Overview

Truxton II, released as Tatsujinou in Japan, was a solid sequel released for arcades in 1992. Masahiro Yuge's soundtrack featured a much brighter atmosphere than most of Toaplan's previous works. It was initially released through Pony Canyon, complete with an arranged track, and later reprinted on the Toaplan Shooting Chronicle

Body

The first stage theme "Live in Future" has a very futuristic, spacey, and upbeat vibe to it. It definitely captures the feeling of flying quite nicely; however, while I find the melody to be quite nice, I think it could have been developed a bit better. The boss theme, "Heavy Long," is a funky track offering a bit of a sinister atmosphere, but at the same time, it doesn't develop much, and may turn listeners away after a while.

"I Defend STM" offers a very dark, industrial atmosphere with its heavy rhythms. The melody, which does take a while to come into the fray, has a bit of an exotic touch to it, but at the same time, its uplifting nature does contrast a bit too much with the brooding nature of the accompaniment at times. "Gratify" is an extremely jovial tune with a bright, cheerful melody. It is reminiscent, in ways, of the soundscape presented in "Live in Future," but overall, I find this theme to be much more enjoyable. Likewise, "No Delusion" offers an upbeat, yet mysterious tone. It does a good job at conveying the same atmosphere in "Gratify," but at the same time, I find the actual melody to be a bit less captivating.

"Still Love You" is an interesting chiptune. Compared to a lot of the melodies, this one seems a bit out of place. It has a very romantic soundscape to it and has a bit of a soulful touch, but in the end, it manages to captivating with a great progression and it works well with the mellow accompaniment and drum pads. Lastly, "Faze" has a bit of a groovy atmosphere, particularly due to the rhythm, while at the same time, offering a pretty rocking melody and some more intense and sinister moments. It really sums up that final stage atmosphere quite well.

There are two bonuses exclusive to the Pony Canyon release. The album opens with an arrangement of the boss theme written in a funk style. Though it sounds dated by today's standards, the performers bring plenty of energy to the original. It's a pity the superior stage themes weren't adapted, though. Finally, there is a sound effects medley for those that care.

Summary

Truxton II is a fine soundtrack overall, thanks to its upbeat and captivating melodies. It's also well-presented on this soundtrack, with a welcome bonus arrangement, though most will prefer to go for the Toaplan Shooting Chronicle instead.