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Looking Back On Martin O'Donnell's Bungie Career
We don't know the reasons behind it, but Destiny developer Bungie and longtime composer Martin O'Donnell have parted ways. O'Donnell's credited work with Bungie stretches all the way back to Myth: The Fallen Lords, released in 1997. But it's his definitive work on the Halo series that cemented O'Donnell's legendary status. When Bungie split off from Microsoft in 2007, he stayed with the developer as it completed two more Halo games and eventually moved to a new larger studio space to create Destiny. According to an interview published today on Eurogamer, O'Donnell's music on Destiny was nearly complete and will still appear in the game.
Today we look back at some of our favorite songs from every game in this fruitful relationship. Note that all of the game soundtracks included writing partner Michael Salvatori and later music featured C Paul Johnson.
Myth: The Fallen Lords
"The Siege of Madrigal"
Music credits: Paul Heitsch, Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori
Myth II: Soulblighter
"Into the Breach"
Music credits: Paul Heitsch, Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, Total Audio Inc.
Oni
"Trailer"
Original Music: Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori
Halo: Combat Evolved
"A Walk in the Woods"
Audio Lead and Original Music: Martin O'Donnell
Additional Music: Michael Salvatori
Halo 2
"Unforgotten"
Composer, Audio Director: Martin O'Donnell
Additional Support: Michael Salvatori
Halo 3
"Out of Shadow"
Composer: Martin O'Donnell
Additional Music: C Paul Johnson
Additional Music Composition: Michael Salvatori
Halo 3: ODST
"Deference for Darkness"
Composer: Martin O'Donnell
Additional Music: C Paul Johnson, Stan LePard (Panther Modern), Michael Salvatori (Total Audio)
Halo: Reach
"Lone Wolf"
Composer: Martin O'Donnell
Additional Music: C Paul Johnson, Stan LePard (Panther Modern), Michael Salvatori (Total Audio)
Destiny
The Law of the Jungle trailer
Audio Director and Lead Composer: Martin O'Donnell
Audio Design Lead/Composer: Michael Salvatori
Sound Designer and Composer: C Paul Johnson
Composer: Paul McCartney
This is just a taste of all the great musical memories from Bungie and Martin O'Donnell's collaboration. Be sure to dig deeper into these soundtracks with playlists on places like YouTube and Spotify. We leave you with a look at brighter times when we interviewed Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori for our Destiny cover trip.
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