Daily Debate: What are the Most Underrated Songs in the Zelda Franchise?
Posted on March 03 2024 by Josh Wittmershaus
As the melodies of Musical March Madness echo in the near future, I can’t help but reflect on how enthusiastic the community has been on voting for their favorite songs over the years, and how contentious some of the debates are over what songs belong at the top of the list. Every year, songs that I love and enjoy get left in the dust, and while I’ll be the first to admit that my musical tastes are questionable at times, I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that some songs are denied their chance in the spotlight by their more popular counterparts. Here’s a few Zelda songs that I think are severely underrated or underappreciated:
- “Tarm Ruins & the Lost Woods” from Oracle of Seasons: Playing an older, 2D game can require some creative “theatre of the mind” on behalf of the player to really paint a picture of the world Link is traversing, and this song does a lot of the heavy lifting, transporting you immediately to a mystical, ancient palace settled deep within the Lost Woods of Holodrum. A forgotten place with a forgotten song from an often forgotten game, my hope is that a remake or port for the Switch will bring this song back to the forefront of Zelda soundtrack discussions.
- “Forest Haven” from The Wind Waker: Arguably one of the best soundtracks in the game, many songs from The Wind Waker are touted as all-time greats, with “Title Theme” taking the Musical March Madness crown last year. It’s because of these triumphant tunes that equally great and thematic songs like “Forest Haven” (a song that brings life to the island and the spirit of its inhabitants) get left in the shadows. Many of the songs in The Wind Waker feel “full” and vibrant, which makes “Forest Haven” stand out to me, given its hollow and droning repetition.
- “Lost Woods” from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom: I personally feel that the soundtracks to these games are drastically overlooked, since to many they lack the bombastic themes found in regions and temples of previous Zelda games. The minimalist, piano-focused approach to these games may not have the same nostalgic weight as previous titles to more seasoned fans, but many of the tracks embody the spirit of the game with piercing precision. None of the games’ tracks do it better than the “Lost Woods” theme, which you can also find playing in the various labyrinths as well as in the Thyphlo Ruins. My humble but controversial opinion: this is the best Lost Woods theme in the entire franchise, and perfectly encompasses the feeling the player and Link get walking into the haunted fog of the forest.
The ability to have a discussion on the best underrated Zelda songs is a testament to how powerful and present of a role music plays in the franchise. What are some of your top underrated songs? Take over the jukebox in the comments below!
Josh Wittmershaus is a writer at Zelda Dungeon. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, he now resides in Northern California. Aside from Zelda, Josh enjoys playing music, seeing live music, music history, and all other things music. He also enjoys skating, hockey, and the occasional political or philosophical thought exercise.
