With the recent Tears of the Kingdom trailer revealing a new vehicle system, many fans are divided on whether it will be a refreshing way to re-experience Breath of the Wild’s version of Hyrule or if it’ll just be a shoehorned-in gimmick. However, this is far from Link’s first time piloting vehicles. From the King of Red Lions to the Master Cycle Zero, there are often more efficient (and stylish) ways to travel Hyrule than endlessly rolling forward with a “HYAH.” One thing most of these vehicles have in common is the incredible music that comes along with them. Spirit Tracks took this concept to its most extreme degree yet, and introducing trains of all things brought the series one of its most magnificent overworld themes, to say the least.
This track (haha, get it?) opens confidently with a particularly adventurous chord progression, and the string bass, plucky banjo and acoustic guitar keep the beat chugging along all the way through. The arrangement makes excellent use of Spirit Tracks’ titular instrument — the sacred pan flute known as the Spirit Flute — by alternating its time in the spotlight with various other textures, such as the banjo countermelody and the violins later on. The panflute’s airy tone almost makes it feel as if the Spirit Train itself is singing, smoke flowing melodically from its engine.
The melodies themselves are bright and heroic, but the section at 2:19 gives us a much more somber aesthetic. The beat has lost its drive, only kept going by the banjo and guitar, each panned all the way to one side. This brief intermission reminds us that, despite the game’s cheerful appearance, there have been quite a few dark moments early on in the story. Chancellor Cole is out there preparing to resurrect an ancient demon, Alfonzo has been gravely injured, and Princess Zelda has been killed and reduced to a spirit. It’s easy to forget how high this game’s stakes are when you can spend so much time catching bunnies instead of progressing the plot (I hope that wasn’t just me).
Spirit Tracks is undoubtedly polarizing, but its soundtrack has quite a few pieces that shouldn’t be forgotten. I strongly believe that this game and its predecessor, Phantom Hourglass, are worth playing, especially for those who are already fans of the series. With the Wii U eshop closing in March 2023, there’s no better time than now to pick up these games on virtual console. They will likely be officially unavailable until they’re remade, and there’s no way to know how long that’ll take. There’s still time to fill that Zelda void in your heart before Tears of the Kingdom releases, and going on a Nintendo DS nostalgia trip just might be the best way to do it.
