Mass Effect composer Sam Hulick has released a re-scored version of the leaked trailer for Mass Effect: Universe, created for N7 Day. Hulick stated that this project was his "way of saying goodbye… at least for now" to the franchise.
Hulick's re-scored trailer aims to blend his established musical identity with the Mass Effect universe, drawing inspiration from the trilogy's past while exploring new sonic territories. He described his approach as a "balancing act between paying homage to the original trilogy and exploring new ground," leaning most heavily towards the styles of Mass Effect 1 and 3.
"Mass Effect's earliest tracks were more about raw analog synth blended with orchestral elements, but more subdued and 'vibey' for lack of a better word," Hulick explained to PC Gamer. "Mass Effect 2 leaned more into orchestral bombast... and Mass Effect 3 combined the best of both worlds, with plenty of epic, fist-pump-into-the-air orchestral moments, as well as sparse, moody synth-forward tracks."
The re-score also reflects Hulick's evolution as a composer since the original trilogy. "I used to rely on synth presets, but these days I mostly create my own sounds from scratch, since it's faster than scrolling through a list of 1,000 premade sounds," he said. "On top of that, the quality of my music production has definitely improved since 2013! Everything in the trailer re-score should sound more polished, but still feel like it belongs in the Mass Effect universe."
This project gained additional significance when Hulick revealed that BioWare had previously approached him to score an internal demo for Mass Effect: Universe. Although no commitment was made for the full game's score, he was enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate on the new musical direction. However, this work was cut short by the studio's eventual closure.
Hulick also shared a "pipe dream" ideas for a Mass Effect: Universe soundtrack, including the incorporation of lyrical songs to enhance emotional moments, citing fan appreciation for the end-credits song in the original Mass Effect. "Fans loved the ME1 end-credits song by Faunts, so why not bring more of that back?" he mused.
He envisioned a direction for Mass Effect: Universe that heavily featured analog synths alongside synthwave elements, while still retaining orchestral components. "To remove all orchestral elements from the Mass Effect world feels like it would really hobble some of the more emotional peaks in the narrative," Hulick stated, emphasizing the importance of piano and orchestral arrangements to the franchise's musical identity.
In a statement on his Patreon, Hulick expressed gratitude for the opportunities BioWare provided him throughout his career, acknowledging their role in helping him develop his musical voice and skills. He also extended support to the former BioWare employees affected by the studio's closure, urging industry connections to assist them in finding new opportunities.
Hulick concluded by reflecting on the enduring legacy of Mass Effect, suggesting that even without official new installments, the spirit of the franchise will continue through its fans and creators. "We may not get more from EA, but there will always be more from us. Happy N7 Day."