Castle Town has had surprisingly few appearances throughout the Zelda series, considering that it’s the largest and most populated settlement in Hyrule whenever it does exist (excluding Breath of the Wild, of course). It’s also peculiar to me how there has been a brand-new soundtrack for the town every single time, despite other recurring places like Zora’s Domain reusing their old themes quite often. Each of these Castle Town tracks set the mood in different ways, reflecting the styles of their respective games. Twilight Princess’s version puts a lighthearted, silly spin on the game’s generally dark tone, perfect for chasing down innocent townsfolk as Wolf Link. Spirit Tracks‘ version is more regal, as if time permanently stopped on some train-themed holiday causing the royal family to be stuck eternally dancing in the plaza. Perhaps my favorite, however, is the perfect mixture of Castle and Town – the one from The Minish Cap.
Many people will instantly recognize the GameBoy Advance’s iconic sound, particularly in the strings. Alongside a chiptune bass and a single shaker keeping tempo, they kick off the piece with energy to spare. The clarinet chimes in with a cheerful melody, simple yet memorable. The Mixolydian chords keep it from feeling too cliché, and the upbeats in the background fill in the empty space between phrases. For the next section, the strings come back and are accompanied by a pan flute with its own gleeful melody. The chord progression becomes a bit more adventurous, and eventually builds to a triumphant cadence. Just before the track loops, every instrument plays the strings’ intro leitmotif in unison, as if each resident of Hyrule Town all came together to sing in celebration.
Even though this is quite a short track, its royal jubilance has given it a special place in my heart (or my eardrums, to be exact). While Castle Town’s various themes are all extraordinarily catchy, The Minish Cap’s “Hyrule Town” finds its way back to me the most often. Despite it only being the second rendition (after Ocarina of Time’s Market), I think it nailed exactly what a Hyrule Castle Town should be.
