A Link to the Past is one of those games that never really gets old. Despite being released over 30 years ago, it’s still considered one of the greatest installments in a series full of innovative masterpieces. It has brilliant pixel art, introduces several groundbreaking mechanics, and establishes the classic formula that Zelda titles would stick to for decades. But, predictably, my favorite thing about it (and about the SNES in general) is its music. The soundfont feels incredibly nostalgic, even though I didn’t own a SNES growing up. There’s something magical about it that I think is best exemplified in the Kakariko Village theme.
This theme is a waltz, a style of music known for its romantic elegance. The harmony is laid out by low string arpeggios with a unique effect: the first and fourth notes of each phrase are panned to the right ear, while the rest are panned to the left. Whether you consciously notice it or not, this gives the song an extra layer of personality. With the sound of a flute under its wings, the melody soars like a duck that has recently been freed from its weathervane prison. A bell-like synth comes in for the second half of the A section (which plays twice) to keep it sonically fresh, and the B section strips back to just a solo violin on top of the harmony for an even more calm atmosphere.
It’s a very simple piece in almost every aspect. It sticks to traditional chord changes, uses only three different instrument sounds, and keeps a consistent rhythm from beginning to end. You don’t have to think to understand this piece, you just feel the sound. This easy-listening philosophy makes Kakariko Village very comforting to me. It feels like turning off my brain and swaying in the 16-bit breeze.
