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 celebration of some of gaming’s ear-pleasing aural accomplishments, PSU has kicked off a new series of features highlighting some of our all-time favourite PlayStation music tracks, plucked from the brand’s extensive 15 year history. To kick things off, we’ve turned out attention to survival horror classic Resident Evil, which just so happens to be celebrating its 15th anniversary in this week. Party hats and booze all around, folks, as we take a look at the classic ‘Still Dawn.’
Title: Still Dawn
Soundtrack: Biohazard Original Soundtrack Remix
Composer(s): Masami Ueda, Makoto Tomozawa, Akari Kaida
Played during end credits of Capcom’s 1996 horror staple Resident Evil, Still Dawn is considered by some to be incongruously cheerful for a game that’s coated with gut-wrenching, spine-tingling ditties. Having braved death and darkness for the past few hours in the bowls of Umbrella’s secluded mansion laboratory, however, the song’s triumphant, euphoric roar is a welcoming assault on the senses. Besides, it’s the end of a horror game — aren’t we allowed to feel a little chipper having managed to avoid becoming a zombie’s lunch? Case closed. Interestingly, RE1’s ending tune came in two flavours; the one below is the track you’ll hear in the U.S. and U.K. releases, while another version — a full-on pop/rock assault featuring lyrics — was included at the climax of the original Japanese release of Biohazard, titled ‘I won’t let this end as a dream.’
Keep your eyes peeled for more Classic Tracks here on PSU in the near future.