Clint Mansell making Mass Effect 3 music

By Robert Purchese Published 10 February, 2011

BioWare hires Aronofsky's favourite.

Mass Effect 3 may sound very different to Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 - BioWare has hired Clint Mansell, whose best work has been done partnering with celebrated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler and Black Swan), to make the game's music.

Mass Effect 3 appears to be his videogame debut.

"I'm doing a videogame this year actually: Mass Effect 3," Mansell told The Quietus.

"I'm definitely interested in different outlets – that's one of the reasons I get involved in short films. It's not so much that I can experiment as it is to be in a situation where nobody's looking over your shoulder. Short films are usually made by young people and they've got ideas I can bounce off. They can take me in a different direction.

"So in a game, the character might arrive at a big boss and you have to have a piece that can quickly become dramatic.

Where this leaves two-time Mass Effect composer Jack Wall remains to be seen. Eurogamer has requested clarification.

Mansell said that as a composer on a game you take on a role that closely resembles a DJ.

"You've got the holding pattern, then the big explosion where you need the score to kick in. Then you need to take it off on a tangent," he said.

"You've got all these different elements that change depending on what the player does. You have to figure out an overall symphony, but be able to break it down into component parts.

"You can bring the pain when required."

Excitingly, Mansell said he likes to fly to London to record his work (composed at home) because "the resources and the musicians are the best". But he's not fussy; if BioWare decides to fly him from Los Angeles to Canada then hey ho, he'll go.

Mass Effect 3.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (68) Latest comment 1 year ago

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  • kingmong #1 1 year ago

    that is really cool

  • Mike1980 #2 1 year ago

    Fantastic. Requiem For a Dream is my favourite soundtrack album.

  • kingmong #3 1 year ago

    the main theme from the fountain is amazing too, and what I've heard of Black Swan is good

    edit: the main theme from Requiem for a Dream is used in sports ads all over the world now. It's a bit weird when you're looking at an ad for rugby and "ass to ass" keeps popping into your head. difficult film to forget!
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/11 @ 09:34

  • AcidSnake #4 1 year ago

    Don't forget the soundtrack of Doom...The movie that is...
    And Moon...

  • menage #5 1 year ago

    They better not fuck up my 70's sci fi Jarreesque vibe for something overly Hollywood film like. But Mansell is a nice choice.

  • HL706 #6 1 year ago

    I hope this works out but I can't help but think; "If it aint broke, don't fix it" :-/

  • Whitster #7 1 year ago

    I like the soundtracks this guy has worked on, however I'm a little depressed to think the classic Sci-Fi synth, John Carpenter esque music won't be in ME3.

  • kingmong #8 1 year ago

    @AcidSnake: nice! Didn't realise Moon was him but it totally makes sense now you say it

  • aphex187 #9 1 year ago

    'Not Now James, We're Busy!'

  • jablonski #10 1 year ago

    "the main theme from Requiem for a Dream is used in sports ads all over the world now."

    It was made famous by being the theme to the theatrical trailers of Lord Of The Rings.

    It's way too overused now, like the final 'nuke' fanfare from ALIENS was in the 90's

  • Sutorcen #11 1 year ago

    The guy is a genius... Excellent choice. Wow

  • AphoticCosmos #12 1 year ago

    Not sure how I feel about this. Mansell is pretty awesome, but why fix what ain't broke? Jack Wall and Sam Hulick excelled in the first two games and this feels like a very petty snub by someone down the chain of command.

  • Yodith #13 1 year ago

    This is fantastic, just imagining scenes from Mass Effect set to the score from Moon makes me very happy indeed.

  • Rowlsten #14 1 year ago

    @Whitster

    This is taken from that same interview.

    "Which composers do you admire?
    The one I always go back to is John Carpenter. When I first saw stuff like Hallowe'en or Assault on Precinct 13 I thought, yes, these are the kind of sounds I want to hear. Electronic, very ominous, but melodic as well. Carpenter's music was one of the first things Darren and I bonded over. I think Pi, looking at it now, is very Carpenteresque. We wanted something that hit you, we wanted a melody, we wanted something ominous, and we wanted this brooding nature."

  • neilqpr #15 1 year ago

    Gonna get the girl, gonna kill the baddies...and save the entire planet.

  • kingmob #16 1 year ago

    @neilqpr... oh man, that had better be the closing credits music or else!

