The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Re-Arranged Album

by

Kōji Kondō and Koji Endo

Edit

I bought this CD about a year ago, and I still enjoy listening to it. I especially recommend to anybody who likes techno music - you probably should like Zelda, too. I'll give my impressions for each track below.

1 - Title theme - takes a sleepy, kinda boring music (that I always skipped in the game, anyway) and gives it a beat. It makes it much more interesting than it was. 8 out of 10.

2 - Battle - an interesting choice for sure. Usually, the battle theme, while ever-present, isn't something you'd pay attention to. It's more of a warning about nearby enemies than a full-fledged music track - or at least it seems that way in the game. Here it's greatly expanded (again with the techno beat treatment) and becomes a tune you might expect to hear in, say, a sub-boss fight. Another 8.

3 - Lost Woods - while this tune can be hyper-annoying in the game (especially if you happen to forget the way in the Lost Woods and end up spending hours there...like me...), in non-repeating doses it's quite good. In fact, this would be an excellent track if not for the annoying yelping noise (what IS that?) towards the end of the track, when it repeats the beginning - only with yelps. 7 out of 10.

4 - Shop - here's where this CD shines. It takes a simple tune and repeats it about 4 times, using different instruments. A simple recipe for success - this song is entirely fun to listen to, and the tune is deep enough that it doesn't get boring. My favorite is the part that sounds like an electric organ - and of course the end part repeats the opening, only somehow better. More climactic. This song is pure fun. 10 out of 10.

5 - Epona's Song - Hm, Amazon missed this one in their track listing. The music isn't anything to write home about - just the sleepy ranch music that sounds much like the game's. What makes this song really interesting is that it's actually sung - with lyrics, which the games have never done (the most speechlike thing I've heard in a Zelda game was "Oy!" in the Wind Waker). And it's good! Probably best if you can understand the Japanese lyrics, but another reviewer did us all the favor of posting a translation. It suits the game, and sounds great overall - especially that part towards the end where - what are those, bagpipes or something? - join in with the aforementioned "ranch" music. At least an 8 out of 10, though I may be underranking this one.

6 - Zelda's theme - I wasn't going to say much about this track, but I just listened to it again, and it's better than I remember. The main part sounds exactly like the game's ocarina, and the outstanding backup makes this an ultimate version of the game's most important theme music. 9 out of 10. Doesn't make 10 because it doesn't do anything really unique with the music - just does it really well.

7 - Middle Boss battle - I wish the regular boss battle had been remixed, too, but I'll make do. That being said, this is excellent, and keeps up the pattern of taking rather forgettable music excellent. I'll give it an 8, because 9's and 10's have to be special. Still good, though.

8 - Temple of Time - the background vocals are great, but the main one (to the actual tune of the Song of Time - you know, C-Down, A, C-Up, repeat) doesn't do it for me - it sounds too much like the game's...that is, it doesn't sound like real people. You can tell by the change from note to note (though when the notes are held, they sound convincing). Ignore that, and it's fine - did I mention the background vocals are fantastic? 6 out of 10.

9 - Kotake and Koume's theme - good overall, but this track commits the almost criminal offense of not including the original's opening music - the one that accompanies the two witches laughing. How could they miss that!? Still, the rest of the rendition is excellent and blah blah blah, but without that opener, I'd have preferred something like the Gerudo theme instead. 7 out of 10.

10 - Hyrule Field - wonderful. Simply wonderful. The original was good, but not all that memorable (I remember people lamenting the lack of the usual Zelda overworld theme), but this changes all that. Takes the original and makes it spectacular. The violins, the saxophone at the end (don't quote me on that, I know squat about music) - beautiful. 10, no question. Also gets my vote for "Best on CD".

11 - Great Fairy's Fountain - it's all right, but I can't think of anything to really recommend it with. It's hardly any different from the game's, to be honest. And despite being classic Zelda, it's kind of boring at this length. I would've preferred a more ambitious attempt on a different track, like say the Forest Temple music (with lots of drums) or maybe a long version of the Bolero of Fire (personal favorites of mine). 5 out of 10 - I usually skip this one.

12 - Last Battle - I won't be as generous as some with this one, but I can't deny that it's an excellent rendition. Would've been perfect for the game itself - it's climactic, epic, and tense, just like a final battle should be. The only reason I don't score it higher is because, for a actual standalone music track, it's really long and doesn't really go anywhere - it remains fairly constant, without especially building up to anything. It's best as background music when you're doing something else (maybe fighting off evil sorceror beasts). 8 out of 10.

Overall, on my personal scale (not an average), I'll give this CD a 9 out of 10. The Hyrule Field and Shop tunes make everything worthwhile, and despite my saying that, it's not like they're really compensating for anything bad to start with. Some tracks are very similar to the originals, others less so, but they're excellent, all in all. Highly recommended for Zelda fans, especially those that appreciate techno/dance music, since they're more likely to share my tastes.