Finding the Spirit in Spirit Tracks, a game that is so totally mid but.... something about it.... AKA gushing over the game's ending for like the 3rd time on my channel
same I played the game just fine no issues aside from getting light headed from all the blowing, and using the old 3ds which has the worst mic placement for a right handed person.
RIGHT??? I have an old DSi and the mic works perfectly, i never had any issues playing the flute. Maybe just being off rhythm sometimes, but never mic problems. These people either have really deffective mics or play the game somewhere REALLY noisy
Tbh I think people started blowing too close to their microphones. If you blow too close, it doesn’t register properly. The microphone is trying to listen for a specific frequency, and blowing too close doesn’t register to the microphone as blowing on it because it’s too loud and muddled
it always registered my inputs when i did it properly but it often caught GHOST inputs where itd play an extra amount and ruin it and this happened like all the time on my 3ds
Zelda and Link holding hands on that ending is the pinnacle for all Zelda endings for me and I have always wanted to see. As a kid I was basically foaming at the mouth when I saw this since I’ve always wanted something like that to happen in the games
The irony will never be lost in me in how people gave this game hell back in the day for steam trains being "too futuristic" for a Zelda game, only for Skyward Sword to come along shortly after with Robots, then all the Sheikah and Zonai tech in BotW and TotK right after with iPads, laser machines, motorcycles and hover bikes..
I think having the world of Spirit Tracks being a bit more technologically developed is a lot more reasonable in the context of Spirit Tracks, since it's set a hundred years after a bunch of humans escaped a post-apocalypse. Besides, the steampunk aesthetic still really works well with the old-timey setting IMO.
@@GarryDumblowski Honestly, it feels like the Zelda dev's have been dancing around with the whole concept of a Zelda game in a steampunk setting ever since Spirit Tracks but always went halfway and never really fully committed to it. I wouldn't mind them trying out a game where they go all out with a steampunk/industrialized Hyrule, they can even have it take place in the new Hyrule from Spirit Tracks if they seemingly want to keep the old one in tact for any veteran fans that feel uneasy about the whole idea while still having it make sense in universe, since that kingdom's been generally less prone to attacks from ancient demon king's and whatnot, giving its civilization more opportunities to develop and advance compared to the original.
IKR LOL we have literally seen powered machines before….. Kolotos or whatever it is in SS, we see steam powered ships in Wind Waker, the floating islands in Twilight Princess, such a lame excuse to hate on ST
@@actiniumanarchy9237 Yeah there was also the Great Bay Temple from Majora's Mask, telephones in Link's Awakening (Though I guess this one could be debatable considering the game's setting), steam boats in Phantom Hourglass as well as staple enemies like the Beamos and Armos Statues in most games, I guess its debatable wether or not they where machines or actual monsters in Ocarina of Time (Though I think they where the only enemies besides the Dodongo type enemies that blow up upon defeat instead of dying normally if I recall correctly), but they where definitely machines in other games like Minish Cap where you are literally able to switch the Armos Statues on or off.
As a kid, Spirit Tracks made me so happy because it combined my (at the time) favorite video game franchise with probably my deepest, oldest hyperfixation:Trains. I remember scouring the internet for even the smallest bits of info on it, reading the Nintendo Power issue on it, and generally being utterly enthralled by it. Normally such a formula would be a recipe for disappointed expectations, but Spirit Tracks did everything I wanted out of a Sequel to Phantom Hourglass. Beefed up music, memorable characters, fun side quests and mini games, and enough Zelink shipping fodder to make both BOTW and TOTK jealous.
I mean I could sum up the answer with a quote. "But it's fun!" -Squidward Somethings just work. Its just a comfy charming game that's fun to play. Doesn't help it appeals hardcore to shippers too.
Fun doesn’t make a good game. ToTK is a prime example. It’s a fun game but it’s absolute shit at telling a story. At least ST was fun and concluded the adult timeline story in a good way. ToTK tells you there’s an evil Zelda and then you’re allowed to get the very last custscene just from random exploration
@candycornshrimp I'd argue fun is an extremely important factor above all others. Games that aren't pleasurable to play, even if they have good stories, tend to not do as well as vice versa.
@@tremere3337 eh ToTK ruined my fun by killing my excitement of of finding out what “evil” Zelda was planning. Only for my first cutscene to find was the reveal that Sonia dies and that this Zelda was just one of his phantoms. And this was after my first temple. So every other time these cutscenes played I was just mashing start because I got spoiled by the game it it rewarding that spoiling. And it killed the entire experience for me. Idk why they thought telling a linear story randomly like BoTW would work. It’s lazy
@@tremere3337 did I say ToTK wasn’t fun? Not sure what argument you’re trying to make. It was modern gmod and god mod for people with creativity. If you couldn’t create anything fun with ultrahand, that’s on you lol
I love this Zelda, and I think part of the reason is that it just so happened to align with my interests as a little girl (when I first played it). I can not stress this enough-but the fact that one of the main collectables are bunnies in wittle T-shirts was one of the best things about it as far as I was concerned (I popped off every time I saw one). I also loved trains, much more than boats anyway (I thought boats/pirates were more of a boy thing at the time). Also, it was so cool that I could finally play as Zelda, with her actually being interesting and I was so happy that-in the ending-her and Link held hands! I was invested! So while arguably shallow reasons, I think sometimes that’s all one needs when there’s a whole franchise with several great games in it.
If I ever learned anything from this whacky society we live in, is that positive-reinforcement and non-harmful interests are all great. So you do you, it's AMAZING!! As a teenager, this game made me appreciate the complexity of a character to the point "Princess" just dropped... It was Zelda, that amazing companion who just so happened to be a girl. I'm glad it was a positive image for you :D Every generation needs such good figures. :3
The Bunnies are actually lore important. In the rest of the Zelda series rabbits are considered mystical, such as the Blupee. In Ocarina there's dialogue that says the Hylians over-hunted rabbits to extinction. In Spirit Tracks the new world is filled with rabbits to show that it's a new beginning free from Hyrule's past. Rabbits commonly symbolize rebirth and that's exactly what New Hyrule is. No matter how many millennia have gone by Hyrule has been stuck in a medieval era, and has finally broken through that barrier.
I’m a grown woman who only wants to play this game for the trains and because I liked botw (which I only decided to play when I found out I could have a horse)
One of my problems with this game is that it doesn't go all in with its industrialized theming as much as it could have! The entire landscape has been revolutionized, but the world feels more like a traditional Zelda more than the past two games. I just think a Steampunk Fantasy hybrid would have been too cool of a concept to pass up.
Funnily enough, I distinctly remember people being worried, at the time of ST’a release, about the game being *too* industrial/steampunk-y. Most of it was just hooting and hollering about exploration being “literally on rails”, but I think there was probably some lingering stigma regarding the WW artstyle, too. Either way, I didn’t get the hysteria back then, and I certainly don’t get it nowadays! :y
I will die on this hill but i thought the duets were one of the most fun segments in this game, even the best way music has been used as a game mechanic in a zelda game! Like, to some people it might just be about "link having an instrument and it's cool" but in ocarina of time for example, it could have been any object you have to press buttons with to make things happen. In spirit tracks, there's timing! There's harmony with other instruments! And the instrument is such a big part of the plot that you learn to play the MAIN THEME at the end of the game and it's epic and it transitions to the final boss theme??? HELLO???? Contributing to the soundtrack who???? It's a shame that the mic blowing was widely considered as frustrating, because this duet thing could have been such a wonderful source of inspiration for players to see how fun it is to play with other people, perhaps even as a hobby, idk. For context, my major bias on this topic is rooted in me being a music teacher. Anyway, great video with great points!
