Is it a clue about the storyline of Skyward Sword, or is it the work of a playful composer? That's another one for the conspiracy theorists, as is the possibility that the back-masked music is a form of mind control.
[Thanks, Sean]
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's music hides a secret in plain sound
by JC Fletcher 
on May 4th 2011 11:40AM
39
Is it a clue about the storyline of Skyward Sword, or is it the work of a playful composer? That's another one for the conspiracy theorists, as is the possibility that the back-masked music is a form of mind control.
[Thanks, Sean]
Reader Comments (39)
Posted: May 4th 2011 11:42AM Mr Khan said
It's either a sign of complete creative bankruptcy or brilliance beyond anything i've ever seen
Possibly a little of both
Possibly a little of both
Posted: May 4th 2011 2:17PM SubEngy said
@jph89 Just because a game isn't creative, it doesn't stop it from being fun and awesome.
I love the Zelda series, but you have to admit, the games are incredibly formulaic and haven't taken any large strides in creativity for more than 10 years. It would be very stubborn to deny it.
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I love the Zelda series, but you have to admit, the games are incredibly formulaic and haven't taken any large strides in creativity for more than 10 years. It would be very stubborn to deny it.
Posted: May 4th 2011 3:56PM GingerBomb said
@Mr Khan The Song of Healing was Saria's Song played backwards in a different key.
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Posted: May 4th 2011 5:52PM xxxsam said
@SubEngy
In terms of the gameplay format - agree with you, they're all identical (with basically iterative changes to the user interface, and one new gameplay gimmick each time that doesn't affect the overall structure).
In terms of the total creative endeavour, though, I don't agree. I still think Twilight Princess art design is absolutely fantastic (and not the same as earlier games). Similarly with Wind Waker before it. Is it just a pretty redecoration of the same basic game? Yes, absolutely it is. But there's still a lot of creativity involved.
To some extent, keeping the same gameplay format is part of being a sequel. There's certainly room for them to make larger changes if they wanted, but do people really want that? I mean, you could make it into an open-world game like, say, Oblivion but with cute characters and enemies. It would certainly be better than Oblivion (ahem, sorry, I just really hate Bethesda's character designs) but is that what fans want from a Zelda game? I doubt it. There's room in the world for both types of games.
To put this another way, I'm intending not to be remotely surprised when Skyward Sword is basically exactly the same as every other Zelda game (visiting dungeons to collect a new item in each which is used to defeat that dungeon's boss; sidequests to get pieces of heart; block puzzles; etc), but with a slightly different combat mechanic using MotionPlus.
In fact, here's a dirty secret... that's exactly the Zelda game I want to play.
Sorry.
Reply
In terms of the gameplay format - agree with you, they're all identical (with basically iterative changes to the user interface, and one new gameplay gimmick each time that doesn't affect the overall structure).
In terms of the total creative endeavour, though, I don't agree. I still think Twilight Princess art design is absolutely fantastic (and not the same as earlier games). Similarly with Wind Waker before it. Is it just a pretty redecoration of the same basic game? Yes, absolutely it is. But there's still a lot of creativity involved.
To some extent, keeping the same gameplay format is part of being a sequel. There's certainly room for them to make larger changes if they wanted, but do people really want that? I mean, you could make it into an open-world game like, say, Oblivion but with cute characters and enemies. It would certainly be better than Oblivion (ahem, sorry, I just really hate Bethesda's character designs) but is that what fans want from a Zelda game? I doubt it. There's room in the world for both types of games.
To put this another way, I'm intending not to be remotely surprised when Skyward Sword is basically exactly the same as every other Zelda game (visiting dungeons to collect a new item in each which is used to defeat that dungeon's boss; sidequests to get pieces of heart; block puzzles; etc), but with a slightly different combat mechanic using MotionPlus.
In fact, here's a dirty secret... that's exactly the Zelda game I want to play.
Sorry.
Posted: May 7th 2011 2:41PM JCDoe said
@Mr Khan
You don't know much about music.
Standard theme-and-variation techniques include permutations like inversion (the theme upside down) and retrograde (the theme backwards). If the primary theme is well written (proper melody shape, appropriate intervals, etc), the inversion and retrograde should create entirely new melodies that are still pleasant unique. Which, as can be seen from this game, is true.
Reply
You don't know much about music.
Standard theme-and-variation techniques include permutations like inversion (the theme upside down) and retrograde (the theme backwards). If the primary theme is well written (proper melody shape, appropriate intervals, etc), the inversion and retrograde should create entirely new melodies that are still pleasant unique. Which, as can be seen from this game, is true.
Posted: May 4th 2011 11:44AM thekinslayer said
i cant wait :D
Posted: May 4th 2011 11:48AM eNriqeu said
Posted: May 4th 2011 11:51AM (Unverified) said
What is this, some kind of conspiracy?
