Just when we thought the music in Cadence of Hyrule couldn’t get any more addictive, Nintendo dropped the news that it was releasing three DLC soundtracks with almost 40 new tunes. And these wouldn’t just be any old remixes; they’d be fully fledged covers by Crypt of the NecroDancer soundtrack veterans: FamilyJules, A_Rival, and Chipzel.
It was safe to assume these pros would bring some banging beats and breathe new life into the already incredible compositions by Danny Baranowsky. Well, when I eagerly clicked my Switch into its dock on release day (with a review copy we kindly received from Nintendo), I can tell you as a seasoned Crypt of the NecroDancer and Cadence of Hyrule fan, they sure did deliver.
For those unfamiliar with the works of FamilyJules, A_Rival, and Chipzel, they also created their own versions of the rhythmic Crypt of the NecroDancer soundtrack (and FamilyJules was actually the guitarist for the vanilla Cadence of Hyrule soundtrack). Each of the artists has their own distinct sound, which they expertly lend once again to Danny’s work for some unforgettable Zelda beats in Cadence of Hyrule.
Although the three artists don’t cover every single track, they each have their own version for 13 of the main ones, including the overworld areas and main dungeons. Their covers are the “active” versions of all these original tunes — in other words, when the enemies are around and you are forced to follow the beat — and the “inactive” versions remain the same. While I would have loved to hear each of the artists’ interpretations for the rest of the soundtrack, I think it’s actually a nice touch to retain some of the original vibes. The inactive version of “Death Mountain” in particular would be a tough one to beat, in my opinion.
What’s also amazing to me about their versions — and the soundtrack as a whole, honestly — is that they have to be based around one steady, unchanging beat. Otherwise, the rhythm-based gameplay would be very difficult. (Trust me, I’ve used custom songs on the PC version of Crypt of the NecroDancer, and a rhythmically-diverse song is impossible to play along to). And yet, this confinement doesn’t stop them from creating covers that are so damn catchy and auditorily interesting. This is especially true for my favorite version of the soundtrack: A_Rival’s.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s discuss all of them in a bit more detail, and highlight some of my favorites from their mixes (just so you know, it was so hard to choose!).
FamilyJules: The rock/metal soundtrack
FamilyJules is a skilled guitar player, whose work in Crypt of the NecroDancer and Cadence of Hyrule only scratches the surface of the incredibly polished covers that he’s created of classic video game tunes. He’s as slick as ever on the guitar in Cadence of Hyrule. Like in Crypt of the NecroDancer, he provides the rock/metal version, bringing big beats and headbanging tracks that get you pumped to press those buttons.
An unaware listener might be tempted to think those guitar riffs are computer-generated, given how tight they are. But rest assured, it’s all the literal handiwork of FamilyJules.
My three favorites from FamilyJules
I obviously had to pick a piece that appeals to my Crypt of the NecroDancer nostalgia. “Crypt (1-1)” calls back to a classic piece and one of FamilyJules’ covers from the original gem of a game, and then Zelda swiftly and permanently takes over. FamilyJules’ rocking version is a flawless adaptation; it hits every original riff perfectly while also adding some creative flair for good measure.
The original “Frozen Grotto” is one of my favorite dungeon tracks, and FamilyJules brings a new intensity to it, which the metalhead that must be somewhere deep down inside me absolutely loves. From as soon as 0:40 seconds, we get some crazy low sounds that make you genuinely fear for your life down in that grotto.
We can’t talk about a FamilyJules track without referencing his perfect use of classic rock and metal sounds, and “Death Mountain” fits the bill perfectly. His recreation retains the heaviness of this piece, not just from the intense and epic guitaring, but also the rhythmic drumming. It may not stray far from the original in terms of composition, but it doesn’t need to, as adding the electric guitar was enough to amplify it to where it always had the potential to go.
A_Rival: The electro/techno soundtrack
A_Rival is another talented musician, whose work is primarily a badass blend of electronic, techno, and hip-hop. But as you’ll discover when listening to his soundtrack in Cadence of Hyrule, you can imagine him dabbling in just about anything, bringing his own fresh and highly catchy sound to it. His Crypt of the NecroDancer covers are my absolute favorite, and I can safely say the same for his upbeat techno soundtrack in Cadence of Hyrule.
