Feb 22, 2025

Power Glove – Composed for Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

When Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon dropped in 2013, it was a neon-drenched fever dream of ‘80s action movie madness wrapped inside a video game. The game itself was a tongue-in-cheek love letter to VHS-era sci-fi, but one of its strongest elements? The music. That synth-heavy, futuristic-yet-retro sound came courtesy of Power Glove, an Australian electronic duo that nailed the aesthetic so hard it felt like they stole their synthesizers from a time-traveling arcade.

The Sound of an ’80s Dystopian Future

Before we dive into the genius of Power Glove’s Blood Dragon soundtrack, let’s set the scene. Imagine:

A world dominated by glowing neon grids.
Cybernetic soldiers punching things first and asking questions never.
Explosions. Lots of explosions.
A soundtrack so intense it makes you want to put on sunglasses indoors and ride a motorcycle through a city at night.

That’s the energy Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon exudes, and Power Glove matched it perfectly with an electronic score that oozed with synthwave power.

The game’s protagonist, Rex "Power" Colt, voiced by Terminator legend Michael Biehn, is a one-liner machine who exists purely to destroy evil in the most radical way possible. The music had to keep up, and Power Glove didn’t disappoint. From the first track to the last, their work on this game makes you feel like you’re living inside a VHS tape labeled "EXTREME FUTURE WARFARE – DO NOT RECORD OVER."

Who the Heck is Power Glove?

If you’re picturing the clunky NES controller that promised motion controls but only delivered disappointment, think again. Power Glove (the band) is a synthwave duo from Australia known for crafting soundscapes that feel ripped straight out of a dystopian sci-fi movie from 1987.

Their music doesn’t just sound retro—it feels like you found it on a cassette buried under a pile of muscle magazines and arcade tokens. Before Blood Dragon, they had already gained a cult following with their aggressive, cinematic synth sounds. After the game’s release? They cemented themselves as some of the best in the genre.

But let’s be real—synthwave isn’t just music. It’s an entire aesthetic, a movement, a vibe. It’s for the people who know that trench coats look better in the rain, that red and blue lighting makes everything cooler, and that sunglasses should be worn at all times—even at night.

You know who else understands that aesthetic? Newretro.Net.

The Fashion of the Blood Dragon Era

One of the best things about Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is that it fully embraces the look of ‘80s action heroes. Everything is over-the-top—glowing cybernetic arms, giant shoulder pads, and sunglasses that make you look like you’re in a lost Blade Runner scene.

If you’re into that aesthetic, you don’t have to steal a cyber-soldier’s gear to get the look. Newretro.Net delivers that same retro-futuristic style with denim and leather jackets, sneakers, sunglasses, and watches that look like they were plucked straight out of an ‘80s action flick. If you ever wanted to dress like a protagonist in a synthwave music video, this is where you start.

Because let’s face it—if you’re vibing with Blood Dragon and its music, you already know the past’s version of the future is cooler than our present. And dressing like you’re about to ride a neon-lit motorcycle into a cyberpunk city is never a bad move.

Breaking Down the Blood Dragon Soundtrack

Power Glove didn’t just make background music for Blood Dragon—they built an entire mood. The soundtrack doesn’t just play during the game; it practically is the game. Every track sounds like it belongs in a lost sci-fi film from the golden age of VHS rentals.

Some standout moments include:

"Blood Dragon Theme" – Right out of the gate, this song lets you know what you’re in for: pulsating bass, sharp synths, and enough power to fuel a laser cannon.
"Warzone" – Imagine a squad of cyber-soldiers marching into battle in slow motion while explosions go off behind them. That’s this song.
"Power Core" – A driving, relentless track that sounds like it was made for outrunning a missile on a futuristic motorcycle.
"Omega Force" – Evil has a theme song, and it sounds awesome.

The entire soundtrack manages to be both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time, which is why it still holds up today. It taps into that undeniable ‘80s power-fantasy energy—the kind that makes you want to do push-ups while planning revenge on a cybernetic overlord.

And that’s just the beginning. The deeper you go into the Blood Dragon experience, the more you realize how crucial Power Glove’s music is to making the game feel like the ultimate synthwave action movie you never got to rent on VHS.

