Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Has The Best Enemy Music?
Posted on September 26 2020 by Alexandria Weber
Composers for Zelda games do a fantastic job of immersing the player in the moment. Whether it is large, choral tracks for big lore moments or softer melodic tracks for emotional and vulnerable moments, auditory cues are utilized to trigger the emotional response of the player. Thus, music offers a grander picture of the situation at hand and accompanies the visuals and gameplay to cement the idea of escaping into a fictional world.
When it comes to combat music, Zelda composers often use pulsing percussion and quick beats to evoke a sense of hurry, placing the player on edge. Zelda games also commonly have the song repeat every time an enemy is near, so that the player associates the theme with danger. Although the first Zelda game only had music for bosses, the first instance of a specific enemy battle theme was in The Adventure of Link. Since then, the idea has molded to fit the musical and artistic style of each game.
My favorite enemy music is “Battle” which featured in The Wind Waker. Although my preference is likely one born of nostalgia, I like how it builds and adds upon itself and how complex and varied the track is. The song provides a great amount of tension, and yet also has that pulsing encouragement in its quick underlying rhythms.
What do you think? What is your favorite enemy battle track? Why do you like it? Let us know in the comments below!
Alexandria Weber is a Senior Editor and an aspiring creative writer. Her favorite food is apple pie and she loves her cat Galadriel. Ask her for pictures!
