Storytelling Through Sound: The Magical Nostalgia of Four Swords Adventures’ Lake Hylia Theme
Posted on March 20 2024 by Connor Butler
Welcome back to another edition of “Storytelling Through Sound,” a series of editorials dedicated to the analysis of the main themes from every Zelda game. In honor of Four Swords Week, we’ll be taking a look at this game’s version of the Lake Hylia theme and the way that it plays into nostalgia to hit you right in the feels.
One of my favorite parts of playing a Zelda game is being unexpectedly hit with something familiar from the past, whether it be a reference to a character long passed, a piece of dialogue that you’ve DEFINITELY read somewhere before, or even a melody that you remember hearing from far-off times. While it’s definitely a black sheep in the franchise, Four Swords Adventures still pokes at nostalgia, especially in our focus for today: “Lake Hylia.”
A “Dark” Connection
When you first arrive at Lake Hylia, the game’s introductory level, the triumphant, march-like theme begins. With a snare drum pounding away in the back, and some synth strings plucking away, I can’t help but tap my foot to the rhythm, which sounds somehow so familiar, and yet, so strange. To tell you the truth, I wracked my brain for a very long time before I finally pinpointed where I’ve heard that rhythm before…
A Link to the Past‘s Dark World theme has a precedent for being one of the most iconic themes in the franchise, while only being used a few times throughout the series (in the aforementioned A Link to the Past, again in A Link Between Worlds, and as the track “Infiltration Of Hyrule Castle” in Four Swords Adventures). This theme’s blazing melody and iconic bass line made it completely unforgettable. A piece of music so ripe with evil whimsy has always unsettled me in a way that made me want to explore the depths of the Dark World even more… So imagine my surprise when I come face to face with its opening rhythm in one of the most light-hearted and jaunty themes in the Zelda franchise! A strange reference, but one that puts you right in a familiar spot as soon as you enter the area.
While this isn’t the only time that this reference is used in game (as mentioned before, it’s used in its entirety in “Infiltration Of Hyrule Castle”), this particular version provides a spin on it, putting the reference in a different context, while still hiding it in plain sight. The overall happy-go-lucky sound of the piece makes the reference to such a dark piece all the more special, and the rhythm itself helps keep the piece moving at an exciting pace.
An Ocarina Long Forgotten
The next reference comes in almost as soon as the melody enters the piece. The first few notes are incredibly reminiscent of Ocarina of Time‘s Hyrule Field theme, which helps to solidify the march into familiar territory. This reference is solidified even further when a full quote of the original “Hyrule Field” melody can be heard. It’s a cheeky reference to a classic version of Hyrule, and it helps the player feel even more at ease, knowing that they’re still in the lovely Kingdom of Hyrule.
The wide, open spaces and the green grasses of both Hyrule Field and Lake Hylia bring forth a sense of wanderlust, a kind of childlike wonder in which you want to explore every inch of the land. The music helps elevate this feeling too, with the reference back to Hyrule Field. Any seasoned player will hear these quotes and think back to a simpler time, where the only concern was getting to the castle gates before they closed.
The Ocarina reference doesn’t end at a simple melody quote, however. If you listen to both “Lake Hylia” and “Hyrule Field” back to back, you may notice that the instrumentation is almost one to one! While the sounds have been updated to suit the hardware, the same blossoming orchestra and trumpet leading the charge are present in both this theme and Ocarina‘s “Hyrule Field.”
The Hero Triumphant
The last reference to a past melody is a little bit of an obvious one, but it is a welcome one indeed. Towards the end of the first section, the trumpet plays a snippet of the original Legend of Zelda main theme. While this theme is used in every game, it’s usually reserved for larger climactic moments, very rarely used in an area outside of a game’s overworld.
The inclusion of it here further solidifies its importance. While Lake Hylia is the place where your adventure truly begins, it’s also a spot of beauty in Hyrule, and a spot at which the heroes of the past and future have looked upon its blue waters. Arriving here with your friends makes the player remember what they’re fighting for and offers a space for seasoned Zelda players to celebrate the games of the past, of which this game seems to hold in high regard through references and content. This spot is one of reflection, and this reference helps the player remember this.
Conclusion
In a Legend of Zelda game as overlooked as this one, it’s easy to chalk it up to just another multiplayer Zelda experience, and nothing more.
But this piece of music reminds us that this game is so much more than that. It’s an amazing experience filled with collaboration, and it’s ripe with memories of Zelda games long passed. Even more than that, this game and this track in specific are a reminder of what the original game was meant to do: bring people together.
I hope that this theme fills you with as much nostalgia as it does me, and I hope that next time you visit Lake Hylia, you take a second to reflect on the history that lives there.
What do you think of this lovely piece of music? Let us know in the comments!
Connor is an avid Zelda fan and Musician currently obtaining his degree in percussion performance from Western Carolina University. His favorite game in the Zelda franchise is a toss up between Breath of the Wild and Ocarina of Time, but he has a soft spot for the Wind Waker.
