Gears of War 3 Soundtrack Review

Games are becoming more like movies every day with massive budgets that attract top Hollywood talent to do the voices and big-name composers to do the music.  There is no title more anticipated this year than Gears of War 3, and Steve Jablonsky has done an amazing job creating the remarkable score for that game that frequently achieves epic levels of awesomeness, full of emotion and power that seldom, if ever. backs down.

The Gears of War 3 soundtrack features 31 tracks (75 mins) that kicks off with a track called “Restless” that pretty much informs you of where this is all going.  It reminded me a lot of the fantastic sci-fi themes from the 80’s, but when “Gears Keep Turning”, the second track, started I was catapulted 20 years in time to something more futuristic, but no less epic; a unique blend of past Gears of War music infused with a bit of Deus Ex or TRON.

I have yet to play the game so I can’t confirm if the names of the tracks actually reference locations or levels within the game, but you can definitely tell which songs accompany the action and gameplay and which songs set the mood for the cutscenes.

The score is epically large with an underlying military theme that perfectly suits the Gears and their battle to save humanity.   It cleverly blends themes from past games and enhances them with new ideas.   Jablonsky makes some bold decisions with the pacing, as well as instrument choices, and especially the effective use of choral parts to enhance a particular moment.

Steve Jablonsky was the perfect choice to compose this movie-quality soundtrack.  He skillfully creates a consistent theme between pasts works (that he, himself didn’t even compose), and his uncanny ability to tell a story through music are undeniable.

I look forward to playing the actual game and hearing how all this music slips into place within the grand scheme of things, and I will be sure to update this article when I do, but meanwhile, if you enjoy exciting, emotional, and often, quite epic music, then you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy of the Gears of War 3 soundtrack.  It’s the most excitement you can have with Gears of War 3 without playing the game.

Author: Mark Smith
I've been an avid gamer since I stumbled upon ZORK running in my local Radio Shack in 1980. Ten years later I was working for Sierra Online. Since then I've owned nearly every game system and most of the games to go with them. Not sure if 40+ years of gaming qualifies me to write reviews, but I do it anyway.

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