The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks Are Available Now on the Wii U eShop in Europe

NL: "Are any of you in Europe planning to pick these up?" No! I already have them on DS.

I'd rather own the physical copies.

That's great news, but I'd prefer to play them on a 3DS so I'll look out for 2nd hand versions of these games.

I'd be all for it if they were in NA!

Here's hoping for a North American release, because the physical copies are too expensive for me right now (especially Spirit Tracks).

I've been keeping my eye on the physical copies for ages, but I don't want to pay over retail price, so I really hope they come to NA.

I'll probably get Spirit Tracks. The friendship between Link and Zelda always made me love the game.
Funny story, while I was still getting over my initial reaction of the whole direct, my Wii U gamepad alerted me that the games were available.
While it certainly wasn't the best direct for many (myself included for some parts), overall, it was nice with the few little extras.

I'm glad I still have the physical copies. The games are going for unbelievable prices on amazon.

Would have payed for them outright if it came to na

I put 20$ on the eShop just incase something like this happened after the direct (I was mainly hoping for Xenoblade). Too bad I'm in NA. Guess I'll just stick with pandora's tower.

Gosh Dangit

Great news for me as I've never played them. Downloading both games as I type...

Oh goodie! two of the worst zelda games ever available on wii u!!! :'D

I just don't understand why North America, Nintendo's biggest market is always always getting the shaft!!!! 😡😡😡😡
Jesus Xmas!!!

Now this is nice. And a sale on launch too.

I was planning to do a 3 heart run of both of these titles soon & now I can do it on my Wii U gamepad. Thanks Nintendo!

@Minotaurgamer Where? I don't see the CDi games anywhere... XD

I've downloaded them straight away and now I'm planning on selling my physical cartridges now.

i hope these come to NA too. I really wanted to play them when they came out and never got around to buying them.

So much better on an actual DS or 3DS console.... but very nice to see these available. They are surprisingly hard to find in North America.

I'd be tempted with that deal, even second hand Zelda games are never cheap. Shame I won't get paid until after the offer closes

Europe always get better VC releases than NA.

@joey302
I can appreciate the sentiment- I really can. But you have to understand that NA and EU are entirely separate regions. It's unwise to feel like you're being shortchanged based off what an entirely separate region gets. Japan gets different stuff all the time and no one complains. EU and NA are no different.

For better or worse, that's just how it is.

@JaxonH

That type of thinking may have worked before the interwebz, but no longer. Ninty doesn't seem to get that Europe and the U.S. now know what each region gets and even devotees are starting to get pissed at the snubbing.

It doesn't have to be the way it is. It makes ninty appear unconnected to their base.

how does THAT ONE puzzle that uses the DS's clamshell design function on the Wii U?

@k8sMum
I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you.

But it is what it is, for better or worse. Getting all upset about it doesn't change anything. All it does is make your own life a little more miserable. Happiness is a choice, as they say. So is discontentment.

And it helps knowing that different markets are, well, different markets. And what makes sense as a big Fall release in one territory may not work in another where the game is sure to be a misfire. Which is why they strategize with lineups customized to each region.

Not that that necessarily applies to VC games but, once the system is in place for separate regional strategizing, that's what you're gonna get all around

Guess we'll see these some time next August or September in NA ... if we ever see them at all. Painful sometimes being a Nintendo customer in NA.

@k8sMum exactly. Of course there are region based releases of games. But of all things, especially Zelda, you kind of want to keep EVERYONE in the loop.

Kinda neat! I finished replaying Phantom Hourglass just the other day and am now going through Spirit Tracks.

@EarthboundBenjy maybe you need to enter the home menu?

@Morpheel Because that makes sense as a puzzle solution, right? The whole point of the puzzle was that it required some lateral thinking.
...Pausing the game via the home menu is in no way a reasonable solution to the puzzle.

@EarthboundBenjy idk, maybe they changed it to read the gyro sensor and you need to put the gamepad face-down. (probably not).

But think about it, it would be funny.... You spend hours trying to figure it out, then give up and go to the home menu to open the web browser and when you come back... Bam! You solved it by accident.

OK, so Europe gets these, Europe gets the trailer for Twilight Princess, Europe gets Resident Evil 4, Europe gets.... what was that thing that they got a while ago?... XENOBLADE CHRONICLES!!! What else does Europe get NoA!?!?! The direct wasn't bad, but you need to step up your game. >

Finally they've at least halfway approached a price point games of such a... "caliber"... deserve.

