I have often wondered why, despite it having made very few appearances in the Zelda series since its debut in 1988, the Palace Theme from The Adventure of Link is one of the melodies I remember best. Sure, the tune is just downright catchy, but I’m fairly certain that its appearance the Super Smash Bros. series is what permanently cemented it into my mind. Even though the remix originated in Super Smash Bros. Melee along with its respective Temple stage, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is where I heard it the most because my brother and I grew up playing it every chance we got (and even when we weren’t playing together, I’d be adventuring through the Subspace Emissary solo). Regardless of where my affinity for it came from, I believe this piece of music is particularly special.
The track opens with a simple acoustic guitar arpeggio, supplemented by an ominous, dry wind. These two motifs are at the core of the whole piece; at least one of them is always in the background, lending an air of mystery and fearlessness. The chord progressions provide the perfect amount of dissonance to keep you on your toes, anticipating what devious shenanigans your opponents are plotting. At the 0:21 mark, the tension builds with some tight orchestral hits and a rising piano line, both of which refuse to resolve. After another round of the main melody, a new section introduces a spunky bass line and a subtle choir, adding even more to the track’s nonstop drive. Even though the piece has many dynamic shifts, it manages to keep a continuous stream of mystifying energy through its use of unusual chord changes and masterful instrumentation.
Something I love about this track (and Super Smash Bros. remixes in general) is that every time I listen to it outside of those high-adrenaline battles, I notice some new detail I’ve never heard before. For example, the main melody is doubled with a flute each time it loops, and a particular favorite of mine is the harp part during the climax — see if you can pick it out! Of course, these particular elements could never have existed if the original NES track wasn’t as well-written as it is. The Adventure of Link doesn’t get a lot of credit these days due to its outdated mechanics and absurd difficulty level, but this song is proof that it did some things right.