The Legacy of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon’s Soundtrack

By the time you’ve spent a few hours in Blood Dragon, something becomes clear: this isn’t just a game—it’s a full-blown, neon-lit experience, and Power Glove’s music is the heart of it. It’s the kind of soundtrack that lingers in your head long after you’ve put the controller down, making everything you do feel 300% more epic.

Think about it. Driving to the grocery store? Suddenly, it feels like a high-speed chase through a cyberpunk city. Sitting at your desk at work? Now you’re hacking into a government mainframe while wearing fingerless gloves. Taking out the trash? Boom. You’re on a mission to neutralize an enemy outpost under the cover of darkness. That’s the power of synthwave.

But here’s the wild part—this wasn’t just nostalgia bait. Blood Dragon and its soundtrack actually helped revive interest in synthwave as a genre. It reintroduced an entire generation to the magic of synth-heavy, cinematic music inspired by ‘80s sci-fi and action films. And the impact is still being felt today.

Synthwave’s Rise After Blood Dragon

When Blood Dragon dropped in 2013, synthwave was still somewhat underground. Sure, artists like Perturbator, Carpenter Brut, and Kavinsky had been keeping the sound alive, but it wasn’t exactly mainstream. Then, suddenly, people who had never heard of the genre were looking up Power Glove, diving into synthwave playlists, and craving more neon-lit, bass-heavy beats.

Fast forward to today, and synthwave is everywhere:

Movies & TV – Stranger Things made synth-heavy soundtracks cool again. Cyberpunk-inspired films and shows now feature pulsating synth tracks left and right.
Gaming – The success of Blood Dragon helped pave the way for other synthwave-infused games like Hotline Miami, Cyberpunk 2077, and Katana ZERO.
Fashion & Culture – The ‘80s aesthetic is back in full force. Neon signs, VHS filters, futuristic sunglasses—if it looked good in Blade Runner, it’s popular again.

And let’s not pretend we’re not seeing the fashion side of this revival, too. The rise of synthwave culture also brought back the classic retro-futuristic look—the kind that Newretro.Net has been championing since day one.

Dressing Like a Synthwave Legend

If you’re vibing with the Blood Dragon soundtrack, chances are you’re also into retro-futuristic style. That means sleek leather jackets, dark shades, high-top sneakers, and watches that look like they control time itself.

Newretro.Net delivers that exact energy with:

Denim & Leather Jackets – The kind of jackets that make you feel like a rogue cyber-hacker on the run from a mega-corporation.
Retro Sneakers – High-tech, low-key, and perfect for outrunning laser-equipped enemies.
Sunglasses – Because let’s face it, everything looks better through tinted lenses.
Watches – The ultimate power move. Telling time while looking like you just stepped out of a futuristic arcade? Yes, please.

The best part? You don’t need a time machine to dress like you’re from the future. You just need to know where to look.

Why Power Glove’s Blood Dragon Score Still Holds Up

Even over a decade later, Power Glove’s work on Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon remains one of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time. It’s not just background noise—it’s an essential piece of the game’s identity.

Here’s why it still slaps in 2025:

It’s Pure, Unapologetic Nostalgia – The music taps into that perfect blend of cheesy and cool that made ‘80s action movies legendary.
It’s Incredibly Cinematic – Close your eyes while listening, and you’re instantly transported into an over-the-top sci-fi adventure.
It Inspired a New Wave of Music – After Blood Dragon, synthwave exploded in popularity, leading to more artists, more games, and more neon-lit madness.
It’s Just That Good – Even if you have no idea what Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is, the music still goes hard. It doesn’t need the game—it stands on its own as a synthwave masterpiece.

So whether you’re blasting the soundtrack while lifting weights, hacking into a mainframe (hypothetically), or just walking through a parking garage pretending it’s the final scene of a sci-fi film—Power Glove has got you covered.

And that’s the beauty of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon’s music. It’s not just a collection of tracks—it’s a portal to a neon-drenched, synth-powered future that never was, but should have been.

So throw on your shades, turn up the volume, and embrace the world of synthwave. And if you really want to complete the look? You know where to go. Newretro.Net’s got you covered.