Hm. I think I'll stick to the original games, just easier I figure on my XL's screens. I'm pretty sure they'll look pretty horrible on the big TV screen... Unless they employ that blurring effect you can turn on for GBA games on Wii U. Do DS Virtual Console games have anything like that?

Still find it weird that DS games are on Wii u and not 3DS though I suppose it's the U that lacks games, not 3DS...

LOL I couldn't find any copies so a friend bought them in the UK for me 2 weeks ago xD
Oh well, I want these as well since I can use save states.

Have the physical copies and they're bad anyway

Phantom Hourglass was actually one of my most enjoyable Zelda experiences, until I got stuck on the main temple and gave up, because I couldn't be bothered going through it again and again, and again. Other than that though, it really is a great game, and the use of the map and stuff, was inspired.

I do hope Spirit Tracks heads over to NA, as its one of the Zelda games I haven't played yet.

Spirit Tracks was so bad that I sold it as soon as I finished it, but I liked Phantom Hourglass. It sure looked great on an old DS!

@joey302 a few release dates from the always preferred old world for you:

Yo-kai Watch: 2016
Fire Emblem Fates: 2016
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: February 19th, 2016

@nerffan1 The US got the exact same Twilight Princess Trailer, dude.

The perfect gamepad alignment is the one where the buttons are all of a sudden sideways- cuz that puts both images on your TV - but you're supposed to hold the gamepad sideways - why not just let us use that display - both on the tv - one on top of the other - and the same size - while using the gamepad normally? It would be perfect. The other perfect way would be if I turned my tv 90 degrees - but that is just silly.

For everyone who hasn't played them before: If these versions aren't butchered, then they are a must! Botch games are great fun. Especially Spirit tracks has great puzzles (puzzles that make you think again, like Zelda titles did in the past!)!

I'm really starting to think noa doesn't like money.if we keep getting screwed on vc games.I'll pack my Wii u up.put it in the attic and there it will sit.I'll only use my ps4 and xbone

Can't really buy them physically, and definitely not for that price, so I'll most likely go with Wii U release. I imagine it will simply be played with stylus holding the gamepad sideways. That's ok, although I'd prefer 3DS re-release of them, but that's probably not going to happen.

Nice surprise both are a must have for me.

If you check on Ebay you can easily find the original releases both new and used, not that expensive like 17 pounds for a UK copy of Spirit Tracks "in very good condition". I know it's not really cheap but I think it's much better to have the game on DS/3DS than paying €10 or 9 pounds for a Wii U digital download. The game will always look better and more comfortably to play on DS/3DS.

@Discipledoctor We'll get them within the next year or so.

@Don amen to that.noa don't like money I guess

They better bring Spirit Tracks over to NA. Only Zelda game I haven't played.

If you planned on getting Spirit Tracks, prepared to wipe your Wii U tablet often as you will have saliva all over it from blowing on the mic.

I'm really getting tired of this disparity between countries.

Why does Europe get Resident Evil Wii, Xenoblade Chronicles, and now both these Zelda games?

I hate NOA.

Since they have a fix for "closing the DS" puzzles, nothing's stopping them from releasing the Cing games. The Last Window never got a NA release, now's the chance.

I have a Phantom Hourglass' cartridge, but I never finished this game because of the lame controls. I hope that we don't have to use stylus to play it on Wii U.

Why are they on the eshop? They were sooo bad~!

That's ok Nintendo, I didn't want you to take my money anyway. I'll just save up I suppose.

I got these today, and Phantom is great fun. Very pleasant to play using the stylus on the Wii U gamepad turned 90 degrees.

I can confirm that pressing the home button simulates closing a DS. The hint text in-game is unaltered.

Dear Nintendo, we would really much like to buy these game too, so why not release them worldwide, oh!, and, while you're at it, where the F is METROID ZERO MISSION, dammit... thank you... ;D

@WiiLovePeace Oh, man. Good luck. Spirit Tracks can get stupid hard.

To the people who are condemning these games; they are not my favorite Zelda titles, but they are certainly not bad games. The controls, yes, take a bit to get use to, but they are definitely well thought-out and, like all Zelda games, are of great quality.

I want Phantom Hourglass so bad! One of the only Zelda games I haven't played and it is way too expensive to get as a physical copy now.

@sevex how did you solve the puzzle where you had to press the sacred crest against the sea chart? Putting the Wii u on stand-by doesnt work. Thanks!!

@Tetra I actually played on my DS. That's an interesting question though... I'm really not sure how you'd do that on the Wii U.