@bilbobaggins9167 Well, I'd argue that to be the case in Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, but I think Tears of the Kingdom is by far the best as _selling_ that emotional throughline, and I think it's mostly owed to that final fall sequence. Giving the player control to have them catch Zelda immediately makes the event feel so much more impactful, and in a manner that I think is a cut above most scripted, unfailable set pieces like this. Giving the player the same skydiving controls that they've used the entire game helps mask the fact that their actions are incredibly limited. Whereas the rest of the BOTW-era games are pretty sloppy at truly connecting the player to the game world through Link, I think that this moment is an overwhelming success and by far the best ending moment for the series.
@@brycebitetti1402 I get what you mean, I just meant "Zelda is safe now" is how the vast majority of the games end. All of them except Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask, and I was going to say the Oracle games, but then I remembered she shows up and needs saving in those as well if they're linked. I still feel like reversing her supposedly permanent transformation at the end of TotK with very little explanation was a bit disappointing, almost kind of a rug pull. You spend all this time mulling over the repercussions of her decision and what it might mean going forward, only for it to end up not really mattering. But that's just me.
Totk has a way to just evoke emotions like no game ive played. The slow terror of descending into ganondorf's lair, the sense of freedom while skydiving, the OH FUCK OH SHIT when the gloom hands start attacking out of nowhere while you were collecting apples for your horse. Perfection
The best part for me was descending into the Gloom Lair and the music slowly getting more intense... until you finally drop down the massive hollow and find Zelda's torch from the start of the game.
I also love in the final skydiving section the judicious use of single hand claps - a sound you can only produce by two hands connecting with each other. It’s a brilliant choice of instrumentation.
Dude, almost all of the music in this game had me tearing up. From the haunting theme of the abandoned Rito village, to the reveal of what happened to Zelda.
This! I hope he'll make more videos about the soundtrack... Frozen Rito Village is incredible. The Fi's theme reference during the memory where Zelda gets the master sword ... chills
The moment Zelda's Lullaby hits during the key-change in the dive sequence made me ball crying now as I watched the fckn video on it GOD this is Top 2 Games of All Time and she ISNT #2
same here, the way this game and especially its music manages to tie in references from previous games while making it feel so much more than just a reference is absolutely incredible
How about the inherently tragic and somber track of the Construct Factory. The melody bleeds sadness but also a quiet hope that one day it just may function again.
Few things in any video game have ever left me with a lingering feeling of "Oh no, what are we gonna be able to do about that?!" than discovering what happened to Zelda lol
a few things to add: - the choir falling out of tune as ganondorf’s boss subtitle is revealed - the slow burn of phase 1 eventually building to those chaotic, disjointed string/choir back and forths - the botw main theme being quoted in phase 2a (when the sages arrive) - the calamity ganon theme being quoted verbatim in phase 2b - the descending 3rd into ascending 5th motif (which appears all over the rest of the game) coming straight from the very end of botw - the entirety of gloom's approach!!!
Additionally - the last notes of the piano arpeggios in the final phase of the Dragon battle are the first two notes of Zelda's lullaby as we've heard throughout the prior section
I love how BOTW's theme is continually referenced. It is as if to say that before you were alone, but now you don't have to be. In TOTK, Link has people in his corner, and he doesn't have to be afraid of being on his own
Yeah the calamity Ganon theme come back I feel is honestly the best part of the theme, because the dissonance is way up and range is just way down, but blooms to more range and tonality. It’s really cool and I wish 8bmt touched on it more. Use of motifs in these two games blows any Wagner opera out of the water
FINALLY someone is talking about this. As a film and game composer, I think it was a genius way to program the music that maximizes the impact of the ending. It ties together both games perfectly and creates such an emotional and powerful moment for every player no matter how they play. They do this with the intro too and a few other sequences throughout the game. Nintendo knows how to do music!
I love how they use Calamity Ganon's theme for the last portion of the Ganondorf fight. That theme, which was basically Ganon's theme in BotW, is nowhere to be found in TotK until that point. I thought they had just forgotten about it, which made me sad as I thought it was a great theme, until they suddenly blast it in your face at the peak of the fight to remind you (and especially Link) that this is the man responsible for the destruction of Hyrule 100 years before and basically everything that happened in BotW.
My favorite part of that reminder is that it's not the focal point of the entire arrangement. That suggests that all of your struggles over the course of the past 2 games, 100+ in-game years, 7 real world years, was just a small portion of his time spent destroying and conquering. It feels like he's using his music to rub in just how insignificant you are.
Exactly. I knew from the moment I clicked on this video I would have some tears stream from my eyes listening. Literally has become my favorite game of all time; no contest for me at least.
I think that’s why they called it “choked up” when getting emotional. Then there’s Xenoblade 3, crying and whimpering at that scene. MonolithSoft only chooses good projects (these days).
I would argue that you omitted (perhaps for brevity) the best/worst part of the final boss: The descent. all the way from Gloom's Approach, is so incredibly menacing.
i was so scared, i had to keep pausing and taking a minute to calm down. the music was just so ominous, it really felt like something horrifying was about to be waiting for me
Yes! The panicked violin trills (not sure what they’re called). The piano chord that strikes as you enter the Forgotten Foundation and its theme starts playing again with the reversed vocals. The chanting voices building and the reversed vocals fading away as you reach the chamber where Ganondorf was once imprisoned, now a deep chasm. And how, as you walk towards the ledge above Gloom’s Lair, the music builds and builds, and the reversed vocals return with urgency, sounding almost panicked. How, as you dive off the platform, the music _crescendos,_ driving home that feeling of finality, that there’s no turning back now.
Fantastic analysis! 18:26 Another (maybe obvious) detail is how in the Main Theme part of the Final Dive, the erhu, which has been symbolically used for dragons throughout, is no longer included now that Zelda has been turned back.
Hearing zeldas lullaby come through as your falling after zelda makes me tear up everytime. So much emotion was packed into the music in this game, especially the ending
This ending music? Masterpiece. Your analysis of the ending music? Masterpiece. Masterpieces all around. Phenomenal job. I'm not crying, you're crying, shut up.
final battle music that uses references to past songs are the best. its like your taking all your experience, memories, and friendships to stop the ultimate obstacle.
