Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a divisive game. However, most people seem to agree that it contains an absolute banger of a soundtrack. Short and sweet, each track perfectly compliments the moments in which they appear, and this is especially true of the battle sequences. The songs that accompany each fight are fast-paced, bombastic anthems that heighten the intensity of the difficult combat. They also translate perfectly into contemporary renditions, as evidenced by this awesome rock cover of “Great Palace Theme”.

Performed by TheYuke, a Swedish musician and YouTuber, this cover recalls the drama of that final palace while also putting a unique spin on the sound. The excitement of entering the game’s finale and the focus of the brutal combat are perfectly conveyed by the concussive opening. Performing on guitar, keyboard, and good old hand-clapping, TheYuke is as talented at musicianship as players must be to beat the Great Palace. Hearing it on these instruments almost gives the latter portions a spacey, atmospheric quality that is nearly impossible to achieve on the NES.

Not content to simply get through Thunderbird, the battle with Dark Link is included as well. The music’s intensity ratchets up to meet this harrowing showdown. The guitarist is accompanied by a dueling alter-ego as the fight rages on. I assume this is meant to symbolize the internal struggle all player’s go through when deciding whether to fight Dark Link straight up or simply crouch in the corner.

You can check out TheYuke’s YouTube channel here. He has also done covers of the standard “Palace Theme”, other Zelda tunes like “Palace of Winds”, and many other video game pieces.

What do you think of this cover? What other Zelda songs would you like to see in this style? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: TheYuke

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