Notes from Daniel about this arrangement:
In many things -- social interactions, movies, novels, and even video games -- first impressions are crucially important. Most RPGs and adventures begin with the hero at peace, possibly with a friendly tutorial or an introductory cutscene. Precious few games open with a dungeon. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of those precious few, and Hyrule Castle is that first impression (discounting the 40 or so seconds it takes to travel there).
As early as the opening fanfare, one can immediately tell Hyrule Castle is hiding some sinister secrets. Indeed, the kingdom is not at peace; Link must travel through all manner of corridors, hallways, dungeons, prisons, and sewers while fighting off countless guards in order to rescue Zelda and escort her safely to the sanctuary. Hyrule Castle presents an immediately intense battle for the young hero, and I sought to recreate that feeling in the music using brass fanfares, varied rhythms, syncopations, and multiple simultaneous disparate rhythmic ideas. Renditions of the Hyrule Castle theme in later Zelda games take on a more melancholic air, reminiscent of battles that happened long before the hero arrives or nostalgia for a peace that once was. However, the A Link to the Past version is in-your-face and in-the-moment action, making Hyrule Castle the perfect introduction to a truly masterful Zelda game.