I will absolutely cherish Tears of the Kingdom and its beyond ethereal finale forever. I have never felt so utterly captivated by any medium before. Everything from the descent into the deepest parts of the Depths, the cooperative fights with your allies, the absolutely brilliant sword duel with Ganondorf, the mind-blowingly high-production and sheer grandiose of the dragon phase, and the emotional climax with catching Zelda. Seriously this game was crafted by masters of the gaming craft and offers an experience unlike any other.
Best ending I've ever played in a video game without a doubt. I get that Tears of the Kingdom isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'll never understand how people can say it was bad and lazy when things like this exist. Everything from the descent to Gloom's Origin to that final quest completion marker is designed with so much love and care.
Ganondorf was easily the coolest enemy to fight. He really felt like the antithesis of Link, with how he could flurry rush & would use multiple weapons. The feeling of another genuinely skilled swordfighter was a really refreshing fight, especially since even the Yiga are super predictable in their fights. I had a lot of trouble trying to dodge Ganondorf’s attacks the whole time.
This ending was so fucking incredible. You've broken down exactly how it was done through the music. Well done. And why does Dragondorf explode? BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME THAT'S WHY. That was the dopest explosion I've ever seen in a game. DON'T DIMINISH THAT
Finally, someone mentions how awesome that explosion was! I do like how it did the same "light bursting out of it" thing as it did with the previous bosses, as well as the blights from BOTW, leading you to expect he'd explode in a similar way. Then he turns into an orbital death ray and fucking nukes Hyrule. The camera shake too... And the follow up, with Link standing on the Light Dragon, Master Sword in hand, bracing against the shock wave, as the red sky fades into a brilliant blue and the camera pans out... I could keep going, but long story short I *love* the ending to this game.
It's an incarnation of evil that has most definitely consumed an entire energy source _way_ bigger than its head (even if it had a container with the ability to shrink into an easily-portable and thus consumable size). It's an amplifier on top of a being that was already pretty powerful, and you just destroyed the containment apparatus for its amplifier. Is it any wonder all that energy suddenly went "k bye lol" in the most violent fashion possible?
Yeah. First thing I thought was the rings around the explosive beam looked nuclear. An intense choice considering who made the game and I believe there is some symbolism implied.
@@beeenjammmins Absolutely, I think there are allusions both to nuclear tragedies and (potentially unintentionally?) struggles around the coronavirus pandemic
I straight up gave Tears of the Kingdom a standing ovation in my living room after the ending, and all the music underscoring the whole ending sequence is a huge part of why I did. I can’t really think of many other games that gave me chills by the end like TOTK did - and your analysis goes a long way to helping me appreciate why!
@@kamikazilucasits okay. Its because they do borrow motifs from their most popular songs and because they shifted to a more atmospheric style, which is less catchy but more emotionally fitted to the game.
I am so glad you covered this. I could not stop listening to the music during the last catch sequence. Zelda's Lullaby soaring in and then the main theme crying out triumphantly... it felt like the climax of not just Tears of the Kingdom, but all of Zelda.
"it felt like the climax of not just Tears of the Kingdom, but all of Zelda" < that's exactly how i felt it too. And when you've been playing and loving LoZ for 25 years now, that ending is the ultimate catharsis. Still shaking and tearing everytime I listen to it, 2 months after finishing the game. Incredible.
If you think about the games. The timeline starts with Skyward Sword where Link see a vision of him and Zelda falling to the surface, they both tried to reach each other, but it was too late. And now it ends with Link and Zelda falling to the surface, but this time they finally reunited. The music does feel like a way to celebrate the franchise.
@@RealCFZEven Ganondorf himself helps support that. Everything about his fight feels like the big finale. Never before has Link fought someone so dangerous. And then he gives up everything to become the Demon Dragon, and that fight has pretty much every leitmotif you can think about. Then he blows up, and then the final catch... this feels like the finale. I really have no idea how they can make any games taking place after this one
You’re doing so well at DESCRIBING music. Statements like “The game’s main theme kicks down your door” 18:27 make me say “Yes! Yes! That’s it! THAT’S the feeling!” Well done!
I love this game so much. The music was so great- and the foreshadowing of one of the VERY FIRST trailers ending with an er-hu playing Zelda's Lullaby is one of the most emotional musical developments I've ever experienced.
18:53 What I especially love about this one is that Zelda's Lullaby is already an emotionnal motif by itself at that point, but the upper key change just brings that dose of TRIUMPH to it, it's like the music is yelling "OMG GIRL YOUR PLAN WORKED I'M SO PROUD NOW COME BACK TO US"
The music engine they are using is amazing. The way the transitions only occur during specific parts of a track makes it really seamless. One intresting example in the phase 2 dragon fight, the 1st phase track plays normally until the correct time for phase 2 transition. But also sometimes if the phase 1 track is far away, it goes straight to the 2nd phase transition after a measure
My favorite part is the *clap* in the soundtrack at the very end when you catch her. Great review, and I'm glad you mentioned the dynamic parts of the soundtrack that change based on gameplay.
Finished this game last week. Cried. What a masterpiece. The music is so incredible. So much thought and detail went into every little thing. I love it. Amazing video breaking it down.
I teared up when I heard the original overworld theme. Not ashamed to admit that. Using it right there was just the master stroke of the music in this game
Dear 8-Bit Music Theory- Guy, your wish is my command: I can´t express enough how impressed I am by your analysises. I am a teacher for music on secondary school (college) and I often use your videos in my classes and damn, you would give a fantastic teacher!! I consider myself to notice a lot of stuff, that is going on, while I listen to music, but you bring this to a whole other level. The way you transcribe the music, your didactic skills...this is top notch. And on top of that, I really become emotional, especially when you talk about the music in Zelda games. Zelda is one reason, why I began to play the piano, when I was 10 years old: the little ocarina melodies in Ocarina of time. In the meantime, I felt, that this music was special, but of course I never knew why. Your videos make me somehow connect to my younger "me", when I was 10 years old. A big thank you goes out to you!!
If it helps not take you out of it next time you see it-all the bosses created by Ganondorf's dark tear explode. And they also leak the same reddish light beams prior to the explosion. Dragodorf's explosion is much larger, and I guess maybe still a bit silly, but not out of the ordinary for TotK bosses
What an absolute treat of a video! I think I’m not alone in saying we would like more TOTK videos if possible. This game and it’s music are so moving the whole way through!
