Yet again, I’ve been caught not following a game that I should have been all over. I loved Halo 3, and still play it quite often, but before today, I didn’t even know what ODST meant. Honestly, after being told, I still don’t remember, but after playing the game tonight at Microsoft’s showcase, I’m definitely a believer in whatever it stands for.
So, after playing through a cooperative match with three other players where we fended off waves of Covenant combatants, I stepped outside and had Bungie’s Brian Jarrard fill me in on what I’d been missing. Apparently the game is going to be much more open than previous Halo outings, with large areas to explore and a much darker atmosphere, complete with amazing rain effects and gloomy backdrops. When asked about the audio, we were told that Marty O’Donnell is definitely returning to the series, and has written an entirely new score that aims to match the game’s darker mood. This was apparently quite a challenge for him, so I’m curious to hear how it turned out. While a soundtrack release hasn’t been announced, we’ll be surprised if it doesn’t come out. We’re hoping to bring you some more coverage of the title before its September release, so watch for it!
Have you been following Halo 3: ODST and have any thoughts about it one way or the other? Are you a fan of what Marty O’Donnell has done with previous Halo scores?
Tags: Comic Con, Comic Con 2009, Halo, Halo ODST, Marty O'Donnell, Microsoft, News, Videogame
Always been a huge Halo fan, and one of the biggest factors is the music. One reason why Halo 3 disappointed me in the single player department was that most of the tracks were rehashes from the first two games. The direction they’re taking with this game sounds very cool though, with lots of saxes on top of the traditional orchestra. I don’t know why, but that seems like just the thing Marty O’Donnell would do and make sound so damn good.
How is a soundtrack “challenging”? Is it challenging my presuppositions, or expectations, for the series’ music? Or is it a challenge to listen to such intentionally dark music? I’m having a hard time determining whether the adjective is positive or negative in connotation.
In any case, I love the O’Donnell score, particularly the oft-used “main theme.” Whenever it is cued into the in-game action, I always feel superpumped!
As in it was challenging for O’Donnell to write. Because it was darker than his previous projects.
Okay, I’m an idiot. I even read in the article where it said it was “a challenge” for him to write it. And I didn’t put two and two together. Thank ye!
I have been waiting for months for some word on the soundtrack. I was expecting it to take a turn in mood. Anyone should have gess that after Bungie released the free download of the MP3 called “Prepare to Drop” from the Announcment trailer called “Keep it Clean”. It was a great track and hope to hear it in the finnal CD. I got my Grandma hooked on the music too. Not many hae relized that the reason video game soundtracks have become so big is do Marty O’Donnell. He made it popular. Go on iTune and under soundtracks, in the 100 top albums (thats the defalt number) all the Halo soundtracks are on the list. I wouldn’t worry if its going to be bad or good. Its going to be a huge hit. I just cant wait to play the game and listen to the music as I go.