As a musician, I truly love the duets. Especially when you successfully complete one and then an absolutely great song is created between a pan flute and a different instrument. Toru Minegishi, Manaka Tominaga, and Asuka Ota really did a great job with it all. An even cooler thing is that not all the songs are in 4/4, which means the timing that’s required varies.
I think the problem with this perspective is that not everyone can play like that. I know I personally don't really have a sense of rhythm at all, so whenever I play the game I usually just get stonewalled by one of the song segments. The mic on my DS Lite even works fairly consistently, but I just can't do the songs sometimes. So maybe they're fun if you're good at music, but as someone who's not, they sap the enjoyment right out of the experience.
I feel like I never had any problems with a lot of the stuff that got criticized lol. The overworld never felt empty to me after I got the canon, I never struggled much with getting my microphone to register, I never had too much issues with using the items while fighting, the trains as a concept was fun to me, like none of this games major criticisms ever resonated with me tbh. I just loved it lol
Same, but if I look at my experiences with Skyward Sword, namely that even with other Wiimotes, even with different TVs, some people just "got unlucky" with unplayable set-ups. Perhaps we were lucky enough to have a painless experience and thus could enjoy it to its fullest?
I've played all but the Oracle games and Spirit Tracks sits comfy at #5 on my ranking, up there with Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword and Wind Waker (not ordered). Having Princess Zelda as a companion with you the entire time was truly a great choice and that honestly makes her the best Princess in the series in my opinion. Also this is the best Zelda x Link pairing in the series! For the Spirit Flute I will never understand how it was so hard for a lot of people. Just blow directly into the mic. I also never had an issue with Skyward Swords motion controls. That ending is so peak. I love how surprisingly cinematic it is
@@Galamoth06 I was streaming a Zelda Marathon a couple years ago and I got a good chunk through Oracle of Ages but I had a save file issue and lost morale to continue. Once I can comfortably stream again I'll try continuing.
@@hist150project5 they just don't have what I look for in a Zelda experience. Less so for TotK but still. TotK is at #7 behind Link Between Worlds. BotW is at #10 I still like em though.
I used to restart spirit tracks and play it through to completion (including collectables) over and over again. This game has shaped how I view other games and although it is not the best zelda on a technical level, for me at least, it was the most fun and endearing 💕 (I got so good at the flute that it was actually a good mechanic for me hahahah)
I kinda hated the train escort missions, but to be fair I think you're supposed to do them together with other things: escort people while delivering cargo while defeating enemies while looking for bunnies and suddenly these missions are not so boring anymore.
I adore the writing in this video. It's witty, sharp and keeps me engaged. I have an attachment for Spirit Tracks, faults and all, so I felt incredibly validated watching this. Great video man
You gotta love how they spend the entirety of the Wind Waker saga leaving Hyrule behind only to find somewhere Hyrule-shaped and turn it into Hyrule. Jokes aside, I wouldn't mind looking more into New Hyrule at some point.
first mario 3d land and now spirit tracks? mans covering every single one of my favorite games from my childhood that went vastly underrated. keep up the good work, love the writing & editing
Holy shit 3D land was so underrated I swear, that game was my childhood. Collecting all of the Star Coins was the greatest achievement in my life up to that point 🤣
The train is my favorite way of getting around in any Zelda game. There's a peaceful "cozy game" aspect to it, the pride of having a job and doing it well, that really comes out in the escort missions and fetch quests. It never felt empty to me because there's always the challenge of planning out what route will be the most efficient way from A to B, and along the way you have all the signs telling you the speed limits and where you're meant to blow your horn, and you're juggling all that while also shooting at things and avoiding evil trains. Traversal is an absolute joy in this game, if you're on its wavelength.
The Toon Link trilogy is in my eyes so much more similar to the first four modern Paper Mario games. The first was hated at its time, loved in the present (Super and Wind Waker). Then the three games that followed were seen as a weird and experimental. Yet it is so fascinating how different their fan reception is now. I’m so glad that this and Phantom Hourglass are seen more positively now. I just wish people could see the same for the uniqueness of Color Splash and Origami King.
I never really got why people have so much of a beef against the Temple of the Ocean King during normal gameplay. Every visit has new shortcuts unlocked, so every one is fresh. ...Unlike the *postgame* visits to that temple, which can burn in hell.
I really enjoyed the different approach to normal concepts and Zelda like side quests, dungeons/bosses. But I'd say the biggest thing that made me love this game was the dynamic and characterization of link and Zelda's dynamic. I had already been a fan of Zelda having played previous games in the series but this one made me just love the fact that she was with you for the entirety of the game. And was useful to core mechanics
The mic on the DS lite worked so well. But the DSi... The DSi is broken 16:36 Like a lot of DS games. The DS area was the peak of games with amazing stories!
I’m surprised, I never had issues with the dsi mic, I don’t think I ever had to redo a flute section throughout the entire game to the point where I genuinely didn’t know it was possible to fail them
@@genericbushfire3055yeah i nevet had issues with the mic either. and i mean that in general, i remember hearing people complain about using the mic in Bowser's Inside Story, but i had zero issues.
Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are by far my favourite Zelda games. The Music, the atmosphere. everything just feels right. I really hope that when the successor to the switch comes out that they do a remake of both games. being able to play those games on a big screen would be amazing. also QOL changes would be appreciated . Like you said. f*ck the blowing into the mic to do those things and not being able to move.
Don't forget the fantastic stories. I love these games, but it's been so long since I played them. Whenever I have time, I'm definitely going through them again. Both games are just so underrated, it's criminal. I even enjoyed the Temple of the Ocean King, though that was just me. And Spirit Tracks' Final Boss is the best in the series imo.
Zelda with trains just opens the possibility for a Steampunk Zelda title in this timeline. How did people not want that when the game was announced lmao?
I have fond memories of playing this game before falling asleep every night for a long while. Maybe it was because I was younger and easier to please, but the long train rides didn't bother me. Maybe it was because I was playing it at night to relax before bed? The slower overall pace and peaceful setting with lovely music was soothing and comforting. I liked Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. Not sure which was my favorite, but I definitely found Spirit Tracks more relaxing. Although Phantom Hourglass was one of my first Zelda games, so there is a nostalgia factor there too. My very first was Ocarina of Time and second was Majora's Mask
Something I learned when playing Spirit Tracks back in the day is that you have to position the Mic a certain way for it to register. The mic is on the bottom of the DS, so you have to tilt the DS and then blow, rather than blow top-down. If that makes sense. Amazing trilogy though. BotW/TotK have made me itch to play these games again.
One of my favourite parts of the game is the side quest leading up to the Lost at Sea station, which I kinda consider the "100% completion quest" of the game: In most other main or side quests, you just have to go from point A to point B while occasionally doing other mechanics, but throughout the game the warp gates are just yet another method of fast travel. The dark ore quest is, as far as I remember, the only quest that completely RELIES on the warp gates to be possible. The path from the dark ore mine to Linebeck initially looks way too long for you to make it in time; the only way to travel the whole distance is to use two gates in quick succession. Overall this requires: 1-several side quests to be completed, in order to access the dark ore and the required warp gates. In a blind playthrough, to be able to figure out the right path on your own you'd need to have done basically everything else first. 2-experience with essentially all the train mechanics. After taking the dark ore, you gain both a time AND damage limit, not too different from the ice you've used in prior points of the game. The fastest path then takes you into a cave, where, (unless previously killed) you'll need to defeat a giant rocktite. This fight is the hardest out of his three encounters, and if done blind, it also means you CANNOT allow yourself to take damage! Once the fight is over, you'll need to activate the warp gates and keep an eye out for random enemies, as you rush and warp through different realms, and finally make it to the destination. Overall, your path-finding skills, your combat skills, and your general reaction time are all required to complete the quest. In short, this side quest is not just a "Get x to y" task, it's a final test. And as you move through at least four out of five realms, you start to realize it's also a victory lap. Once you complete the side quest, you don't just feel like you unlocked another side area, you feel like you have finally mastered everything the train has to offer. And your reward? A place that puts the classic Zelda dungeon mechanics to the test. The same mechanics the side quest had no way to implement on its own. All packaged into a neat little reference to the game that walked so that Spirit Tracks could run.