I love the Ganondorf reveal. Every time I watch it and rewatch it, I always get a big fat smile on my face because it’s just so cool. Probably top 10 of my favorite boss fights ever
Thank you for validating what makes this entire sequence the best climax of a Zelda game. The very final battle theme is probably my favorite track in the whole game. In fact, many of my favorite songs from the game are contained just within this climax sequence. It's very cathartic to see you cover all that content in this video. I'm so glad I'm subscribed to this channel.
13:43 I’d also point out that the 8th note strings ostinato here is the same one that kicks off the trailer music. The number of references to other pieces in ToTK and BoTW is truly insane!
"Why does he explode" I mean. You just *broke* a secret stone. The things are absurdly powerful. And now, it's broken. The stone's energy, no longer bound up by it. Thus, boom.
I absolutely love how sparingly the game uses the "familiar" themes, like the original LoZ theme. It sets up a level of anticipation and catharsis that I haven't seen in any other series before. It feels like a reward, being able to hear them, and MAN do those moments have a ton of weight because of it.
I bet it was extremely hard to cut this video down to 20 minutes. Honestly, it could have easily been 40 minutes, between the Army section, the cutscenes between the two bosses, all the sections of "Demon King Ganondorf" you didn't talk about, and the crazy stuff going on with the orchestration (this is one of the rare games that made me wish VGM composers published full scores like film composers). Thank you so much for your great analysis.
I wonder if low notes are more intense because that's the range of animal growling, and while it's not immediately alarming like the sound of a baby's cry, you instinctively focus and get more alert.
Great video as always 8bit! I’d also add at 12:05 that we also hear the BoTW theme for each of the “Blight Ganons” and to my knowledge, this is the only time it’s used in the ToTK ost. They say on that one for quite awhile before finally unleashing it!
I love the musical redesign they made for Ganondorf. Featuring Gagaku instruments like the Sho from japanese tradition really made him feel like the oni demon they made him out to be. It's reflected in his weapon choices and the way his second form looks
With a lot of discourse on how this game is artistically a homage to Hayao Miyazake’s universes, have folks noticed how the final boss theme and dragondorf theme could very well be nods to The Demon God theme from Mononoke and Dragon Boy theme, respectively?
I also wanna point out the approach to ganondorf, genuinely it might be one of my favorite "approacing the evil bad guy" pieces ever, it starts out slow, absent but very similar to the start of the game, and then just keeps on building in intensity alongside your nerves, it made my heart pound the first time around, genuinely amazing.
Honestly TotK had probably my favorite ending of ANY video game. The build up of tension, release, the grandiose nature, the anticipation, all fantastic! And I think the music plays a huge role in it! Thank you so much for breaking this down. I was getting emotional just listening and relieving the epic moments! It's nice hearing the music and effort everyone put into making this such a wonderful game! Can NOT wait for the game awards rendition of the music from this game!
I believe the ending of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be heralded as one of the greatest video game endings of all time, and it wouldn't have come anywhere near that distinction if it wasn't for all the music.
@@HungryWarden Watch the tea time memory again, and if you still dont get it, you never will; That's fine too, you can always go back to the peg block game when you need to exercise your critical thinking skills.
@@daniel8181 you mean the boring filler memory? I genuinely hated Tears of the Kingdom’s bland, infuriating story, so I would rather have you explain it to me.
I feel like I'm going to watch this video every month for the rest of my life. What a perfect summation of the absolute epic amazing ending to a masterpiece game.
Every time I see this game's ending covered by so many perspectives, from music, from programming, from game design, from psychology... everywhere, makes me think... this work of art is absolute perfection.
I saw this, and had a feeling what game it was going to be about. I immediatly clicked. I was waiting and hoping for a totk video! Hopefully there'll be more!
I dont know if you have a different thumbnail than I do as is sometimes the case, but on mine its literally the totk scene in the thumbnail so yeah... Prett obvious.
@@phoenix9531 Yeah it is, but I first saw the notification of the video on my phone, which doesn't show the thumbnail, just the title... I immediatly went to my laptop anticipating it'd be about totk
THANK YOU, even though you didn't talk about it, the fact you sprinkled in the different phases of "Gloom's Approach / Lair" in there as background music was so nice. I have been playing that track with all its transitions way too much this past week, because I love just the slow burning anticipation it builds. Anticipation to watching this video, perhaps, and damn was it worth it.
I really liked how they weaved in the arpeggiated piano of the Skydiving theme over the top of the main theme @18:37, really nice way of tying things together from your journey at the end
Man, your ears are so refined to capture the minutiae in your transcriptions. Was in tears for the whole second half of the video, thanks for your hard work. 🙏
I cried all over again just watching your ANALYSIS. This truly is one of the most impactful and memorable moments in gaming I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
I got goosebumps watching this vid - even hearing the music in snippets coupled with your voiceovers, it STILL gets me. That's how powerful this score is! Truly master class composing. Thanks for breaking it down like this!
That final catch track is just so great narratively. The Main Theme at the start is blaring at us that this is a time for action, you have to _do something._ *1* The transition to Zelda's Lullaby emphasizes why, because it's _Zelda,_ right there, _just like when you failed her before._ *2* And the resolution to the LoZ Series Theme denotes the difference from then. It's different because you are Link, you are _The Hero,_ and this time you are going to *save her.* And you do. *3* *1* -> *2* -> *3* It's about the _situation,_ to it's about striving for _her,_ to it's about _you_ finally redeeming your failure and triumphant.
This is perhaps my new favourite video out there, you explained it in so much detail and with such good extracts that I did not see the 20 minutes go by at all. This game is so fricking awesome and you definitely more than honored it. Huge congrats!
Coming back several weeks later to say that your explanations for making a musical climax were so clear that I found myself analyzing music during a movie! Thank you for giving me more tools for understanding music I enjoy!
I SCREAMED when I saw this in my sub box. This game gave me so much unrivalled emotional payoff in so many ways and this whole section of music really exemplifies everything they did right with Tears of the Kingdom.
A great video for a great game. I really loved the symbolism of clapping within that final stretch. You need two hands coming together in order to make that percussive noise, and our final act just as that sound played was to grasp Zelda's hand in Link's. Brought me to tears.
