23 replies to this topic

[D~N]

Needless to say, it's absolutely amazing. I figured I would start a topic to talk about Zelda music, since it's been on my mind lately. First of all, the promotional disk that comes with the game is phenominal. I really wish it had Kondo's piano solo (Graaaaaandma!!) on the disk, but alas. Still, absolutely great. Additionally, the game itself has quite possibly the best Zelda soundtrack to date, due largely to the orchestration. Anyone else agree? Any favorite tracks so far? Mine's gotta be Ghirahim's theme (not necessarily the battle theme, though that's great too), the piano in his theme is brilliant.



So, finally I pose this question: Anybody know where can I buy the soundtrack to the game? No, not the bonus disk that comes with the game- I want to find somewhere that has the whole dang soundtrack, to Skyward Sword specifially. I can't find it anywhere (whenever you search "skyward sword + soundtrack" you get "game with bonus disk included!" of course.) Anyone know where to look for the actual soundtrack? T'anks.

[Veteran]

I'm on the 6th dungeon and I don't agree with you at all I'm afraid. I haven't heard one memorable track yet.

[Crimson Lego]

Don't have the game, but I found the main theme really enjoyable. Downloaded for my iPod yesterday.






You can probably download copies of the soundtrack off Youtube; easy and free.

[JRPomazon]

The Orchastration has done wonders for the game I think. It's leaps and bounds what the sound quality was for these games before. I do agree with Vet though, there are some tracks that I don't think are very memorable (for certain areas of the game and dungeons/temples) but when during certain battles and plot events I think is when you hear some of the better tracks.

[Veteran]

I guess I'm basing it on the two tracks you hear the most often - Skyloft and flying. I think both are very, very boring. Even the sailing music in WW, as monotonous as it got, triumphs over both.

[D~N]

dang, i love skyloft; I thought at the very least people would dig that one. Its like... windfall meets clocktown. that's too bad that you didn't enjoy the soundtrack vet.




and regarding youtube downloading - not only is that very difficult, but those are probably poor quality and of questionable legality. If you can convince me otherwise, cool.

[Crimson Lego]

EDIT: Gah, I forgot you were talking about SS music; here's a good one off Youtube.

Edited by Leo Crimson, 25 November 2011 - 09:09 PM.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

Well, the main theme's very epic, I guess. Thing is, I can't help but notice that most of the memorable Zelda theme tunes tend to be from the older games.

[Crimson Lego]

That's probably as it should be; they have had much longer exposure to an audience. Skyward Sword's had like a week. Personally, I like the TP Symphonic Movement best.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

That's probably as it should be; they have had much longer exposure to an audience.

Yes, but what about the other ones like Twilight Princess? I don't remember a single song from that one or from any of the DS games.

[Veteran]

TP had the epic Hyrule Castle mixed with Ganon theme. It's my favourite of all the themes, albeit a mix of LttP music.

[Crimson Lego]

That's probably as it should be; they have had much longer exposure to an audience.

Yes, but what about the other ones like Twilight Princess? I don't remember a single song from that one or from any of the DS games.

Well, there were one or two that were somewhat popular.






I personally liked this one a lot too.

[D~N]

Both Midna's Lament and Midna's theme from Twilight Princess are very memorable; at least I think they are. But I'd have to agree with Wolf in that I can't recall any of the DS games' songs. :/

[BenKelly]

Undoubtedly the best score since OoT (a very hard beat).

I personally don't think anything in Zelda captures a mood better than the Lanayru (past) theme. Desert flutes make it seem ancient, but the industrial percussion drives home the fact that what was ancient was vibrant and very much more technologically advanced than what Hyrule will ever be again. It what a Zelda tune does best, and re-enforces the gameplay when you activate a time-shift from the tune that lacks that percussion.



The gate of time is simply beautiful independent of any gameplay elements.




As for unmemorable handheld tracks. Indeed, PH had nothing going for it. Spirit Tracks had this which goes with the series' most jauntiest.

Edited by BenKelly, 27 November 2011 - 05:11 PM.

[BurgundyTears]

I don't know what Vet is complaining about. Perhaps in part because even the best full operas have plenty of songs that do not fall under today's standard of "memorable". Are the "tunes" "catchy"? No, probably not.

As for me, I myself haven't played Skyward Sword, because my husband has dropped his game of Dark Souls for it. He thought he was just going to check out the opening bits and get back to gritty realism, but no, he (and I) are still floating in gorgeous water colors.

We often sit on the couch together and he plays a game on the t.v. and I read or play the D.S., often with the sound still on. And Zelda is usually not compelling enough for a watcher to get me to watch everything he's up to. But this? We have a decent+ sound system on both the t.v. and my computer. I had played the soundtrack disc on my computer and thought it was delicious, but it's a live performance, of course it's nice!

