Overworld Theme | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Orchestral Arrangement
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- Playlist: • Zelda II: The Adventur...
Yet another Zelda overworld track. When I played the game for the first time, I felt like this track in particular felt a lot like an 8-bit version of a minstrel singing about Link's epic adventure. The melody is very overbearing, with no places to rest and no break in the rhythm. Even when it gets broken up when you enter a battle, the music just doubles back to the beginning and blasts the fanfare in your face again. I also remember the intro portion got me so pumped, expecting for the main Zelda theme to kick in, but the actual melody comes in and I felt so cheated.
When I approached this track, I wanted to fix all the grievances I had with it, but interesting enough, I abandoned my intentions and ended up keeping all those annoying elements intact, even amplifying it in many places. While I made great effort in the prologue track to set a darker tone for my overall Zelda II arrangement style, the overworld track in the game is far too happy and optimistic for me to cloud it in any way. I tried so many ways to change it, but it would just render the piece unrecognizable, even while playing the exact same notes. I had to reconcile my feelings and accept that while the story context may be dark, Link is just so determined that he utterly blocks out any fear and dread and focuses on his mission.
In the prologue I took some inspiration from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' soundtrack. Here, I channeled the spirit of the earlier The Adventures of Robin Hood film from 1938, with a small dose of Zorro thrown in. I believe the first time I watched it was around the same time I played Zelda II. It's got a lot of the same rhythm motif with the snares, and the skipping energy of the melody, and I wouldn't be surprised if the composer referenced it himself. It's a stark contrast to the main melody from the first game, and at the time when a lot of Zelda conventions haven't been established yet, my guess is the Overworld theme in each game put a unique stamp on its tone. My original plan was to emulate my arrangement of the first game's overworld by adding a lot of different moods to the piece, but decided against that. The player always moves Link through the overworld at the same speed, and I assume the majority of the time wants to avoid the enemy spawns as much as possible. So instead of slowing the piece down, I just extended out the melody using the same beats and rhythm in the track.
The opening solo cello in the melody is actually a blend of 3 different cello sample libraries. I found this one sample that would play every note aggressively, and it sounded to me very similar to the 8-bit "theremin"-like sound of the melody, especially when it plays the high notes!
Now while the melody played out in the original 8-bit, I noticed the note rests don't really break up the theme when you're only dealing with 4 simultaneous sounds, but in a fuller orchestra, when all the instruments rest at the same time, it sounds pretty jarring and really changes the feel of the track. As a solution, while the rests happen in the melody I had different instrument families always "doing something else" in the background. As an example, right before the melody jumps into the high "da-da-da daaaaaa, da-da-da daaaaaa," I have the woodwinds lead in first with an arpeggio. From this I subconsciously started to do this all over the track. The brass would regularly fanfare in out of nowhere and all the time, and different instruments would snatch the melody away, and this ended up being the main signature of my arrangement. I'm glad I learned this technique here.
Fun fact, but these first two Zelda II tracks are actually the tracks in the game I was LEAST looking forward to arranging, and is a big reason why it took so long to make them up to a level that now I really like them. This entire time, I've been humming/tapping out ideas for all the later tracks, and I am beyond excited to finally get to commit my ideas to the music.
Support me at / thesecondnarrator
Arrangement and illustrations by Jeremiah Sun
Original Theme by Akito Nakatsuka
You can play Zelda II on the Nintendo Switch Online NES app
#ZeldaII #EpicVersion #Orchestra
Say what you like about Zelda 2 but it’s music was amazing plus the games legacy is still appearing in the games today. Even the towns names would be used as the sages names that years later would deepen the lore.
I always said anyone who say this is shitty game. This isn't bad game. It's just so damn hard and frustrating, because it won't give you any advices what to do next. First level is easy, but then it's like figure it out yourself. Game was great. Gameplay was good. This music gives me goosebumps even after. 15 years since last time I played. I loved this. Even More than first one
@@ville9219 Personally, I think people say about this entry are spoiled by later games. This sets the tone for the rest series that followed. It’s difficult for those who just want to hack n slash mindlessly to the end. But a true fan knows its about exploring and outsmarting enemies in the series as it’s intended to be.
Ruro...Hmm...what else do i remember.. but i remember it coz i think there was some kind of very difficult shit before
This arrangement is amazing! It's great to see underrated classics get the love they deserve! Excellent work!