Manaka Kataoka knew what the fuck she was doing when she sat down and penned this. So obvious that this is talent and brilliance pushed beyond the limits by a passion for the craft. This game is the crowning achievement in the franchise.
Finally took the time to watch this video! Exceptional analysis! Thank you for letting me experience that emotional rollercoaster ending again but now with the music analysis! How freaking good is Zelda music 🥹🥹🥹🥹🫶
Wow. The composers and game developers of TOTK are absolute geniuses. I don't know how people come up with compositions like this, but I'm enormously grateful because it creates such an incredible experience! Thank you for breaking down why this ending was so impactful!
Great discussion mate! Agreed - it ties things off so satisfyingly - it's not just a great ending to the story, it's capstone to the many hours you've personally spent in that world to get to that point!
There are more musical theme borrowings in the final boss than the ones mentioned! Ganondorf's third phase, with the two extremely fast dissonant lines, is using the Blight theme from Breath of the Wild on the bottom. A different part of that theme is used as the melody later on. The second phase of the dragon fight, the Sages' entrance, Ganon's death, and the end of the epilogue all include the start of Breath of the Wild's theme. The Sages' entrance might also include the start of Silent Princess, but those notes are actually pretty similar to a part of the Tears of the Kingdom theme...
This great music makes me cry every time, it's so great, just the best finale a Zelda has ever had
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The ending of TotK is incredible, in every way, the battle, the build-up, the music! It really is an incredible achievement. I love the Zelda franchise but they tend to have not so great endings, TotK really nailed it. But, more than that, the way you explain the musical part of this ending is magical! Really a great video!
So, I started ToTK the day it released, and I believe I finished it in march of 2024 or somethong. So i took my time, with 200 hours in the game. I just started skyward sword, but if I chose not to continue that, I think ill start ToTK again. Its genuinely my favourote game of all time
18:06 I love this ending, everything about it, it felt incredible. Astonoshing callbacks, such a powerful scene. It had significant personal impact to me as well, so there's some bias to that end, but I can't help but absolutely love it. Well put commentary, it is nice to see I was not the only one positively affected by that haha
This is one of the most enthusiastic videos I've seen from you! This game is a masterpiece, a game-changer in every single way. However, definitely one of the most outstanding aspects is its music. There's a lot of detail and compositional features that could easily revolutionize the way music for games is composed.
This is a favorite youtube video of mine. It's a great dissection of the music in this sequence and is nice to come back to every once in a while to relive the ending at least musically. Thanks
Wonderful video. Always feel like I learn something from your work. That was especially true from this coverage of Tears of the Kingdom. Really appreciate the effort you put into this.
The Final Catch is such a genius piece of music and it makes me tear up every time!!! I love how you can also hear the Skydiving theme mixed into it as well.
This is the first video of yours I've seen and its incredible. Thank you RUclips algorithm, I have a new channel to binge. Keep up the great work man 💚
I was really hoping someone would do a video on this and I'm so glad it was you. That final dive hit even harder when I watched @Player 5 speedrun it - all the sections came one after another. Nintendo hit it out of the park with this cinema-worthy ending.
Perhaps more than this absolutely brilliant compositional technique, the fact that so many previous themes got quoted in every single one of these pieces of music just takes all of the emotions we have tied up from our previous experiences with the series and smashes us over the head with them. Not gonna lie, I cried multiple times throughout the ending sequence of this game.
Thanks for making this. I was waiting TOTK content from you for and you chose what I wanted the most. The ending of this game is probably one of my favorite gaming moments ever and the music played a big part of that. Last Catch is brilliant.
TotK's score is borderline unbelievably good. Each time I listen to it, it just makes me want to scream "how did they do that???". Love to see a video shed some light on that question. Great work!
I bawled my eyes out at the ending the first time I played it, it was so good, and every new motif I recognized just made more tears flow. This immediately became my favorite game of all time after I finished it, and I genuinely believe it’s among the best games ever made.
Big props to the developers. The ending wasn't "We stopped Ganondorf" the ending was "Zelda is safe now"
Indeed, great pfp btw
... Isn't that the ending of most Zelda games?
@bilbobaggins9167 Well, I'd argue that to be the case in Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, but I think Tears of the Kingdom is by far the best as _selling_ that emotional throughline, and I think it's mostly owed to that final fall sequence.
Giving the player control to have them catch Zelda immediately makes the event feel so much more impactful, and in a manner that I think is a cut above most scripted, unfailable set pieces like this. Giving the player the same skydiving controls that they've used the entire game helps mask the fact that their actions are incredibly limited. Whereas the rest of the BOTW-era games are pretty sloppy at truly connecting the player to the game world through Link, I think that this moment is an overwhelming success and by far the best ending moment for the series.
@@brycebitetti1402 I get what you mean, I just meant "Zelda is safe now" is how the vast majority of the games end. All of them except Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask, and I was going to say the Oracle games, but then I remembered she shows up and needs saving in those as well if they're linked.
I still feel like reversing her supposedly permanent transformation at the end of TotK with very little explanation was a bit disappointing, almost kind of a rug pull. You spend all this time mulling over the repercussions of her decision and what it might mean going forward, only for it to end up not really mattering. But that's just me.
it’s like they took what they learned from trying to do the BOTW ending and executed it like 400x better
Totk has a way to just evoke emotions like no game ive played. The slow terror of descending into ganondorf's lair, the sense of freedom while skydiving, the OH FUCK OH SHIT when the gloom hands start attacking out of nowhere while you were collecting apples for your horse. Perfection
Breath of the Wild was better though.
The best part for me was descending into the Gloom Lair and the music slowly getting more intense... until you finally drop down the massive hollow and find Zelda's torch from the start of the game.
That's possibly my favourite ever zelda piece of music. It's incredible.
@@Nhnhnfk I'd have to agree with you, it gives me chills.
YES. I will never forget the feeling of absolute dread and morbid curiosity the music evoked the entire way down
Gloom Lair decent was epic. I'll replay just that part.
my favorite was the part where as you go underground headed toward ganondorf, the battle music when an enemy spots you gets HEAVY
I also love in the final skydiving section the judicious use of single hand claps - a sound you can only produce by two hands connecting with each other. It’s a brilliant choice of instrumentation.
Whoa, you just blew my mind!
Dude. Mind blown.
I choked on my sandwich reading this. No way!
