Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks Retrospective 

I wanted to put a note here: I still like the Wind Waker. There are many things I say about it on this channel that are negative, but that's really only relative. There aren't any Zelda games I outright dislike and I wanted to make that clear. Everything I say in these videos is in relation to other Zelda games, which is why I'm harsher on some than others. At the end of the day, I love this series enough to make videos on them all, so keep that in mind.

Zelda is so great in Spirit Tracks. She'll flirt with other phantoms to distract them for you, and if you hit her with a boomerang enough times she'll snap and attack you right back. She's my favorite part about the game.

I reached the forced microphone segment to get the bombs in Phantom Hourglass while with my family in a Burger King. I was too young to know just blowing on the mic works, and the character demanded I yell, so I had to walk outside and scream at the top of my lungs at the DS to progress.

I remember I purposely named myself “Linebeck” only for him to say “Linebeck? What a weird name. My names Linebeck!”

"Tetra being Zelda is never brought up ... she's just Tetra." Well, it's brought up once. Her crew calls her Zelda at the very beginning, and she scolds them and demands that they just call her Tetra.

These two were my first exposure to the series, and I thought for the longest time that they were representative of it. Finding out Ganondorf existed was an interesting experience.

i remember completely focused on avoiding phantoms and being terrified of them as a kid. your age is such a big factor in how hard you find the game.

I can’t get over how you can make Phantom Zelda try and make small talk with the hostile phantoms. It’s adorable.

"I just don't want to be on the train, doing nothing, for hours of my life." mate that aint a video game thats a commute

That hand holding at the end of Spirit Tracks is the best ending to any Zelda game.

Something I really like about Phantom hourglass in retrospect is the fact that the ghost ship was an unexplained part of the Wind Waker before becoming it's own seperate adventure in a later title. I don't know, it helps flesh out the world. That mysterious object turned out to have it's own whole history unbeknownst to Link at the time.

Beating the final boss in Spirit Tracks by controlling Link and Zelda at the same time was the most satisfying and fulfilling moment I've had gaming. The music, mechanics, and character development were all so perfectly utilized in making that moment unforgettable in my childhood.

Honestly? As a young GenZ whippersnapper Spirit Tracks was my very first Zelda experience. I remember spending literal hours trying to come up with new songs on the flute, or just driving the train and listening to the *downright godly* "full steam ahead" theme. In fact, hearing the sound track again brought amazing memories back and quite a few tears to my eyes. To me it's the most atmospheric game, simply by the virtue of the music (to me the best in the series, the "breathy" flute tunes are dope a fück).

Linebeck's moment when he strikes Bellum legit made me feel emotional when it happened.

I honestly forgot how much of a great character linebeck is,

I’d love a “windwaker trilogy” HD remake for switch with windwaker, hourglass and spirit tracks. For switch

I didn't hate traveling in Spirit track... I thought it was cool and relaxing before getting to the next destination

Linebeck’s theme is so great, why isn’t it in SSBU?!

I think Spirit Tracks over world exploration could have been really special if the entire rail system lay in ruins or something, and you had to draw your own tracks between railroads. The amount of tracks you could draw on your map would be limited, and increase whenever you beat a dungeon. This would make exploring the world more of a puzzle as you would have to think strategically about where best to place your tracks, as well as providing a more dynamic progression system seeing as being able to create more tracks would open op the world naturally. Further more, every time you gained access to more tracks you would also be able to make new shortcuts between areas you had already visited, making revisiting those areas more intuitive and much less painful. I realize that this comment is irrelevant and way to long but I just had this idea and really wanted the RU-vid comment section to know about it, even if only one person will ever read it (you). You are very welcome, have nice day.

Being able to draw and write on the map was such an important feature to me that I always count it as a point against a game when the map cannot be written or noted on. Games like BotW really messed up in this department not allowing the player to take notes on the map.

Spirit tracks was my first Zelda game, and to this day is the only one I haven't finished. **Angrily shakes fist at broken DS mic.**

Man, those last words really got me. Having played both of these games in my younger years and thoroughly enjoying both of them at the time, it does kind of sting to know that nothing like these two games will ever be made again. It's even more disheartening to realize that they could have been the best Zelda game ever made.

if any zelda games deserve an HD remake its THESE

Phantom Hourglass was my first Zelda game, followed by Spirit Tracks. Thanks for making this. Nice to know that these titles aren't forgotten.

Ahh nostalgia. . . Phantom hours glass was my first Zelda game and it BLEW MY LITTLE MIND back then lol. Been a fan of the series ever since

I _really_ get the feeling that Nintendo decided to make the Tower of Spirits be done in segments rather than having to repeat previous floors due to the reception of the Temple of the Ocean King. I remember when Phantom Hourglass game out everybody *hated* that concept so much and then rejoiced when it was fixed in Spirit Tracks. Although I definitely see your point that it pretty much ruins the concept of revisiting a dungeon multiple times if you don‘t get to improve on previous sections.

