There was a lot of confusion two weeks ago when I wrote about the overworld theme of the original Legend of Zelda and other games that used it. After all, I left out four distinct games which contain three excellent versions of the song, so anyone’s confusion was well merited.

Still, there is method to my madness here: I intentionally saved the Game Boy titles for today’s feature, and I plan to cover Majora’s Mask alongside Ocarina of Time next week.

In the meantime, there are three overworld themes we’ll be looking at today (or, if you want to get technical, two overworld and one underworld theme). Two are very similar to the classic Legend of Zelda overworld theme while the third is something entirely different, and of course they are all from the Game Boy games. Jump in to start reading!


Track: “Overworld,” “Koholint Island”
Games: Link’s Awakening (GB), Oracle of Seasons (GBC), Oracle of Ages (GBC)

For the better part of a decade, this was the primary overworld theme to grace the speakers of Game Boys everywhere. After it originally appeared in Link’s Awakening, this song went on to be used by Capcom subsidiary Flagship for the overworld theme in the Oracle games as well. With absolutely no difference in the track between those three games, one might think it would get old.

Well, to be frank, I almost got tired of this tune after playing three games in one month that all use it. Almost. No matter what, I still enjoy this adaptation of the classic Zelda overworld theme, no matter how often it was used.

Building on the march theme of the original, this track’s tune feels less like a march and more flat-out adventurous. Gone are the percussion undertones that made one think of snare drums. Now, we are graced by a slightly faster melody that is backed by a harmonizing lower bass line. The song also has an added bit of melody that wanders off into a steady crescendo that makes nice use of its hardware limitations; those rising themes sound great and give an added sense of wild feeling to the tune.

I still don’t think this holds a candle to A Link to the Past‘s overworld, but then I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to there being some bias there. It is a nice improvement to the NES 8-bit music, and all in all one of the better adaptions of the tune. Its quality shows through how well it holds up to being overplayed.


Track: “Overworld (Past)”
Game: Oracle of Ages (GBC)

While still very similar to the original overworld theme, Oracle of Ages‘ Past theme takes a different interpretation of the tune. It is slower paced than both the NES and other Game Boy versions, and its fanfare is drawn out to give it a more rousing and epic feel.

That is not to say it is totally different from the regular Game Boy theme; there are still hints of that composition in the song. For example, at the point around 0:55 into the song there is a similar rise to that of the regular overworld theme, but it quickly drops back down without continuing that thread.

Still, I think this is one of the better tracks composed by Capcom’s pair of composers. It retains the more rousing and epic feel of the classic theme while still adopting some of what made the other Game Boy overworld theme unique, so in the end you get the best of both worlds. The result? Extra motivation to visit the past.

Finally, we have this under-appreciated little tidbit from Oracle of Seasons. Though not an “overworld” theme per say, this is still a noteworthy travel tune considering it accompanies Link through the entirety of the underground caverns that make up Subrosia. Subrosia itself is a lava-filled, rocky land that is populated by strange little robed creatures called Subrosians… and they are certainly among the more goofy races in the series.

One of the first notable parts of this track is its seemingly whimsical feel. For me, its tune brings to mind a drunk man wandering home while running into half the trashcans he encounters. Okay, maybe not exactly, but it does give that kind of feel. This song (or place) is not to be taken seriously, it’s kind of bumbling and goofy overall. In that sense I think the song fits the Subrosians perfectly, silly cute little dorks that they are.

But the song does not, in my opinion, fit Subrosia itself quite as well. The Land Down Under (as I may start calling it from now on) is covered in rivers and lakes of lava, it is a gigantic series of underground caverns without any glimpse of sunlight, and there’s hardly a proper blade of grass to be found. Heck, they don’t even use Rupees down there!

To me, Subrosia seemed too strange and too dangerous a land to be characterized by such a lazily meandering tune. Still, the song still fits excellently with the land’s inhabitants. That certainly counts for something. It’s fully possible the composers were even aiming for that more than the land.

Conclusion
Well, that concludes today’s edition of Flute Boy’s Meadow! Now that I’ve rambled enough for one week, I’d like to hear your thoughts! Which was your favorite over/underworld theme from the Game Boy Zelda titles? Do you prefer the reigning classic Koholint Island tune, or do you enjoy the Past theme more? Be sure to let me know in the comments and come back same time next week for my conclusion to the Exploration Overworld section of this series. See you then!