WAIT WHAT I JUST REALIZED HOLY CRAP
Magnificent way of breaking it down. Thank you for sharing with us. What a revelation.
Dude, almost all of the music in this game had me tearing up. From the haunting theme of the abandoned Rito village, to the reveal of what happened to Zelda.
This! I hope he'll make more videos about the soundtrack... Frozen Rito Village is incredible. The Fi's theme reference during the memory where Zelda gets the master sword ... chills
The moment Zelda's Lullaby hits during the key-change in the dive sequence made me ball crying now as I watched the fckn video on it GOD this is Top 2 Games of All Time and she ISNT #2
same here, the way this game and especially its music manages to tie in references from previous games while making it feel so much more than just a reference is absolutely incredible
How about the inherently tragic and somber track of the Construct Factory. The melody bleeds sadness but also a quiet hope that one day it just may function again.
Few things in any video game have ever left me with a lingering feeling of "Oh no, what are we gonna be able to do about that?!" than discovering what happened to Zelda lol
You know the music is good when the analysis makes you tear up
a few things to add:
- the choir falling out of tune as ganondorf’s boss subtitle is revealed
- the slow burn of phase 1 eventually building to those chaotic, disjointed string/choir back and forths
- the botw main theme being quoted in phase 2a (when the sages arrive)
- the calamity ganon theme being quoted verbatim in phase 2b
- the descending 3rd into ascending 5th motif (which appears all over the rest of the game) coming straight from the very end of botw
- the entirety of gloom's approach!!!
Additionally - the last notes of the piano arpeggios in the final phase of the Dragon battle are the first two notes of Zelda's lullaby as we've heard throughout the prior section
I love how BOTW's theme is continually referenced. It is as if to say that before you were alone, but now you don't have to be. In TOTK, Link has people in his corner, and he doesn't have to be afraid of being on his own
Yeah the calamity Ganon theme come back I feel is honestly the best part of the theme, because the dissonance is way up and range is just way down, but blooms to more range and tonality. It’s really cool and I wish 8bmt touched on it more. Use of motifs in these two games blows any Wagner opera out of the water
FINALLY someone is talking about this. As a film and game composer, I think it was a genius way to program the music that maximizes the impact of the ending. It ties together both games perfectly and creates such an emotional and powerful moment for every player no matter how they play. They do this with the intro too and a few other sequences throughout the game. Nintendo knows how to do music!
Yes. Massive Agree. Nintendo does know how to do music. 1,000,000%
I love how they use Calamity Ganon's theme for the last portion of the Ganondorf fight. That theme, which was basically Ganon's theme in BotW, is nowhere to be found in TotK until that point. I thought they had just forgotten about it, which made me sad as I thought it was a great theme, until they suddenly blast it in your face at the peak of the fight to remind you (and especially Link) that this is the man responsible for the destruction of Hyrule 100 years before and basically everything that happened in BotW.
My favorite part of that reminder is that it's not the focal point of the entire arrangement. That suggests that all of your struggles over the course of the past 2 games, 100+ in-game years, 7 real world years, was just a small portion of his time spent destroying and conquering. It feels like he's using his music to rub in just how insignificant you are.
It is impossible to listen to this music and not well up. It’s ‘lump in your throat’ good. What a great ending to a great game.
Exactly. I knew from the moment I clicked on this video I would have some tears stream from my eyes listening. Literally has become my favorite game of all time; no contest for me at least.
@@LevelUpWellness It's funny. I haven't even been thought the video and I'm getting the "lump in your throat" just recalling the music.
@@Nanoqtran Sounds like a familiar experience 😜
I think that’s why they called it “choked up” when getting emotional.
Then there’s Xenoblade 3, crying and whimpering at that scene. MonolithSoft only chooses good projects (these days).
@@corrinflakes9659 XC3 was a major disappointment to me. The premise was great, but the actual implementation left a lot to be desired.
I would argue that you omitted (perhaps for brevity) the best/worst part of the final boss: The descent. all the way from Gloom's Approach, is so incredibly menacing.
i was so scared, i had to keep pausing and taking a minute to calm down. the music was just so ominous, it really felt like something horrifying was about to be waiting for me
Yes! The panicked violin trills (not sure what they’re called). The piano chord that strikes as you enter the Forgotten Foundation and its theme starts playing again with the reversed vocals. The chanting voices building and the reversed vocals fading away as you reach the chamber where Ganondorf was once imprisoned, now a deep chasm.
And how, as you walk towards the ledge above Gloom’s Lair, the music builds and builds, and the reversed vocals return with urgency, sounding almost panicked. How, as you dive off the platform, the music _crescendos,_ driving home that feeling of finality, that there’s no turning back now.
Fantastic analysis!
18:26 Another (maybe obvious) detail is how in the Main Theme part of the Final Dive, the erhu, which has been symbolically used for dragons throughout, is no longer included now that Zelda has been turned back.
Hearing zeldas lullaby come through as your falling after zelda makes me tear up everytime. So much emotion was packed into the music in this game, especially the ending
That catch sequence, especially when the sun comes into view as Link reaches out for Zelda... pure art.
I didn’t care for it that much.
This ending music? Masterpiece. Your analysis of the ending music? Masterpiece. Masterpieces all around. Phenomenal job. I'm not crying, you're crying, shut up.
final battle music that uses references to past songs are the best. its like your taking all your experience, memories, and friendships to stop the ultimate obstacle.
I will absolutely cherish Tears of the Kingdom and its beyond ethereal finale forever. I have never felt so utterly captivated by any medium before. Everything from the descent into the deepest parts of the Depths, the cooperative fights with your allies, the absolutely brilliant sword duel with Ganondorf, the mind-blowingly high-production and sheer grandiose of the dragon phase, and the emotional climax with catching Zelda. Seriously this game was crafted by masters of the gaming craft and offers an experience unlike any other.
It's so genuinely magical. I envy my friend who is playing for the first time and totally unaware of what is coming.
Best ending I've ever played in a video game without a doubt. I get that Tears of the Kingdom isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'll never understand how people can say it was bad and lazy when things like this exist. Everything from the descent to Gloom's Origin to that final quest completion marker is designed with so much love and care.
I especially LOVE the part where Zelda magically turns back because of the deus ex machina.