Does anyone ever see the occasional Spirit tracks video and be like “damn, guess I’ll have to play the ending of the game one more time…” ? One of the better endings of the “older” Zelda games in my opinion.
I loved my time with Spirit Tracks, but I have very bad memories with its flute playing. I had no trouble with it at all until one random day my microphone would cut out while trying to play. Before, I actually thought the flute sections were being generous. Then during the final boss, during the flute section, I was on the verge of tears because my microphone especially didn't want to work with me on it. I remember barely scraping by and feeling frustrated by it all. I think that was my first instance of my conscious brain telling itself "Games cannot be perfect" Still like it 10x more than Phantom Hourglass though LOL
My phone background has been a piece of Spirit Tracks fanart for over two years, with no plans to change it. I choose to replay Phantom Hourglass more often, but I still hold Spirit Tracks near and dear to my heart.
Maybe it’s because i played the game a ton as a kid, but the criticism feels more like subjektiv opinions and not like real issues the game has. Except for the “Standing still” while using items and the limited freedom while using the train. As a kid, i was wondering anyways why i cant just get out of the train and explore the fields. But at the end it makes hardly a difference, just for the feeling. And thats what i meant with subjektiv opinions. Its not a real issue and i dont mind it at all. Anyway, i love this game and liked the Konzept with the trains. And the story was one of the best in the franchise.
This is a really small-but-crucial thing, but speaking personally, the reason I prefer Spirit Tracks to Hourglass is that the train just feels a lot better to control than the boat. Like, sure, the boat is more freeform, but I always thought it was just way too sluggish. It takes a while to start up, it can’t make sharp turns, and it’s just not as visually interesting. It wouldn’t be such a big issue if the ocean had more stuff to do in it, but the only thing you can do *during* travel (ie: doesn’t force you to stop, necessitating another slow startup) is shooting the Rupee Jellyfish. It’s essentially the same problem that Skyward Sword has (except it’s arguably even worse in that game). The train might be “on rails”, but it suits this style of Zelda game much better. If the meat of the exploration takes place in the dedicated zones, being able to get around the world map fast is much more preferable. (And then ST does more with the world map on top of that!)
This was my first Zelda game and I loved it. Could've done without the flute duets because MICROPHONE, but other than that, I have no regrets. This game got me into the series, and within a year, I would declare myself a Zelda fan for life.
Spirit Tracks was also really (at the time) the only Zelda game where the hinted at relationship between zelda and Link actually feels REAL. because its not the usual "you saved the princess so you get the girl" they always have, Link and Zelda spend the ENTIRE game together, and they way they interact is so adorable and so beautiful especially in that opening screen
I still hold Spirit Tracks as my top 3 Zelda games, it was the second ever Zelda I played and it took me 10 years to beat it cause I forgot about it but when I found my old crusty DS and the Spirit Tracks disc still in it I booted it up and the inner child was so happy I could finally finish what I started (I got stuck at the snow temple, sadly I didn't know what a guide was in 2012) it was really cool though to see that I had collected a lot of stamps and side stuff all having the dates they were stamped, felt like a time capsule. I think the only reason I had mic issues was because the DS was so old the mic was probably barely functional (sure felt like it sometimes at least) also having to get the timing perfect of 1/4th and 1/8th notes with a busted mic took almost 30m to do the last song
Because it’s like one half of an unfulfilled wind waker 2 whole, and we mourn what could have been but appreciate that there’s more here than phantom hourglass
This game is very nostalgic for me. It was the first Zelda game I ever finished, and I loved basically every minute of it. Sure, the train takes a while between destinations, but you can listen to one of the BEST overworld tracks in the series. And personally, I had barely any issues with the mic during my playthrough.
I KNOW that my love for Spirit Tracks derives mostly from my childhood and its immaculate soundtrack. But there is a lot of unique charm and the characters are some of my favorite in the series. Best Zelda Link duo... In my opinion. Also, rant: I never had big issues with the mic. This is odd because evergone complains about it all the time, but those Spirit Flute sections were my favorite and always went relatively smoothly. I think it mightve had to do with the fact I played on a DSi or maybe it had to with the fact Id play it alone in my room where its really quiet. I dunno, the controls aint that bad too me either.
People always complain about screen or microphone inputs but I never had those issues. It’s the first of the games I played and I love it with my whole heart
ahhh the first time i ever played a zelda game was phantom hourglass, shortly followed by spirit tracks and i was in LOVE. soo much nostalgia right here. these games truly did not deserve the amount of hate they got.
I love Link and Zelda's sort of Bromance in this game Btw I was pretty good at the flute (I did go to university playing the flute, so the rhythm was definitely an easier aspect to me) and I got the final song first try and it was epic
They weren't THAT bad. I've gotta be honest, I never suffered from the mic issues. I think part of that has to do with the fact I used a DSi. Whenever I tried to help a friend with a different model, it'd suck so much.
@@christopherjobin-official7440 yeah it's definitely made for the older DS models. I had to play on my 3DS since my DSi had broken long ago. The mic placement on the og 3DS being by the power button on the console SUCKS. I got to the sand temple on my 3DS but just couldnt hold and blow into the DS while moving the stylus across the screen to play the different notes. And the sand temple song had a lot of hard skips in the notes (the notes in the song were not adjacent on the flute I mean) which made it harder to transition. I literally tried so many times and never passed it, it got to the point where the moisture from my breath got into the system and fucked up my top display for a while. (It was thankfully ok after a bit.) But I had to stop playing on my 3DS in fear that it'd mess it up, and so I bought it on the Wii U eshop and beat it there instead since the mic was in an easier location.
What's the actual issue though? I played on the og 3DS model and the mic worked fine for me. i just blew in the mic's direction and it registered just fine
I NEED them to revisit Spirit Tracks conceptually. Please. Please, please, please, please, PLEASE! I can't explain how much I love the game, but wish it were better, and you really hit the nail on the head with what and how it was lacking. Please, give New Hyrule a mainline console follow up; give the duo of Link and Zelda another chance to shine.
If you like or even tolerate the gameplay, everything else is fun and charming. A unique overworld, new races, fantastic music, unique puzzles... and a really fun story that subverts some expectations. I love Spirit Tracks but I totally understand not getting it or it just being a non-starter if the gameplay isn't fun for you.
The spirit flute was one of my favorite parts of the game. I remember my friends always went, “how can you even play that game? Using the mic is required and it’s so bad.” And after one such occasion where I actually had it on me, I distinctly remember that I whipped out my DSi and played (outside of the cutscene of course) the game’s theme song in perfect rhythm and the group of them stopped talking and stared at me. 13 year old me then went, “the mic works fine, if you’re not fucking stupid and don’t spit in it!” Then I broke my touchscreen and my dad attempted to fix it with a cheap Chinese part and made it worse. Eventually I got a 3DS and tried to play ST on there… don’t get me started on the 3DS mic. I wonder how y’all even played it on the WiiU tbh.
I have a bias for spirit tracks as it was my entry into the franchise! I love the fact Zelda is your companion and you can control her rather than he just being their to tell you (obvious) things
I find it funny that Wind Waker and Spirit Tracks, both part of the same direct series have two of the best boss finishes- PH is great too but the best final boss kills come from Link and Zelda directly working together in the same way to ultimately give the coolest driving of a sword into the enemy's skull they can possibly think of
For me I always liked this game more the Hourglass because it was a toon link able to explore a Hyrule Field. It wasn't free exploration, and it wasn't the original Hyrule, but after the tease from Wind Waker, it was just so cool.
