ~ A Long Time Ago (5:08)
  12. Sound Effects Collection (3:18)

Total Time: (73:33)

 Gradius III was the first game soundtrack I ever purchased, and to this day it remains one of the best buys I've made. Just as Gradius III was a shining example of shooter games at the height of their generation, so is the soundtrack the pinnacle of late 80's arcade gaming. The sound system used by Konami at this point was advanced for an arcade game, and while you won't mistake this for an actual orchestra like you might in Final Fantasy Tactics, this is a far cry from the extremely artificially synthesizing of most games of its time. An impressive composition matches the quality of the actual sound processing, as well.

The first three tracks are arrangements of several pieces found within the game, flowing seamlessly together. As one comes to expect from the Kukeiha Club, the arrangements are clean and catchy, though not as high-powered and rocking as some of their more famous arrangements. They still make a great compliment to the background music of the game. Track 4, however, well, I'm not quite sure what to say about this thing. It's an omake track telling some sort of story, but without knowledge of Japanese, it's best to just shake your head and move on to the rest of the disc, as you'll find no mystic fulfillment here.

Tracks 5 through 12 are the meat of the disc and contain the original soundtrack to the arcade game. For those who played only the Super Nintendo version of the game, many tracks are identical, although better synthesized in the arcade version, in my own opinion. A couple of tracks, like the SNES bonus stage, are absent, and a couple others are different, but otherwise these are identical soundtracks. Interspersed within the tracks are some pieces from Gradius, Salamander, and Gradius II, though I'm not sure of the purpose for it. For those who never played neither the Super Nintendo nor arcade version of the game, know that the tracks are extremely catchy. Even slow, methodical works like Aqua Illusion are highly memorable. They worked inside the game, and they work on their own. You'll most likely be humming bits here and there to yourself throughout the day after listening to them. Among my personal favorites are Fire Scramble, Cosmo Plant and Final Shot, which all carry an upbeat theme worthy of any shooter atmosphere.

Packaging on the CD is a bit slim, merely a 3-page, double-folded set of liner notes with the standard notes from composers on it, nothing special like sheet music. It does, however, unfold to form a tiny poster containing a nice quality mini-poster of thr Vic Viper in the midst of Moai Heads from the Easter Island stage, captured from the game and printed. A very nice (if small and expensive) wall adornment for the true fan.

Overall, this soundtrack should be near the top of anyone's list for classic arcade sound and quality. The CD was not reprinted when Konami released their Otakara Music Collections line a couple of years back, so the price is high for this little gem, but worth it. I highly recommend it in whatever form you can get it.



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