  • towser #17 1 year ago

    Clint Mansell - the F1 driver with no name

  • TruSmiles #18 1 year ago

    Aww, I love Jack Wall. I hugged him after Video Games Live and it was the most amazing thing ever.

  • Zapatero #19 1 year ago

    "Vestan Pance making Mass Effect 3 music" would have made for a better headline

  • drhickman1983 #20 1 year ago

    Awesome, even if I don't get the game (I will) I'll get the soundtrack. This news actually makes me want to play the game more. I've seen films I otherwise had no interest in because Clint was scoring them, sad perhaps but true.

    Mansell's best soundtrack, imo, is The Fountain. Film wasn't great but the soundtrack was awesome, Mogwai and Kronos Quartet. Well bum. Requiem... soundtrack is good, but a bit overheard now.

    And I definitely agree with the PWEI comment. Doubtful, but we can hope.

  • jag10 #21 1 year ago

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=9SMNpSx6fX8

  • jablonski #22 1 year ago

    Poor for the first fella.
    He didn't do a lot wrong as far as I can see, seeing as the game is so successful.

  • Dj_ade_76 #23 1 year ago

    Clint Mansell.. Class

  • JusticeMoses #24 1 year ago

    Feel a little bad for Jack Wall but on the other hand Clint Mansell is one of my favourite composers. Can just imagine some of the epic moments in ME3 being set to music from The Fountain (his best score). Death is the Road to Awe, stunning.

  • nuanimal #25 1 year ago

    Pleasant news. I remember the interview when Harry Gregson Williams, was approached by Konami to do the music for MGS.

    He'd never done a video game soundtrack but has since done an excellent job. Here's hoping the same for Clint Mansell.

  • Soton4084 #26 1 year ago

    Brilliant news. The music in Mass Effect 1 and 2 was very good indeed, but I think this will be on another level. I'd recommend people checking out 'Moon' if you haven't seen it, as the same guy composed the superb soundtrack for that. Furthermore, it's a brilliant film in it's own right and well worth checking out.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/11 @ 10:39

  • ShiroBen #27 1 year ago

    But ... but Jack Wall! JACK WALL! Clint Mansell is great, obviously, but the music of ME is fantastic already and so much a part of what it is, Suicide Mission in particular being one of my favourite pieces of music ever--and Tali's theme, come on! The Illusive Man's music! The love theme! Vigil from the first game, impossible to listen to without getting all tingly--I'm sure the old themes and leitmotifs won't be thrown away, they're too iconic and amazing for that, so I'm not exactly worried about this, just ... oh, I don't know. Just please don't muck it up, that's all.

  • octavedoctor #28 1 year ago

    PWEI-ization!

    The invasion of Earth Scene should be to the tones of Defcon One.



  • GreyScale #29 1 year ago

    When they come to ethnically cleanse the humans, will Shepard speak out, will he defend me?

  • photoboy #30 1 year ago

    Mansell is great, but I'd like to know the reasons for replacing the fantastic Jack Wall, and it better not be because they wanted a "big name" on the credits.

  • RedSparrows #31 1 year ago

    The Fountain sound track is sublime.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #32 1 year ago

    This is simultaneously awesome and frightening news.

    Clint Mansell does great work, but why would they change up what's already perfect for the final part of the trilogy?

  • Genome #33 1 year ago

    The music of Mass Effect is already great, but it will be interesting to see what Mansell brings to the table.

    I wonder if Bioware are looking to Mansell because they're fans of Aronofsky and the way he handles characters? Would that imply an ass-to-ass scene, by the way? ;)

  • gillri #34 1 year ago

    OMG!! Clint mansell!!!

    this guy is amazing, listen to The Fountain OST, he pretty much made that film,

    or for the sci-fi style that ME OST might have, listen to the Moon OST

    this is amazing news!!!

  • dadrester #35 1 year ago

    A mate of a mate's track is on the Black Swan soundtrack. Kavsrave!

  • Whitster #36 1 year ago

    @ Rowlsten

    Cheers man, concerns retracted.

  • Vortex808 #37 1 year ago

    Yay for the ex-poppy! Looking forward to this even more now.

    In fact....

    This is the day, this is the hour, this is this.

  • SomaticSense #38 1 year ago

    Clint Mansell is an amazing composer, but what was wrong with whoever did the soundtracks to ME1 & 2? They both have probably the best and most memorable soundtracks of this generation, and sounded quite unlike anything else!

