Now and then you come across tunes or rythms in places that just grab you or get stuck in your head. These usually have some kind of association to something you enjoyed for some reason. The music and sounds of Mass Effect does this very well. Despite the game’s ending (don’t get me started on that again) all the music of the game really ‘mean something’ as it portray some aspect of the emotion or situation of that part of the game. I firmly believe this is a must in any story that can make use of it – like TV, movies, games and yes, even old radio hehe. Books are of course a bit older but it could have been very interesting if you could read a book and have the emotion of the current stage playing somewhere in the background… hint for ebook makers… hehe

As for Mass Effect (the whole series) even the first and second games’s music did the same even though they had a different composer. I actually liked that too. When you start the original first game (Mass Effect) with the opening scenes introducing the story and the Normandy the theme music really set the stage – futuristic, expecting excitement, anticipation adventure etc. Even the ‘new worlds’ or ‘uncharted worlds’ theme afterwards reminds me of fond memories of the game (even though the scanning for resources really became annoying after a while 🙂 ). And who can forget the first time you close in on the Citadel! The music playing adds to the size, awe, mystique of the place!

Mass Effect 2 also had some new music that set it apart from the original. The whole shift to the ‘Cerberus side’ changed things but the music portrayed a more positive or excitement idea. Who can forget the almost overly excitement of Grunt and his comments on the battlefield about how ‘good’ he is 🙂

The third/last game also shines at these. The opening scenes of the game – even before you start playing really tells you something of the game. The atmosphere have changed again. There is a feeling of more drama, sadness, fear. Perhaps almost too much as the overall feeling is leaning towards the fear/sadness side. The only real positive/uplifting themes are when Admiral Hacket gives his speech and the fleets arrive to save Earth. Then there is the really scary theme of the ‘Ardat Yakshi’ that kind of creeps you out just hearing it.

Overall each game’s music sets a general theme and tells you about the direction of the story.

1. Introducing a new exciting, mysterious world of adventure.
2. More heart pounding action/excitement of combat, preparing for the real big battle ahead
3. Fear, confusion and sadness of the coming battle, loss (of friends and the war)

Some notable themes I like(ed) are:

1. ‘The Mass effect’
2.  ‘The Normandy’
3. ‘The Citadel’
4. ‘Spectre Induction’
5. ‘Virmire drive’
6. ‘Uncharted worlds’
7.  Uplink
8. ‘The Illusive man’
9.  ‘A Rude awakening’
10. Thane
11. ‘Grunt’
12. ‘Tali’
13. Mordin’
14. ‘Jack’
15. ‘The end run’
16. ‘Fate of the galaxy’
17. ‘Leaving Earth’
18. Mars
19. ‘The view of Palavan’
20. ‘A future for the Krogan’
21. ‘The Cerberus plot’
22. ‘Prothean beacon’
23. ‘Stand strong, stand together’
24. ‘I was lost without you’
25. ‘We face our enemy together’
26. The fleets arrive’
27. ‘I’m proud of you’
28. ‘Das malefitz’

If it wasn’t for the music the game wouldn’t have been half as good it is. Despite the ‘bad’ ending I’ll still have fond memories for a couple of years about the whole ‘Mass Effect’ world. It really sets it apart from most other games/shows that is currently around. For example – despite what an impact the ‘new’ Battlestar Galactica had (around 2004) who actually remembers anything about it?? – since it had no music, no themes that reminded you of anything noteworthy that happened. Hell, I have better memories about the original Battlestar series that at least had a theme song!