Legend of Zelda Audio Differences & Comparison (Famicom Disk System vs. NES) 

Just an observation.. The Key Item Obtained sound is the same on both versions. It's just that the sound chip on the NES is busy with another sound to play the full thing. To hear it in game, start a new game and grab the sword. Just as you grab it, press start to bring up the menu. You'll hear all the channels which will make it sound just the same as the FDS version. The reason you hear it on the FDS version fully is because it's using the sound chip on the disk drive for the item pickup sound effect. If you try Zelda no Densetsu 1, the cart version of the Japanese game, it sounds just like the US NES version where you have to press start to hear the full thing.

Never knew Link sounded so... Pac-Man-ish when he died on the Famicom!

The prototype game over theme is really creepy, especially with the scratchy instrumentation. I wonder if that was intentional since the final one isn't as clear as the ending theme. I personally think the music and jingles on the FDS are mostly superior, even the title theme. However, most of the sound effects sound better on NES since they use the same instruments, NES just has a less tinny sound. They just sound punchier and more satisfying in general.

The FDS game over music sounds like Link drowned in custard.

I like how the Boss Sounds resemble dying bees or spurting from a kazoo on the Famicom whereas on the Entertainment System, they actually produced the sound of mythical beasts collapsing.

Only issue I have with this amazing video is that you should've played the NES version on each song before the FDS version. Makes it easier to hear that extra sound channel.

The cartridge version of the main theme sounds so much darker & sombre in tone. I always regarded it and the first sequel as kind of sorrowful games, similar to how Majora's Mask was later. I wonder how much that had to do with the differences in sound?

The FDS sound effects sound like they're from a Namco arcade game. That's pretty cool!

I think the music sounds better on the Famicom, but the sound effects are mostly pitched oddly high, so things like the bombs and doors sound a lot more "realistic" on the NES.

A lot of the FDS version's instruments seem to have a weird hiss to them, leaving the NES versions sounding much crisper. However, the "you got the thiiiing" and the ending song both sound a lot better on the FDS, I think, and its richer arrangement of the opening theme is certainly interesting.

This makes me want to play the Famicom version. The music is amazing!

I remember playing Four Swords Anniversary and the music for the Realm of Memories on the map wasn't changed to the NES version for NTSC release, leading to a bit of confusion.

The FDS ending is more peaceful and just much more clear. The FDS version retains the notes at the beginning when the song builds up, while the NES just straight dumps it up.

Those bells in the FDS intro are so dope. Just such a richer track.

Boss Sounds A, B, C, and howls on Nintendo Entertainment System sound like freaking Nintendo DS-era Pokemon cries.

That prototype FDS game over music is kinda creepy.

I really like the prototype disk system game over music

You can tell for some sound effects on the NES version they used pre-recorded samples.

Lord Almighty I love the FDS Intro Holy

It sounds like the Duck Hunt dog is laughing at Link dying in the Famicom version. Also those boss sounds on Famicom sound like they'd get annoying if you got stuck on a battle for a while.

Almost the only thing I find annoying with the FDS is the boss noises, they sound so ear grating while on the NES they're toned down

Overall, I think the Famicom had the better music but the NES had the better sound effects (except for the "item get" and heart sounds, which are really quite lovely in the Famicom version).

I always keep coming back to listen to this again and again and I love this video! 😄 The Prototype "Game Over" theme is very creepy and unsettling... But I like it. 😂

The getting hurt section sounds like a game of table tennis.

Its neat how 1 voice (Or the lack of in the NES's case) can make such a difference.

