As fans build a better idea of what The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will look like, how it will play, and what additions it will make, one change the sequel should consider is moving away from the iconic soundtrack of Breath of the Wild. To complement the game's post-apocalyptic atmosphere and open world, Breath of the Wild's soundtrack focused on quiet, ambient music rather than the traditional, upbeat soundtracks of previous games. It's likely Tears of the Kingdom might carry this idea forward, but the opportunity to go in a new direction has a lot of potential.
While Breath of the Wild reflected the game's story about Hyrule a century after Calamity Ganon left the land to be overtaken by nature, Tears of the Kingdom will pick up where its predecessor left off. The sequel's environment is populated by floating islands as communities and characters rebuild their lives following Ganon's defeat, and it's unclear if Breath of the Wild's soundtrack approach fits within this framework. Tears of the Kingdom will have to make a decision whether to continue Breath of the Wild's ambience, return to the musical traditions of earlier games, or forge its own identity.
Music From Tears of the Kingdom's Trailers
The trailers already released for Tears of the Kingdom give players a sense of the direction the sequel's soundtrack will be going in. Breath of the Wild's trailers utilized the music that players would later hear in-game, including the recognizable piano melody that has become emblematic of Zelda. Fans believe Tears of the Kingdom will not be an exception to this, and music from the trailers will similarly be used in-game.
Building from this, fans have noted the increased use of certain instruments atop Breath of the Wild's piano, such as trumpets used to create a more impactful, dramatic soundtrack. Leaning into this idea, it seems Tears of the Kingdom will reflect the expanded scale of the sequel and give the world a more impressive feel. Fans hope that these trailers indicate Nintendo's decision to make Tears of the Kingdom's music more impressive for enemy encounters and flying through the sky.
Tears of the Kingdom's Potential Soundtrack
Though the trailers are a good starting point to suggest where Tears of the Kingdom's soundtrack might go, fans are unsure whether the game's soundtrack is ultimately embracing the sequel's darker elements. For example, the E3 2021 trailer for Breath of the Wild's sequel reversed its music, leaving many to start hypothesizing what this might mean. Most agree that Tears of the Kingdom looks to be a creepier, darker game than Breath of the Wild, mirroring Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask's relationship.
This could be where Tears of the Kingdom diverges from traditional Zelda games' upbeat music and Breath of the Wild's ambience, taking the game in a darker direction reflected by its soundtrack. One possible way of achieving this would be an extension of its reversed music, factoring this into the game's story for creepier moments like Ganondorf's revival, Link's arm getting corrupted, or Zelda's abduction. Other options could make use of existing mechanics, such as the blood moon or malice corruption, and create dynamic music that reflects sinister environments.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.