Music is a powerful medium. Capable of stirring up long-forgotten memories and evoking powerful emotion in the listener, music can reduce even the burliest of blokes into blubbering, crumpled heaps. And who says that us guys are afraid to show their sensitive side? Poppycock. Of course, video games are no exception to this rule, and as often is the case, a stellar soundtrack can greatly accentuate the on-screen antics, elevating even the most perfunctory scene to hard-hitting greatness.
In a continued celebration of some of gaming’s ear-pleasing aural accomplishments, PSU presents yet another instalment in our on-going Classic Tracks series. For our latest entry, we celebrate the recent launch of Mass Effect 1 on PS3 by taking a look at one of the game’s standout breaks.
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Name: M4, Part II
Composer(s): Faunts
Soundtrack: Mass Effect Original Soundtrack
Mass Effect’s soundtrack is a glorious piece of work, combining elements of various genres but maintaining an unmistakable sci-fi theme influenced by the likes of Blade Runner and Dune. Performed by electronic space rockers Faunts, Mass Effect’s ending theme is a fitting companion for the conclusion of the first chapter of the epic space opera. Clocking in at just over eight minutes, M4 PII features haunting vocals and sweeping, dream-like instrumental passages, evoking Mass Effect’s sprawling universe and sci-fi themes. Lyrically the song is very appropriate to Shepard’s struggle, such as the need for companionship ("I need you to recover/because I can’t make it on my own") and in some cases allude to future plotlines – the verse ‘will you redeem my life again?’ foreshadows what Liara does in ME2, for example. All in all, it’s one of the most memorable tracks from the trilogy.
Check it out below.