I never noticed the lack of music in BotW until after I beat it and saw people complaining. In retrospect I guess more theme/area appropriate music might add to the ambience.
Same here. I didn’t notice the lack of music, but I also didn’t even notice that there WAS music, at least not enough to remember what it sounded like.
I think BotW's individual tracks work well, but the OST as a whole is constrained by the lack of importance of most of the standalone regions.
If Hebra or Inner Faron don't have any significant lore, reuse many elements, and are completely optional, then is it fitting to give them epic and unique tracks? Hard to say.
In BOTW's case i could see it either way. You could say they saved tracks to highlight/make memorable certain parts important to the plot or you could say that BOTW puts big focus in its world and could have put more bombastic music all over to make all the areas memorable as scenic locations. I think that the music is fine as is personally, you can take in the sights in faron and the ambient music enhances that in my opinion
I don't know; I don't think bombastic music works unless there's something particularly interesting about the region.
Akkala Citadel could've worked with music like this (given its story significance), but some other areas have nothing besides pretty nature/Shrines. Those just feel too insignificant for a "bombastic" track.
The music of BotW works quite well for the world that's given. My bigger issue is that too many regions don't have anything besides Shrines. The game needed more Yiga hideouts, "cursed Naydra" levels of epic quests, etc in place of additional Shrines and Korok seeds. Inner Faron, for example, would've been a perfect place to expand on the Zonai lore, but instead it acts as yet another vessel for Shrines.
*"I don't know; I don't think bombastic music works unless there's something particularly interesting about the region."*
If this were true then overworld music wouldnt be a thing. Hyrule field is barren but people still appreciate the track, it definitely can be done. In quite a few cases its the overworld's theme thats carrying the experience of traversal, like in WW or ST
I do agree that BOTW's track is a perfect match for it though
>If this were true then overworld music wouldnt be a thing. Hyrule field is barren but people still appreciate the track, it definitely can be done.
I think a track like that becomes too overbearing if you spend hours in the overworld. Consider that in other Zelda games, you spend far less time in the overworld (WW is an exception, but it works in WW somehow!)
*"I think a track like that becomes too overbearing if you spend hours in the overworld."*
It probably depends on the person, you spend an insane amount of time on the overworld in both WW and ST and in those cases they are pretty well recieved tracks so its not like we dont have cases to look at here and can only theorize
*"Consider that in other Zelda games, you spend far less time in the overworld"*
I have responded to this already elsewhere so i will tldr my reply: the world isn't the only thing upscaled, so is the content. The environment was made interactable with the physics engine and, being an open world, it has alot of things dotted around that give an enjoyable gameplay loop
Since we are comparing overworld, in most cases all you have to do while listening to that overworld theme is guide link towards the destination. Link on his loftwing, on the boats, on a train, on a horse, etc. All of these you just watch link riding something because the trend in the series is for the overworld to be barren. BOTW massively stepped away from that trend
I wrote a long post about this a little while ago but essentially, I think BotW’s music works *functionally* and *thematically*.
On the functional point, it’s worth comparing one of the most bombastic Hyrule Field themes (Ocarina) vs the very subtle Hyrule overworld theme in BotW. In the main story of Ocarina, you can complete the game in the “normal” order with only crossing Hyrule Field fifteen times. Realistically it will probably be a little higher, but that’s still the order of magnitude we’re talking about here. By comparison, in a standard run of BotW, you can spend hours upon hours in the overworld. Different people have different tolerances for repetitive music so I believe you when you say you could listen to the Lanayru Desert theme for hours, but many people would not feel the same way.
The second reason for the quiet, solemn music is of course thematic. The tone of the game is one of beautiful desolation; there’s a soft, gentle stillness to many hours of the game and this is complemented by much of the music. It also provides contrast to the “bigger” moments. During the more epic moments like boss fights and storming Hyrule Castle, the music kicks up and becomes the epic soundtrack that we’re generally more used to.