I grew up playing Spirit Tracks first when it first came out. Till I played all the other ones over time I still take Spirit Tracks as my number one favorite.
TO THIS DAY I regret never finishing this game because I got gate kept at the Sand Temple's Spirit Flute challenge FOR A WEEK and never went back to it afterwards. Despite all of its flaws this game is genuinely a good time and can feel the passion of the devs making a focused and awesome adventure with what was available that I just don't feel anymore as of late. Its not the best in the series by any means but damn if it aint better then people give it credit for.
I was always able to write the trains off because they ran on magic. Magic copying technology is always okay. And some of challenges were pretty fun. But like many games in this vain I hit a wall at some point. Once I have all four train pieces I get hung up on building my preferred train. Mainly the Dragon Train. But I get all the wooden train pieces as a gift to Alphonso to replace the one wrecked in the opening. The main ways I gathered treasure was with postcards and the fish transport job. The fish job was fun when I figured out I could use the spirit gates to take a path through the snow realm. That always ensures I got enough fish to Castle Town to get a treasure.
I have to say the toon Link games are my favourite. I really appreaciated how they were more casual because when i was little the "standard" zelda games like oot or majoras mask were just to hard and complicated for me to complete. I always got stuck somewhere that was really frustrating since getting a new game was relativly rare for me and that not beeing able to expience it fully really bummed me out. At that time i couldn´t just go watch a walkthrough on youtube to help me. I was proud of myself that I could finish these games alone at that age and the puzzels weren´t that easy that you just got it all handed to you either (mind you I was like 8 or something). And tbh i really dont get all the hate towards the flute. It is really not that bad, I actually replayed this game a few years ago and found it to be pretty responsive on the ds at least . Me and my best friend always made our own songs with it^^ I dont how it this different on like the Wii U an emulator (i dont even know if you can emulate this game, never looked into that)
Taking so much time just riding around was simply part of the game, part of the atmosphere. The only reason we now take issue with it is because of our own attention spans having deterioriated that much
Voyan reviews a game you can't buy anymore on a console that isn't supported and which came out before his target audience was aware of the world. Gem Video.
The pan flute bit though. 😭 I remember doing that part for so long that i was getting light headed from blowing into the mic and it would just not work 🫠
Voyan I have a question which is unrelated to this video and I’ve asked before but in the video “how animal crossing new leaf got it right” at the 16:16 mark you show a nighttime/cloud path in someone’s village. I’ve looked all over the internet for the image and it’s qr code but I’ve found nothing if you remember where you got it from please tell me the website
Spirit Tracks is genuinely my favorite Zelda game, despite all of it's problems. It's one of the only ones where I actually, really, really want a remake for. It could benefit so much with modern controls.
this wasn’t the first game i ever played but it WAS the first zelda game i owned… I grew up with this game… got it when i was about 7 or 8 and have been playing it once a year for like 14 years at this point . Sure it’s not perfect but my dumb childhood mind couldn’t comprehend that… I saw train, i like game. See, I never minded the more linear progression… the father you progress in the game, the more places open up to explore. I always saw it as a more realistic way of exploring. You familiarize yourself with a given area, only to come back later, having that previous knowledge and better equipment to explore. This game also has the best iteration of Zelda from any game. She’s such a fun character to explore the world with, and both her and link (altho very slight on links part) go through character development. That’s not even mentioning Byrne who is like a standout of the game… bro has a legit metal gauntlet and a ponytail and you expect me not to fw this game?!
I’ve always been a sucker for this game, probably because it’s the first Zelda I actually fully completed. And I will always have this opinion, Spirit Tracks has the best final boss theme in the entire series!
Spirit Tracks is my favorite Zelda game. Idc what it's flaws are, I've played this game so much when I was a kid, and it's just comfy to come back to every now and again. I have such a fun time with it, it's just pure joy to me.
Also, genuinely, anyone complaining about the lokomo duets, fucking skill issue. I've played this game for fucking years and I've never, not once, had a single issue with doing them. Thats between like 5 different DS's as well. Most of them second hand. Yall just don't know how to use it, I'm convinced.
So in summary -- people just need to chill out, stop all the unnecessary comparisons and start enjoying. Why is the relation of thing to other thing much more important to people than thing itself.
Wow, this video is amazing and I love your writing style to pieces! Although I recognize that there are many other Zelda titles that are much better than Spirit Tracks, I can't help but love this game and what it has to offer. I feel like, if Nintendo allowed it, this game would do well if it was remade, and the same goes for Phantom Hourglass, too, though I am not fond of that one at all. I fully believe that getting rid of the restricting train gameplay would do it wonders along with switching the sword controls to the buttons. Although, I doubt that Nintendo would ever allow for this to happen. Regardless, I think the DS Zelda titles are unique, with their flaws and all! They definitely have some of my favorite characters and themes. Byrne was a personal favorite for me and I hope that the franchise develops a character like him in the future.
I swear I must be the only person ever with a functioning Nintendo DS. I never had a problem with the microphone not registering inputs.
same I played the game just fine no issues aside from getting light headed from all the blowing, and using the old 3ds which has the worst mic placement for a right handed person.
legit same
i had noticed that the mic on all of my 3ds consoles had sucked compared to my dsixl
that definitely has something to do with it
RIGHT??? I have an old DSi and the mic works perfectly, i never had any issues playing the flute. Maybe just being off rhythm sometimes, but never mic problems. These people either have really deffective mics or play the game somewhere REALLY noisy
Tbh I think people started blowing too close to their microphones. If you blow too close, it doesn’t register properly. The microphone is trying to listen for a specific frequency, and blowing too close doesn’t register to the microphone as blowing on it because it’s too loud and muddled
it always registered my inputs when i did it properly but it often caught GHOST inputs where itd play an extra amount and ruin it and this happened like all the time on my 3ds
As far as I know, trains are older than cameras, yet no one had an issue with the pictobox.
Also, steam engines were used in trains way before they were used in boats like Phantom Hourglass
Zelda and Link holding hands on that ending is the pinnacle for all Zelda endings for me and I have always wanted to see. As a kid I was basically foaming at the mouth when I saw this since I’ve always wanted something like that to happen in the games
The irony will never be lost in me in how people gave this game hell back in the day for steam trains being "too futuristic" for a Zelda game, only for Skyward Sword to come along shortly after with Robots, then all the Sheikah and Zonai tech in BotW and TotK right after with iPads, laser machines, motorcycles and hover bikes..
I think having the world of Spirit Tracks being a bit more technologically developed is a lot more reasonable in the context of Spirit Tracks, since it's set a hundred years after a bunch of humans escaped a post-apocalypse. Besides, the steampunk aesthetic still really works well with the old-timey setting IMO.
@@GarryDumblowski Honestly, it feels like the Zelda dev's have been dancing around with the whole concept of a Zelda game in a steampunk setting ever since Spirit Tracks but always went halfway and never really fully committed to it.
I wouldn't mind them trying out a game where they go all out with a steampunk/industrialized Hyrule, they can even have it take place in the new Hyrule from Spirit Tracks if they seemingly want to keep the old one in tact for any veteran fans that feel uneasy about the whole idea while still having it make sense in universe, since that kingdom's been generally less prone to attacks from ancient demon king's and whatnot, giving its civilization more opportunities to develop and advance compared to the original.
