Get Technical With This Zelda II Soundtrack Analysis
Posted on May 28 2021 by David Nystrom
When it comes to soundtracks, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link has one of the more memorable and iconic scores in the series. That said, it also doesn’t have a whole bunch of songs in its catalog. Nonetheless, the songs this title do serve to make the experience a truly unique and enjoyable one, in arguably the most unique game in the franchise. But the music of the game is also great for studying a bit of music theory, as it turns out.
8-bit Music Theory, over on YouTube, recently took an in-depth look at the soundtrack of Zelda II, and how it serves as a great basis for teaching the importance of rhythm in music. He analyzes some of the most iconic tracks in Zelda that have come out of this title, such as “Town” and “Temple,” and how they utilize certain timing within their melodies and bass lines to create certain emotions. From creating a sensation of urgency, to coming together perfectly to create something unforgettable, the importance of rhythm is not understated.
I really enjoyed this video for a few reasons. One: because Zelda II is criminally underrated in almost every aspect, so it’s nice to see some positivity towards it. Two: because I’m a music nerd who has studied music theory and loves to see this level of breakdown on music I hear almost daily. And three: there are a ton of visual aids to help me see what I’m hearing, and it makes it so that almost anybody can follow along and understand it. This is a fascinating dive into the mechanics of how important certain beats and melodies are to music in general, but it’s especially fun to see it come from a Zelda game.
What did you think of the video? Were you aware of some of the little things that the music of Zelda II does? Can you hear similar patterns in other iconic Zelda tunes? Let us know in the comments below, or chat about it over in our Discord!
Source: YouTube
David is an editor at Zelda Dungeon. He’s the author of the ongoing series, The Era Without A Hero, and his favorite Zelda games are Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword. He’s also generally a fan of JRPGs and other major Nintendo titles, such as Smash Bros. and Mario.