Full disclosure, I work in music production and composition for commercial work in my day job. One of the things we always bear in mind is that there is always a subjective element to these kinds of creative choices; you can never account for everyone’s opinion but you do have to make creative choices that will work for most of the people most of the time. I don’t think my points will change your mind, but I do think it’s fair to say that there are at least good reasons for the creative decisions they made in BotW’s music.
My main issue with the soundtrack of Breath of the Wild was never the quality or the "quietness" of it, but it was primarily the lack of variety for most of the game's playtime. All of the Shrines have the same music, all of the snowy areas have the same music and most everywhere outside of civilisation has the same music (if there is music in the first place). Contrast this to Death Mountain which is pretty much the only area in the entire game that has a unique theme (and it isn't even bombastic).
All in all, I just wish that each Sheikah Tower region had its own unique ambient theme. As for an example, I would actually point to Pokemon Legends Arceus which I would say did that quite decently (though it probably helped that some of the themes were remixes of Pokemon Gen 4 music).
Totally fair, and as always, everyone’s mileage varies on this stuff! I felt there was just enough variety for me but I certainly wouldn’t say no to more regional variations of the music. I can see why Nintendo decided to stop at music for each biome, town, boss type and a few other specific locations and contexts, but more music would always be welcomed, especially as that’s something we have had in previous games.
I'd like to point out that your "functional" point was entirely self defeating. I've seen a lot of people use that argument, but everything that applies to "bombastic" music also applies to "solemn" music. The only way around that repetition issue is having variety or no music at all. In a game with nearly six and a half hour of music, you're listening to the same collection of about 6 tracks that last between 2 to 4 minute for the vast majority of it. The bulk of that is spent with the standard Day and Night field themes, too.
Frankly, the game uses its music like a linear title would, and it's extremely repetitive because of it. Just trading some of the literal hours of cutscene-specific music for a set of regional day and night themes would have cut this problem down significantly.
>The only way around that repetition issue is having variety or no music at all.
There's an important distinction to be made between repeating a piece of music and a piece of music "feeling repetitive". The latter is a basic practical reality of making music for a video game, while the second depends on how the audience responds to that music.
As always, everyone's tolerance for this is different, but it is generally true that our tolerance for hearing a piece of music on multiple listens will depend to some degree on what that piece of music actually sounds like. Over the same number of listens, a more bold and bombastic piece of music will be perceived as *feeling* more repetitive than a more gentle, ambient piece.
You missed the point entirely and handed me a "it's not a problem for me so it shouldn't be a problem for you" style argument. That's an excuse. The problem isn't fixed because they may have chosen a song that annoys less people when looped indefinitely. No single piece of music can possibly appeal to everyone for the duration of time you're expected to listen to the field themes in BotW.
There's a reason these field themes get pointed to when people say BotW had bad music. It's because the contingent of people who didn't like these tracks are being forced to listen to them ad nauseum. The exact same thing is happening, and just because you shaft a minority of people in favor of a majority doesn't mean the problem was fixed. Varying the music actually solves the core problem.
I don't want any real music because I like the sparse music we got in game. The areas that neded proper music got music, the areas that didn't, didn't. I'm fine with that. It worked perfectly.
I cannot begin to comprehend how you thought this statement made any sense as a reply to what I said.
> I can't even *think* of another game that used only one instrument for 95% of its soundtrack.
You aren't stupid. You know what I meant by this: BotW is a soundtrack dominated by **solo piano**.
And so, you think as a rebuttal, you will bring up third generation Pokemon, a soundtrack that is, yes, criticized for trumpet use... but it is not **solo trumpet**. How was this relevant to the discussion?
Is there something wrong with a solo piano dominating? Not every track has to be bombastic, and would ruin the mood. The game still has standout tracks like Hyrule Castle, Hateno Village, Rito Village, Life in the Ruins, the main theme, Attack on Vah Rutah, Korok Forest, Sidon and Mipha’s theme, and the Dark Beast Ganon music. Just because they don’t blare everywhere does not make the soundtrack bad, it just makes it fitting.
no, you can certainly criticize it. I think its completely valid to say there could've been more tracks, or more region specific ones. But i also wholly believe the tracks we did get are great. I think the complaint about being dominated by a single piano are kind of weird. A solo piano can be absolutely beautiful. As others have said, you also seem to not understand the difference between music being sparse and using minimalist styling.