Fun fact: Nintendo prototyped the wall-merging mechanic from A Link Between Worlds using Phantom Hourglass & Spirit Tracks' game engine

Honestly, I love Spirit Tracks’ Zelda. She’s so sweet and makes me feel like I genuinely need to protect her. Also, I love that scene where she freaks out about Malladus using her body. Mostly because of the lack of voice acting makes the upset grunting even funnier to me.

Ooh, shoutouts to the fact that the DS mic was always active on a school bus due to ambient noise making certain things way easier and making others way more difficult

Spirit tracks' Zelda is without a doubt the best Zelda. It just physically hurts me that spirit tracks is so overlooked, mainly because it means that so little of the Zelda fanbase know about this incarnation of Zelda

I don’t care what anyone says, phantom hourglass is my favourite game, period. This game was my childhood

5:15 Kind of why I loved having the full Gold set, as if the Ocean King was giving Linebeck his treasure he sought, in the form of the ship he loved.

When you realize spirit tracks is just full metal alchemist you have someone who wants to return someone’s soul to their original body and for the time being they inhabit a suit a armor, you also have a short blonde dude

yeah I love spirit tracks Zelda!! so full of personality

Spirit tracks is unfairly forgotten. Easily the best pre-3ds portable zelda. Wonderful music and story.

It makes me happy to hear someone else who likes the Temple of the Ocean King

ST Zelda is just amazing in terms of jokes, plus she does feel like a character with all the things she does, such as talking to phantoms for you and her getting angry and attacking you if you hit her too many times

Literally just re-bought Spirit Tracks this morning so this is a sign I made a good decision haha

can't wait for the next Retrospective in which you proclaim link's crossbow training as the greatest zelda game of all time! (in all seriousness though thanks for covering these two, spirit tracks is my favorite :P)

In my first play through, I also was stunned by The Ocean King reveal. Then the re-play had me saying, "How didn't I see the hints?"

Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks remastered for switch anyone?

"Even though he didn't steal anything that important from her" EXCEPT HER HEART!

The overworld theme for Spirit Tracks is actually one of my favorite video game themes of all time. Too bad it was so often interrupted with the same freaking enemies at the same exact areas...

OG groose? Linebeck is practically the best Zelda character lol

Linebeck literally was made in the image of Johnny Depp, I swear to God, it's uncanny

The most memorable thing about Spirit Tracks for me was the sound track. I definitely think it was the best of any Zelda game.

Always love watching these before I pass out

“The chancellor is evil” Man where have I heard that before?

Spirit Tracks was my first Zelda game ever. Glad I started with the “Weakest Link” 😂

"Two halves of an unfulfilled whole" Before watching the video, my take: PH: Better overworld, better sidequests, better warp system, no goddamn flute ST: Better dungeons, better puzzles, better bosses, better music

But in all honestly how long were people stuck on the map puzzle in phantom hourglass where you have to close your DS to put the marker on your map. I was STUCK ON THAT FOR DAYS

Unpopular opinion that I share with probably two other people, but I actually like spirit tracks as my favorite Zelda game. Music, puzzles, combat, all so good

"Tetra being Princess Zelda is never brought up" Apart from the intro where Nico is holding the very paper slideshow apparatus that makes mention of this, as inconsequential as it is.

“Two halves of an unfulfilled whole” 1:47 Begin: New Horizons The Two Criticism (1) 14:59 The Great Sea (2) Dungeon Design 40:08 22:16 Spirit Tracks, you can’t go off the tracks, while you can go any direction you feel like on sea Phantom Hourglass + Whale Island Spirit Tracks 25:48 - Vast majority of quests involves bringing something to someplace (excessive. 22 times) - Slow train, restrictive tracks *The Silent Cartographer* 34:21 movement and combat + “Refreshingly original” 37:43 + Mapmaking is cool 56:50 Boss 59:24 The Video’s Thesis. 1:02:26 Breathe of the Wild 1:04:00 To Be Continued

Not one, but two Zelda games in one Video. You spoil us King K I've been anticipating this. Thank You.

This brings “You complete me” to a whole new level.

I love Spirit Tracks to such an infinite level I cant put it into sheer words. The music and character... so much good stuff... why do people dislike it so much (be quiet I know why, but I still love it anyway)

Aw man, this made me sad. Doubly so since I had forgotten *exactly* how incredible Spirit Tracks Zelda is.

