Tenology: Ten Remixes I Want Added To Hyrule Warriors

Sorry everyone. It's another video game post.
For the second half of September, I've been spending my days playing 'Hyrule Warriors', the latest game in the Zelda franchise that departs from traditional gameplay in favour of 'Dynasty Warriors' battles, borrowing the characters, weapons and locations from the Zelda universe.
It's a fantastic game but the best thing about it is the music (which is also true to most other Zelda games). This game not only has a soundtrack combining Rock instruments with orchestral tunes but it also remixes existing Zelda tracks from past games into more exciting battle anthems.
Before you start to realise that I'm pretty much just repeating what I said about Super Smash Bros Brawl in a previous blog post, the point of this post isn't to tell you about my favourite tracks from this game. The reason you're still reading (and I'm still typing) is because I've picked 10 tunes that weren't used in 'Hyrule Warriors' that I'm hoping will be added along with the DLC after being remixed.

To give you an idea about the soundtrack of both Zelda games AND 'Hyrule Warriors', I've selected a couple of choice picks to compare the original and the remix.
First, there's the Boss Battle theme from 'Ocarina Of Time' followed by the 'Hyrule Warriors' version.
Then there's the Skyloft theme from 'Skyward Sword' and the 'Hyrule Warriors' mix, adding the Ballad Of The Goddess in there too to make it even more awesome.
As you can hear, they add some bitchin' guitars and successfully manage to improve tracks that were already damn good. Of course, these aren't the only pieces of music in the game but one of the few flaws about 'Hyrule Warriors' is that for a game that was essentially a love letter to console Zelda fans, the number of remixes from console Zelda games was not quite as high as it could've been.
So which tracks should've been added and given the 'Hyrule Warriors' treatment? In my opinion, the following ten (in no particular order):


1. Boss Theme - Majora's Mask

And now you've got Odalwa's chant stuck in your head!

An obvious pick but still an awesome one. Personally, I prefer this Boss theme to the one from 'Ocarina Of Time', if only for the galloping rhythm. It works well in 'Majora's Mask' due to the time-based gameplay and often by the time you've finished a temple to reach the boss, you're racing against the clock to beat them before it's game over. It's a shame the game only had about 4 bosses (not including the final one) but for the upcoming 'Majora's Mask' DLC, a remix of this battle track with a chugging guitar rhythm would be amazing.


2. Dragon Roost Island - Wind Waker

Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of Wind Waker thanks to the boring fucking sailing parts

Probably the best piece of music in the entire game despite not being featured as often as other tunes. Since 'Wind Waker' has a completely different art style to the other Zelda games and isn't really featured in 'Hyrule Warriors' (aside from a couple of pretty rubbish weapons you can get), it's unlikely we'll be seeing DLC featuring enemies and music from this game, even though fans would buy it in a heartbeat. However, a heavier remix of this calm island melody would be all kinds of awesome to fight to.


3. Mini Game Medley - Ocarina Of Time (1), Twilight Princess (2), Skyward Sword (3)

Dunno about you but that's definitely how I would hold a panicked chicken. Right over my head

OK, I'm not sure how well this would translate as a song to fight to but if 'Hyrule Warriors' can have music from the 'Skyward Sword' Bazaar and 'Ocarina Of Time' House interiors then there must be a way of making a mix of mini game songs from the three main titles that went into making this game. The hardest one to translate would probably be the 'Skyward Sword' one, as it's the slowest. But hey, with a bit of creative reworking, it's surely possible!


4. Zant Boss Theme - Twilight Princess

Shame his awesome attacks couldn't quite properly transfer over to 'Hyrule Warriors'

One thing that stuck in my mind with 'Twilight Princess' was the fun boss fights. Not only did each one have their own music but they also felt more fun than previous installments, particularly Stallord who easily has one of the best boss fights in the whole Zelda series! However, the Zant fight was something special. It involved multiple battlefields taking place across a variety of stages from OTHER boss fights in the game, each with a variation of the same tune. If you listen to the whole piece, you can hear it becoming more frantic and crazed, much like the character of Zant as the game progresses. Anyway, considering he's playable in 'Hyrule Warriors', it would've been neat to have this tune properly remixed instead of the Twilight-y song they had which merely borrowed elements of this one.


5. Song Of Storms - Ocarina Of Time

I always thought the secret tunnel from his hut to the graveyard was a bit suspicious, kinda like Sweeney Todd

Another iconic Zelda tune right here, and not just because it involves a paradox where you learn a song by travelling forward in time, learning it off a disgruntled windmill owner, travelling back and playing it to him, causing him to be disgruntled/learn the song in the first place (even though the song you learn is the exact one he's playing in his windmill all the time...). It's surprisingly catchy and even though various re-recordings of it are all awesome, the original played on the music box will always be the best. That being said, a heavier remix with guitars would certainly be appreciated, maybe if it's mixed with other songs you learn on the ocarina (although not the song from Ganondorf's Castle, like in Super Smash Bros Brawl).


