Koji Kondo is one of the most recognizable composers in the video game industry. That’s what happens when you’re the mastermind behind some of the most iconic songs and soundtracks ever made. Back in 2001, Kondo had an interview with Nintendo Online Monthly to talk about Nintendo’s approach to sound and music in their games and how that changed with technological improvements. Courtesy of a recent translation from Shmuplations, we can now read the entire interview.
There were a few highlights that pertain to our particular interests here at Zelda Universe. One, in particular, was the sound of Link’s sword when he swung it in The Legend of Zelda. Thanks to the advent of the Famicom Disk System (FDS) in 1986, Kondo had a new way to play with sounds and music due to the console’s FM synthesis channel, which led directly to the iconic sound effect.
“That ‘bzyuun’ laser sound your sword makes? That wasn’t possible on the Famicom’s sound chip. The sounds the monsters make when they appear was also done with FM. I tried to use impressive, showy sounds that no one had heard before.”
In addition, Kondo talked about what Shigeru Miyamoto wanted to hear in Nintendo’s games. Miyamoto would sometimes want a sound to have “more impact,” and was very involved throughout the entire process. A specific example Kondo gave was for the flute in The Legend of Zelda.
“I remember he had me make a lot of different sounds for when you use the flute (when you warp). He was very particular about that one sound. ‘It shouldn’t just be “pretty”. I want it to evoke something more mysterious’, he told me.”
If you’ve ever wondered about how video games were made back in the day, the impact of technology on video games, or the process of making music and sound for games, the whole interview is a fascinating and fun read to check out! Or, if you want more video game music history, try our article on the SNES and the use of its limited memory.
