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00:00Music from Zelda is some of the most beloved in video games.
00:13We all adore Gerudo Valley, Dragon Roost Island, and Zelda's Lullaby, but songs of their
00:20caliber often overshadow others that are just as deserving of praise.
00:25Welcome to Mojo Plays and today we are looking at the most underrated tunes from The Legend
00:31of Zelda.
00:39But before we get into it, we publish new content all week long, so be sure to subscribe
00:45and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
00:48Face Shrine Theme, The Legend of Zelda, Link's Awakening.
01:00No disrespect to the original as both are underrated dungeon themes, but the music for
01:06The Face Shrine and the remake of Link's Awakening is on a different level.
01:11It begins as an orchestral remix with tense strings imparting feelings of melancholy and
01:17despair.
01:18However, after a few moments, the chiptune notes of the original version begin to bleed
01:22in, blending together for something really special.
01:26Not only does this elevate the track past its original sound, it gives the setting a
01:31lot more character.
01:33There are dozens of dungeon themes across the series that fans praise, and this one
01:38deserves to be right there with them.
01:47Minish Village Theme, The Legend of Zelda, The Minish Cap.
01:58Music from The Minish Cap is underrated in general, so there are a lot of songs from
02:03the game that could go here.
02:05But today, we are choosing to highlight the delightfully bouncy tune that plays when Link
02:10visits the Minish Village.
02:12The simulated strings and flute that make up the main melody are undeniably catchy,
02:17but the bass that plays alongside them is also an excellent accompaniment.
02:22This track is such an easy one to sway to, and it can put you at ease almost instantly,
02:28making it a perfect theme for the adorable Picori race.
02:32Composer Mitsuhiko Takano made the absolute best use of the GBA's sound capabilities,
02:37and this theme is a bonafide classic.
02:48Deku Palace Theme, The Legend of Zelda, Majora's Mask.
02:59For the Goron and Zora race, Nintendo carried over their area themes from Ocarina of Time
03:05to Majora's Mask.
03:06But for the Dekus, who didn't have much of a designated home or civilization, they
03:11needed a new theme.
03:13The Deku Palace is home to their monarchy, and the music fits perfectly with this type
03:18of society.
03:19The melody is haughty and proud, conveying a sense of power and loyalty.
03:25And the percussion is upbeat and jaunty, going along with the shaky sounds the Dekus make
03:30whenever they move.
03:31While the Goron and Zora home themes have been remixed and reused over the years, this
03:37track deserves the same treatment since it brings the palace to life.
03:47Riverside Theme, The Legend of Zelda, Triforce Heroes.
03:59Triforce Heroes is usually thought of as the weakest mainline entry in the series,
04:04which makes total sense.
04:06But it is a shame, because the soundtrack is pretty great.
04:11Among the underrated tunes, Riverside stands taller than most.
04:15This plays during most levels in the second overall area of the game, and is far more
04:20elegant than you would expect from a multiplayer title.
04:24What sounds like a marimba or xylophone plunks along, while violin and other strings and
04:29woodwinds deliver a melody so sweet, it almost makes me want to weep.
04:35It's such a beautiful piece, and one that remarkably captures the water-centric areas.
04:47Bamboo Island Theme, The Legend of Zelda, Skyward Sword.
04:59The soundtrack for Skyward Sword gets a lot of praise, understandable since it is incredible.
05:05One song that never gets mentioned, though, is the theme for Bamboo Island.
05:10Part of the reason it's underrated is because of where it plays.
05:13On a single sky island where Link can play a bamboo-cutting minigame, and it doesn't
05:19even play during said minigame.
05:22So it's easy to overlook.
05:24It's a really wonderful piece, slow, calm, and reflective, bringing to mind the image
05:29of an aged swordsman looking back on his earlier days.
05:33This kind of makes sense, as the person who runs the minigame is Peter, who was once a
05:39famous warrior in his youth.
