Few games this generation have grabbed gamers’ attentions and generated an emotional reaction as well as Gears of War. Ironic, because usually the trailers had more emotional resonance than any of the actual games did.
Just about every trailer used in mainstream media today will feature one thing above all else to really sell an experience to a viewer – music. Without the right music conveying the right emotions at the right time, a trailer falls flat and fails to grab the viewer in any sort of way. The Gears of War franchise always did an amazing job with this, and was proof that it just wasn’t just what was being shown, but how.
That being said, lets take a look at each Gears of War trailer, and how licensed music was used to help create something special.
Gears of War: Judgment: Shooting the Moon by Mona
The most recent trailer features an exciting rock song used to great effect. This one focuses less on the emotional impact of the story and more on the intense action and violence the Gears franchise is known for, hence the edgier song. Notice how the trailer is cut perfectly to the timing of the music and good use of sound effects. This one did a great job and getting fans of the game pumped up and excited for another game.
Gears of War 3: Heron Blue by Sun Kill Moon
The Gears 3 trailer was a quick one, but full of haunting imagery accented by a dusty guitar lick and gravely vocalist. Aiming for emotional impact, the trailer features a war-torn city filled with people turned to ash and frozen in place. While subtly introducing new weapons and new enemy types, the trailer also uses limited use of sound effects for heightened effect.
Gears of War 2: How It Will End by Devotchka
Of all the GoW trailers, this one probably upset me the most. The sense of dread as Marcus and Dom descend underground in the drop pod, the last glance they share as the exit right before the trailer ends and the music culminates…so much emotion captured, so heartfelt and honest. Alas, none of it was close to how it really happened during the game. It’s more of a compliment to the trailer itself more than anything, but it always left a bitter taste in my mouth that the final game never lived up to that moment in the trailer.
Gears of War: Mad World by Gary Jules
The original trailer featuring Mad World by Gary Jules is as dark, haunting and hopeless as they come. This trailer features no sound effects at all and relies entirely on the music to sell the bleak, lonely feeling of the trailer. Again, the final game never approached the level of emotion conveyed in the trailer, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a landmark title on Xbox 360.
Seasoned Gears 3 players may recall the easter egg which featured Mad World playing during multiplayer matches. To unlock the easter egg, players had to finish one round on the Gridlock map without destroying any of the ash people. Once the second round started, the song would begin playing. It was quite a sobering experience if you ever managed to encounter this easter egg by accident.
