I logged in from facebook just to talk about this. I completely agree with you. I adored Marty's music and I was extremely dissapointed with the direction that Davidge took Halo 4's music in. Another use made the point that it feels more like a film score, and I would say that's exactly the reason I don't like it: It feel's like something cliched that could have been in a movie, not something from a Halo Game. All of the iconic sounds that Marty brought into the series that made it amazing.... all of them are gone, and without those sounds it's just not the same Halo to me. I understand the need for evolution and that I should expect Davidge to go with his own style, but he almost completely ignored the tone and everything else that Marty had set.
Halo Wars is the only other example of a Halo Soundtrack being composes by somebody other than Marty, and I feel that it was vastly superior to Halo 4's soundtrack. Stephen Rippy was able to express himself artistically and distinguish the soundtrack while still respecting the musical roots of Halo to provide a satisfying and good soundtrack that fit the game very well. While listening to it you could tell clearly that it was not Marty... but it still felt like you were playing a Halo game.
Halo isn't growing up so much as it's be re-invented, the music is good just not fitting for Halo. You claim that it's more dark but I'd argue that Marty's music conveyed darkness, sadness etc. much better while also keeping the fun walk-in-the park bits. The things to jump around to and feel badass were an essential part of what made halo great to so many fans. Sure the soundtrack is good as a film score, but Halo isn't a film. Melody isn't the only thing thats been thrown away here, all the iconic percussion and distinct "Halo" sounds are pretty much gone. The music is decent at best if examining it based on it's merits as music alone, but within the context of Halo, which already has a distinct and beloved sound, it's a disaster.
