Zelda: Spirit Tracks Ghost Train Choo Choo

[zektbach]

Well it's a force gem quest, when they're finished you unlock

the Ends of the Earth station, an extra dungeon that is quite hard/frustrating

. So yeah, it's nothing as shit as just getting a heart piece.

[Keyboard Koala]

**Move away from the mic to breathe in

Missed this comment when skimming through this thread, but...

Well played, sir!

[Jarik]

I've been doing a lot of the Force Gem quests & have managed to unlock the

Skating Rink cave

up in the North East of the Snow Realm. I feel like I'm missing something though, as no matter how hard I try I can't

get to the 2nd or 3rd doors in time & the hint about "spinning" conveys nothing to me, as the only spin I know off is the spinning slash which actually slows me down.

Am I missing some kind of item or just doing it wrong?

[chris on the moon]

i got all three. i just ran. it's really fucking hard.

you just get more treasure. those are the prizes.

[Transient Curse]

I had planned to play this whilst visiting my Mum for Christmas.

Only left my DS at my flat, didn't I. FFS.

[joffocakes]

I brought this to my mum's for christmas and I left the bloody charger back at mine. I've been playing third strike on a laptop's keyboard in desperation.

Anyway; I was pretty cynical when starting out, ready to just joylessly plough through yet another formulaic zelda game, but there's just so many little touches that are so captivatingly charming; the choo-chooing postman, and his knowing remark about reading out letters in public; The chancellors two-tophat ensemble, all the little emotive facial expressions and the remarks about the 'recruit' outfit. Oh man.

The control has been subtley improved as well; double tapping to roll provides far more consistent results than drawing awkward swirls like before, and there's a more obvious visual feedback when tapping to interact with people and objects. I've not had a single instance of combat yet because the damn battery failed on me, but I had no issues with it in Phantom Hourglass.

I really hope they do another proper Wii version with the Wind Waker style, packed full of sheer joy.

[Jarik]

I managed to get all the parts to make up a new train, but it's the dark metal industrial one that my cousin described as ''ugly''

Bah, he spent all of his treasure trying to get back the wooden one you start the game with so what does he know.

[northy]

It never even crossed my mind to start customising my train. Don't think I bothered with the ship in PH either.

[chris on the moon]

it actually gives your train more hearts, and presumably other things

[Capwn]

Had so many deaths on that train and had to redo a mass bit of train journey again and again...ugh...

Oh and that 2nd boss!!!!!!!!!! JESUS!!!! So painfully hard even though I usually do zelda bosses on 1st/2nd attempt. This took me over 20 attempts easily!

[northy]

Had so many deaths on that train and had to redo a mass bit of train journey again and again...ugh...

Oh and that 2nd boss!!!!!!!!!! JESUS!!!! So painfully hard even though I usually do zelda bosses on 1st/2nd attempt. This took me over 20 attempts easily!

Got killed twice, took a breather, and then (as documented above) did it pretty much without losing any energy the third time. Just concentrate on making sure the boomerang alternates properly between the fire/ice and boss. I take it you've noticed when it splits into two the fire / ice versions are indicated on the top screen?

[Jarik]

The thing I noticed with that boss is that because the screen tries to keep both of you on it it doesn't leave you much room to run at full speed, which makes dodging the attacks harder than usual.

[Valiant]

I'm not feeling the love for this at all.

It is so linear in comaprison to other Zelda's and I also don't think the controls are as good as Phantom with the roll as a double tap and the inventory screen being all wrong.

It feels Zelda light and miles away from anything like Zelda III with no exploration, poor dungeons and so on.

This game seems to be aimed at very young players.

[vcassano]

On the contrary I feel the game is aimed far more towards experienced players. The dungeons and puzzles are noticeably harder and better, at least to me.

The interesting thing is that there seems to be as much exploration as there was with PH on the overworld, with plenty of 'hidden' stations and so forth (the side quests are really good too) but because you are on tracks the sense of exploration is restricted. That said, I don't mind too much because I feel that with all the Zeldas since Majora's Mask (and including Ocarina) the overworld is merely something delaying the fun of the dungeons. In Lttp and LA the overworld itself feels like an elaborate puzzle/dungeon whereas since then the dungeons and overworld are two separated areas.

The idea of a central dungeon is something Nintendo have done in this and PH but really the 'central' dungeon should be the overworld, I feel.

[Alan Stock]

I'm enjoying this so far, it seems a bit basic compared to Phantom Hourglass but it's an enjoyable romp. Thankfully they throw you straight into the action and don't tease out stuff like getting the sword. There's practically no cut-scenes and hardly any dialogue - great! It also keeps that key element that keeps me coming back to the Zelda DS games - originality! Looking forward to carrying on with this, up to dungeon 2 so far.