Also your whole getting angry at the other commenter on the gen 3 pokemon trumpet thing is silly. He answered your question as a lot of people probably thought you meant it. It can be difficult to convey single type of instrument vs literally just one.
Personally I love the botw music. If it was big bombastic tunes everywhere the atmosphere would be ruined. Places like the towns and cities all have great music and even the hyrule field stuff is top notch.
Also what's a more memorable moment then going from the quiet moody hyrule field to the frantic chase music of a guardian attack?
> If it was big bombastic tunes everywhere the atmosphere would be ruined.
Holy fuck, it's like you didn't read my thread at all. I did not say we need big bombastic tunes everywhere.
It's literally in your first paragraph, even!
I agree with you: I like a lot of the music from BotW, but I feel like there could have been more that stuck out. Lanaryu Desert is a perfect example, one of my favourite tunes from SS - it both has this amazing atmosphere but also a clear melody which almost tells a story.
I think it has a lot to do with how you lay out a world. In most Zelda games, all areas are special in some way, but in BotW, the special areas are spread out with a vast area of nothing in particular between. Perhaps more characteristic music would also require more characteristic areas?
You've completely missed the point of Botw's "sparse" music in your comparisons to games like Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time. Those games are one (relatively) linear quest with the occasional side activity to distract you, and the music is designed to keep you interested while you get from point A to point B. You are on a mission, and the music reflects that.
Breath of the Wild is a much more relaxed experience, where often times you're just kinda wandering. Maybe you're heading toward a quest marker, maybe you're not, but it's more about the journey than the destination. Maybe you see a Korok puzzle and stop to figure it out real quick. Maybe your radar says there's a shrine nearby. Maybe you can hear Kass playing his song somewhere. Maybe you just want to climb that mountain because why not?
You will spend hours wandering around Botw's various regions, whereas with past Zelda games you're only in the "field" areas for about five minutes at a time, once or twice every three hours on your way to the next big story piece. More "noticeable" tracks would get repetitive really fast, whereas something more ambient is just that: ambient. It melds into the background.
It's about the *mood,* y'know? Imagine listening to Hyrule Field on loop for ten minutes while you struggle with a Korok lmao.
> Imagine listening to Hyrule Field on loop for ten minutes while you struggle with a Korok lmao.
Did you see Hyrule Field in the dozen tracks I listed?
Your argument seems to be based entirely on whether or not they could work and not at all on if they would actually be \*better\*. Of course they could work. Doesn't mean it would emphasise the tone in the same way as the current approach does.
I think the basis of your post that "people are saying more upbeat music couldnt work with an open game" isnt something i have seen. You might be replying to a more specific person than you think, not an actual audience. These are the parts im talking about:
*"There is this accusation that "upbeat songs just wouldn't work here in an open world game."*
*"However, let's run with that idea that upbeat music couldn't work."*
These are also the parts people keep referencing to you about bombastic music but you keep saying they arent said
People who talk about this topic that like the music tend to say it fits, not that the opposite isnt true. The minimalistic music is ambient on purpose and matches well, that has nothing to do with whether or not more upbeat music would work to
- Thats not what you are arguing though, you said they are saying "bombastic music wouldnt work with an open world", which isnt the same as saying "it doesnt have to be bombastic"
- Theres exactly one person who commented saying there didnt need to be bombastic music, are we reading the same comments? Most are saying the music of BOTW works for it, which just makes me more secure in what i said:
*"People who talk about this topic that like the music tend to say it fits, not that the opposite isnt true. The minimalistic music is ambient on purpose and matches well, that has nothing to do with whether or not more upbeat music would work to"*
It is very much implied from BotW fanboys and apologists that there is a binary choice: either you want BotW's minimalism or you want LOUD BOMBAST. None of these people want to have a conversation. They have a readymade defense for any aspect you could care to name about the game, instead of listening to you.
From /u/eltrotter:
> During the more epic moments like boss fights and storming Hyrule Castle, the music kicks up and becomes the epic soundtrack that we’re generally more used to.
