Ah, yes, Mario Paint. Otherwise known as “Nintendo could have made a sequel, but they don’t want my money for some reason.” Well, at least I get the next best thing: someone slapping some Zelda into the game.
I found this rendition of “Gerudo Valley” by axelrod777 while searching the depths of YouTube for music new to my ears, and it is a treat, pure and simple. It’s an older gem from the classic era of content sharing on YouTube. No forced grandeur, the video simply begins and takes me back to three different glory days simultaneously: The mentioned YouTube one, The sprite-filled wonder of the 16-bit generation, and the magical escape into the 64-bit land of Hyrule. That’s three major sources of fun from my youth, coming back to visit me like charming counterparts to the three spirits from A Christmas Carol.
And I give all credit to the composer, because the charm of these spirits would have turned nightmarish if the melody failed to provide a proper foundation. The beat matches the original theme and carries a healthy supply of accompanying notes, but axel knew the software they were using, and they knew to avoid overdoing it. It’s still that same dance-inducing Gerudo goodness, but it doesn’t make the beautiful simplicity of Mario Paint’s abilities carry more than they can bear.
I should have thought to write about a Mario Paint version of a Zelda song a long time ago. Classic gaming music and chiptune songs will always hold a special place in my heart. And this song is made using an emulator of the original and glorious software, so it’s like a wonderfully savory snack for my nostalgia taste buds.
