Armored Hunter Gunhound EX is a game made by the now defunct Dracue Software. It play a lot like Assault Suits Valken/Cybernator, and it was released for the PSP and Steam. You cannot get this game now because it's been delisted. A shame because it's fun! I still prefer Gigantic Army when it comes to Valken-likes, but this one's still pretty great! Originally released in 2009 as just plain Armored Hunter Gunhound, it got an enhanced rerelease that gave it the shiny EX suffix. With that shiny rerelease came new character portraits and a soundtrack by Hyakutaro Tsukumo. It's only fitting that I'd have some Hyakutaro Tsukumo for the end. It's a great listen with the usually rockin' beats, including this final boss theme. But what's this about it being part 5 of a "Justice Ray?"

So Tsukumo's been composing a set of neoclassical metal song and naming them as parts of "The Justice Ray". It all started with Blast Wind before going to Thunder Force V, then Segagaga and then bizarrely one for Naval Ops: Commander before we get to the (so far) last part: Armored Hunter Gunhound EX. With the exception of Naval Ops they're all final boss songs. The Justice Rays all definitely have a sense of grandiose finality to them, with subtle differences in mood between them. For example, the Justice Ray part 2 has a hint of despair in it due to the circumstances regarding TFV's antagonist while part 3 was basically the final boss song that signified the end of SEGA as a console manufacturer (you even fight SEGA consoles in a shmup stage!) This song on the other hand has more of a valiant last stand tone to it; the main antagonist has ruthlessly aggravated conflicts and has killed your C.O and (seemingly) your squadmate. You are pissed. He's going down no matter what. Thankfully at the end both you and your squadmate turn out to be alive.

So far this is the last part by Tsukumo, but is a song that might be considered an unofficial follow up: Fallen Maroon from Natsuki Chronicles; it seems to carry a similar sort of style to these songs. Oh yeah there's also a song that is definitely an unofficial follow up: Steel Assault's final boss music; the whole soundtrack is a homage to Tsukumo and S.S.H. Maybe someday there'll be a part 6 from Tsukumo himself.