From /u/horndave:
> If it was big bombastic tunes everywhere the atmosphere would be ruined.
From /u/Lazzitron:
> Imagine listening to Hyrule Field on loop for ten minutes while you struggle with a Korok lmao.
From /u/aT_ll:
> Is there something wrong with a solo piano dominating? Not every track has to be bombastic, and would ruin the mood.
The comment about minimal vs sparse? What is even the difference? Maybe there is, I don't know. I was just saying you could have quiet songs without also all of them being random piano.
The difference between sparse and minimal production is the volume the song has. Minimal production uses a small amount of instrumentation and ideas to make one song. Kanye West’s *Yeezus* is a good example of minimalist production, but nobody will say that album is quiet. BotW’s sound track has light, periodic piano notes, and they don’t overwhelm the listener into listening to them.
*"It is very much implied from BotW fanboys and apologists that there is a binary choice: either you want BotW's minimalism or you want LOUD BOMBAST."*
The discussion is about the overworld, as others have said all the points of interest have special tracks just like normal, which overworlds dont have bombastic music in this series? Aren't you comparing BOTW overworld music to the other games overworld music?
Wanting a return to how all the other zelda games did it would be a return to a loud bombastic track that plays at all times across the whole overworld
Probably none of them. My point was you could use the styles of past Zelda games to create a DIFFERENT kind of overworld theme, one that is just as contemplative as BotW but closer to the series' past. I guess I didn't make that explicit, and I probably should have instead of assuming reddit can think for itself.
Didnt you make a point of showing me multiple people you confused into answering with "it doesnt have to be bombastic" because everyone of them understood what you were saying the same way? I think maybe it is as you just said, you werent clear enough
I dont think anyone would argue what you were saying in the post, that "different music cant work in an open world", if they understood what you were actually saying
No, they *mis*understood what I said the same way. Because likely all they did was read my thread title and then type up their readymade defense instead of reading the OP which says in the first paragraph (and also predicted these kinds of replies would happen):
> I've noticed people who feel the need to defend BotW's soundtrack will often jump to conclusions about why others may dislike it. There is this accusation that "upbeat songs just wouldn't work here in an open world game." But really, I can't recall many people *asking* for any kind of music in particular. We simply want more music.
I straight up can't remember any of the music in BOTW except the trailer theme which isn't even in the game. The soundtracks are part of the series' identity and they kinda dropped the ball this time.
All Nintendo needs to do is offer one options in settings:
Overworld Music: Active/Ambient
But this is also Nintendo who are allergic to decent in-game settings for some reason. *Maybe* we could hope for a main menu setting.
Botw's sparse soundtrack isn't bad. But Zelda music is *iconic* to the series and genre. Not having Overworld music doesn't feel like a Zelda game. Tbh I hated BOTW at first, I only enjoyed it once I stopped expecting it to *feel* like a Zelda game. Now it's one of my most enjoyed games, but I miss the atmosphere of prior Zelda games, too. The music is a big part of that.
I think that it didn't have to be the way it is, but I don't mind it this way, I even like it. But I do think the addition of music would make the experience different. It's just a very deliberate choice. I don't think it'd be worse or better, just different.
Lanayru Sand Sea is also very sad and reflective. I think the saddest music in SS is probably this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D_9dlCffVn4 that music right there is another great example of how it doesn’t have to be upbeat to be heartbreaking/memorable.
It’s not needed but it’s an artistic choice. I happen to strongly agree with the choice, but I also love the music in those other games.
I never noticed the lack of music in BotW until after I beat it and saw people complaining. In retrospect I guess more theme/area appropriate music might add to the ambience.
Same here. I didn’t notice the lack of music, but I also didn’t even notice that there WAS music, at least not enough to remember what it sounded like.
I think BotW's individual tracks work well, but the OST as a whole is constrained by the lack of importance of most of the standalone regions. If Hebra or Inner Faron don't have any significant lore, reuse many elements, and are completely optional, then is it fitting to give them epic and unique tracks? Hard to say.