What I especially love about A_Rival’s mixes is that they aren’t like-for-like covers. While they are instantly recognizable, he adds his own flavor to the tunes that make them distinct. This is especially true in my top three favorites.
My three favorites from A_Rival
Man, as soon as I hit the 0:50 mark on A_Rival’s “Overworld” cover, I got the same pumped feeling I had when first hearing his Crypt of the NecroDancer pieces. I knew I was in for the same adrenaline rush with this soundtrack. He adds so many great electro sounds that just hit the spot perfectly for me. The piece is such a great portfolio of what he can do, as it goes through so many peaks and calms. It fully prepares you for what’s about to come in the rest of his tracks.
That adrenaline never left me. In fact, it amplified when I reached A_Rival’s “Lost Woods” remix, which was already one of my favorites in the vanilla soundtrack. A_Rival not only retains its original catchy beats but somehow makes it even more of a headbanger. He adds his own unique electro sounds without drowning out the original vibe that makes this piece so satisfying to listen to.
A_Rival reaches an absolutely incredible peak (pun intended) in his “Death Mountain” piece. I don’t know how you can make an already intense track more intense without coming across as tryhard, but A_Rival found a damn way and then some. He slows down the intermittent beats at the beginning but turns them up to eleven to make every single one land an even more impactful punch than it did in the original. And then, around the 0:40 and 1:10 marks when the main melody fully and heavily kicks in, you truly feel like you’re in a place that is out to end your whole career.
Chipzel: The chiptune/retro soundtrack
Chipzel’s soundtrack is so upbeat and catchy, not to mention a nostalgia lover’s dream. She has a talent for unobtrusively and seamlessly integrating the retro, 8-bit sounds that could come straight from a Game Boy into a more complete composition, and this has not gone unnoticed by me when listening to both her Crypt of the NecroDancer and Cadence of Hyrule soundtracks.
But Chipzel’s covers are not just your run-of-the-mill chiptune; you know, the type that usually just sticks to arcade and Game Boy vibes. It’s a whole fruit salad of CG sounds that makes these covers so refreshing and appealing to listen to. Plus, of all the “Gerudo Desert” remixes from the three artists, her one is my favorite, and in this Gerudo fangirl’s eyes, that warrants all the bonus points.
My three favorites from Chipzel
I love the fresh sound that Chipzel brings to the “Gerudo Desert” track in Cadence of Hyrule. There’s the overarching 8-bit sound that gives the piece its classic chiptune tone, but there’s a really great vibe in the background that I can’t quite name, but just love. I love that this energy keeps up and even escalates as the piece goes on. I can just imagine the 8-bit heatwaves and spikes on the cactuses while it plays.
Chipzel, god bless you for giving me two-for-one with your soundtrack. Two amazing Gerudo-themed pieces! Christmas has come early for me. I love that she fully went for the retro sound on this one, making it feel like a dungeon out of a truly classic game. And that Bolero of Fire riff that I talked about in the original piece is so cutely captured in retro notes here. Plus, the main drop (around the 1:35 mark) that I love from the original is maintained and amplified, with some arcade sounds sprinkled in for good measure.
The “Future World” theme from the original soundtrack is a true standout in Cadence of Hyrule and immediately iconic with its use of a recognizable Zelda tune. Bringing a fresh sound to it was no easy feat, yet Chipzel effortlessly does so. I really love its upbeat tempo and additional guitar riffs in the background, which is actually a bit of a twist from the lower and slightly foreboding bass parts of the original. But it was actually perfect to hear during my playthrough when I thought about it: I was already a veteran at conquering the game by this point, so I had nothing to feel threatened by, and Chipzel’s version reflected that. I was pumped and ready to defeat Ganon again.
I wish I could highlight all 39 of these new songs, but alas that would make this article over four times its current length, so let’s leave it there. I hope you enjoyed my breakdown of these rockin’ tunes — what are your favorites? Now, I’m off to bop my head to the beat over in Hyrule.
Featured image source: Lynfinity
