Go Back to the Future with this 16-Bit Remix of “Hyrule Castle (Exterior)” Theme
Posted on January 16 2022 by David Lasby
For Zelda fans of a certain age, nothing tops the nostalgia of the franchise’s first and only 16-bit adventure: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Considered by many to be the rare perfect game, the SNES classic dazzled fans with a fully-orchestrated soundtrack and a shocking leap forward in graphics. After the bizarre and controversial foray into side-scrolling RPG action, the franchise returned to its roots with a top-down adventure and defined the Zelda experience for a generation.
In celebration of this nostalgia and with a nod to the game that delivered a similar experience to modern Zelda fans, YouTube content creator Loeder composed a retro cover of Breath of the Wild‘s “Hyrule Castle (Exterior)” theme. (The song was originally composed by Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai). Operating out of the Netherlands, Loeder specializes in covering video game music, converting it to the sound of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Explaining the efforts put into this particular project, Loeder writes, “This one took some time. When I started working on this, I was certain it wasn’t gonna sound good and that I’d have to give up on it. To my surprise I think it came out very nicely…This cover mainly takes the instruments and sounds from [A Link to the Past‘s] “Hyrule Castle” theme. Including the techniques used for the snare-rolls and drum crashes.”
To listen to the original, check out the video below.
If you enjoyed this song, check out the rest of Loeder’s video game covers here.
Tell us what you think! Did you enjoy this retro cover of the “Hyrule Castle (Exterior)” theme? What other tracks from Breath of the Wild would you enjoy remixed in the style of A Link to the Past? Share your reactions in the comments below.
Sources: Loeder, Dystify Music
I’m a life-long fan of video games and have been playing since I got my NES in the 1980s. The Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros., Aliens, and Halo are some of my favorite game franchises. I write for several sites, including Zelda Dungeon, Boss Rush Network, and The Mighty. Find me on Twitter to check out my other content!