Interesting. The music mostly sounds better* on the Famicom (except that I think the main theme sounds better if the notes are held out longer like in the NES version), but the sound effects are hit and miss. The ones that still sound like music sound better on the Famicom, but others don't. In particular, the bomb and doors sound much better on the NES, deeper sounds much closer to what they are supposed to be. Getting hurt sounds like a small cry from link, what you expect when you get hurt. The boss sounds sound like actual roars on the NES, although neither have good howls. The enemy death sound depends on how you perceive them: the first is a cry, the second sounds more like you've scored a point. As does the sword, as neither sound like a sword. The difference is that the Famicom sounds like it is fading away as the projectile gets away from you, while the NES one sounds like it hit something. *The FDS also has a tinny quality to its sounds that some may find annoying, while the NES cuts off any of the higher pitches. But still, the sound quality is better.

Overall, I like the FDS music a lot more. Where as I enjoy MOST of the NES sound effects better. And yeah, the prototype Game Over music is a tad unsettling. Just finished a play through of Zelda 1 and am looking forward to cracking Legends of Localization open tomorrow!

8:26 that bomb sound :D

The end credits wouldn't be out of place in a Mario game.

That famicom disk sounds great. Some of the samples sound like bells in the beginning

That prototype Game Over music is quite unsettling.

I love that bit of high end roar that the Famicom has here. On the boss sounds you especially notice it where it's really a whimper on the NES. It sounds much more distorted and louder

Both are great, but overall I have to go with NES. No nostalgia involved, they just sound generally nicer. A lot of the Famicom's music and sounds are way more shrill and piercing.

So are any of these sounds on the fds game because of special audio the nes doesn’t have like expansion audio? Or are they just different but capable on both consoles? If I play the fds version of Zelda on a everdrive on a NES will it sound just like this basically?

Everyone is saying that the prototype game over track is creepy, it sounds more like Link is about to drop a few bars.

the flute sounds pretty on the fds

It’s amazing to see how some ideas were completely lost in translation, so to say, between porting from the musical capabilities of the famicom to those of the NES and changed into something which would be interpreted as something else entirely

Stuck at home with covid, so I'm on page 89 of Book 1 with this video playing and it's making everything so much better now.

I'd beard the Disk System had extra sound capabilities, but damn! That's like a whole different set of tracks!

That prototype game over music kind of resembles the middle of Saints In Hell by Judas Priest, although it's probably just my imagination.

being able to set the wave you use on that one channel makes all the difference.

Thank you for putting this together, Mato! Really enjoying the book.

I swear the boss sounds on the NES version sound like Pokémon cries.

Received your book for Christmas and am really enjoying it so far. Good work.

The FDS was clearly the intended OST

Ugh the FDS is so high pitched, much prefer the NES version.

WAIT! Wasn't that flute in Mario 3?

the FDS version is really high pitched and has this annoying echo to it. it actually hurts my ears a bit. the NES version sound much more solid and crisp.As for the variety of instruments, I feel like less is more.

I can deal with the idea that the NES version's music is inferior, but good lord, the FDS sound effects are extremely annoying.

Well FDS door sound effects sounds terrible, much like Link death and enemy death.

Ahh, good old FM synth.

The boss sound effects sound so goofy in the FDS

6:20 when you die in pac man

Did they use digital sounds for the boss sounds?

FOr me I think these sound the best to me. Title Screen and Intro - FDS, chime - NES, Key Item Obtained - either, Flute - NES, FInal Dungeon 0 either, Ending - FDS, Link Dying - NES, Game Over - FDS, Getting A Heart - NES, Getting Rupees - FDS, Getting Items - FDS, Item Appearence - FDS, Sword Shooting - FDS, Bombs - NES, Opening Doors - NES, Enemy Deaths - NES, Boss Sound A, B, C - NES, Boss Howls - FDS, Getting Hurt - FDS, Game Over Cursor - NES. So that's a score of 10 for FDS, and 13 for NES or points for the Boss sounds could count as one making it a tie. I'm not sure which I like better honestly. For music though Famicon I think is better.

I love how the flute sounded on the FDS!

Thanks Arin!

NES sound effects are better, to be honest, except for the sword beam, (FDS ones tend to be really high-pitched and seem "too fast") but prefer the FDS music except for the Link death theme, which has the same issues as sound effects in FDS.