Ganondorf was easily the coolest enemy to fight. He really felt like the antithesis of Link, with how he could flurry rush & would use multiple weapons. The feeling of another genuinely skilled swordfighter was a really refreshing fight, especially since even the Yiga are super predictable in their fights. I had a lot of trouble trying to dodge Ganondorf’s attacks the whole time.
@@DiamondBerry84 his tricks got old fast.
This ending was so fucking incredible. You've broken down exactly how it was done through the music. Well done.
And why does Dragondorf explode? BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME THAT'S WHY. That was the dopest explosion I've ever seen in a game. DON'T DIMINISH THAT
Had a genuine "WOAH" reaction when I saw it. Guess evil is very combustible. Also IIRC every boss has exploded so far
Finally, someone mentions how awesome that explosion was!
I do like how it did the same "light bursting out of it" thing as it did with the previous bosses, as well as the blights from BOTW, leading you to expect he'd explode in a similar way. Then he turns into an orbital death ray and fucking nukes Hyrule. The camera shake too...
And the follow up, with Link standing on the Light Dragon, Master Sword in hand, bracing against the shock wave, as the red sky fades into a brilliant blue and the camera pans out...
I could keep going, but long story short I *love* the ending to this game.
It's an incarnation of evil that has most definitely consumed an entire energy source _way_ bigger than its head (even if it had a container with the ability to shrink into an easily-portable and thus consumable size).
It's an amplifier on top of a being that was already pretty powerful, and you just destroyed the containment apparatus for its amplifier. Is it any wonder all that energy suddenly went "k bye lol" in the most violent fashion possible?
Yeah. First thing I thought was the rings around the explosive beam looked nuclear. An intense choice considering who made the game and I believe there is some symbolism implied.
@@beeenjammmins Absolutely, I think there are allusions both to nuclear tragedies and (potentially unintentionally?) struggles around the coronavirus pandemic
The entire final hour of the game is a musical peak for the series. It's unbelievable how they managed it
maybe if this was the only zelda game you had ever played it might be
@@kamikazilucas Can you watch a single youtube video without seething about totk?
I straight up gave Tears of the Kingdom a standing ovation in my living room after the ending, and all the music underscoring the whole ending sequence is a huge part of why I did. I can’t really think of many other games that gave me chills by the end like TOTK did - and your analysis goes a long way to helping me appreciate why!
I gave a standing ovation too!
i cant even remember what the music sounded like because it was all so generic, i can remember the ending to every zelda game theme but not totk
@@kamikazilucas sounds like you have memory problems, you should get those checked out
@@kamikazilucas Generic? lol
@@kamikazilucasits okay. Its because they do borrow motifs from their most popular songs and because they shifted to a more atmospheric style, which is less catchy but more emotionally fitted to the game.
I am so glad you covered this. I could not stop listening to the music during the last catch sequence. Zelda's Lullaby soaring in and then the main theme crying out triumphantly... it felt like the climax of not just Tears of the Kingdom, but all of Zelda.
"it felt like the climax of not just Tears of the Kingdom, but all of Zelda" < that's exactly how i felt it too.
And when you've been playing and loving LoZ for 25 years now, that ending is the ultimate catharsis. Still shaking and tearing everytime I listen to it, 2 months after finishing the game. Incredible.
If you think about the games. The timeline starts with Skyward Sword where Link see a vision of him and Zelda falling to the surface, they both tried to reach each other, but it was too late. And now it ends with Link and Zelda falling to the surface, but this time they finally reunited. The music does feel like a way to celebrate the franchise.
@@RealCFZEven Ganondorf himself helps support that. Everything about his fight feels like the big finale. Never before has Link fought someone so dangerous.
And then he gives up everything to become the Demon Dragon, and that fight has pretty much every leitmotif you can think about. Then he blows up, and then the final catch... this feels like the finale. I really have no idea how they can make any games taking place after this one
You’re doing so well at DESCRIBING music. Statements like “The game’s main theme kicks down your door” 18:27 make me say “Yes! Yes! That’s it! THAT’S the feeling!” Well done!
I love this game so much. The music was so great- and the foreshadowing of one of the VERY FIRST trailers ending with an er-hu playing Zelda's Lullaby is one of the most emotional musical developments I've ever experienced.
18:53 What I especially love about this one is that Zelda's Lullaby is already an emotionnal motif by itself at that point, but the upper key change just brings that dose of TRIUMPH to it, it's like the music is yelling "OMG GIRL YOUR PLAN WORKED I'M SO PROUD NOW COME BACK TO US"
The music engine they are using is amazing. The way the transitions only occur during specific parts of a track makes it really seamless. One intresting example in the phase 2 dragon fight, the 1st phase track plays normally until the correct time for phase 2 transition. But also sometimes if the phase 1 track is far away, it goes straight to the 2nd phase transition after a measure
My favorite part is the *clap* in the soundtrack at the very end when you catch her. Great review, and I'm glad you mentioned the dynamic parts of the soundtrack that change based on gameplay.
Finished this game last week. Cried. What a masterpiece. The music is so incredible. So much thought and detail went into every little thing. I love it.
Amazing video breaking it down.
tears of the kingdom actually made me close to tears. like no jokes no puns i find that very satisfying.
I teared up when I heard the original overworld theme. Not ashamed to admit that. Using it right there was just the master stroke of the music in this game
Dear 8-Bit Music Theory- Guy, your wish is my command: I can´t express enough how impressed I am by your analysises. I am a teacher for music on secondary school (college) and I often use your videos in my classes and damn, you would give a fantastic teacher!! I consider myself to notice a lot of stuff, that is going on, while I listen to music, but you bring this to a whole other level. The way you transcribe the music, your didactic skills...this is top notch. And on top of that, I really become emotional, especially when you talk about the music in Zelda games. Zelda is one reason, why I began to play the piano, when I was 10 years old: the little ocarina melodies in Ocarina of time. In the meantime, I felt, that this music was special, but of course I never knew why. Your videos make me somehow connect to my younger "me", when I was 10 years old. A big thank you goes out to you!!
If it helps not take you out of it next time you see it-all the bosses created by Ganondorf's dark tear explode. And they also leak the same reddish light beams prior to the explosion. Dragodorf's explosion is much larger, and I guess maybe still a bit silly, but not out of the ordinary for TotK bosses
What an absolute treat of a video! I think I’m not alone in saying we would like more TOTK videos if possible. This game and it’s music are so moving the whole way through!
