Whether you love or (most likely) hate the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time, it’s hard to deny that its mystical music is amazing. Every instrument in its melody perfectly captures the sound of cascading water, and lets you know that the temple you’re traversing is an elegant relic of the past. And now, you can experience this melody in crystal-clear quality, as it’s been remastered by StarBender on YouTube.
StarBender’s remaster of the “Water Temple” theme is exquisite, and that’s actually not because of any elaborate additions or changes, but quite the opposite. They know the original stands strongly on its own, so they’ve kept its core composition intact and simply improved its clarity.
If you’re a seasoned Ocarina of Time player, you can likely tell that something is different in this version, but you’re not quite able to put your finger on it. Well, the changes are pretty indistinguishable when you listen casually, but if you play the original and remastered versions back to back, you’ll realize that all the sounds and instruments in StarBender’s remaster are much sharper and more distinct. They sound less washed out and muffled, especially those other than the flute and guitar. This was perhaps originally pretty fitting for the temple’s watery vibe, though it was definitely unintentional.
I think the remaster allows for a new appreciation of the piece’s beautiful composition, though. It has so many layers that make it interesting, distinct, and a real pleasure to listen to. Even if the “Water Temple” theme triggers memories of constantly swapping the Iron Boots, adjusting the water level, and desperately trying every weapon against Dark Link, we can all admit that listening to it in a new light allows us to soak up the relaxing vibes that it’s always had which PTSD prevented us from hearing.
