![The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS) Playthrough [1 of 2] @NintendoComplete](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/teCKhlWjPVU/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A playthrough of Nintendo's 2009 action-adventure game for the Nintendo DS, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
This is the first part of a two-part playthrough, showing from the beginning up through Link and Zelda's arrival at the Fire Temple.
Part two: youtu.be/-72pTFCufTY
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the direct sequel to 2007's youtu.be/ScHUpO7GG9k, and it's the third and final game in The Wind Waker branch of the series' overarching timeline.
I've had this video recorded and ready to go for a long time. The thing that has prevented me from posting it until now is that I've had no idea what to say about it. I don't find much fun in tearing into a game that obviously had a lot of effort and time invested in it, or one that has such a devoted fan base. That being said, if I'm not truthful in expressing my thoughts on a game, there's no point in writing about it in the first place, so I'm going to keep this short.
Spirit Tracks is similar to Phantom Hourglass in a lot of ways. The control scheme and the presentation have been refined, you still have an ever-present companion who talks a lot without saying anything substantial, and there's a ton of tedious backtracking. The dungeon layouts and puzzles are better designed, and the story is more engaging, but the game is still insultingly easy, and the overworld is the worst I've seen in a Zelda game. It takes forever to get anywhere, and because navigation is restricted to literal rails, there's not much to do but fire at random enemies while staring at the scenery for minutes at a time. It's boring, but at least the music is fantastic.
Spirit Tracks is a better version of Phantom Hourglass, and if you liked that one, you'll probably like this even more. If you're looking for a classical Zelda adventure, you're barking up the wrong tree.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
A playthrough of Nintendo's 2009 action-adventure game for the Nintendo DS, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
This is the first part of a two-part playthrough, showing from the beginning up through Link and Zelda's arrival at the Fire Temple.
Part two: youtu.be/-72pTFCufTY
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the direct sequel to 2007's youtu.be/ScHUpO7GG9k, and it's the third and final game in The Wind Waker branch of the series' overarching timeline.
I've had this video recorded and ready to go for a long time. The thing that has prevented me from posting it until now is that I've had no idea what to say about it. I don't find much fun in tearing into a game that obviously had a lot of effort and time invested in it, or one that has such a devoted fan base. That being said, if I'm not truthful in expressing my thoughts on a game, there's no point in writing about it in the first place, so I'm going to keep this short.
Spirit Tracks is similar to Phantom Hourglass in a lot of ways. The control scheme and the presentation have been refined, you still have an ever-present companion who talks a lot without saying anything substantial, and there's a ton of tedious backtracking. The dungeon layouts and puzzles are better designed, and the story is more engaging, but the game is still insultingly easy, and the overworld is the worst I've seen in a Zelda game. It takes forever to get anywhere, and because navigation is restricted to literal rails, there's not much to do but fire at random enemies while staring at the scenery for minutes at a time. It's boring, but at least the music is fantastic.
Spirit Tracks is a better version of Phantom Hourglass, and if you liked that one, you'll probably like this even more. If you're looking for a classical Zelda adventure, you're barking up the wrong tree.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
![The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS) Playthrough [1 of 2]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/teCKhlWjPVU/mqdefault.jpg "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS) Playthrough [1 of 2]
A playthrough of Nintendos 2009 action-adventure game for the Nintendo DS, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
This is the first part of a two-part playthrough, showing from the beginning up through Link and Zeldas arrival at the Fire Temple.
Part two: https://youtu.be/-72pTFCufTY
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the direct sequel to 2007s https://youtu.be/ScHUpO7GG9k, and its the third and final game in The Wind Waker branch of the series overarching timeline.
Ive had this video recorded and ready to go for a long time. The thing that has prevented me from posting it until now is that Ive had no idea what to say about it. I dont find much fun in tearing into a game that obviously had a lot of effort and time invested in it, or one that has such a devoted fan base. That being said, if Im not truthful in expressing my thoughts on a game, theres no point in writing about it in the first place, so Im going to keep this short.
Spirit Tracks is similar to Phantom Hourglass in a lot of ways. The control scheme and the presentation have been refined, you still have an ever-present companion who talks a lot without saying anything substantial, and theres a ton of tedious backtracking. The dungeon layouts and puzzles are better designed, and the story is more engaging, but the game is still insultingly easy, and the overworld is the worst Ive seen in a Zelda game. It takes forever to get anywhere, and because navigation is restricted to literal rails, theres not much to do but fire at random enemies while staring at the scenery for minutes at a time. Its boring, but at least the music is fantastic.
Spirit Tracks is a better version of Phantom Hourglass, and if you liked that one, youll probably like this even more. If youre looking for a classical Zelda adventure, youre barking up the wrong tree.
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!")
![Strider Hiryu (PC Engine CD) Playthrough [English]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tuSqYzfYBK4/mqdefault.jpg "Strider Hiryu (PC Engine CD) Playthrough [English]
Strider Hiryu (PC Engine CD) Playthrough [English]")
![Dragon Quest (Famicom) Playthrough [English]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vlnI0Ha88sQ/mqdefault.jpg "Dragon Quest (Famicom) Playthrough [English]
A playthrough of Enixs 1986 role-playing game for the Nintendo Famicom, Dragon Quest.
This is the Japanese version of the game, so I used a fan-made translation patch for this recording. You can find the patch at https://www.romhacking.net/translations/5416/
As if I needed a reason to tackle yet another version of Dragon Quest, the upcoming release of Dragon Quest I+II HD Remake seemed like the perfect excuse to trot out the first version of the first game in the series.
The Famicom version was the first version of the first DQ game. It differs from the NES game, which Nintendo upgraded, localized, and published in North America three years later, in a few ways.
On the Famicom:
-The game has no battery-backed save system. Instead, your progress is tracked through passwords given to you by the king.
-The character graphics are simpler and always face the screen, and the coastlines on the overworld have flat edges.
-Since your character cant face items, doors, or NPCs, to interact with something, you have to choose the direction you want to target with a menu command.
Besides that, its essentially the same game, but to change things up for this playthrough, I decided to let the princess rot in the cave. I defeated the dragon, but I didnt feel like being railroaded into marrying her (But thou must!), so I just ignored her and carried on. It was nice to end the game without her looming over the finale like a doom cloud. Nobody even comments on her absence at the end, so I was pleased with the resolution.
Who else is excited to see what theyve done with the remake?
(But seriously, it would be nice if Square-Enix pulled its head out of its ass with these Switch releases. The Switch version is a full physical release, but the Switch 2 version is just a key card, and if you buy the Switch 1 version, they wont let you pay to upgrade it. I bought the Switch version because I wanted a legit physical copy, but it really chaps my sack that Im stuck playing a worse version because theyre too cheap to produce a proper Switch 2 cartridge.)
Links to playthroughs of other versions of DQ1:
NES: https://youtu.be/J392i9NKvvo
Game Boy: https://youtu.be/4AsOkrDBcgk
SNES: https://youtu.be/qUWFKwDJb4Y
And here are the videos Ive done of its sequel:
NES: https://youtu.be/onNy0JlNgi4
Game Boy: https://youtu.be/xo-qQyzJxsg
SNES: https://youtu.be/yh1zZ6qV-54
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!")
