Music of Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 is an action role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 6, 2012, and for Wii U on November 18, 2012. The music of the game was composed by several composers, including Clint Mansell, Christopher Lennertz, Cris Velasco, Sam Hulick, and Sascha Dikiciyan.

Composition

In a casual interview with The Quietus on the 9 February 2011, composer Clint Mansell stated "I'm doing a video game this year actually. Mass Effect 3."^[1] While not dismissing the statement, via a reciprocation of the story on Game Informer on the 10th, Electronic Arts responded: "EA doesn't have any details to announce at this time in regards to Mass Effect 3's composer."^[2]

Via Twitter on the 10 February 2011, Wall of Sound inc. in-house composer Jack Wall, responsible for the music to both previous instalments of the Mass Effect franchise, confirmed having no involvement with the production of Mass Effect 3. A peripheral statement concluded that he will "not [be] returning to score the final game" due to undetailed and "complicated" reasons. Wall also used positive connotations in mention of Mansell.^[3]

On 19 December 2011, BioWare announced the full lineup of Mass Effect 3 composers, including Clint Mansell, Christopher Lennertz, Cris Velasco, Sam Hulick, and Sascha Dikiciyan.^[4] After an accidental leak during the demo, fans discovered that the soundtrack would feature a Faunts song entitled Das Malefitz. This marks the second time the band's music has been featured in a Mass Effect game.

Albums

Original Videogame Score

Mass Effect 3: Original Videogame Score
Soundtrack album by Clint Mansell, Sam Hulick, Christopher Lennertz, Cris Velasco, Sascha Dikiciyan, and Faunts
Released	March 5, 2012
Genre	Video game soundtrack
Length	68:05

Mass Effect 3: Original Videogame Score is the main soundtrack album of Mass Effect 3, containing a selection of music from the game. It was initially available only through purchase of the Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector's Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition, though it became available on the iTunes Store on April 24, 2012.

Tracklist
No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"The Fate of the Galaxy"	Sam Hulick	1:18
2.	"Leaving Earth"	Clint Mansell	2:01
3.	"Mars"	Sam Hulick	4:40
4.	"A Cerberus Agent"	Sam Hulick	1:46
5.	"The View of Palaven"	Christopher Lennertz	3:34
6.	"A Future for the Krogan"	Christopher Lennertz	3:28
7.	"Surkesh"	Christopher Lennertz	2:27
8.	"The Ardat Yakshi"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	3:18
9.	"Rannoch"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	3:05
10.	"I'm Sorry"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	2:34
11.	"The Cerberus Plot"	Christopher Lennertz	3:48
12.	"The Scientists"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	2:48
13.	"Aralakh Company"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	3:26
14.	"Prothean Beacon"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	3:19
15.	"Defeat"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	3:17
16.	"Reaper Chase"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	2:02
17.	"Stand Strong, Stand Together"	Christopher Lennertz	1:53
18.	"I Was Lost Without You"	Sam Hulick	2:33
19.	"The Fleets Arrive"	Sam Hulick	1:41
20.	"We Face Our Enemy Together"	Sam Hulick	1:39
21.	"I'm Proud of You"	Sam Hulick	1:15
22.	"An End, Once and for All"	Clint Mansell and Sam Hulick	2:51
23.	"Das Malefitz"	Faunts	4:05
24.	"Betrayal"	Christopher Lennertz	2:52
25.	"Creation"	Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan	2:13

Extended Cut

Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut
Soundtrack album by Clint Mansell and Sam Hulick
Released	July 6, 2012
Genre	Video game soundtrack
Length	16:53

Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut contains additional music composed by Sam Hulick. The soundtrack was released for free on BioWare Social Network on July 6, 2012.^[5]

Tracklist
No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Wake Up"	Sam Hulick	2:00
2.	"An End, Once and for All" (Extended Cut)	Clint Mansell and Sam Hulick	4:45
3.	"A Future That Many Will Never See"	Sam Hulick	1:32
4.	"I Will Watch Over Those Who Live On"	Sam Hulick	3:24
5.	"I Am Alive and I Am Not Alone"	Sam Hulick	1:49
6.	"We Fought as a United Galaxy"	Sam Hulick	1:57
7.	"Resolution"	Sam Hulick	1:26

Leviathan

Mass Effect 3: Leviathan
Soundtrack album by Sascha Dikicyan & Cris Velasco
Released	September 1, 2012
Genre	Video game soundtrack
Length	3:06

Mass Effect 3: Leviathan contains an unreleased track from the DLC, and was made available for free on September 1, 2012.^[6]

Tracklist
No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Leviathan"	Sascha Dikicyan & Cris Velasco	3:06

Reception

Mass Effect 3's score was chosen by Kotaku as one of the best video game music of 2012.^[7]

References

1. Kiran Acharya. "The Quietus - "A Quietus Interview - Unspoilt By Progress: A Conversation With Black Swan Composer Clint Mansell"".
2. Meagan Marie. "Black Swan Composer Attached To Mass Effect 3".
3. Jack Wall. ""Concerning ME3 and Clint Mansell..." via Twitter".
4. Bioware. "Music Press Release".
5. Josh Straub. "Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut Soundtrack Available Now".
6. Bioware. "Mass Effect 3: Leviathan".
7. Kirk Hamilton (2012-12-13). "The Best Video Game Music of 2012". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2013-05-21.