I love the Ganondorf reveal. Every time I watch it and rewatch it, I always get a big fat smile on my face because it’s just so cool. Probably top 10 of my favorite boss fights ever
When you first turn Zelda back into a hylian, I almost cried at the music- all of the best moments had me almost tearing up!
Thank you for validating what makes this entire sequence the best climax of a Zelda game. The very final battle theme is probably my favorite track in the whole game. In fact, many of my favorite songs from the game are contained just within this climax sequence. It's very cathartic to see you cover all that content in this video. I'm so glad I'm subscribed to this channel.
13:43 I’d also point out that the 8th note strings ostinato here is the same one that kicks off the trailer music. The number of references to other pieces in ToTK and BoTW is truly insane!
"Why does he explode"
I mean. You just *broke* a secret stone. The things are absurdly powerful.
And now, it's broken. The stone's energy, no longer bound up by it.
Thus, boom.
I absolutely love how sparingly the game uses the "familiar" themes, like the original LoZ theme. It sets up a level of anticipation and catharsis that I haven't seen in any other series before. It feels like a reward, being able to hear them, and MAN do those moments have a ton of weight because of it.
I bet it was extremely hard to cut this video down to 20 minutes. Honestly, it could have easily been 40 minutes, between the Army section, the cutscenes between the two bosses, all the sections of "Demon King Ganondorf" you didn't talk about, and the crazy stuff going on with the orchestration (this is one of the rare games that made me wish VGM composers published full scores like film composers). Thank you so much for your great analysis.
I wonder if low notes are more intense because that's the range of animal growling, and while it's not immediately alarming like the sound of a baby's cry, you instinctively focus and get more alert.
Great video as always 8bit! I’d also add at 12:05 that we also hear the BoTW theme for each of the “Blight Ganons” and to my knowledge, this is the only time it’s used in the ToTK ost. They say on that one for quite awhile before finally unleashing it!
Just beat Tears of the Kingdom last night, I have been waiting six months to be able to watch this video and I am so excited!!!!
I love the musical redesign they made for Ganondorf. Featuring Gagaku instruments like the Sho from japanese tradition really made him feel like the oni demon they made him out to be. It's reflected in his weapon choices and the way his second form looks
With a lot of discourse on how this game is artistically a homage to Hayao Miyazake’s universes, have folks noticed how the final boss theme and dragondorf theme could very well be nods to The Demon God theme from Mononoke and Dragon Boy theme, respectively?
9 months later hearing the themes still bring me to tears
I also wanna point out the approach to ganondorf, genuinely it might be one of my favorite "approacing the evil bad guy" pieces ever, it starts out slow, absent but very similar to the start of the game, and then just keeps on building in intensity alongside your nerves, it made my heart pound the first time around, genuinely amazing.
Honestly TotK had probably my favorite ending of ANY video game. The build up of tension, release, the grandiose nature, the anticipation, all fantastic! And I think the music plays a huge role in it! Thank you so much for breaking this down. I was getting emotional just listening and relieving the epic moments! It's nice hearing the music and effort everyone put into making this such a wonderful game! Can NOT wait for the game awards rendition of the music from this game!
I believe the ending of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be heralded as one of the greatest video game endings of all time, and it wouldn't have come anywhere near that distinction if it wasn't for all the music.
Facts bro. The credits alone were so amazing because of the music.
It pulls a deus ex machina, which automatically makes it one of the worst endings.
@@HungryWarden Watch the tea time memory again, and if you still dont get it, you never will; That's fine too, you can always go back to the peg block game when you need to exercise your critical thinking skills.
If it does it wont be for quite a while, It seems pretty obvious that the positivity of the story is largely unwelcome on hellscape earth.
@@daniel8181 you mean the boring filler memory? I genuinely hated Tears of the Kingdom’s bland, infuriating story, so I would rather have you explain it to me.
I feel like I'm going to watch this video every month for the rest of my life. What a perfect summation of the absolute epic amazing ending to a masterpiece game.
Every time I see this game's ending covered by so many perspectives, from music, from programming, from game design, from psychology... everywhere, makes me think... this work of art is absolute perfection.
Not really, it has so many flaws and moments that take me out of the game.
I was an absolute wreck of tears at the end of that falling section
I saw this, and had a feeling what game it was going to be about. I immediatly clicked. I was waiting and hoping for a totk video! Hopefully there'll be more!
I dont know if you have a different thumbnail than I do as is sometimes the case, but on mine its literally the totk scene in the thumbnail so yeah... Prett obvious.
@@phoenix9531 Yeah it is, but I first saw the notification of the video on my phone, which doesn't show the thumbnail, just the title... I immediatly went to my laptop anticipating it'd be about totk
At 15:02 after the Zeldas Lullaby repeats, the countermelody becomes the BotW theme on low brass.
Even furthering the emotional payoff.
THANK YOU, even though you didn't talk about it, the fact you sprinkled in the different phases of "Gloom's Approach / Lair" in there as background music was so nice. I have been playing that track with all its transitions way too much this past week, because I love just the slow burning anticipation it builds. Anticipation to watching this video, perhaps, and damn was it worth it.
The sages coming in at 10:35 was so beautiful, it reminded me of Ori's music
It does sound simillar!
I really liked how they weaved in the arpeggiated piano of the Skydiving theme over the top of the main theme @18:37, really nice way of tying things together from your journey at the end
Bro got us tearing up then hits us with the "Why does he explode?" LMAO
Man, your ears are so refined to capture the minutiae in your transcriptions. Was in tears for the whole second half of the video, thanks for your hard work. 🙏
I cried all over again just watching your ANALYSIS. This truly is one of the most impactful and memorable moments in gaming I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
The ending in this game is really overrated.
I got goosebumps watching this vid - even hearing the music in snippets coupled with your voiceovers, it STILL gets me. That's how powerful this score is! Truly master class composing.
Thanks for breaking it down like this!
0:08 did you say "MIDI gritty?"
That final catch track is just so great narratively. The Main Theme at the start is blaring at us that this is a time for action, you have to _do something._ *1*
The transition to Zelda's Lullaby emphasizes why, because it's _Zelda,_ right there, _just like when you failed her before._ *2*
And the resolution to the LoZ Series Theme denotes the difference from then. It's different because you are Link, you are _The Hero,_ and this time you are going to *save her.* And you do. *3*
*1* -> *2* -> *3*
It's about the _situation,_ to it's about striving for _her,_ to it's about _you_ finally redeeming your failure and triumphant.