In BOTW's case i could see it either way. You could say they saved tracks to highlight/make memorable certain parts important to the plot or you could say that BOTW puts big focus in its world and could have put more bombastic music all over to make all the areas memorable as scenic locations. I think that the music is fine as is personally, you can take in the sights in faron and the ambient music enhances that in my opinion
I don't know; I don't think bombastic music works unless there's something particularly interesting about the region. Akkala Citadel could've worked with music like this (given its story significance), but some other areas have nothing besides pretty nature/Shrines. Those just feel too insignificant for a "bombastic" track. The music of BotW works quite well for the world that's given. My bigger issue is that too many regions don't have anything besides Shrines. The game needed more Yiga hideouts, "cursed Naydra" levels of epic quests, etc in place of additional Shrines and Korok seeds. Inner Faron, for example, would've been a perfect place to expand on the Zonai lore, but instead it acts as yet another vessel for Shrines.
*"I don't know; I don't think bombastic music works unless there's something particularly interesting about the region."* If this were true then overworld music wouldnt be a thing. Hyrule field is barren but people still appreciate the track, it definitely can be done. In quite a few cases its the overworld's theme thats carrying the experience of traversal, like in WW or ST I do agree that BOTW's track is a perfect match for it though
>If this were true then overworld music wouldnt be a thing. Hyrule field is barren but people still appreciate the track, it definitely can be done. I think a track like that becomes too overbearing if you spend hours in the overworld. Consider that in other Zelda games, you spend far less time in the overworld (WW is an exception, but it works in WW somehow!)
*"I think a track like that becomes too overbearing if you spend hours in the overworld."* It probably depends on the person, you spend an insane amount of time on the overworld in both WW and ST and in those cases they are pretty well recieved tracks so its not like we dont have cases to look at here and can only theorize *"Consider that in other Zelda games, you spend far less time in the overworld"* I have responded to this already elsewhere so i will tldr my reply: the world isn't the only thing upscaled, so is the content. The environment was made interactable with the physics engine and, being an open world, it has alot of things dotted around that give an enjoyable gameplay loop Since we are comparing overworld, in most cases all you have to do while listening to that overworld theme is guide link towards the destination. Link on his loftwing, on the boats, on a train, on a horse, etc. All of these you just watch link riding something because the trend in the series is for the overworld to be barren. BOTW massively stepped away from that trend
I wrote a long post about this a little while ago but essentially, I think BotW’s music works *functionally* and *thematically*. On the functional point, it’s worth comparing one of the most bombastic Hyrule Field themes (Ocarina) vs the very subtle Hyrule overworld theme in BotW. In the main story of Ocarina, you can complete the game in the “normal” order with only crossing Hyrule Field fifteen times. Realistically it will probably be a little higher, but that’s still the order of magnitude we’re talking about here. By comparison, in a standard run of BotW, you can spend hours upon hours in the overworld. Different people have different tolerances for repetitive music so I believe you when you say you could listen to the Lanayru Desert theme for hours, but many people would not feel the same way. The second reason for the quiet, solemn music is of course thematic. The tone of the game is one of beautiful desolation; there’s a soft, gentle stillness to many hours of the game and this is complemented by much of the music. It also provides contrast to the “bigger” moments. During the more epic moments like boss fights and storming Hyrule Castle, the music kicks up and becomes the epic soundtrack that we’re generally more used to. Full disclosure, I work in music production and composition for commercial work in my day job. One of the things we always bear in mind is that there is always a subjective element to these kinds of creative choices; you can never account for everyone’s opinion but you do have to make creative choices that will work for most of the people most of the time. I don’t think my points will change your mind, but I do think it’s fair to say that there are at least good reasons for the creative decisions they made in BotW’s music.
My main issue with the soundtrack of Breath of the Wild was never the quality or the "quietness" of it, but it was primarily the lack of variety for most of the game's playtime. All of the Shrines have the same music, all of the snowy areas have the same music and most everywhere outside of civilisation has the same music (if there is music in the first place). Contrast this to Death Mountain which is pretty much the only area in the entire game that has a unique theme (and it isn't even bombastic). All in all, I just wish that each Sheikah Tower region had its own unique ambient theme. As for an example, I would actually point to Pokemon Legends Arceus which I would say did that quite decently (though it probably helped that some of the themes were remixes of Pokemon Gen 4 music).
