GoNintendo and GameDaily pick our top 20 favorite Legend of Zelda songs (bumped to front page)

Are you on a Legend of Zelda overload just yet? The Spirit Tracks coverage has been in full-force, and it’s not going to stop anytime soon. Expect the collective of the gaming world to keep talking Zelda for at least a week or two. Of course, that means that GoNintendo and GameDaily wanted to get in on the fun!

Instead of talking about Spirit Tracks, we thought we’d take a look at the franchise as a whole. What better way to bring us through the entire series than by picking out the best musical tracks that the franchise has graced us with? Sure, this is another list that sets us up for failure. We know we’re not going to pick all the songs that you guys agree with, but we’ve done our best to choose the tracks that we think really stand apart from the crowd. Hopefully at least one or two of your favorites found their way onto here.

The best part is, Deux Michaels joined in for the fun! Our friends at GameDaily put together a list of 10 songs, and Deux and I split the remaining 10. With that said, check out our top 20 collection of the best songs from the Legend of Zelda series!

For many, the original theme from The Legend of Zelda has become as iconic as the Mario Bros. theme song or Sonic’s Star Light Zone. Well, A Link to the Past re-envisioned everything we loved about the original, including the music. This is the definitive Zelda Theme remixed for the Super Nintendo and it truly filled everyone in for the first time on how Nintendo felt about the fans.

As a young lad I would aimlessly walk the towns of Zelda II for hours on end listening to this beautiful theme. It’s such a track that has never left my head (or heart) and it always brings me back to a safe and special place. There weren’t many video game songs I could say that about up until that point. Plus, Error is my man!

Ocarina of Time is surely one of the most beloved 3-D adventures of our generation and it seems savage to have to choose favorites, even over the music. The Gerudo Valley was a dryer, more desperate, territory than we had seen in the Lost Woods or Zora’s Domain and the up-tempo theme really brought the southwestern feeling to your ears and thumbs! It seemed appropriate that the thief Ganondorf’s roots would have sprouted from the desert’s hard soil.

With the Wii came the excitement that finally one of my favorite series’ music would be fully orchestrated. It was not totally to be, but out of it came this track which oozes more atmosphere than anything I think I’ve heard. You’re not sure you trust Midna, but it’s dark and storming and she’s you’re only hope to return to your human form. Racing her to safety is only a short stint in the game, but the music involved sucked me right into that universe and made me believe in an Imp named Midna. Mark my words: “We are going to be hearing more songs of this nature in the future of the Zelda Series.”

One of the catchiest tunes of all, this song always gets me so psyched up. The temple song in the original Zelda was more ominous and classic, but it never got me as amped and filled with concentration as this gem. The pace of this theme will always be the perfect compliment to the confusing halls, numerous elevator shafts, and intense sword fights that were unique to Zelda II.

There weren’t too many songs in The Minish Cap that really stuck with me, but this is definitely one of them. The Temple of Droplets song did a great job of really making you feel like you were inside a temple, and doing something really important. The melody itself fits perfectly with the color scheme and surroundings within the Temple of Droplets. One of the few songs that uses ‘jingle bells’ and doesn’t sound like Christmas tune!

In my opinion, this is the best title music that The Legend of Zelda series has ever had. Yes, I’m saying that it tops Ocarina of Time. There’s no other title song in the series that moves me as much as this one. I remember the first time I actually sat down to play this game, which happened to be a Nintendo event. I watched the title and listened to this song, and I started to tear up. I had to hide my face to make sure none of the other editors caught me!

This is one of those extremely relaxing songs that the series sometimes throws at you. The combination of instruments alongside the sweet melody really puts a smile on my face. There are certain songs in the entire Legend of Zelda franchise that really make you want to go back and play through a specific entry again. Without a doubt, Kakariko is Saved is one of those tracks for me.

Is there any other song in the entire Legend of Zelda series that makes you feel as sad as this one? You really do get the feeling that the entire weight of the world is crushing down on you…which is pretty much what is happening. There’s not all that many morose songs in the Zelda series, but this one is ‘heavy’ enough for the whole series. Just hearing this one again makes me feel uneasy…but in a good way.

I might be crazy, but I don’t think there’s any other song in the Zelda franchise that is as energetic as this one. To hear a remake of this song in any Zelda game, complete with real instruments, I think I might freak out! This song is just so high intensity, and really makes you want to go out and squash down whatever evil is taking over the land. Another track that gives me goosebumps the second it comes on.