The Zora are a people with an astoundingly rich history, even for Zelda standards. The modern day Zora of Tears of the Kingdom may not have known of its existence, but the Ancient Zora Waterworks likely once served a grand purpose. In fact, water temples in general tend to be gold mines for lore and speculation and this mini dungeon is no exception. It may be an unpopular opinion, but water themed dungeons have always been some of my favorites. I’m consistently hooked by their deep lore, their unusual layouts, and, of course, their hauntingly beautiful soundtracks.
Like many of the game’s ruins’ themes, the melody is sparse. Phrases are strung together as if weaving threads of forgotten history. The harp and vibraphone combination adds a sense of wistful mystery. The vocal countermelody sounds like ancient royalty. The soft synth in the background provides a deep bass and harmony. As you might expect from a watery cave soundtrack, there’s a whole lot of reverb. There are also many miscellaneous noises throughout, making it much spookier. A melodic motif from Mipha’s theme appears at 0:40, further emphasizing the importance of this location. It’s as if the spirits of past Zora figures are watching from the shadows, unable to rest due to their lingering regrets.
The whole song feels Twilight Princess-esque in the best way. Its lush chords and longing choir create what may be my favorite atmosphere in all of Tears of the Kingdom, which says a lot when one of the game’s greatest strengths is its plethora of immersive atmospheres.
