ReMix: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 'Fushigina Forest'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Nintendo, 1991, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Laura Shigihara
- Composer(s): Koji Kondo
- Song(s): 'Forest'
- Posted: 2011-11-22, evaluated by djpretzel
- Album: Featured on 25YEARLEGEND: A Legend of Zelda Indie Game Composer Tribute
Laura Shigihara! Plants vs. Zombies! I've got every reason to believe that Laura will continue writing amazing music, but just Plants vs. Zombies by itself, man... I've been waiting for a chance to gush over how great the PvZ soundtrack is for awhile, and this seems (duh) like the perfect opportunity. There's this tendency for modern "casual" games to have maybe one or two themes, or one theme and a couple variations of it, but Plants vs. Zombies is truly a COMPLETE soundtrack - there are multiple, complimentary pieces, with recurring motifs, and it all fits the game's tone like a glove. I can find absolutely no fault with it, and I'm dying to post our first ReMix from it some day, once something gets submitted & approved. I mentally categorize it along with Danny B's Super Meat Boy score as an example of modern VGM done brilliantly, memorably RIGHT.
But this is a Zelda mix, so I'll temporarily forget about the zombies on my lawn and focus on the task at hand. This is a beautiful, very delicate solo piano arrangement, and while the recording quality isn't pristine, the emotion & very specific dynamics and timing are unobstructed and conveyed fully. Laura writes:
"I've always loved how mysterious the "Forest" theme from A Link to the Past sounded, so I wanted to make sure to maintain that feel. This is a simple piano piece which mixes parts of the original music, with a few new additions. I think it kind of sounds like the shadows of trees at night when there is a full moon. If such a thing can even have a sound."
If it can, this could certainly be it. There's a fragility & vulnerability here that is transporting, honest, and direct, and I love it. 25YEARLEGEND director Roger Hicks concurs:
"I love the improvisation of this track. It definitely shows true skill as a pianist. The subtle changes made bumped this song up to one of my favorites among the series for me!"
As Laura has recently shown with 'Cube Land,' she has a musical depth that extends into more serious, emotional territory, and I think this arrangement beautifully affirms that facet of her work, exploring the more intimate side of Zelda & adding an extra dimension to 25YEARLEGEND.
Discussion: Latest 13 comments/reviews; view the djpretzel wrote: Laura Shigihara! Plants vs. Zombies! I've got every reason to believe that Laura will continue writing amazing music, but just Plants vs. Zombies by itself, man... I've been waiting for a chance to gush over how great the PvZ soundtrack is for awhile, and this seems (duh) like the perfect opportunity. There's this tendency for modern "casual" games to have maybe one or two themes, or one theme and a couple variations of it, but Plants vs. Zombies is truly a COMPLETE soundtrack - there are multiple, complimentary pieces, with recurring motifs, and it all fits the game's tone like a glove. I can find absolutely no fault with it, and I'm dying to post our first ReMix from it some day, once something gets submitted & approved.
Chimpazilla and I say:
Challenge accepted.
- timaeus222 on February 24, 2013
Not only similar chords, but similar mood.
- Drachefly on February 8, 2013
- meccaneer on May 21, 2012
- Lumancer on January 16, 2012
I sit at the piano for hours, trying to improvise off of a song that I learned the day earlier.
I just fall short of the beauty shown by these incredible mixers.
Every time I feel like I can't improvise well enough... I listen to this mix.
It inspires me to continue. To strive to get better.
Mixes should do this more often.
They shouldn't just be there to give nostalgia, but to make others WANT to do pay homage too.
- Tuberz McGee on December 25, 2011
Pretty nice and relaxing, but it displeases me greatly that the piano just sounds like it has a high pass filter on it. Where are the warm low frequencies? :( I think it's key that in a solo piano piece, you need to cover a vast range of frequencies.
I like that it's not very long either. I often get bored of solo piano songs because they're 5+ minutes long, they're nothing but the artist just going on and on to increase the length. I don't feel like that as much here. The song goes through what it needs to, and leaves when it needs to.
Nice vibe. Good job. :nicework:
- Neblix on December 15, 2011
Very evocative aural imagery; This one is great.
- OA on December 12, 2011
This one manages to show off some strong improvisation skills and delicacy/emotion, something that I think is a good key component in a solo piano arrangement of this caliber. I can see it capturing the forest in a more peaceful state, and that's been affected well with the way the whole thing was presented.
Two things I may have to say though - while the performance was very spot on, the ambience might be questioned here as there doesn't seem to be much of it in comparison to other solo piano tracks I've witnessed. But it's not so much of a dealbreaker with a track as gracefully played as this. I may also see it getting quite the comparisions to Doc Nano's "Dancing Leaves" for it also being short and taking the performance in a more abstract way, though in spite of the post time between them both they should still be seen as two sweet visions from two similarly skilled artists, and should if ever be seen as more of a coincidence.
Hopefully you'll return to the site soon with future works - I appreciate this one through and through :)
- Rexy on December 4, 2011
- Bahamut on November 24, 2011
- SwordBreaker on November 24, 2011
- docnano on November 23, 2011
Laura: "I think it kind of sounds like the shadows of trees at night when there is a full moon. If such a thing can even have a sound."
Yeah, I can see that and it's almost when you first go into the lost woods with the fog and all. Solo piano ReMixes always seem to have those minor recording/volume issues, but when done right, like this one, it's almost unnoticeable. Very cool.
- Crulex on November 22, 2011