This is perhaps my new favourite video out there, you explained it in so much detail and with such good extracts that I did not see the 20 minutes go by at all. This game is so fricking awesome and you definitely more than honored it. Huge congrats!
I teared up at least 3 times while watching this video. Don't ask how many times I teared up while finishing this masterfully made game
Coming back several weeks later to say that your explanations for making a musical climax were so clear that I found myself analyzing music during a movie! Thank you for giving me more tools for understanding music I enjoy!
I SCREAMED when I saw this in my sub box. This game gave me so much unrivalled emotional payoff in so many ways and this whole section of music really exemplifies everything they did right with Tears of the Kingdom.
Which is not very many things.
RUclips knew I beat ganon last night apparently. Great video. I think speed, like range, can add intensity at the extremes, both fast and slow
A great video for a great game. I really loved the symbolism of clapping within that final stretch. You need two hands coming together in order to make that percussive noise, and our final act just as that sound played was to grasp Zelda's hand in Link's. Brought me to tears.
A good game.
Manaka Kataoka knew what the fuck she was doing when she sat down and penned this. So obvious that this is talent and brilliance pushed beyond the limits by a passion for the craft.
This game is the crowning achievement in the franchise.
This video was put together so well, it's safe to say I learnt something , thank you.
Safe to say we all cried a little bit watching this one. Thank you so much!
Finally took the time to watch this video! Exceptional analysis! Thank you for letting me experience that emotional rollercoaster ending again but now with the music analysis!
How freaking good is Zelda music 🥹🥹🥹🥹🫶
Wow. The composers and game developers of TOTK are absolute geniuses. I don't know how people come up with compositions like this, but I'm enormously grateful because it creates such an incredible experience! Thank you for breaking down why this ending was so impactful!
Great discussion mate! Agreed - it ties things off so satisfyingly - it's not just a great ending to the story, it's capstone to the many hours you've personally spent in that world to get to that point!
It’s a really really bad ending.
"Kicks down your door" & that Patreon ending. 😂 Great analysis, editing, and writing.
The real tears of the kingdom were those the players cried during this ending
There are more musical theme borrowings in the final boss than the ones mentioned! Ganondorf's third phase, with the two extremely fast dissonant lines, is using the Blight theme from Breath of the Wild on the bottom. A different part of that theme is used as the melody later on.
The second phase of the dragon fight, the Sages' entrance, Ganon's death, and the end of the epilogue all include the start of Breath of the Wild's theme. The Sages' entrance might also include the start of Silent Princess, but those notes are actually pretty similar to a part of the Tears of the Kingdom theme...
This great music makes me cry every time, it's so great, just the best finale a Zelda has ever had
The ending of TotK is incredible, in every way, the battle, the build-up, the music! It really is an incredible achievement. I love the Zelda franchise but they tend to have not so great endings, TotK really nailed it.
But, more than that, the way you explain the musical part of this ending is magical! Really a great video!
I felt nothing during this ending.
11:55 aaaaand you ignore how this part and 12:06 this part are remixed motifs from Calamity Ganon and the Blights.
Its just so friggin good, man
So, I started ToTK the day it released, and I believe I finished it in march of 2024 or somethong. So i took my time, with 200 hours in the game. I just started skyward sword, but if I chose not to continue that, I think ill start ToTK again. Its genuinely my favourote game of all time
18:06
I love this ending, everything about it, it felt incredible. Astonoshing callbacks, such a powerful scene. It had significant personal impact to me as well, so there's some bias to that end, but I can't help but absolutely love it. Well put commentary, it is nice to see I was not the only one positively affected by that haha
I already loved this game and it's music, but your in depth breakdowns give me a much deeper appreciation of it. I thank you.
This is one of the most enthusiastic videos I've seen from you! This game is a masterpiece, a game-changer in every single way. However, definitely one of the most outstanding aspects is its music. There's a lot of detail and compositional features that could easily revolutionize the way music for games is composed.
This is a favorite youtube video of mine. It's a great dissection of the music in this sequence and is nice to come back to every once in a while to relive the ending at least musically. Thanks
Wonderful video. Always feel like I learn something from your work. That was especially true from this coverage of Tears of the Kingdom. Really appreciate the effort you put into this.
The Final Catch is such a genius piece of music and it makes me tear up every time!!! I love how you can also hear the Skydiving theme mixed into it as well.
I cried when I played it and I cried watching this.. That final stretch man aw jeezus
This is the first video of yours I've seen and its incredible. Thank you RUclips algorithm, I have a new channel to binge. Keep up the great work man 💚
I was really hoping someone would do a video on this and I'm so glad it was you. That final dive hit even harder when I watched @Player 5 speedrun it - all the sections came one after another. Nintendo hit it out of the park with this cinema-worthy ending.
I love a lot of your videos, but this one might be my favorite.
What an awesome video. Thanks dude
Perhaps more than this absolutely brilliant compositional technique, the fact that so many previous themes got quoted in every single one of these pieces of music just takes all of the emotions we have tied up from our previous experiences with the series and smashes us over the head with them.
Not gonna lie, I cried multiple times throughout the ending sequence of this game.
Yesss, I'm glad you're breaking down this song. This music alone is enough to make me blubber like a baby.
The thumbnail. I'm emotional already
The music building up in intensity as you go deeper into the depths under the castle was such an incredible moment.
Thanks for making this. I was waiting TOTK content from you for and you chose what I wanted the most. The ending of this game is probably one of my favorite gaming moments ever and the music played a big part of that. Last Catch is brilliant.
The final call and response of the main theme and ZL feels like it was planned from conception. They fit together so perfectly
IM SO GLAD SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE FINAL BATTLE MUSIX THEME AAAAA
TotK's score is borderline unbelievably good. Each time I listen to it, it just makes me want to scream "how did they do that???". Love to see a video shed some light on that question. Great work!
I bawled my eyes out at the ending the first time I played it, it was so good, and every new motif I recognized just made more tears flow. This immediately became my favorite game of all time after I finished it, and I genuinely believe it’s among the best games ever made.
It’s full of flaws.