IKR LOL we have literally seen powered machines before….. Kolotos or whatever it is in SS, we see steam powered ships in Wind Waker, the floating islands in Twilight Princess, such a lame excuse to hate on ST
@@actiniumanarchy9237 Yeah there was also the Great Bay Temple from Majora's Mask, telephones in Link's Awakening (Though I guess this one could be debatable considering the game's setting), steam boats in Phantom Hourglass as well as staple enemies like the Beamos and Armos Statues in most games, I guess its debatable wether or not they where machines or actual monsters in Ocarina of Time (Though I think they where the only enemies besides the Dodongo type enemies that blow up upon defeat instead of dying normally if I recall correctly), but they where definitely machines in other games like Minish Cap where you are literally able to switch the Armos Statues on or off.
And so many people say those games are the best but still hate this one like 15 yeats after its release
As a kid, Spirit Tracks made me so happy because it combined my (at the time) favorite video game franchise with probably my deepest, oldest hyperfixation:Trains. I remember scouring the internet for even the smallest bits of info on it, reading the Nintendo Power issue on it, and generally being utterly enthralled by it. Normally such a formula would be a recipe for disappointed expectations, but Spirit Tracks did everything I wanted out of a Sequel to Phantom Hourglass. Beefed up music, memorable characters, fun side quests and mini games, and enough Zelink shipping fodder to make both BOTW and TOTK jealous.
Every autistic kid has a part of their life where they were obsessed with trains lol
What's up with autistic people and trains lmao
I mean I could sum up the answer with a quote.
"But it's fun!" -Squidward
Somethings just work. Its just a comfy charming game that's fun to play. Doesn't help it appeals hardcore to shippers too.
Fun doesn’t make a good game. ToTK is a prime example. It’s a fun game but it’s absolute shit at telling a story. At least ST was fun and concluded the adult timeline story in a good way.
ToTK tells you there’s an evil Zelda and then you’re allowed to get the very last custscene just from random exploration
@candycornshrimp I'd argue fun is an extremely important factor above all others. Games that aren't pleasurable to play, even if they have good stories, tend to not do as well as vice versa.
@@tremere3337 eh ToTK ruined my fun by killing my excitement of of finding out what “evil” Zelda was planning. Only for my first cutscene to find was the reveal that Sonia dies and that this Zelda was just one of his phantoms. And this was after my first temple. So every other time these cutscenes played I was just mashing start because I got spoiled by the game it it rewarding that spoiling. And it killed the entire experience for me. Idk why they thought telling a linear story randomly like BoTW would work. It’s lazy
@candycornshrimp I played TLOU2. Your gonna need an act of God to change my mind on the fun issue bro. Fun is important.
@@tremere3337 did I say ToTK wasn’t fun? Not sure what argument you’re trying to make. It was modern gmod and god mod for people with creativity. If you couldn’t create anything fun with ultrahand, that’s on you lol
I love this Zelda, and I think part of the reason is that it just so happened to align with my interests as a little girl (when I first played it). I can not stress this enough-but the fact that one of the main collectables are bunnies in wittle T-shirts was one of the best things about it as far as I was concerned (I popped off every time I saw one). I also loved trains, much more than boats anyway (I thought boats/pirates were more of a boy thing at the time). Also, it was so cool that I could finally play as Zelda, with her actually being interesting and I was so happy that-in the ending-her and Link held hands! I was invested!
So while arguably shallow reasons, I think sometimes that’s all one needs when there’s a whole franchise with several great games in it.
Cute girl loving cute things
I swear all of my taste in games is based off of my odd hyper fixations from when I was 12 😂
If I ever learned anything from this whacky society we live in, is that positive-reinforcement and non-harmful interests are all great.
So you do you, it's AMAZING!! As a teenager, this game made me appreciate the complexity of a character to the point "Princess" just dropped... It was Zelda, that amazing companion who just so happened to be a girl.
I'm glad it was a positive image for you :D Every generation needs such good figures. :3
The Bunnies are actually lore important. In the rest of the Zelda series rabbits are considered mystical, such as the Blupee. In Ocarina there's dialogue that says the Hylians over-hunted rabbits to extinction. In Spirit Tracks the new world is filled with rabbits to show that it's a new beginning free from Hyrule's past. Rabbits commonly symbolize rebirth and that's exactly what New Hyrule is. No matter how many millennia have gone by Hyrule has been stuck in a medieval era, and has finally broken through that barrier.
I’m a grown woman who only wants to play this game for the trains and because I liked botw (which I only decided to play when I found out I could have a horse)
One of my problems with this game is that it doesn't go all in with its industrialized theming as much as it could have! The entire landscape has been revolutionized, but the world feels more like a traditional Zelda more than the past two games. I just think a Steampunk Fantasy hybrid would have been too cool of a concept to pass up.
Steampunk is never cool
@@themysticfedorasteampunk is pretty much always cool
@@themysticfedorai can tell that i wouldn’t like you irl
Aren't the Dark Cloud games basically steampunk Zelda?
Not to mention Nayuta: Boundless Trails.
Funnily enough, I distinctly remember people being worried, at the time of ST’a release, about the game being *too* industrial/steampunk-y.
Most of it was just hooting and hollering about exploration being “literally on rails”, but I think there was probably some lingering stigma regarding the WW artstyle, too. Either way, I didn’t get the hysteria back then, and I certainly don’t get it nowadays! :y
I will die on this hill but i thought the duets were one of the most fun segments in this game, even the best way music has been used as a game mechanic in a zelda game! Like, to some people it might just be about "link having an instrument and it's cool" but in ocarina of time for example, it could have been any object you have to press buttons with to make things happen. In spirit tracks, there's timing! There's harmony with other instruments! And the instrument is such a big part of the plot that you learn to play the MAIN THEME at the end of the game and it's epic and it transitions to the final boss theme??? HELLO???? Contributing to the soundtrack who???? It's a shame that the mic blowing was widely considered as frustrating, because this duet thing could have been such a wonderful source of inspiration for players to see how fun it is to play with other people, perhaps even as a hobby, idk. For context, my major bias on this topic is rooted in me being a music teacher.
Anyway, great video with great points!
As a musician, I truly love the duets. Especially when you successfully complete one and then an absolutely great song is created between a pan flute and a different instrument. Toru Minegishi, Manaka Tominaga, and Asuka Ota really did a great job with it all.
An even cooler thing is that not all the songs are in 4/4, which means the timing that’s required varies.
I think the problem with this perspective is that not everyone can play like that. I know I personally don't really have a sense of rhythm at all, so whenever I play the game I usually just get stonewalled by one of the song segments. The mic on my DS Lite even works fairly consistently, but I just can't do the songs sometimes. So maybe they're fun if you're good at music, but as someone who's not, they sap the enjoyment right out of the experience.
I feel like I never had any problems with a lot of the stuff that got criticized lol. The overworld never felt empty to me after I got the canon, I never struggled much with getting my microphone to register, I never had too much issues with using the items while fighting, the trains as a concept was fun to me, like none of this games major criticisms ever resonated with me tbh. I just loved it lol
Same, but if I look at my experiences with Skyward Sword, namely that even with other Wiimotes, even with different TVs, some people just "got unlucky" with unplayable set-ups. Perhaps we were lucky enough to have a painless experience and thus could enjoy it to its fullest?
Same here! I LOVE the spirit flute and whirlwind!
Whenever a video about spirit tracks pops up I always love watching it. People talking about one of my favorite Zelda games is always nice
I've played all but the Oracle games and Spirit Tracks sits comfy at #5 on my ranking, up there with Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword and Wind Waker (not ordered).
Having Princess Zelda as a companion with you the entire time was truly a great choice and that honestly makes her the best Princess in the series in my opinion. Also this is the best Zelda x Link pairing in the series!
For the Spirit Flute I will never understand how it was so hard for a lot of people. Just blow directly into the mic. I also never had an issue with Skyward Swords motion controls.
That ending is so peak. I love how surprisingly cinematic it is
you dropped this 👑
W opinion
You need to play the Oracle games. They're so good.
