VGM Wars: Gradius 3 vs. Thunder Force 4

Among the ranks of gamers everywhere, there is a lot of discussion about which 16-bit system has the best shooters. Part of that debate involves which games for each system has the better soundtrack. In Corner #1 we have Gradius 3 designed for the technologically superior Super Nintendo. In the other corner, we have Thunder Force 4 (Lightening Force) for the more versatile Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. It's time to pit the soundtracks of these two legendary shooters against each other and see which one comes out on top. Time to crank up the volume to 11! And don't forget to sound off on which game you think has the better soundtrack.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Video Games
• Sega Genesis
• Super NES
• Gradius 3
• Thunder Force 4
• Lightening Force

[GregLH0]

There is no better between these two. Technosoft and konami made use of the hardware they had very well. Both are basically my childhood in a nutshell.

[zodiackiller12]

@GregLH0 Great answer, lol! Both games have remarkable soundtracks. But IMHO, the difference between the two soundtracks is that although G3 is top notch music, it's more conventional. On the other hand, TF4's soundtrack seems inspired. No one back then knew the Genesis/MegaDrive could feature a synthesized electric guitar, let alone a crushing power metal soundtrack.

[nickter]

Thunder Force 4 all day. I've never actually played Graduis 3 but recently I dusted off my old TF4 cart just listen to the music :)

[zodiackiller12]

@nickter I agree. TF4 is one of those few games that make you want to want to spend as much time listening to the music as playing the game. I'm so fanatical about TF4 that the only time I take it out of my Sega Genesis is to pop in another game, lol. ;).

[drancov]

A better suited contender for TF4 would be Biometal on SNES

[zodiackiller12]

@drancov If one goes by date of release, you are correct. But one of the reason G3 and TF4 always get compared is because they are the two of the most popular side-scrolling shooter franchises of all time. For all its greatness, Biometal's just a blip on the radar. Besides, Gradius 3 was the premier 1st generation side-scrolling shooter on the SNES and was intended to showcase the superiority of the SNES over the Genesis. TF4 was Sega/Tehcnosoft's answer to Gradius.

[TurningJappanesse]

@samikaze I always thought that. Thunder Farce 4, lol.

[TurningJappanesse]

Gradius 3 intro: Not bad

TF4 intro: O_O

[mortabis]

It's easy, TF4 was better both in game play and music! I happen to believe and I know some if not most would agree with me, that the TF4 music is some of if not THE best music every created for any game on the genesis and or SNES.

[HeyYoKillEmo]

TF4 blew my mind when I was a kid.Probably my favorite game of the 16 bit era.Of course, being from the US...it was called Lightening Force.

[D313370r]

ThunderForce IV is overall a better game.

Not that Gradius III is not fun, I just feel that ThunderForce IV has a better difficulty, and an excellent throttling mechanic, along with a very cool weapon selection system. The music is freaking amazing as well.

TFIV is one of the best side scrolling shmups I have ever played, and I have played an obscene amount of shooters.

TFIV's soundtrack is extremely impressive, and it fits the mood of the game PERFECTLY.

[samikaze]

Lifeforce and Gradius 2 had better music than 3 imo. (extreme Thunderforce fan here btw). Also, I always thought it was funny how technosoft's logo makes "force" look like "farce"

[yoghurtdog]

I'd like to add this.

People bang on about the guitar synth tracks in TF4. Some of which are great, like errrr most them to be honest. But some of the best tunes from TF4 are ones with no evidence of guitar synth. Level 8 boss or level 10 for example. Absolute genius compositions!

[mcjmetroid]

It's user taste but I seriously think Thunder force IV takes it