Then we turned on the game. It is, hands down, the best music I've heard in a video game (and frankly, a movie as well) in years. The mastering is spot-on, the compositions are glorious, and it all fits so well with what is on screen. It is like crack for my ears. They've given new life to the older compositions that punctuate the new. They aren't simply the same pieces, because they've got flourishes and fantasias added in. I listen to music constantly, and I'm as likely to listen to Person 4's OST as I am my cds of Sir George Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony in Handel's Messiah. I seriously cannot do much else but listen to this music when my husband is playing.

I hope they someday release a full album of the soundtrack. Ripping methods don't generally do justice to orchestrations, so a spot of piracy isn't even a consideration for me here. I always find it frustrating how hard it is to get OSTs in the U.S.

[Veteran]

Well I'm not complaining as such, more making note that I'm sat here now and I can't remember any piece of music so far in the game. I remember liking the desert music whilst playing there, but I don't know how it went.

Whereas I am able to whistle Dragon Roost Island for example despite not playing Wind Waker for 5 or more years.

[Selena]

I don't really have much interest in playing the game myself, since Zelda and I have parted ways, but I've always liked listening to the soundtracks. So I gave it a listen when it got ripped to youtube. It's not bad, though I'm somewhat in Vet's category of thinking that it's nothing too special.

There are two types of game soundtracks:

- Type A is made up of catchy earworm songs that get stuck in your head forever and sound good on their own.

- Type B is made up of tracks that suit the mood perfectly, but aren't necessarily considered "catchy" without you knowing where and why they play in the game. More ambient than anything else.


Something like Ocarina of Time is definitely in the Type A category. I think the more you move into orchestral music, the further you get into Type B territory. Old school gaming music had to "pop" in a certain way since there was only so many things you could do with old music chips - so you had to find earworm beats to make the most of it. There's a lot of Type A soundtracks with older games.

With orchestral pieces, you can make it beautiful and complex, with many layers to a song, but you can also lose that "distinct" feeling. Orchestral music doesn't automatically dump something into the Type B category, since there are plenty of catchy tracks that feature full orchestras, but just as a generality. Skyward Sword might be in Type B category. I can kinda tell that various songs would be ideal for certain settings, but don't stand out without that reference.

So, no, I don't find it catchy and wouldn't put it even halfway up my "favorite game soundtracks" list when listened to without context, but so long as it suits the mood of the game, it works.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

Yes, but surely you can make orchestral pieces that are catch as well or at least one that has catchy bits?

[tsume]

I havent played the game yet, waiting for Christmas gifts first but i listened to the soundtrack and i agree with Vet on this. Its not very catchy in any sense honestly but as music itself its actually really good. I guess ill see how it really is when i play the game with the music.

[Selena]

Yes, but surely you can make orchestral pieces that are catch as well or at least one that has catchy bits?

Well, yes, thus why I said this. XD

Orchestral music doesn't automatically dump something into the Type B category, since there are plenty of catchy tracks that feature full orchestras, but just as a generality.

I think Super Mario Galaxy, despite being a less "epic" game than Skyward Sword, actually had a more powerful and catchier orchestral soundtrack. Shadow of the Colossus has some incredibly striking tracks. Ace Combat has always had very pretty main themes. A lot of Skyrim's music is ambient, but the main theme and its in-game offshoots inspire feelings of "RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" and can get stuck in your head pretty easy. Mass Effect and Deus Ex have both catchy tracks and ambient ones. So yes, catchy/striking full-score music is out there. Skyward Sword sounds pretty subdued compared with a lot of other OSTs.

But, in fairness, I also thought a lot of tracks from the Metroid games were also unimpressive on their own, but they suit the mood perfectly while playing.

[Showsni]

I'd have to agree that a lot of the tracks seem more ambient music than catchy tunes... Sitting here trying to think of songs from the game now, and I can remember, let's see...

(Probably not spoilers at all, but just in case...)

Spoiler

The main SS theme
The main LoZ theme, but that doesn't really count
Fairy fountain theme, ditto to not counting
The Timeshifted desert music
The bazaar music
Kina's song + Lumpy Pumpkin theme

As for the other games, I'd agree that Spirit Tracks has an awesome main theme. Certainly very memorable. And is it odd that every time I hear the Fairy Fountain music now I start humming the Four Swords Adventures version?

[Reflectionist]

My personal favorites thus far are 'Separation' and 'Gate of Time', but I'm pretty sure it's more to do with the scenes they're in...



and






Also, Midna's Lament from Twilight Princess is definitely in my top five Zelda themes ever.

Edited by Reflectionist, 09 December 2011 - 01:54 AM.

[Crimson Lego]

The credits theme, now on my iPod, is also pretty epic.

[D~N]

Yo credits theme is AMAZING. I mean, heck, they always are amazing, but Zelda's credits themes continue to blow me away more and more with each installment.