05:41But this song is so good, it really should have been used somewhere more prominent in
05:46the game.
05:53Hilda's Theme, The Legend of Zelda, A Link Between Worlds
06:03The composers of Zelda know a thing or two about crafting excellent pieces to go along
06:08with fantasy princesses.
06:10So when it came time to introduce Hilda, the ruler of Lorule, they knew exactly what to
06:15do.
06:16While we'll praise the theme for Lorule Castle or this game's version of the Dark
06:20World endlessly, like everyone else, Hilda's Theme is just as vital a piece of music.
06:27Consisting of a harp, flute, and some soft strings, it is undeniably serene.
06:32Yet, the notes also convey immense feelings of sadness, which is fitting considering the
06:38fate of Hilda's kingdom falling into ruin.
06:42Along with her story, it makes you feel for Hilda and want to help her.
06:52Linebeck's Theme, The Legend of Zelda, Phantom Hourglass
07:04Of the many supportive characters across the Zelda series, Linebeck is one of the silliest.
07:10He tries to project confidence, coolness, and machismo as an adventurer, but he is the
07:16exact opposite.
07:17He's a coward, albeit a lovable one, and that becomes clear pretty quickly.
07:22His theme, however, does project the same attitude he attempts to.
07:27It's an assertive march with blusterous horns and harpsichord, a composition that claims
07:32importance and high esteem.
07:35It almost sounds like this encompasses how Linebeck views himself, on top of being catchy
07:41to boot.
07:42The DS games don't get a lot of love, but this is a wonderful character theme.
07:57Warding Vah Naboris, The Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild
08:11Some players criticized the music from Breath of the Wild for being a bit too subdued, less
08:16pushed to the forefront than in previous games.
08:19But there are still some really wonderful tracks.
08:23One of the most underrated plays when Link and Riju pursue the divine beast of the Gerudo
08:28Desert, Vah Naboris.
08:30This section doesn't last very long, and the song only plays here, so it's another
08:34one that's easily overlooked.
08:36It should not be, though, because it goes hard.
08:41That quick percussion immediately gets you ready for a chase, the piano hook is straight
08:47fire, and the Middle Eastern influences give it a uniqueness not heard in most other songs
08:52in the game.
09:04Tarm Ruins Theme, The Legend of Zelda, Oracle of Seasons
09:16The Tarm Ruins in Oracle of Seasons are a mystical place.
09:20They're home to this game's version of the Lost Woods, and are a big puzzle since
09:24Link must cycle through all four seasons to make it through.
09:28Its theme encapsulates their strange, mysterious nature flawlessly.
09:33The ruins are a wonderful place to explore, while this song helps define the setting's
09:38strong personality.
09:39Though somewhat limited by the Game Boy Color's sound tech, the interwoven beeps and boops
09:44make this a beautiful, ethereal track.
09:47It's usually the grander games in the series that are praised for music, understandably
09:52so, but the Tarm Ruins theme does so much with so little.
10:03The Sacred Duet, The Legend of Zelda, Spirit Tracks
10:15Like Phantom Hourglass before it, Spirit Tracks doesn't usually get a lot of love,
10:19which means neither does its soundtrack.
10:22One of the game's strongest pieces of music that's often left out of the conversation
10:26is the Sacred Duet that plays towards the end of the game.
10:30In the middle of the fight against Malidus, Zelda channels her power, joining Link in
10:35a magical song to weaken the Demon King.
10:38This duet is really lovely, especially when members of the Lokomo join with their different
10:44instruments.
10:45It also leads into a really great final boss track, which blends quick ascending cello
10:51with the theme that Link and Zelda just played, along with the overworld theme from earlier
10:55in the game.
10:57The whole concoction is appropriately climactic, while being one of the most moving pieces
11:02from a handheld Zelda.
11:11Of course, with so much music across so many years, we're bound to have left off some
11:17other underrated tracks.
11:19Head to the comments and let us know what songs from the series you wish got more love.