Honestly, it'd be a crime to ignore any Zelda ost, even from the most obscure titles
Also I like the pfp! 😂
@@TotPocket 🤝
@@TotPocket terminal montage reference XD
Man, something this grand really does evoke what I expect the original composer was going for, matching the technical scope and ambition behind Zelda II for its time.
This is a confident and experienced Link going on a globe trotting adventure in a world he’s already saved once.
I cannot stop thanking for this... I grew up playing this game and always wanted to know how the sountrack would sound with the full arrengements. The world needed this!
Just a small detail, but the fact that you added an orchestrated flute sound at 7:08 is amazing!
I love what you have done with this peice. It sparks My imagination... Link telling of his adventure... hopeful joyfulness as he goes about restoring hyrule... even the tense boss battles are reflected... telling of how he left and stabbed that thunderbird in the face.. making it go boom! Telling his story with much gusto.. to everyone's amazement.
Ps a request for the Zelda II Town theme worked over with your magic.
AoL added the most lore to the franchise.
No lie, I listen to this when I play totk. Makes exploring epic.
Raising the bar of excellence for re engineered chip tunes. Well done sir
Finally, someone gave love to this song.
Amazing arrangement! Very very very very very very good!!
I’m so happy you are doing Zelda 2 I remember finding out about you because of your Zelda NES arrangements they are a masterpiece same with the Links Awakening ones I can’t wait for the rest of Zelda 2 I know you’ll make it magical
I'm so happy for your new release! It was so good to listening to (and to watch all of the overworld of Zelda II, I like it)
Perfection
It's finally here...
Excellent arrangement!
The King is back!
The King is back! ❤ Thanks for your amazing art, Jeremiah! 😊
I was looking for this again. I wish i could reskin the original game with yours, lol
I was thinking about this soundtrack yesterday! Great timing and such a great arrangement!!
Absolutely amazing. That implementation of the flute theme was a neat touch as well. Looking forward to seeing more arrangements like this.
I had to comment again, this is the best arrangement of this song, i would actually purchase the rights from you if i was a movie studio who was working on producing a movie, its that epic.
I unironically like this game! I think I felt to beat this game because
1. I like the Zelda series
2. I'm old school
3. I have a penchant for beating stupid hard games
"02"? Does that mean this is going to be a series, like with Link's Awakening?
Battle theme is next
Long have I waited for this moment.
Easily the most underrated title
Definitely in need of either a Between Worlds level follow up or an Awakening passioned remake. This was a fun world with the most towns of any Zelda except maybe Breath of the Wild
It should have gotten a remake similar to Metroid 2 - the original GameBoy title which got upgraded for 3DS.
I played Zelda 2 last year for the first time from beginning to end and it felt like it would be totally worth a remake with some tweaks to fix the problems of the game.
It should be called Zelda III
@@bigfenix8272 I think Link to the Past was actually Zelda 3 in some version of the name, maybe another translation?
Great job!
I appreciate all your work, man, and especially enjoy your Zelda arrangements :)
And it's always fun to read your thought process behind everything
I'm late, but I'm in LOVE with this arrangement! Wonderful work!
This sounds like something that'd be on a DS or 3DS Zelda game
Woo! Been waiting for this one.
I'm Error
this what i wish more people would do for other games. Yours is phenomenal.
Such an unique arrangement, so respectful too, I loved reading your decisions :)
Oh hell yeah, I love this track! Great arrangement as always!
I've always loved the Zelda 2 overworld theme, and this makes it even better. I look forward to the dungeon theme, if you decide to make it.
Excellent work, sir! Brings back so many memories in a modernized form
Awesome
This is a very beautiful orchestration, excellent work
Amazing arrangement my good sir..... that was a nostalgia bomb.
Heck yeah!!!
Incredible!
wb :)
Driving on 71 in cincinnati theme
Nossa, ficou Lindo!
A Nintendo Poderia Refazer esse Jogo do Zero e Transforma-lo em um Incrível Metroidvania! "Seria Épico!!"
The game which always makes an adult a kid..
Would you ever consider making a list of instruments that you use and/or where you found them? I think that would be useful for people like me, with a little music theory and famitracker experience but little clue how to even start on pieces as grand as what you do.
Alot of zelda, now do the metroid series.