I love the music in these DS Zeldas too.

[Jarik]

There's plenty of exploration but only if you're willing to put up with all the going back & forth on the force gem quests with the trains rather sluggish speed & having to fight the same enemies over & over & obey all the signs.

If you don't like the train parts that's quite a bit of the game you won't get to see.

[Valiant]

Hmm well I just finished the 3rd Dungeon. I dont like the Train and the restricted paths at all to the point that I might give up on it. There is very little to do while travelling, shooting rocks plus barrels and catching the odd rabbit is not that amusing.

I preferrred the illusion of freedom sailing gave you to be honest.

What so wrong with making a new Zelda just like Zelda III Nintendo?

This is to Zelda III what New Super Mario Bros was to Mario World

Maybe I'm just bored of Zelda and doing the same old gumph time and again at least this time the Princess is with you but she does not add to many new dynamics at all while in the dungeon apart from the main one.

[SteveH]

I was enjoying this up until the fire/ice boss. I just can't be arsed trying something again and again. It shows up how shitty touch screen controls can be. Too tedious when I have other games I can play instead. Shame, as I quite enjoyed pottering around on the train.

[Massive Invisible Dog]

Shows up how shitty you are more like. Was that the one with the boomerang and the splitting boss? Easy.

[Jarik]

Shows up how shitty you are more like. Was that the one with the boomerang and the splitting boss? Easy.

Aside from the aforementioned lack of room to use Link's full running speed another tricky part of that boss fwas the splitting until I realised that the map screen told you which was which & you can use the remains of one on the other. Piede of cake after that.

[BabelRich]

Guys,

I am I just being incredibly dumb (a distinct possibility)? I can't seem to find any sidequests at all, I've been exploring and spoken to everyone but the only things I've got going on is the rabbits and stamps.

I've just arrived at the

Goron Village

and seem quite close to endgame. Have I missed a load of stuff or is there still lots to come?

[scottcr]

I've just started playing this...

Zelda games always remind why I love videogames so much.

[Bojangle]

Started playing this around 1PM, just took a break now to grab some food, but I'm itching to get back playing it. Loving it so far. Is it just me who finds using the whistle on the train massively satisfying? *choo choo!*

[Bojangle]

Guys,

I am I just being incredibly dumb (a distinct possibility)? I can't seem to find any sidequests at all, I've been exploring and spoken to everyone but the only things I've got going on is the rabbits and stamps.

I've just arrived at the

Goron Village

and seem quite close to endgame. Have I missed a load of stuff or is there still lots to come?

I could be wrong, as I only started today but I think they're very vague.

I've noticed someone in the castle ask for fish, and the eskimo type people saying they need wood to build a fence.

[Jarik]

The

Goron Village

is where you get the

Freight Cart

& the sidequests really kick off.

When in a town, you'll usually be clued in to a sidequest by someone calling out to you when you get close.

[Gambit]

I've only just found out what those stone things are with the lights coming out of them. Turns out I need to learn a song to continue, it's called the Song of Discovery. Can anyone tell me where it is?

[Jarik]

Finished the game with quite a lot of the side quests done, (except Dark Ore Run, Grrr! ) & am going to start from the beginning again just because I like it so much.

I used to do this with every Zelda game, but PH broke that tradition because I got bored with having to re-do the Ocean King Temple again. It was ok to fight my way through once & figure out how to properly annotate the map, but doing it all over again got old at the lower levels where I just felt a sense of fatigue when faced with another vast blank floor where i couldn't recall where all the switches, etc were & would have dart between safe zones to build up a new set of notes.

None of that in ST. I can tackle the problems of each area at my own pace & may even figure out how to get those couple of pieces of treasure I missed first time. The Large Treasure Chest across the chasm in one of the lower floors of the Spirit Tower for instance, Zelda even comments that she has no idea how we're going to cross it so right up until the end of the game I thought I was going to get some item or other to help me across but nothing ever did.

[locke_211]

I think this is one of the loveliest, most absorbing games I've played in ages and my favourite Zelda since MM or TWW. I've done most of the side-missions off my own back; the sage guy wanting the 'vessel' is the only hanging thread I couldn't work out what to do about.

The final stretch of the Spirit Temple has to be one of the most challenging bits of a Zelda game in ages, with loads to keep track of, while the final battle was immense! Plus I've lost hope in ever being able to do the final 'challenge door' bit.

I'm so much more hyped about Wii Zelda after playing this than I was before.

[BabelRich]

Thanks for the replies guys; I've picked up a few side quests now but it does seem odd to throw them all in so close to, I assume, the end.

And yes the whistle is way more fun than it should be; often times I find my self tooting along with the music.

[sandman]

I think this is one of the loveliest, most absorbing games I've played in ages and my favourite Zelda since MM or TWW.

This.