6. Spooky Music - Majora's Mask

The whole sequence with the dying Zora is made even more chilling thanks to the music

I couldn't think of a better name for this one, since the same tune is used repeatedly in different levels but with different instruments. The sample I've chosen is from Great Bay Coast, since it's the creepiest to me, but the Mountain Village at Snowhead is also good. Slow and haunting, this theme for each of the four corners of Termina carries the weight of death that lingers throughout this game. Looking back on it, 'Majora's Mask' might have the most depth of any Zelda game. Shame I didn't find it as fun as other titles, although I'd buy a 3DS re-release without hesitation.


7. Koloktos/Moldarach Battle - Skyward Sword

The boss that made water temples tolerable

Easily my favourite action song from 'Skyward Sword' and quite possibly one of my top ten favourite Zelda boss battles (Koloktos, not Moldarach). To me, this is one of two songs from the game that prove it doesn't take Koji Kondo to make fantastic Zelda music. This song wouldn't require much of a change, just a few extra instruments and it's perfect for 'Hyrule Warriors'. It would've been cool to have Koloktos as one of the bosses to appear instead of The Imprisoned, which is a horrible boss fight in both games. Absolutely horrible and annoying. But sadly, it's also necessary.


8. Saria's Song - Ocarina Of Time

This took me way too long to complete as a kid

During Darunia's victory cut-scene, you can hear an orchestrated version of this tune being played. This is a nice nod to a scene from 'Ocarina Of Time' but honestly, it would've been much cooler to have a proper version of this classic Zelda song. Maybe if they decide to do Lost Woods DLC as an add-on to the Faron Woods level, they could spruce up this cheerful tune into a mystical remix (kinda like they did with the Sacred Grove in 'Twilight Princess').


9. Hidden Village - Twilight Princess

"Right, time to find those feckin' cats!"

A Wild West type tune that, again, only plays a couple of times in the game but is able to strike a chord with the average player. With a bit of extra power and a slightly faster tempo, those acoustic guitars would transform into a great battle track, perfect for the Gerudo Desert stage (same could be said for the Gerudo Desert song, although I haven't included it on this list).


10. Hyrule Field - Ocarina Of Time

"Oh look, a pretty floweSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT"

Despite the fact that the first level takes place outside Hyrule Castle on the fields of Hyrule, the theme from 'Ocarina Of Time' is surprisingly absent. Instead, we get a rip-off of 'Mars, Bringer Of War' by Gustav Holst followed by a remix of the original Zelda theme (which is great, admittedly). However, I'll never forget the excitement at hearing this upbeat tune for the first time. Having left Kokiri Forest after getting my first ocarina, it marked a momentous occasion in-game for me...then I got stopped by that fucking owl, but that's another story. Either way, it'd be great to hear a thundering remix of Hyrule Field from 'Ocarina Of Time' as opposed to the inferior 'Twilight Princess' one we got instead.


So that's my list. It's not perfect and I'll be honest, I was struggling to think of ten songs that I'd want as remixes but alas, it was possible. Are there any tunes you think would make great 'Hyrule Warriors' remixes? Perhaps more songs from 'Wind Waker' or any of the handheld/pre 'Ocarina Of Time' games? Let me know in the comment section and I'll check them out/add them if I agree. It's unlikely the DLC will add new tunes but I really hope they do, since it'd be a shame to have levels, enemies and objectives based on 'Majora's Mask' without the music to complete the atmosphere.
Also, apologies for the video game related post after my last one. I plan on reviewing Slash's latest album for my November post but I'm not sure when that'll be posted. Possibly towards the end of the month as I'm seeing him live with my awesome girlfriend then. I might combine the album and gig into one mega-review...or I'll review the album before the gig and add an update to it after seeing him live.
Who knows? I certainly don't.

The Rock Family

On a drive back from work the other day, I started to think about the different musical genres and their place in Rock. Some fans will argue that Grunge killed Metal and others that Classic Rock is better than Modern Rock. Of course, these are all just opinions and all statements are as accurate as each other without facts...but it still provides food for thought. Where does each subgenre of Rock fall?
I won't describe the rest of my thought process that evening but basically, it ended up with me comparing the main genres of Rock to members of one big family. This post isn't meant to be taken seriously, nor does it offer any educational purpose as it's pretty much just my opinion mixed with a bit of general consensus/stereotyping. But yes, here's my analysis of the different Rock genres and their subsequent conversion into fictional family members. Enjoy!