    Disappointed.

  • ChuckNorris #39 1 year ago

    The soundtrack in Black Swan is astounding.

  • Sodding_Gamer #40 1 year ago

    He sounds like an awesome choice.

    However I am slightly worried about not having Sam and Jack Wall doing it too. :/ simply because the music in both Mass effect 1 and 2 were just awe inspiring. I mean I used to just chill on the galaxy map because the "uncharted worlds" song was soo peaceful. And chilling around the Citadel. That music is imprinted in my brain! I just hope Clint Mansell does the sci-fi electro route rather than orchestral. As the sci-fi electro sound suites this franchise so well!

  • TheTingler #41 1 year ago

    Hmm, yes, clarification please Eurogamer. As much as I like the guy's work, I'd prefer it to be on a brand new IP rather than Mass Effect 3. The main theme from ME2 still gives me chills, I don't think Jack Wall really needs replacing.

  • dudefella #42 1 year ago

    They'd best not fuck with the galaxy map music! http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=j1fJoBDP6Fo

  • Sausagechaos #43 1 year ago

    It's going to drive me mad, but what was the name of the game done by Gremlin Graphics for the PS1 that had a track written by Clint Mansell when he was still a Poppy?

    and Greg Staples did the concept art too..

  • mr_pink #44 1 year ago

    It better be synthy, very synthy. The music in his films is v good, but it's all piano and strings, which doesn't really fit with the space opera vibe for me. I absolutely loved the ME music, some of the lonlier, epic themes in ME1 in particular. If they at least bring Jack Wall in to consult and keep the essential 'flavour' of ME consistent, this could be amazing.

  • Sodding_Gamer #45 1 year ago

    Totally agree Mr_pink

    If Jack Wall has anything to do with it or even a possible collaboration I will be a very happy man. But please don't change the Galaxy map music! Haha seriously love the mass effect soundtracks.

  • pauleyc #46 1 year ago

    @dudefella

    "Uncharted Worlds", the navigation theme from ME is one of my favourite tracks, pity it's so short (around 1:30).

  • Eraysor #47 1 year ago

    I really, really hope he doesn't change the style too much. Mass Effect already sounded ridiculously amazing...the galaxy map music is my favourite video game music of the last ten years.

  • Rowlsten #48 1 year ago

    This is complete speculation. But there's a chance that Clint is just providing 'some' music, rather than the whole score. Just as the other games have other musicians. Richard Jacques for example. I'm sure they're not going to mess up the sound of the game by bringing in some completely different composer. I dunno, just a thought. They know what they're doing, I think bringing Clint on board is just showing that the third game will be expanding even more and that obviously means more content needs to be made.

  • curtlikesmeat #49 1 year ago

    Agreed on The Fountain soundtrack - I thought it was a brilliant film too. Probably not interested in the game but will buy the soundtrack.

  • figgis #50 1 year ago

    'Bever patrol' for the love scenes please.

  • AHiFi #51 1 year ago

    Rubbish. I like Clint Mansell, but there is absolutely no need for a change. If he's working together with Jack Wall, then fair enough.

  • makeamazing #52 1 year ago

    Clint Mansell is fantastic, the Moon soundtrack is brilliant... very good news indeed.

  • superflyninja #53 1 year ago

    ah fuck. I loved the ME1 and 2 soundtracks. Especially ME1.I still listen to them on the itouch. The electro Jarre -vibes were pitch perfect. Now the music on the films Mansell worked on is ace but i agree if it aint broke then dont fix it.

  • kingmong #54 1 year ago

    I say if it ain't broke MAKE IT BETTER!!

  • darleysam #55 1 year ago

    Man.. I'm not sure what to make of this. I love the music in ME1 and some of the stuff in 2, but then I also love Mansell's work, particularly Moon which was just inspired and brilliant. I still want it to sound like Mass Effect music, but I can't think of anyone better I'd want to be working on Mass Effect's music.

  • Tyranix #56 1 year ago

    Thank God, as much as I love the Mass Effect series I hate the music (not so bad in the second but 1's was awful).

