Cerritos College
Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Bungie was wrong to fire video game soundtrack god O’Donnell

On April 11, legendary composer Martin O’Donnell tweeted that Bungie had “terminated him.” O’Donnell has composed memorable soundtracks for the Halo series, ONI, Myth and the upcoming game Destiny.

His work for Destiny maybe the last great soundtrack that Bungie will have.

Bungie may have made a decision it will come to regret. Although O’Donnell and the studios parted ways amicably, this may have certain repercussions.

In the Halo trilogy alone, the games were lifted to almost, divine status by the soundtrack alone. Video games can be immortalized by their soundtracks alone, take for example Nintendo’s Mario.

Bungie may have let go of one of their more talented individuals. Halo 4, which he did not compose for, was an awful game compared to Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo: ODST. Its sub par story was as forgettable as its soundtrack. O’Donnell’s soundtracks may have raised the bar for FPS soundtracks.

Can anyone remember off the top of their head the soundtrack to any of the Call of Duty games?

The board of directors at Bungie must be going crazy if they fired him for no obvious reason. Maybe they decided that they need a fresh start for their soundtracks?

Who knows, but Martin O’Donnell still stands as one of the greats.

The only good side to this is that O’Donnell may be able to team up with 343 Industries and help make the next Halo better and raise it from the bargain bin.
In fact, that’s the best thing that can happen for the 343 Industries’s Halo series.

If 343 Industries can make a great Halo game like Halo: Reach who was developed by Bungie, coupled with O’Donnell’s musical genius then it can bring Halo right back to the top.

Story continues below advertisement
About the Contributor
Gustavo Lopez, Online Editor
I have coffee for blood and I'm not entirely sure I'm human anymore. I sort of stumbled into journalism and Talon Marks but I'm glad I did because I've always lacked direction, even though I've always been told I'm "smart." I've never really felt smart, more like the world doesn't make sense and I'm just trying to make sense of it. I'm a huge gamer and geek and the very model of a scientist Salarian. One thing you'll hear me say usually after several cups of coffee is either "I am Krogan" or "it had to be me, someone else would have gotten it wrong." I hope the editors and the new staff learn from my past mistakes, as well the ones that came before. I wish everyone the best in whatever they may pursue. Let's kick some ass, write good news and show them Talon Marks is more than just the newspaper. We're a team and family. This is Goose signing off, go get'em. 
Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All Talon Marks Picks TM Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
Bungie was wrong to fire video game soundtrack god O’Donnell