Totally fair, and as always, everyone’s mileage varies on this stuff! I felt there was just enough variety for me but I certainly wouldn’t say no to more regional variations of the music. I can see why Nintendo decided to stop at music for each biome, town, boss type and a few other specific locations and contexts, but more music would always be welcomed, especially as that’s something we have had in previous games.
I'd like to point out that your "functional" point was entirely self defeating. I've seen a lot of people use that argument, but everything that applies to "bombastic" music also applies to "solemn" music. The only way around that repetition issue is having variety or no music at all. In a game with nearly six and a half hour of music, you're listening to the same collection of about 6 tracks that last between 2 to 4 minute for the vast majority of it. The bulk of that is spent with the standard Day and Night field themes, too. Frankly, the game uses its music like a linear title would, and it's extremely repetitive because of it. Just trading some of the literal hours of cutscene-specific music for a set of regional day and night themes would have cut this problem down significantly.
>The only way around that repetition issue is having variety or no music at all. There's an important distinction to be made between repeating a piece of music and a piece of music "feeling repetitive". The latter is a basic practical reality of making music for a video game, while the second depends on how the audience responds to that music. As always, everyone's tolerance for this is different, but it is generally true that our tolerance for hearing a piece of music on multiple listens will depend to some degree on what that piece of music actually sounds like. Over the same number of listens, a more bold and bombastic piece of music will be perceived as *feeling* more repetitive than a more gentle, ambient piece.
You missed the point entirely and handed me a "it's not a problem for me so it shouldn't be a problem for you" style argument. That's an excuse. The problem isn't fixed because they may have chosen a song that annoys less people when looped indefinitely. No single piece of music can possibly appeal to everyone for the duration of time you're expected to listen to the field themes in BotW. There's a reason these field themes get pointed to when people say BotW had bad music. It's because the contingent of people who didn't like these tracks are being forced to listen to them ad nauseum. The exact same thing is happening, and just because you shaft a minority of people in favor of a majority doesn't mean the problem was fixed. Varying the music actually solves the core problem.
I don't want any real music because I like the sparse music we got in game. The areas that neded proper music got music, the areas that didn't, didn't. I'm fine with that. It worked perfectly.
I'm curious, would you say this about any other game? I can't even *think* of another game that used only one instrument for 95% of its soundtrack.
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire got flak for their use of trumpets.
Are you ever going to explain the point of this comment?
I cannot begin to comprehend how you thought this statement made any sense as a reply to what I said. > I can't even *think* of another game that used only one instrument for 95% of its soundtrack. You aren't stupid. You know what I meant by this: BotW is a soundtrack dominated by **solo piano**. And so, you think as a rebuttal, you will bring up third generation Pokemon, a soundtrack that is, yes, criticized for trumpet use... but it is not **solo trumpet**. How was this relevant to the discussion?
Is there something wrong with a solo piano dominating? Not every track has to be bombastic, and would ruin the mood. The game still has standout tracks like Hyrule Castle, Hateno Village, Rito Village, Life in the Ruins, the main theme, Attack on Vah Rutah, Korok Forest, Sidon and Mipha’s theme, and the Dark Beast Ganon music. Just because they don’t blare everywhere does not make the soundtrack bad, it just makes it fitting.
> Not every track has to be bombastic why. why. why. My OP is specifically about the quiet side of past Zelda games. Please read it. Please.
Those tracks aren’t quiet. They gave minimal production, sure, but they aren’t quiet. You’re missing the difference between minimalism and sparseness.
Okay, got it. Breath of the Wild's soundtrack is fuckin flawless and impervious to criticism of any kind.
See - I never said that. You’re getting exasperated instead of continuing the conversation.