No BotW or TotK in your top 5. Based opinion.
@@Galamoth06 I was streaming a Zelda Marathon a couple years ago and I got a good chunk through Oracle of Ages but I had a save file issue and lost morale to continue. Once I can comfortably stream again I'll try continuing.
@@hist150project5 they just don't have what I look for in a Zelda experience. Less so for TotK but still.
TotK is at #7 behind Link Between Worlds. BotW is at #10
I still like em though.
I used to restart spirit tracks and play it through to completion (including collectables) over and over again.
This game has shaped how I view other games and although it is not the best zelda on a technical level, for me at least, it was the most fun and endearing 💕
(I got so good at the flute that it was actually a good mechanic for me hahahah)
Amen to that Lia
I kinda hated the train escort missions, but to be fair I think you're supposed to do them together with other things: escort people while delivering cargo while defeating enemies while looking for bunnies and suddenly these missions are not so boring anymore.
Yeah, I view it as an attempt to make traversing a boring overworld more entertaining. I certainly thought it was more fun than Phantom Hourglass' sea
I adore the writing in this video. It's witty, sharp and keeps me engaged. I have an attachment for Spirit Tracks, faults and all, so I felt incredibly validated watching this. Great video man
You gotta love how they spend the entirety of the Wind Waker saga leaving Hyrule behind only to find somewhere Hyrule-shaped and turn it into Hyrule. Jokes aside, I wouldn't mind looking more into New Hyrule at some point.
first mario 3d land and now spirit tracks? mans covering every single one of my favorite games from my childhood that went vastly underrated. keep up the good work, love the writing & editing
Holy shit 3D land was so underrated I swear, that game was my childhood. Collecting all of the Star Coins was the greatest achievement in my life up to that point 🤣
don’t forget nintendogs + cats, he did a video on that one and its predecessor a while back
The train is my favorite way of getting around in any Zelda game. There's a peaceful "cozy game" aspect to it, the pride of having a job and doing it well, that really comes out in the escort missions and fetch quests. It never felt empty to me because there's always the challenge of planning out what route will be the most efficient way from A to B, and along the way you have all the signs telling you the speed limits and where you're meant to blow your horn, and you're juggling all that while also shooting at things and avoiding evil trains. Traversal is an absolute joy in this game, if you're on its wavelength.
The Toon Link trilogy is in my eyes so much more similar to the first four modern Paper Mario games. The first was hated at its time, loved in the present (Super and Wind Waker). Then the three games that followed were seen as a weird and experimental. Yet it is so fascinating how different their fan reception is now. I’m so glad that this and Phantom Hourglass are seen more positively now. I just wish people could see the same for the uniqueness of Color Splash and Origami King.
Never made that comparison before, it makes sense tho
Comparison doesn't really work since the game before colour splash is sticker star, not Super
@@sileopatronus Sorry I haven’t played SS so I kinda forgot about it. Everything still applies it just is a tetralogy not a trilogy.
Mark my words, the sequel to Spirit Tracks will have Link use cable cars as the way to traverse his world.
I never really got why people have so much of a beef against the Temple of the Ocean King during normal gameplay. Every visit has new shortcuts unlocked, so every one is fresh.
...Unlike the *postgame* visits to that temple, which can burn in hell.
I really enjoyed the different approach to normal concepts and Zelda like side quests, dungeons/bosses. But I'd say the biggest thing that made me love this game was the dynamic and characterization of link and Zelda's dynamic. I had already been a fan of Zelda having played previous games in the series but this one made me just love the fact that she was with you for the entirety of the game. And was useful to core mechanics
you did NOT have to hit me with the Golden Sun soundtrack at the end😭
i would LOVE for voyan to make a video on the golden sun series at some point
that cut to the loftwing got me lmaoooo
Sadly I got ads right in between that cut. Thanks TH-cam, you killed the comedic timing
The mic on the DS lite worked so well. But the DSi... The DSi is broken
16:36 Like a lot of DS games. The DS area was the peak of games with amazing stories!
I’m surprised, I never had issues with the dsi mic, I don’t think I ever had to redo a flute section throughout the entire game to the point where I genuinely didn’t know it was possible to fail them
@@genericbushfire3055yeah i nevet had issues with the mic either. and i mean that in general, i remember hearing people complain about using the mic in Bowser's Inside Story, but i had zero issues.
Something weird I found when replaying this on my 3DS was that the mic was WAY more responsive when I took out the headphones.
bc i could play it while shitting in like 2011
Based
Based
Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are by far my favourite Zelda games. The Music, the atmosphere. everything just feels right. I really hope that when the successor to the switch comes out that they do a remake of both games. being able to play those games on a big screen would be amazing. also QOL changes would be appreciated .
Like you said. f*ck the blowing into the mic to do those things and not being able to move.
Don't forget the fantastic stories. I love these games, but it's been so long since I played them. Whenever I have time, I'm definitely going through them again. Both games are just so underrated, it's criminal. I even enjoyed the Temple of the Ocean King, though that was just me. And Spirit Tracks' Final Boss is the best in the series imo.
Oh most definitely. Absolute chefs kiss!
This is the one Zelda game I always play when I get the chance. My favourite Zelda game story wise, character, humor and musically!!
Zelda with trains just opens the possibility for a Steampunk Zelda title in this timeline. How did people not want that when the game was announced lmao?
Too futuristic is the reason I believe... Oh and too cartoony has always been an issue with the Wind Waker Trilogy.
I have fond memories of playing this game before falling asleep every night for a long while. Maybe it was because I was younger and easier to please, but the long train rides didn't bother me. Maybe it was because I was playing it at night to relax before bed? The slower overall pace and peaceful setting with lovely music was soothing and comforting. I liked Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. Not sure which was my favorite, but I definitely found Spirit Tracks more relaxing. Although Phantom Hourglass was one of my first Zelda games, so there is a nostalgia factor there too. My very first was Ocarina of Time and second was Majora's Mask
THIS GAME HANDS DOWN IS WHAT CAUSE ME TO MOVE ON TO MAKE MY OWN VIDEO GAMES!!!!
Something I learned when playing Spirit Tracks back in the day is that you have to position the Mic a certain way for it to register. The mic is on the bottom of the DS, so you have to tilt the DS and then blow, rather than blow top-down. If that makes sense. Amazing trilogy though. BotW/TotK have made me itch to play these games again.
One of my favourite parts of the game is the side quest leading up to the Lost at Sea station, which I kinda consider the "100% completion quest" of the game:
In most other main or side quests, you just have to go from point A to point B while occasionally doing other mechanics, but throughout the game the warp gates are just yet another method of fast travel.
The dark ore quest is, as far as I remember, the only quest that completely RELIES on the warp gates to be possible. The path from the dark ore mine to Linebeck initially looks way too long for you to make it in time; the only way to travel the whole distance is to use two gates in quick succession. Overall this requires:
1-several side quests to be completed, in order to access the dark ore and the required warp gates. In a blind playthrough, to be able to figure out the right path on your own you'd need to have done basically everything else first.
2-experience with essentially all the train mechanics. After taking the dark ore, you gain both a time AND damage limit, not too different from the ice you've used in prior points of the game. The fastest path then takes you into a cave, where, (unless previously killed) you'll need to defeat a giant rocktite. This fight is the hardest out of his three encounters, and if done blind, it also means you CANNOT allow yourself to take damage! Once the fight is over, you'll need to activate the warp gates and keep an eye out for random enemies, as you rush and warp through different realms, and finally make it to the destination. Overall, your path-finding skills, your combat skills, and your general reaction time are all required to complete the quest.
In short, this side quest is not just a "Get x to y" task, it's a final test. And as you move through at least four out of five realms, you start to realize it's also a victory lap.
Once you complete the side quest, you don't just feel like you unlocked another side area, you feel like you have finally mastered everything the train has to offer.