Hard Rock = Awesome Dad
When you think of this family, the image of this guy usually springs to mind. Hard Rock might not be young but he still packs the same energy and attitude he had in his youth. Granted not everything he does is awesome...in fact, there have been many moments where one of his acts has generated embarrassment and even hate but when all's said and done, Hard Rock is good at what he does and does it to keep his family going strong. Top bloke!


Classic Rock = Distant Uncle
Back in their day, Classic Rock and Hard Rock were inseparable. Nowadays though, you don't see much of him anymore. Only the occasional selection of "greatest hits" from his past. However, just because he's not around now doesn't mean stories of his antics aren't still great to crack out every now and then. Plus, he has a pretty diverse history, ranging from his psychedelic drug phase in the 60's to his trip to the Southern parts of America in the 70's. It might not be cool to like him among the younger generation but you can't deny he was one great guy.


Metal = Successful Son
One of the many children of Hard Rock, Metal started out as quite a rebellious lad in his youth but as time progressed, so did he. Metal grew up and made a big name for himself. Now he's raking in mega bucks and dealing with stadiums of people in his day job. He might still think of himself as one of the boys but the fact is he's significantly more corporate than he used to be. That doesn't mean what he does has gone down the pan, though. His business manner is quite aggressive and might put some people off his personality but he's no idiot and he definitely has some interesting points to make about society and often politics. Just don't get him started on one of his long rants about war, though.


Punk Rock = Dipshit Brother
Every family tree has one rotting branch. One yellow-tinted part of the gene pool with a band-aid floating around in it and whilst it's disputable that Punk is that member, evidence certainly does point to that conclusion. Friends of Punk will go on about how important he is and how his acts of anger and frustration are necessary but come on, stop taking the piss. Everyone has issues and the rest of the Rock family have found a way of channeling their fury into art without sounding and acting like inarticulate yobs. In his youth, Punk got into trouble a lot and as a result, hasn't really amounted to much today. He has work and he makes enough money to get by but you'd be hard pressed to find more than a couple of respectable people who would consider their work influenced by his.


Alternative Rock = Stay-At-Home Mum
Whilst Hard Rock is out partying and having a good time, Alternative Rock is at home doing her own thing. She's got her own life and her own business that may involve meeting up with friends for casual activities or working for large numbers of clients but if there's one thing she's not, it's lazy. Alternative has kept the family going through the difficult times and supported them through her smarter, more professional image. She is very fashion conscious and is always experimenting with new styles to suit her. Because of this, she's incredibly successful in her field and is responsible for showing a more educated side of the family.


Prog Rock = Autistic Child
Not everyone always understands Prog Rock but I think it's fair to say the key players in the Rock family all treat them with respect, even though Prog is a bit weird. You might find yourself stuck 7 minutes into one of their discussions about a train ride they took or trying to keep up with their temperamental mood changes but it's very difficult to actually hate this family member, unless you're particularly lacking in the brain department. Prog doesn't have many hobbies or interests but if there's one thing you can rely on, it's that they sure do love to play their keyboard!


Hair Metal = Teenage Daughter
It's all about the looks for this daughter of Hard Rock. When she's not trying out outrageous outfits or spending ludicrous amounts of time and money on styling her hair, she's out partying and spouting off about how hot things are. It's very easy to look at Hair Metal and think she's nothing but a fucking idiot, all style and no substance...and there are times when you're right, but beneath the mask of trying to be popular so that people will buy her things, there's someone who has the potential to be as successful as her older brother. She just needs to grow up and work on how she sounds. But hey, there's no hurry to grow up. She's only got about 8 years of obnoxiousness in her teenage life. Might as well make the most of it!


Blues Rock = Elderly Grandparent
There was a time where this old chap was the life and soul of the family. He would get everyone up and dancing in a matter of seconds but now his age is showing and his kids have taken over the family business. What's more, his head isn't what it used to be. He'll mostly spend his days producing simplistic stories that seem to go on and on and on and on with the same bit of the story being repeated to no end. That being said, he does hold technical knowledge and without him, there wouldn't be any of his kids ruling the roost so he's not a pointless element of the family. He's still alive and kicking and doesn't show any signs of slowing down soon either!


There you have it! A glimpse into the Rock Family. Before you start messaging me about Grunge and Nu-Metal, you should know that I haven't gone into details about the WHOLE family just yet. You never know, I might revisit the family tree quite soon...
But anyway, enough metaphorical teasing for now. Did you agree with my descriptions? Would you change any of the family members around? Or am I just plain talking out of my arse as usual? Let me know in the comment section along with your preferred order of family members/genres.
Oh, and expect a post about 'Hyrule Warriors' to be popped online this month...although I'll forgive you for giving it a miss.