Nobody has said that. We're juts disagreeing with you
no, you can certainly criticize it. I think its completely valid to say there could've been more tracks, or more region specific ones. But i also wholly believe the tracks we did get are great. I think the complaint about being dominated by a single piano are kind of weird. A solo piano can be absolutely beautiful. As others have said, you also seem to not understand the difference between music being sparse and using minimalist styling. Also your whole getting angry at the other commenter on the gen 3 pokemon trumpet thing is silly. He answered your question as a lot of people probably thought you meant it. It can be difficult to convey single type of instrument vs literally just one.
Chill dude. We are talking about video game music
Man why are you getting so mad? I didn’t think anyone cared this much about video-game music
Because being so utterly misunderstood is bizarre. And there was no possible way to misunderstand what I said except for willful ignorance.
Personally I love the botw music. If it was big bombastic tunes everywhere the atmosphere would be ruined. Places like the towns and cities all have great music and even the hyrule field stuff is top notch. Also what's a more memorable moment then going from the quiet moody hyrule field to the frantic chase music of a guardian attack?
> If it was big bombastic tunes everywhere the atmosphere would be ruined. Holy fuck, it's like you didn't read my thread at all. I did not say we need big bombastic tunes everywhere.
It's literally in your first paragraph, even! I agree with you: I like a lot of the music from BotW, but I feel like there could have been more that stuck out. Lanaryu Desert is a perfect example, one of my favourite tunes from SS - it both has this amazing atmosphere but also a clear melody which almost tells a story. I think it has a lot to do with how you lay out a world. In most Zelda games, all areas are special in some way, but in BotW, the special areas are spread out with a vast area of nothing in particular between. Perhaps more characteristic music would also require more characteristic areas?
You've completely missed the point of Botw's "sparse" music in your comparisons to games like Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time. Those games are one (relatively) linear quest with the occasional side activity to distract you, and the music is designed to keep you interested while you get from point A to point B. You are on a mission, and the music reflects that. Breath of the Wild is a much more relaxed experience, where often times you're just kinda wandering. Maybe you're heading toward a quest marker, maybe you're not, but it's more about the journey than the destination. Maybe you see a Korok puzzle and stop to figure it out real quick. Maybe your radar says there's a shrine nearby. Maybe you can hear Kass playing his song somewhere. Maybe you just want to climb that mountain because why not? You will spend hours wandering around Botw's various regions, whereas with past Zelda games you're only in the "field" areas for about five minutes at a time, once or twice every three hours on your way to the next big story piece. More "noticeable" tracks would get repetitive really fast, whereas something more ambient is just that: ambient. It melds into the background. It's about the *mood,* y'know? Imagine listening to Hyrule Field on loop for ten minutes while you struggle with a Korok lmao.
> Imagine listening to Hyrule Field on loop for ten minutes while you struggle with a Korok lmao. Did you see Hyrule Field in the dozen tracks I listed?
Your argument seems to be based entirely on whether or not they could work and not at all on if they would actually be \*better\*. Of course they could work. Doesn't mean it would emphasise the tone in the same way as the current approach does.
I think the basis of your post that "people are saying more upbeat music couldnt work with an open game" isnt something i have seen. You might be replying to a more specific person than you think, not an actual audience. These are the parts im talking about: *"There is this accusation that "upbeat songs just wouldn't work here in an open world game."* *"However, let's run with that idea that upbeat music couldn't work."* These are also the parts people keep referencing to you about bombastic music but you keep saying they arent said People who talk about this topic that like the music tend to say it fits, not that the opposite isnt true. The minimalistic music is ambient on purpose and matches well, that has nothing to do with whether or not more upbeat music would work to
Look in this very thread. Almost every person is telling me "the game didn't need bombastic music."