People really be sleeping on Zelda from Spirit Tracks. She's such a great character, and actually plays a major role in a game that's titled after her. I wish BotW Zelda had as much presence as Spirit Tracks Zelda had.

I played this with the D-pad mod and it was amazing. I couldn't choose between Spirit Track's Zelda or the character growth of Phantom Hourglass' Linebeck

I have never been able to find the words or any way to explain my love for both of these games along with their flaws, this was *THE* best summary and comparison to both I have seen in ages. It was definitely worth the hour of my time, and I'd happily watch it again.

Ugh, the ending got me sad. These were my first two zelda games, and every zelda game I've played afterwards I always thought back to these experiences and how I would love to experience them again. I would argue that these games define zelda more than games like Ocarina of Time, or A Link to the Past. Because while those games have icon characters and scenes that every zelda has, zelda is a series about exploration and discovering a world. Simply looking at different takes on the same story doesn't feel like discovering a world, it feels like playing the same game retextured to look like a different experience. I remember when I first learned about the zelda timeline, I sat there thinking of ideas and possible plots that could continue the timeline these games take place in. It's just so exciting to think of the different villains and ideas these games imply, especially with the technologically advanced settings. Hopefully Nintendo will stumble upon these ideas as they continue to try and innovate zelda.

The puzzle that involved closing the DS to copy the map took me ages. I only managed to solve it when I ragequit and closed the DS to do something else.

I remember playing my Ds with phantom hourglass and then going on RU-vid to see people hating on but it this the first video actual highlighting its good qualities and what I liked about it. Good Job KingK :-).

I started with this video and then went on to marathon every video you've put out relating to games I've played. These retrospectives are outstanding. I play games at a very surface level. I have fun or I get frustrated and I rarely fully understand why in either case. So its really cool to hear such a deep look into the design elements of all these games. I also love how you're able to do this with such vastly different types of games. (Zelda, Mario, Kingdom Hearts, Sonic). I have subscribed happily, and you can bet you'll have a new patron in the near future.

Oh yeah, the one with the train stage in Smash ~Most people who don't really know Zelda that well

this is going to hurt, i think. I love those games, they are a part of my childhood, i know they are casual but that is part of why i love them, cause i am a harcore casual. I know about the flaws, i know they are hated, but man I had a great time playing these

You're one of my favourite people on youtube, and seeing a video by you come out about these games was so exciting to put into my watch later! I've watched it now fully, and I think you made some really good points and observations! Spirit Tracks is my 3rd favourite Zelda game, and it was nice to see someone talk realistically about it's flaws but also praise it which I don't see often!

Thank you for your take on both, but specially Phantom Hourglass. The exploration and customization of that game is so underrated and it's so fun to me. And character wise, it's one of the best written zelda games, Linebeck is just too good. Even with so many flaws, even after playing almost every game, Phantom Hourglass is the one I revisit the most. And my first (and most finished) Zelda was A Link to the Past so it's not that much of nostalgia...

59:33 and onward. Wow. This is why I watch this channel. I love the fact that the credits at the end had no music, it really fit with the tone of this section. You seem much more serious than many other reviewers, and touch on games I never would have thought were great. I played Spirit Tracks for a while, and touched a little on Phantom Hourglass. I enjoyed them, but never thought about them this in depth. Your retrospective has really changed my mind on these two games. While I disagree with some of your points, I wholeheartedly agree with what you said in this last section. Very good work. I can't believe that you aren't a bigger RU-vidr than you are. You really deserve to be watched more often. Keep up the good work, I look forward to more analysis.

the fact you gave that clarification in the beginning shows how much you care abut the subject . im now a forever sub. these where big childhood games. Thank you so much for your hard work.

This retrospective has interested me so much in these two games that I now want to track them down, as I missed out on them the first time. You did a great job on this video, didn't know how interesting these two DS games really were. Thanks.

Well, that ending was depressing.

Ahh you know sometimes I just put your Zelda retrospectives on my other monitor and listen to them while I'm playing a game or something, even if I've already rewatched them so many times. It's just nice to have an hour of Zelda talk and the good points made about the games in the background. They're definitely better than watching most of the stuff on here. Loved this one Btw you're great!

Your channel comes up whenever I'm looking to see if I should pick up old games. I jump around and to see if I'd to, so I dont really watch your whole video. However I really appreciate the amount of work you put into all of these. Subbed

Wow you managed to keep my attention for a whole hour. This video is a masterpiece and shows appreciation for 2 Zelda games I believe are the most underrated out of any of them. Time to watch the other ones you made.

the clips of you just straight up jumping off ledges were a real treat

Thank you for understanding what makes the temple of the ocean king great, and why the tower of spirits missed the mark on making a successor to that dungeon's ideas. So many people hate the temple for the backtracking, and that always disheartens me

Ik this a 2 year old video but the idea of the spirit train making its own tracks is litterally the best thing I've ever heard ever

We need a sequel to Spirit Tracks. End of discussion.