And your reward? A place that puts the classic Zelda dungeon mechanics to the test. The same mechanics the side quest had no way to implement on its own. All packaged into a neat little reference to the game that walked so that Spirit Tracks could run.
18:37 "More bricked than a Wii with Project M" LMFAO
Underrated statement 😂
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
13:05 did you even try
Apparently the mic on the Wii U gamepad is ass. As was the DSi. The DS Lite mic was great.
@@ShaoShaoMienshao exactly, I never had any issues with the mic, so if its consoles fault, is it even fair to say its that terrible of game design?
This was the first zelda I ever played. Im so grateful, because it showed me what this saga it's capable of
Does anyone ever see the occasional Spirit tracks video and be like “damn, guess I’ll have to play the ending of the game one more time…” ? One of the better endings of the “older” Zelda games in my opinion.
I loved my time with Spirit Tracks, but I have very bad memories with its flute playing. I had no trouble with it at all until one random day my microphone would cut out while trying to play. Before, I actually thought the flute sections were being generous.
Then during the final boss, during the flute section, I was on the verge of tears because my microphone especially didn't want to work with me on it. I remember barely scraping by and feeling frustrated by it all. I think that was my first instance of my conscious brain telling itself "Games cannot be perfect"
Still like it 10x more than Phantom Hourglass though LOL
My phone background has been a piece of Spirit Tracks fanart for over two years, with no plans to change it. I choose to replay Phantom Hourglass more often, but I still hold Spirit Tracks near and dear to my heart.
Maybe it’s because i played the game a ton as a kid, but the criticism feels more like subjektiv opinions and not like real issues the game has. Except for the “Standing still” while using items and the limited freedom while using the train. As a kid, i was wondering anyways why i cant just get out of the train and explore the fields. But at the end it makes hardly a difference, just for the feeling. And thats what i meant with subjektiv opinions. Its not a real issue and i dont mind it at all. Anyway, i love this game and liked the Konzept with the trains. And the story was one of the best in the franchise.
The Spirit Flute segment at the end is actually one of my favorite parts of the game.
Man, what a great video. I completely agree with you, the story and the characters on Spirit Tracks are what make it great
This is a really small-but-crucial thing, but speaking personally, the reason I prefer Spirit Tracks to Hourglass is that the train just feels a lot better to control than the boat.
Like, sure, the boat is more freeform, but I always thought it was just way too sluggish. It takes a while to start up, it can’t make sharp turns, and it’s just not as visually interesting. It wouldn’t be such a big issue if the ocean had more stuff to do in it, but the only thing you can do *during* travel (ie: doesn’t force you to stop, necessitating another slow startup) is shooting the Rupee Jellyfish. It’s essentially the same problem that Skyward Sword has (except it’s arguably even worse in that game).
The train might be “on rails”, but it suits this style of Zelda game much better. If the meat of the exploration takes place in the dedicated zones, being able to get around the world map fast is much more preferable. (And then ST does more with the world map on top of that!)
This was my 1st Zelda, so I'll always have a soft spot for it. Remember being surprised how little Zelda was actually in the other titles.
I remember failing everytime with the spirit flute until I realized the camera had to be looking at Link.
I ADORED the mic mechanics and the pan flute, man.
GOTY.
This was my first Zelda game and I loved it. Could've done without the flute duets because MICROPHONE, but other than that, I have no regrets. This game got me into the series, and within a year, I would declare myself a Zelda fan for life.
The whole flute rant sounded like skill issue.
Spirit Tracks was also really (at the time) the only Zelda game where the hinted at relationship between zelda and Link actually feels REAL. because its not the usual "you saved the princess so you get the girl" they always have, Link and Zelda spend the ENTIRE game together, and they way they interact is so adorable and so beautiful especially in that opening screen
I like the game because it’s a new world to explore. It wasn’t just Hyrule it was a whole new continent. Really wish they would make a fourth one
Because they grew up with it :D the Zelda cycle continues!
To the people who love this game please replay it I believe nostalgia is blinding you.
I still hold Spirit Tracks as my top 3 Zelda games, it was the second ever Zelda I played and it took me 10 years to beat it cause I forgot about it but when I found my old crusty DS and the Spirit Tracks disc still in it I booted it up and the inner child was so happy I could finally finish what I started (I got stuck at the snow temple, sadly I didn't know what a guide was in 2012) it was really cool though to see that I had collected a lot of stamps and side stuff all having the dates they were stamped, felt like a time capsule.
I think the only reason I had mic issues was because the DS was so old the mic was probably barely functional (sure felt like it sometimes at least) also having to get the timing perfect of 1/4th and 1/8th notes with a busted mic took almost 30m to do the last song
Because it’s like one half of an unfulfilled wind waker 2 whole, and we mourn what could have been but appreciate that there’s more here than phantom hourglass
This game is very nostalgic for me. It was the first Zelda game I ever finished, and I loved basically every minute of it. Sure, the train takes a while between destinations, but you can listen to one of the BEST overworld tracks in the series. And personally, I had barely any issues with the mic during my playthrough.
I KNOW that my love for Spirit Tracks derives mostly from my childhood and its immaculate soundtrack. But there is a lot of unique charm and the characters are some of my favorite in the series. Best Zelda Link duo... In my opinion.
Also, rant: I never had big issues with the mic. This is odd because evergone complains about it all the time, but those Spirit Flute sections were my favorite and always went relatively smoothly. I think it mightve had to do with the fact I played on a DSi or maybe it had to with the fact Id play it alone in my room where its really quiet. I dunno, the controls aint that bad too me either.
This game and Windwaker were the holy grails of my childhood. WW is still my favorite game ever and ST is in the top 5(somewhere)
People always complain about screen or microphone inputs but I never had those issues. It’s the first of the games I played and I love it with my whole heart
Tbh I attribute my love for Spirit Tracks to the tism. No matter what I do I can’t avoid the allure of a train.
ahhh the first time i ever played a zelda game was phantom hourglass, shortly followed by spirit tracks and i was in LOVE. soo much nostalgia right here. these games truly did not deserve the amount of hate they got.
I love Link and Zelda's sort of Bromance in this game
Btw I was pretty good at the flute (I did go to university playing the flute, so the rhythm was definitely an easier aspect to me) and I got the final song first try and it was epic
Spirit Tracks and Phantom Hourglass definitely deserve a remake! Because by God, I will never do that final Boss stretch ever again on touch controls.
They weren't THAT bad. I've gotta be honest, I never suffered from the mic issues. I think part of that has to do with the fact I used a DSi. Whenever I tried to help a friend with a different model, it'd suck so much.
@@christopherjobin-official7440 yeah it's definitely made for the older DS models. I had to play on my 3DS since my DSi had broken long ago. The mic placement on the og 3DS being by the power button on the console SUCKS. I got to the sand temple on my 3DS but just couldnt hold and blow into the DS while moving the stylus across the screen to play the different notes. And the sand temple song had a lot of hard skips in the notes (the notes in the song were not adjacent on the flute I mean) which made it harder to transition. I literally tried so many times and never passed it, it got to the point where the moisture from my breath got into the system and fucked up my top display for a while. (It was thankfully ok after a bit.) But I had to stop playing on my 3DS in fear that it'd mess it up, and so I bought it on the Wii U eshop and beat it there instead since the mic was in an easier location.
What's the actual issue though? I played on the og 3DS model and the mic worked fine for me. i just blew in the mic's direction and it registered just fine
I NEED them to revisit Spirit Tracks conceptually. Please. Please, please, please, please, PLEASE! I can't explain how much I love the game, but wish it were better, and you really hit the nail on the head with what and how it was lacking. Please, give New Hyrule a mainline console follow up; give the duo of Link and Zelda another chance to shine.
