If you had to pick between these 3 shooters.....

[esteban]

When I first played Winds/Lords when it was released in 1993 I was completely blown away by the music. I wasn't a fan of Heavy Metal or Rock music, I was heavily into UK Rave and Jungle music. In fact I'd rarely listen to music on any video games, often whilst playing I would turn the volume down and listen to the London Pirate radio stations instead. But Winds/Lords grabbed my attention, to this day I've yet to hear a video game with a better sound track.

BETTER SOUNDTRACKS:
Ys I & II
Ys III
Valis II

But I'm just messing with you.

Musical preferences are highly subjective.

Many mock my love for Valis II soundtrack...

Damn them. Damn them all.

[SignOfZeta]

When I first played Winds/Lords when it was released in 1993 I was completely blown away by the music. I wasn't a fan of Heavy Metal or Rock music, I was heavily into UK Rave and Jungle music. In fact I'd rarely listen to music on any video games, often whilst playing I would turn the volume down and listen to the London Pirate radio stations instead. But Winds/Lords grabbed my attention, to this day I've yet to hear a video game with a better sound track.

This is the phenomenon I was describing.

[EmperorIng]

Valis II on the PCE is the second-best soundtrack of the series. The first being the PC version of Valis II.

Gradius II is the most refined of the games listed in the OP. Gate and Winds are both very good games, but also very easy* and feel, stylistically, like homages to Technosoft. Very well-done homages, with Winds having more personality.

I love ya, Redsoft, but nobody could compete with Konami in their prime unless their names started with a NAM, CAP, or TAI.

*WoT strategy: earth armor + bombs lol

[esteban]

Valis II on the PCE is the second-best soundtrack of the series. The first being the PC version of Valis II.

Gradius II is the most refined of the games listed in the OP. Gate and Winds are both very good games, but also very easy* and feel, stylistically, like homages to Technosoft. Very well-done homages, with Winds having more personality.

I love ya, Redsoft, but nobody could compete with Konami in their prime unless their names started with a NAM, CAP, or TAI.

*WoT strategy: earth armor + bombs lol

I don't think there were any doubts that Gates of Thunders (PCE) = Force of Thunder II/III (MegaGenesisDrive)

But, I like 'em all, so I am happy.

[Otaking]

But seriously, LoT is "that metal shooter". It's been that for 25 years. That's what it is and that's totally metal as far as I'm concerned. I love metal and I love Lords of Thunder.

Either way, this is key to why people who were into Iron Maiden, Helloween, etc already when the game came out were not quite as impressed as the non-metal people who are often blown away by the soundtrack of this game because to them rock peaked at Whitesnake.

When I first played Winds/Lords when it was released in 1993 I was completely blown away by the music. I wasn't a fan of Heavy Metal or Rock music, I was heavily into UK Rave and Jungle music. In fact I'd rarely listen to music on any video games, often whilst playing I would turn the volume down and listen to the London Pirate radio stations instead. But Winds/Lords grabbed my attention, to this day I've yet to hear a video game with a better sound track.

This is the phenomenon I was describing.

It was not.
At the time I had a group of friends who were hardcore Metallers, I had listened to and was completey aware of bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Anthrax etc... just wasn't my thing.

[NightWolve]

But Winds/Lords grabbed my attention, to this day I've yet to hear a video game with a better sound track.

Hm, I feel that about GoT - I think LoT has only about one good track on it, well, 1-2, and the menu/opening music is good, but I was disappointed with it actually after Gate of Thunder which to me has a far better, blindingly awesome soundtrack overall with more variety. I never bothered to rip any tracks from Lords of Thunder for my music playlist, they're fine for the game, but I didn't care about it any further than that. So for me, overall, I've never seen anything else match or excel the soundtrack punch of GoT and the Ys CDs (I-IV) where you have one "hit" track after another for most of the disc, that's been rare in the videogame industry and why I consider them legendary (as do others). Almost forgot, I left out FF IV back when Nobuo Uematsu was great. I still retain memories of most of its soundtrack as well.

[SignOfZeta]

Yeah, the PCE versions of Ys are pretty amazing. Even Ys III, which as a game I didn't care for, has a killer soundtrack.

[SignOfZeta]

Btw, I don't think either game is anywhere near "best" if such a think can be determined.

Tengai Makyo II is real high up on my list. Way up there.

Also, Dracula X, Chrono Trigger, Ys I&II, Ys III, KOF 99, Pulstar, Ikaruga, and Oh Deer!.

Also, Marvel vs Capcom II. That thing has literally no flaws.











I lied about that last one, there are flaws.

[Black Tiger]

I can't think of any soundtrack after FFIV that Uematsu did that I think was great or very original. I really like the FF I - III soundtracks (and games) though.

[geise]

To the OP, you made a great purchase and you really couldn't go wrong with either 3.  The games are difficult with how you play them.  If they feel easy play them on a harder setting.  Don't buy everything in the shop in winds of thunder.  Also, when you get these 3 games your next purchase really should be Seirei Senshi Spriggan.

[shubibiman]

More Gradius 2 (Arcade left, PCE right) :