Posted: May 4th 2011 11:52AM Dopple Boppler said
This is by far and away the most I've managed to get hyped about Skyward Sword. Which isn't saying much, despite how big of a Nintenerd I am
Posted: May 4th 2011 12:01PM baby sea tuna said
@Dopple Boppler
Yeah, between 3 games in 5 years (Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks) and the 3DS version of OoT I think I'm gonna need a Zelda break. Luckily, by the time I get around to playing this, the Wii 2 will probably be out.
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Yeah, between 3 games in 5 years (Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks) and the 3DS version of OoT I think I'm gonna need a Zelda break. Luckily, by the time I get around to playing this, the Wii 2 will probably be out.
Posted: May 4th 2011 11:53AM Mrguy you know that guy said
The Zelda continuity... Dear lord, the Zelda continuity...
Never bring that up. That monstronsity will never be solved.
Never bring that up. That monstronsity will never be solved.
Posted: May 4th 2011 12:10PM beano311 said
@Mrguy you know that guy
Shigeru Miyamoto: "For every Zelda game we tell a new story, but we actually have an enormous document that explains how the game relates to the others, and bind them together. But to be honest, they are not that important to us. We care more about developing the game system... give the player new challenges for every chapter that is born."
I'm sure he'd like to release that document, but it's a 6GB Word file...
Reply
Shigeru Miyamoto: "For every Zelda game we tell a new story, but we actually have an enormous document that explains how the game relates to the others, and bind them together. But to be honest, they are not that important to us. We care more about developing the game system... give the player new challenges for every chapter that is born."
I'm sure he'd like to release that document, but it's a 6GB Word file...
Posted: May 4th 2011 12:25PM Calatia said
@Mrguy you know that guy I figured out the timeline. http://calatia.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/zelda/#more-468
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Posted: May 4th 2011 12:37PM oOWallaceOo said
Posted: May 4th 2011 10:15PM Calatia said
@Blackbird I'm glad you enjoyed it. There were too many connecting pieces not to have it fit into a puzzle somehow. I had seen some videos on YouTube trying to fit the games together, but they always missed really big pieces of the story, or just jumped to wild assumptions just for the sake of convenience.
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Posted: May 4th 2011 11:57AM Premature ejaculation man said
So THAT'S why I fell asleep during the trailer ;p
That's pretty awesome though.
That's pretty awesome though.
Posted: May 4th 2011 1:48PM CaptainProtonX said
@Premature ejaculation man
I'm pretty sure you were sleepy from shooting your ink a few minutes earlier.
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I'm pretty sure you were sleepy from shooting your ink a few minutes earlier.
Posted: May 4th 2011 12:22PM lonecow said
I have been kind of cool on SS, but music aside the more I see of it the more I can't wait. It looks so much like a cross between Wind Waker and TP I can't help but get excited.
Moreso for the Wind Waker aspect.
Moreso for the Wind Waker aspect.
Posted: May 4th 2011 12:30PM db2 said
Huh, all I hear is "I buried Paul".
Posted: May 4th 2011 3:47PM AltairtheAssassinwhokillstuff said
@db2
I heard turn me on dead man
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I heard turn me on dead man
Posted: May 4th 2011 12:39PM shteevie said
Anyone thought of the possibility that this is placeholder music for the early press releases? The simple modification of an old song is an easy way to create something that rings familiar, and I give them more credit than to think that they wouldn't be able to write something original and suitably epic.
Posted: May 4th 2011 1:16PM Arctic Frog said
*equip tin foil hat*
Posted: May 4th 2011 1:24PM GB330033 said
That explains why the music sounded so... wrong to me. I watched the trailer and kept expecting to hear Zelda's Lullaby at some point but it never came. The whole thing just sounded off to me.
Now I see (or rather, hear) why!
Now I see (or rather, hear) why!
Posted: May 4th 2011 2:02PM Gaddes said
Link's yelling voice backwards sounds hilarious to me for some reason
Posted: May 4th 2011 3:33PM Shilova said
Zelda's lullaby immediately pops in my head....and my heart goes a-flutter!
Posted: May 4th 2011 5:18PM Muskie said
I'm of the party that thinks this is actually a sneaky indicator of the game's major plot twist, and later, Gameplay gimmick (as all good zelda games have a primary gameplay gimmick! OOT had the titular musical instrument, MM the masks, WW the baton, TP had Lupink, etc...)..
My money's on more time travel shennanigans. perhaps a magical item that can actually alter the flow of time locally ala the Singularity TMD?
My money's on more time travel shennanigans. perhaps a magical item that can actually alter the flow of time locally ala the Singularity TMD?
Posted: May 5th 2011 10:17AM r4in said
Personal Confession:
I do not know what to make of this but, for some reason, I'm not really excited for this game. I have loved The Legend of Zelda since the beginning but just don't seem to care about this one. Hopefully that changes between now and launch.
P.S. The Legend of Zelda is still my favorite series ever and the first and third games in the series are my top two favorite games of all time.
I do not know what to make of this but, for some reason, I'm not really excited for this game. I have loved The Legend of Zelda since the beginning but just don't seem to care about this one. Hopefully that changes between now and launch.
P.S. The Legend of Zelda is still my favorite series ever and the first and third games in the series are my top two favorite games of all time.