  • X3Entente #57 1 year ago

    thank good they had the sense to ditch jack wall, music, or lack of music was like a gaping hole in mass effect's heart. After playing thorugh me1 and 2 i cant for the life of me remembera single composition except me remembering that in general it was watery minimalist electro garbage

  • Kaminari #58 1 year ago

    Considering that the audio signature of Mass Effect is very much about vintage synths, having anyone other than Jack Wall (and coworkers Sam Hulick, Jimmy Hinson, etc) composing the music of Mass Effect 3 could be absolutely worrying.

    But remember that Clint Mansell wrote the superbly atmospheric score for Moon, which sounds very much like an epic piece of 70's sci-fi. Moon's main theme could easily find a place in the Mass Effect canon. That and the fact that Mansell seems obviously interested in creating a dynamic soundtrack.

    Colour me tentatively excited.

  • hiddenranbir #59 1 year ago

    "If it aint broke, don't fix it"

    ME seems to not follow that trend, same with DA. I think it is a Bioware thing in general for recent things.

  • Khorrax #60 1 year ago

    I respect Clint Mansell, but I somehow doubt he'll produce something as fitting as the soundtrack for the first two Mass Effect games. Why change Jack Wall right for the last game of the trilogy, especially when Mass Effect 2's soundtrack is even better than the first (one of the few areas where the sequel surpassed its predecessor :p)?

    I'm sure we'll end up with a good score, but it simply won't sound like Mass Effect. Unless Jack Wall is still involved, of course.

  • billy323 #61 1 year ago

    Get the Girl, Kill the Baddies and save the Entire Plannet. Poppies rule

  • kongzi #62 1 year ago

    good choice, I'm sure it'll work out great but I don't think Mansell is going to bring something that radically different from Wall. The music for ME1 & 2 was spot on as well. Maybe Wall is going to score the next Aronofsky movie, eh?

  • ExplodingClown #63 1 year ago

    @sausagechaos: was it 'Loaded'? Seems to stir a faint memory.

    Does seem a rather marketing-driven choice. I love me some Clint, but the ME1 and 2 soundtracks fit the overblown po-faced-yet-cheesy tone pretty well. As CM's soundtracks seem (Doom excepted) to largely be for films about characters struggling with their own natures to often tragic results, is this an attempt to bring some borrowed gravitas to the end of the Mass Effect story arc? Will Shepard be revealed to be other than the vaguely fascistic knucklehead he's come across as so far? Only EA, BioWare and a shitload of pricey DLC will tell....

  • MrBeast #64 1 year ago

    HOW DARE YOU FORGET THE FOUNTAIN?!?

  • dripgoss #65 1 year ago

    Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 are probably two of the best games of all time. BUT the score has never fit the epicness of the design, dialog and visual target of the game. Sorry whomever you were that did the original scores, but it always sounded like bad 80's synth-pop. Come on, a little more creativity and "out there" with the music direction - ME is set in the future AND in outer space! 4/4 techno music based off stock sounds in Logic doesn't do the game's music justice.

  • Sausagechaos #66 1 year ago

    @ExplodingClown- cheers Fella that's it! thank god you knew it.

  • sycogamer94 #67 1 year ago

    Am I the only person who is definitely not excited, and more on the dissapointed side?

    The trailer seemed to make Mass Effect 3 to be an 'epic' finish of good series, but it's going to be a story kill. All the new games (popular ones, at least) seem to be riding the 'cinematic' wave. I liked the first ME, the second was too short, and the third looks to be something slapped together to finish it off.

    I liked the original music, and the new stuff doens't sound that exciting. :p

  • Gamerunner #68 1 year ago

    Hello!
    I am not share the enthusiasm of many people of change the composer for ME3 and less for Mr.Clint Mansell.I love both of the games and their music.It sounds magnificent.Mr.Jack Wall and co-writers are great.Maybe some themes a little opressive but generally the music interlaces perfectly with the gameplay and creates a special atmosphere,unique for ME.On the contrary
    the music of Clint Mansell for me is terrible,insipid,always the same type,dark,anxious,make me sick and I can not support to listen it even for a few minutes.Sure,there are a lot of tastes for anybody but I do not understand how some persons make
    bad music and make famous,and people adore it.I would recommend listen the music of Marc Snow and Louis Febre at films "X-files", especially serie "Smallville".That is fabulous music!If "Bioware" takes that style of composers it would be great!
    People,who like the original composers stuff,let save the music for Me3!If someone with prestige could send petition to
    company to reconsider this unlucky idea.Please,Bioware,do not drop us to hell!
    Hi,sycogamer94!