Review Summary: Not the best game in the series, but a solid soundtrack to accompany it.
It’s difficult to notice whilst firing an array of incredibly noisy weaponry at aliens, but Halo 4’s soundtrack is quite compelling. It may not be talked about so much in comparison to previous entries, yet a good one it remains. Loud, militant percussion, strings, horns, and some atmospheric singing — it is all here. What you might not expect is how well it comes together.
The tracks on hand do much more than the bare minimum. For the fourth game in the series, there’s no sign of the composer slacking off. One could’ve easily stolen melodies from other games and called it a day. Instead, Neil Davidge infused loads of personality in their one and only contribution to Halo soundtracks. Neil does not stoop down to the mediocrity of so many composers. Namely, the atmospheres painted are not bare bone afterthoughts with sudden and very artificial horns blaring to make up for a lack of creativity. Rather, the soundscapes are vibrant, lush, and lavished upon. It feels like a richly lived world, and it captures the game’s visual style elegantly.
Surprisingly, the soundtrack is beautiful. The melodic, sci-fi synth work with ditties and effects is stunning in itself, but it’s only one portion of the satisfying experience. Expect a movie-like symphonic soundtrack, one that understand deeply what creates a great Halo vibe. The strings are active in their role to produce excitement, with great hooks occurring. Throughout the progression of tracks, instruments and sounds collide and are added to/or create rhythms continuously to produce a fuller melody, and a busier, more urgent atmosphere. If the gameplay doesn’t gather enough excitement, the soundtrack is sure to get the blood pumping.
While ideas weren’t stolen from previous Halo soundtracks, a little nod to the old games would’ve appeased. There is no real main melody or hook to rely on, only a collection of ideas held together with the sci-fi soundtrack motif and fitting instruments. Consequently, it is an album without memorable melodies despite how catchy the soundtrack often is, as the drums and synths join as one powerful force. One can definitely remember the synth-y, sci-fi sound of the soundtrack, it is distinct enough to be noticeable while playing the game. Quitting the game, you may find the songs escaping from memory, but you may not forget the atmospheric intensity of the music. It’s a fairly fun soundtrack in the end, nothing that special, but it is well made and justified with enough
oorah to get you through the campaign.