Hey, you’re the guy who made the Mother 3 English mod, right?

Nes version is better :) More realistic when dungeon's doors open :)

Is the music/sound the same between both consoles for the overworld and dungeon themes then? I don't understand why they weren't included here.

they are both pretty awesome hard to not like either having grown up with the nes its my fav but famicom is rich with sound

the boss sounds are better on NES, without a doubt.

NES SFX: uses actual recorded samples Fami SFX: BUWEEYUH

My favorite Japanese version of this game is the 1994 rerelease on cartridge. I personally love it when a Japanese game gets changed for its international release, then the developers rerelease the game in Japan with most or all changes intact.

I find it interesting that the sound for secrets carried over from the NES onward instead of the famicom

NES sounds better. Inferior tech, but they did more with less. FDS is way too tinny. Sounds like listening to a Realplayer clip in 1999.

In lonk dying from famicom is like pacman death

8:46 what's that supposed to be? 8:48 Oh, it's supposed to be the monster roaring.

The sound effects on the Famicom are bad, but the musics generally better. Like Boss Sound A on the NES actually sounds like a roar of some kind. On the FDS it sounds like a revving tiny motor. Same with the bombs, the NES could be an explosion, the FDS sounds like malfunctioning electronics..

It's interesting how link has had a voice since the first game.

They should have kept the Prototype FDS game over music, good lord! But even then, it would've been Famicom/FDS only since NoA would've asked Kondo to submit another piece cause it reminds them of Michael Myers.

VERY nice editing!

Some of the DPCM sound effects sound like a compressed version of the original synth.

Isn't that flute sound from Super Mario Bros 3????

Funnily enough, I think the intro is actually weaker - the "more accurate" instruments are actually too tinny and make it sound oddly washed-out. The move to the deeper basic NES sound bank helps that track, I think.

The NES audio has a more refined sound, I guess they put more effort into the audio design for the international release.

That prototype Game Over sounded very familiar, I wanna say its Tubular Bells, but I could be mistaken. I think the US cartridge soundtrack is the way to go here, almost 100%. I liked the FDS on one or 2 songs/effects. Its not like the Castlevania III comparison.

What's with the Skype sound when Link dies in the FDS version.

The music definitely sounds better on the FDS. But I lioe the sound effects more on the NES, and the boss howls and much better.

I find I much prefer the NES's instruments.

Are you the Clyde Mandelin who is credited for Funimation's "Japanese Translations?"

The prototype Game Over music sounds familiar. I know it says in the book that it was some classical melody, but i just can't quite place my finger on what classical song it is.

you know what, the fds boss sfx terrifies me, the nes boss sfx makes it sounds realistic so yeah nes wins.

The flute sounds like a SMB3 warp whistle

I'm not sure if this matters, but the item fanfare isn't actually different in the NES version, it's just interrupted by the item sound effect.

7:41

i think i heard a skype notification at 6:22

There may be some content that was better about the Famicom system, but the sounds were not amount them.

Do any of the new zelda games have the sword shoot the light beam from it any more? I haven't seen any BOTW playthroughs that you get the master sword even. O_O

Most Of The FDS Sounds Sound Wierd

6:22 the end sounds like Skype notification sound

Did the FDS not have access to the NES sounds, too? I always thought the FDS had an additional sound card. I don't get why they wouldn't use the main sound NES sounds for the lower pitched sound effects.

Other than the prototype game over music, the disk system sounds way too buzzy and mechanical. With the nes theres just crisper and the monsters actually sound like theyre roaring and not just buzzing

Nes all the way

However, "Boss Sound A", NES ver., sounds like someone screaimg.

Alternate title: Why the Japanese version of The Legend of Zelda is Better (Except for certain sound effects)

Some of the bosses does have funny fart noises

Link dying on the FDS is the SAME as in Mario Maker!

Zelda: NES win|Zelda 2: FDS win