Both of these Zelda games have a very special place in my heart, despite their flaws. That being said, even though I love PH, I do think it has way less redeeming qualities than ST does. However, I must admit I really appreciate that you reminded me of some of the reasons I still loved PH back in the day when I first played it. Linebeck will always be my favourite Zelda character, he has a great story arc and such a memorable presence through the entire game and his personality is a blast to boot (something which is a rare sight in this series if we're honest, for main characters that is). Likewise ST Zelda is the best Zelda in the franchize imo, outside of Skyward Sword I feel its the only other game where Link's and Zelda's relationship feels beleiveable, charming and just great to see develop. Finally I must say that, while I do get where you come from and I enjoyed seeing your positive perspective on the Temple of the Ocean King, I just loathed that place far too much, I still do, it started out fun but quickly became a chore. The timer felt like nothing but a stress factor, and not in a good way; and the fact that you revisit and re-do its levels through the entire game really diminished a big part of the experience for me in the long run, because the Temple became this constant feeling in the back of my head of having an upcoming deadline I have no way to avoid doing and that I REALLY dont want to do. On the other hand I just straight up adored the Tower of Spirits from beggining to end, it fixed all of my problems with the Temple of the Ocean King, and due to not having the Time Limit AND the constant Revisiting factor, it allowed the level design to be a lot more complex and challlenging... it was just so much more fun to me. Either way, awesome retrospective man! Loved the video, cant wait for the next one!

lineback did steal something, he stole her heart

Great video clicked on it because the Phantom hourglass and Spirit tracks are my two favourite games ever I didn't realise the video was 1hour long but I was hooked all the way through felt like 17 mins then I was shocked to learn it was 1 hour long great video

Finally, someone who doesn't hate the Temple of the Ocean King because it makes you backtrack! Someone who doesn't hate these two games for being so different!

I get the feeling that i'm the only one that LOVES Spirit Tracks.

I actually really liked phantom hourglass, I even 100%-ed it. The movement actually kinda works, I forgot that I used the touchscreen to play it even!

Spirit Zelda and Linebeck are singlehandedly my two favourite characters in any Zelda game I have played so far. The absolutely ooze personality and reading their dialogue is an absolute joy Thank you spirit tracks and phantom hourglass.

Spirit Tracks hadthe best Zelda personality wise.

If you really like the map-making a whole lot, Etrian Odyssey sounds like the series for you

Great video. I loved both of these games, but I agree with all of your points. These were actually the first Zelda games I ever played. The next one I played was Twilight Princess, so you can imagine how much THAT blew my mind.

What a great video! This perfectly sums up my thoughts on these two brilliant games. I absolutely adored these games as a child, but personally liked spirit tracks more. Both are so great! My favourite zelda games for sure.

Thank you for this video! It's been a while since I played either, but I always found them to be way better than people made them out to be. It was fun to go back and revisit my thoughts on them.

Nintendo is secretly working on the TS, "Tri-Screen." It opens up like a brochure.

I still consider Skyward Sword as the spiritual 3rd part of the "Land Sea Sky" trilogy. It has a lot of the same concepts and approaches as the other two.

The quality of these is so consistent, that I think it's gonna be impossible for me not to finish it. It's so refreshing. Thank you for this.

Happy to see that youve hit 100k + subs and that a lot of your zelda retrospectives are gunna hit 1mill views in the future.

Perfect timing. I just beat spirit tracks a few days ago.

I will agree that the 2 DS games do very much feel like continuations of eachother. (with some things in the second that feel like the game was pushed out a bit soon)

Thank you for making this video. PH was my first Zelda game, and I always adored it and it's successor, ST. I didn't play WW until much later in my Zelda career, and that may have influenced why I love PH so much, but I greatly enjoyed seeing someone else described all the amazing things these 2 games brought to the Zelda universe that none of the others did. I guess my nostalgia blinded me to the general dungeon simplicity, but I started with those so I enjoyed them on a beginner's level more than most probably did. I really hope these get some kind of remastered port or spiritual (pun intended) successor in the future, but they will always have a special place in my heart. I am glad to see that there are other people that see that same charm in these forgotten epics.

About the "backtrack" sections of the dungeon, where you open up easier ways to "backtrack", it actually serves a different purpose. Due to the nature of the game being a mobile game, it is meant to be played when one has time to play. As such, opening the new paths are not there for backtracking, but to assist one in returning to the spot where they left off. Just felt that I had to correct that. Great video otherwise.