Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is remembered as a cult classic for many reasons: its absurdist humor, its glorious VHS-filtered visuals, and its pitch-perfect voice acting from Michael Biehn. But perhaps the single most essential ingredient in this neon-soaked recipe for success is the soundtrack. Without its pulsating, synthesized heart, Blood Dragon would simply be a clever parody. With it, the game transcends parody to become a genuine, immersive time machine back to the action cinema of the 1980s. The Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon original game soundtrack, composed by the Australian synthwave duo Power Glove, is not merely background music; it is a narrative force, a character in its own right, and a landmark release that helped define and popularize an entire music genre. This article explores the creation, composition, legacy, and lasting impact of this iconic video game score.
The story of the Blood Dragon soundtrack begins with the composers themselves. Power Glove is the alias of Melbourne-based brothers Jarome and Joel Harmsworth, who perform under the wonderfully ridiculous pseudonyms of Michael Biehn and Michael Dudikoff, names directly borrowed from 80s action stars . Their stage personas are a perfect reflection of their music: two lawyers sent back from the streets of future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles 2043, with a touch of romance and a ton of trouble . This commitment to the 80s aesthetic is not a gimmick but a lifestyle, and it permeates every synth line and drum beat they produce. Before their work on Blood Dragon, Power Glove had already gained a cult following in the underground synthwave scene, with tracks like “Hunters” featured in the 2011 grindhouse film Hobo with a Shotgun . However, it was the call from Ubisoft that would catapult them into the mainstream. According to the duo, the direction from Ubisoft’s Dean Evans was gloriously succinct: “Okay guys, three words, Purple Lazer Beams” . This simple, evocative instruction perfectly encapsulates the game’s aesthetic and gave Power Glove the creative freedom to craft a score that was both a loving homage and a fresh, original work.
The soundtrack consists of 25 original tracks that were released digitally on May 1, 2013, coinciding with the game’s launch, for a price of $9.99 on iTunes . The track listing reads like a roll call of 80s action movie clichés, with titles such as “Rex Colt,” “Warzone,” “Omega Force,” “Cyber Commando,” and “Death of a Cyborg” . This is not accidental; each title is designed to evoke a specific mood or scenario from the game. The opening track, “Rex Colt,” serves as the protagonist’s theme, a bombastic and heroic anthem that immediately establishes the player as an unstoppable cybernetic badass. The “Blood Dragon Theme” is a slower, more menacing piece that captures the terrifying majesty of the game’s titular creatures, while tracks like “Combat I, II, and III” are high-energy, driving pieces designed to keep adrenaline pumping during intense firefights . The duo masterfully balances aggression with atmosphere; tracks like “Moment of Calm” and “Love Theme” provide brief respites of melancholic synth beauty, adding unexpected emotional depth to the over-the-top narrative .
What makes the Blood Dragon soundtrack so effective is its authentic understanding of its influences. Power Glove did not simply create generic electronic music; they deconstructed and reassembled the DNA of classic film scores from the 1980s. The heavy use of analog synthesizers, gated reverb drums, and soaring, melodic leads directly recalls the work of composers like John Carpenter (Escape from New York, The Thing), Brad Fiedel (The Terminator), and Harold Faltermeyer (Beverly Hills Cop) . The soundtrack is drenched in the specific sonic palette of the era: the warmth of a Juno-60, the punch of a LinnDrum machine, and the ethereal quality of a Yamaha DX7. It is a masterclass in retro-futurism, creating a sound that is simultaneously nostalgic and timeless. As one fan noted, the music seamlessly flows between tense Carpenter-esque beats into more modern tracks, all of which sound consistent and enhance the overall experience . The developers at Ubisoft themselves stated that the soundtrack “mirrors the game’s vision of a nostalgia-drenched journey into the world of VHS-inspired dystopian futures” . This synergy between audio and visual design is what elevates Blood Dragon from a good game to a cohesive work of art.
