These sounds change depending on his speed, the type of surface he's moving on, the shoes he wears, and the level of stealth he executes. If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of Link's feet hitting the ground as he walks and runs. Scenery was meant to feel as authentic as possible, from the bird and tree sounds to the sound of Link's footsteps. These ambient sounds were the team's main focus, and players are exposed to them from start to finish. When you're not on a horse, you're constantly listening to Link's footsteps and nature sounds. There is a lot of walking in Breath of the Wild. The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild Horseback (Image credit: Nintendo) After all, it would be inappropriate to incorporate an epic score with trumpets and drums when Link is trying to come to terms with his own survivor's guilt. These scores are thoughtful, atmospheric, and a bit sad, which is fitting for the game's overall mood. Breath of the Wild's sound director, Hajime Wakai, states that the use of piano as a predominant instrument in the game's sound design was a series first, and was meant to accentuate ambient sounds. It feels appropriate then that the musical scores heard across the vast fields of Hyrule are dotted with piano notes.

The piano, for example, is often conflated with seriousness and melancholy. Now, think about instruments that you associate with sadness and tragedy. In other words, past 3D Zelda games are about anticipation while Breath of the Wild is about realization. But in Breath of the Wild, that epic battle has already happened. In other 3D Zelda games with adventurous scores, Link is getting hyped, feeling anxious and excited, and thinking about his desire to overcome villains like Ganon and Ganondorf. An important factor to consider is the timeline (no, not that timeline) of these games.

The song of the willa