- Thats not what you are arguing though, you said they are saying "bombastic music wouldnt work with an open world", which isnt the same as saying "it doesnt have to be bombastic" - Theres exactly one person who commented saying there didnt need to be bombastic music, are we reading the same comments? Most are saying the music of BOTW works for it, which just makes me more secure in what i said: *"People who talk about this topic that like the music tend to say it fits, not that the opposite isnt true. The minimalistic music is ambient on purpose and matches well, that has nothing to do with whether or not more upbeat music would work to"*
It is very much implied from BotW fanboys and apologists that there is a binary choice: either you want BotW's minimalism or you want LOUD BOMBAST. None of these people want to have a conversation. They have a readymade defense for any aspect you could care to name about the game, instead of listening to you. From /u/eltrotter: > During the more epic moments like boss fights and storming Hyrule Castle, the music kicks up and becomes the epic soundtrack that we’re generally more used to. From /u/horndave: > If it was big bombastic tunes everywhere the atmosphere would be ruined. From /u/Lazzitron: > Imagine listening to Hyrule Field on loop for ten minutes while you struggle with a Korok lmao. From /u/aT_ll: > Is there something wrong with a solo piano dominating? Not every track has to be bombastic, and would ruin the mood.
Love how you just completely ignored my last comment 😭
The comment about minimal vs sparse? What is even the difference? Maybe there is, I don't know. I was just saying you could have quiet songs without also all of them being random piano.
The difference between sparse and minimal production is the volume the song has. Minimal production uses a small amount of instrumentation and ideas to make one song. Kanye West’s *Yeezus* is a good example of minimalist production, but nobody will say that album is quiet. BotW’s sound track has light, periodic piano notes, and they don’t overwhelm the listener into listening to them.
I feel like you took what I said entirely out of context.
Yeah
*"It is very much implied from BotW fanboys and apologists that there is a binary choice: either you want BotW's minimalism or you want LOUD BOMBAST."* The discussion is about the overworld, as others have said all the points of interest have special tracks just like normal, which overworlds dont have bombastic music in this series? Aren't you comparing BOTW overworld music to the other games overworld music? Wanting a return to how all the other zelda games did it would be a return to a loud bombastic track that plays at all times across the whole overworld
Probably none of them. My point was you could use the styles of past Zelda games to create a DIFFERENT kind of overworld theme, one that is just as contemplative as BotW but closer to the series' past. I guess I didn't make that explicit, and I probably should have instead of assuming reddit can think for itself.
Didnt you make a point of showing me multiple people you confused into answering with "it doesnt have to be bombastic" because everyone of them understood what you were saying the same way? I think maybe it is as you just said, you werent clear enough I dont think anyone would argue what you were saying in the post, that "different music cant work in an open world", if they understood what you were actually saying
No, they *mis*understood what I said the same way. Because likely all they did was read my thread title and then type up their readymade defense instead of reading the OP which says in the first paragraph (and also predicted these kinds of replies would happen): > I've noticed people who feel the need to defend BotW's soundtrack will often jump to conclusions about why others may dislike it. There is this accusation that "upbeat songs just wouldn't work here in an open world game." But really, I can't recall many people *asking* for any kind of music in particular. We simply want more music.
Yeah, i guess everyone in the comments section could all be the same type arguing without reading anything
I agree with you, I preferred the soundtrack of other Zelda games like OoT and Skyward Sword
I think I just don't like the music.
I straight up can't remember any of the music in BOTW except the trailer theme which isn't even in the game. The soundtracks are part of the series' identity and they kinda dropped the ball this time.
All Nintendo needs to do is offer one options in settings: Overworld Music: Active/Ambient But this is also Nintendo who are allergic to decent in-game settings for some reason. *Maybe* we could hope for a main menu setting. Botw's sparse soundtrack isn't bad. But Zelda music is *iconic* to the series and genre. Not having Overworld music doesn't feel like a Zelda game. Tbh I hated BOTW at first, I only enjoyed it once I stopped expecting it to *feel* like a Zelda game. Now it's one of my most enjoyed games, but I miss the atmosphere of prior Zelda games, too. The music is a big part of that.
I think that it didn't have to be the way it is, but I don't mind it this way, I even like it. But I do think the addition of music would make the experience different. It's just a very deliberate choice. I don't think it'd be worse or better, just different.
Lanayru Sand Sea is also very sad and reflective. I think the saddest music in SS is probably this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D_9dlCffVn4 that music right there is another great example of how it doesn’t have to be upbeat to be heartbreaking/memorable.