The impact of the Blood Dragon soundtrack extended far beyond the game itself. At the time of its release in 2013, the synthwave genre was still a relatively niche, underground movement. Bands like Power Glove, Kavinsky, and Mitch Murder had dedicated followings, but the genre had not yet broken into the mainstream consciousness. The massive popularity of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, which sold over one million copies, served as a gateway drug for countless gamers who were suddenly exposed to the joys of synthwave . Players who had never heard of John Carpenter or Tangerine Dream were suddenly seeking out similar music, leading to a surge in popularity for the genre. Power Glove’s score became a definitive text for the synthwave revival, proving that the sound of the 80s was not just a relic of the past but a vibrant, living musical language capable of powering modern interactive experiences. The soundtrack’s influence can be heard in countless subsequent games, films, and television shows that have embraced the retro synth aesthetic, from the Netflix series Stranger Things to indie games like Hotline Miami.
Given the soundtrack’s cult status, it was inevitable that it would receive a physical release. The demand for a vinyl edition was immense, and on Record Store Day in April 2014, Invada Records, the label operated by Portishead’s Geoff Barrow, released a limited edition double LP on stunning pink vinyl . This release sold out instantly, becoming a highly sought-after collector’s item. Recognizing the overwhelming demand, Invada and Ubisoft later released a second pressing on standard black 140-gram vinyl in August 2014 . This version included a VHS-style insert with artwork by the renowned designer James White (Signalnoise), further enhancing the retro aesthetic, but it did not include the exclusive poster that came with the original Record Store Day release . The vinyl release is a double LP featuring all 25 tracks, meticulously sequenced across four sides. Side A includes iconic openers like “Rex Colt,” “Blood Dragon Theme,” and “Dr Elizabeth Darling,” while Side B contains the intense combat tracks and the menacing “Sloan” . The second LP features the more atmospheric and narrative-driven pieces on Side C, including “Katana,” “Omega Force,” and the beautiful “Love Theme,” before culminating on Side D with powerful anthems like “Warcry,” “Cyber Commando,” and the reprised “Blood Dragon Theme” . For collectors, this vinyl release remains a prized possession, a physical artifact of the game’s digital brilliance.
The legacy of Power Glove’s work on Blood Dragon continued beyond the original game. The duo was brought back by Ubisoft to score the sequel, Trials of the Blood Dragon, released in June 2016 . For this follow-up, Power Glove evolved their sound, blending the original’s 80s synthwave stylings with 90s house music and rave influences, as well as incorporating epic panpipes to evoke a jungle guerrilla warfare feel . This demonstrated the duo’s versatility and their deep understanding of how music can define a specific time and place. Furthermore, the enduring popularity of the Blood Dragon soundtrack is evidenced by its inclusion in the “Far Cry Music: 20th Anniversary Collection,” a 3LP vinyl box set released in May 2025 by Laced Records to celebrate two decades of the Far Cry franchise . This compilation features select tracks from eight Far Cry titles, including “Blood Dragon Theme,” “Power Core,” “Sloan’s Assault,” and “Warzone” from Power Glove’s original score, cementing its place as one of the most beloved and recognizable soundtracks in the series’ history . The fact that these tracks are still being pressed on vinyl and sold to collectors over a decade after the game’s initial release is a testament to their timeless quality and cultural significance.
In conclusion, the Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon original game soundtrack by Power Glove is a masterpiece of functional art. It is a rare example of a video game score that is perfectly tailored to its source material while also standing alone as a brilliant piece of electronic music. Power Glove successfully channeled the spirit of 1980s action cinema, creating a soundscape that is as humorous, violent, and heartfelt as the game itself. From the heroic opening notes of “Rex Colt” to the melancholic fade of “Resurrection,” the soundtrack guides the player through a nostalgic journey that feels both familiar and thrillingly new. Its influence on the synthwave genre and on gaming culture as a whole cannot be overstated. Whether experienced through tinny TV speakers during a late-night gaming session, streamed through headphones on a commute, or spun on a turntable from a limited edition pink vinyl, the music of Blood Dragon retains its power to transport listeners to a world of purple lazer beams, cyber commandos, and the eternal struggle between man and machine. It is, without question, an awesome soundtrack for an awesome game, and it will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