If you like or even tolerate the gameplay, everything else is fun and charming. A unique overworld, new races, fantastic music, unique puzzles... and a really fun story that subverts some expectations. I love Spirit Tracks but I totally understand not getting it or it just being a non-starter if the gameplay isn't fun for you.
The spirit flute was one of my favorite parts of the game. I remember my friends always went, “how can you even play that game? Using the mic is required and it’s so bad.” And after one such occasion where I actually had it on me, I distinctly remember that I whipped out my DSi and played (outside of the cutscene of course) the game’s theme song in perfect rhythm and the group of them stopped talking and stared at me. 13 year old me then went, “the mic works fine, if you’re not fucking stupid and don’t spit in it!”
Then I broke my touchscreen and my dad attempted to fix it with a cheap Chinese part and made it worse. Eventually I got a 3DS and tried to play ST on there… don’t get me started on the 3DS mic. I wonder how y’all even played it on the WiiU tbh.
NOT THE COIN BANK!! The memory whiplash I got
I have a bias for spirit tracks as it was my entry into the franchise! I love the fact Zelda is your companion and you can control her rather than he just being their to tell you (obvious) things
I find it funny that Wind Waker and Spirit Tracks, both part of the same direct series have two of the best boss finishes- PH is great too but the best final boss kills come from Link and Zelda directly working together in the same way to ultimately give the coolest driving of a sword into the enemy's skull they can possibly think of
For me I always liked this game more the Hourglass because it was a toon link able to explore a Hyrule Field. It wasn't free exploration, and it wasn't the original Hyrule, but after the tease from Wind Waker, it was just so cool.
I grew up playing Spirit Tracks first when it first came out. Till I played all the other ones over time I still take Spirit Tracks as my number one favorite.
TO THIS DAY I regret never finishing this game because I got gate kept at the Sand Temple's Spirit Flute challenge FOR A WEEK and never went back to it afterwards. Despite all of its flaws this game is genuinely a good time and can feel the passion of the devs making a focused and awesome adventure with what was available that I just don't feel anymore as of late. Its not the best in the series by any means but damn if it aint better then people give it credit for.
I just wanted to say that I am here patiently waiting for the Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask video
This was my first ever zelda game and I loved it so much. Apart from blowing into the flute thing. I have nightmares about the flute thing
I was always able to write the trains off because they ran on magic. Magic copying technology is always okay.
And some of challenges were pretty fun. But like many games in this vain I hit a wall at some point. Once I have all four train pieces I get hung up on building my preferred train. Mainly the Dragon Train. But I get all the wooden train pieces as a gift to Alphonso to replace the one wrecked in the opening. The main ways I gathered treasure was with postcards and the fish transport job. The fish job was fun when I figured out I could use the spirit gates to take a path through the snow realm. That always ensures I got enough fish to Castle Town to get a treasure.
20:26 I mean, technically it's still Demise, he'll always be tied to those two and return through whoever's nearby
i have fond memories of the toon Zelda's growing up and i hope we get another game with the art style some day.
I have to say the toon Link games are my favourite. I really appreaciated how they were more casual because when i was little the "standard" zelda games like oot or majoras mask were just to hard and complicated for me to complete. I always got stuck somewhere that was really frustrating since getting a new game was relativly rare for me and that not beeing able to expience it fully really bummed me out. At that time i couldn´t just go watch a walkthrough on youtube to help me. I was proud of myself that I could finish these games alone at that age and the puzzels weren´t that easy that you just got it all handed to you either (mind you I was like 8 or something). And tbh i really dont get all the hate towards the flute. It is really not that bad, I actually replayed this game a few years ago and found it to be pretty responsive on the ds at least . Me and my best friend always made our own songs with it^^ I dont how it this different on like the Wii U an emulator (i dont even know if you can emulate this game, never looked into that)
Taking so much time just riding around was simply part of the game, part of the atmosphere. The only reason we now take issue with it is because of our own attention spans having deterioriated that much
Voyan reviews a game you can't buy anymore on a console that isn't supported and which came out before his target audience was aware of the world.
Gem Video.
The pan flute bit though. 😭 I remember doing that part for so long that i was getting light headed from blowing into the mic and it would just not work 🫠
Voyan I have a question which is unrelated to this video and I’ve asked before but in the video “how animal crossing new leaf got it right” at the 16:16 mark you show a nighttime/cloud path in someone’s village. I’ve looked all over the internet for the image and it’s qr code but I’ve found nothing if you remember where you got it from please tell me the website
18:31 if you use the train horn after picking up a tear of light, you go super speed :)
THIS IS WHAT IVE BEEN SAYING FOR SO LONG...............................................................!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1:52 SICKO MODE
Spirit Tracks is genuinely my favorite Zelda game, despite all of it's problems. It's one of the only ones where I actually, really, really want a remake for. It could benefit so much with modern controls.
Minor correction: The demon train isn't malladus, it's just the demon train
Imma just say it, as a little 10 year old child I had a crush on Zelda and some weird fixation to want to save her.
Oh, I forgot about the blowing into the mic function omfg! I was brought to tears so many times bc my ds never registered it 😭
I have replayed this game so many times just for the music and story
The soundtrack of this Zelda game is just so good. Also I'm more a train boy, than boat ahah.
this wasn’t the first game i ever played but it WAS the first zelda game i owned… I grew up with this game… got it when i was about 7 or 8 and have been playing it once a year for like 14 years at this point . Sure it’s not perfect but my dumb childhood mind couldn’t comprehend that… I saw train, i like game.
See, I never minded the more linear progression… the father you progress in the game, the more places open up to explore. I always saw it as a more realistic way of exploring. You familiarize yourself with a given area, only to come back later, having that previous knowledge and better equipment to explore.
This game also has the best iteration of Zelda from any game. She’s such a fun character to explore the world with, and both her and link (altho very slight on links part) go through character development. That’s not even mentioning Byrne who is like a standout of the game… bro has a legit metal gauntlet and a ponytail and you expect me not to fw this game?!
was scared to watch because spirit tracks is so divisive but man you're just so funny LMAO
I’ve always been a sucker for this game, probably because it’s the first Zelda I actually fully completed. And I will always have this opinion, Spirit Tracks has the best final boss theme in the entire series!
ooh right. we DID get a flying car....
When someone asks me if it's better than Phantom Hourglass, I always say: "The answer is yes... AND no."
Spirit Tracks is my favorite Zelda game. Idc what it's flaws are, I've played this game so much when I was a kid, and it's just comfy to come back to every now and again. I have such a fun time with it, it's just pure joy to me.
Also, genuinely, anyone complaining about the lokomo duets, fucking skill issue. I've played this game for fucking years and I've never, not once, had a single issue with doing them. Thats between like 5 different DS's as well. Most of them second hand. Yall just don't know how to use it, I'm convinced.
i did not need the lionel coinbank flashbang.
I absolutely love Spirit Tracks and I will defend it to death till the end of time.
So in summary -- people just need to chill out, stop all the unnecessary comparisons and start enjoying.
Why is the relation of thing to other thing much more important to people than thing itself.
Wow, this video is amazing and I love your writing style to pieces! Although I recognize that there are many other Zelda titles that are much better than Spirit Tracks, I can't help but love this game and what it has to offer.
I feel like, if Nintendo allowed it, this game would do well if it was remade, and the same goes for Phantom Hourglass, too, though I am not fond of that one at all. I fully believe that getting rid of the restricting train gameplay would do it wonders along with switching the sword controls to the buttons. Although, I doubt that Nintendo would ever allow for this to happen.
Regardless, I think the DS Zelda titles are unique, with their flaws and all! They definitely have some of my favorite characters and themes. Byrne was a personal favorite for me and I hope that the franchise develops a character like him in the future.