The Ghost Ship Mystery - Zelda Theory

[@SirLizalfos]

This is one of many reasons that Zelda's games are so unique. They're detailed not only in the game, but in story and mystery even if scarcely any players will ever discovery these mysteries and what they hold. A true way to make a good game is to make it with insight and lore for players to explore. Amazing video Zeltik! I like how you asked whether this was reality or a hallucination, a good question.

[@tko930]

I'd imagine Ganondorf, after claiming Forsaken Fortress, would send the Gerudo pirates out to sea searching for the triforce. All would fail and die at sea. All but one. One Gerudo crew may have found the triforce shard, but died either due to misfortune or divine intervention on their way to Ganondorf. The shard of the triforce of courage would then curse the ship to forever haunt the seas until one who was worthy of its power would collect it.

[@TheRealNorth21]

A single pirate ship seems a strange place to hide one of the pieces of the triforce of courage, it would make much more sense if its original resting place was the Forsaken Fortress. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why Ganondorf takes control of it in the first place, because he heard there was a Triforce piece resting there. The Ghost Ship was just the final contingent of surviving pirates fleeing while taking their greatest treasure with them. And if those pirates were Gerudo as you mentioned, it would make the name “Forsaken Fortress” make sooo much more sense. Ganondorf massacring the last of his own race thereby “forsaking” them all for the Triforce.

[@ericpeterson6520]

These 2 paragraphs tie the entire theory together so well in a way the actual video was missing imo. Excellent comment

[@TheRealNorth21]

@ Thanks man, I also like this conclusion but I definitely wouldn’t have gotten to it without any of Zeltik’s theory crafting.

[@javiervasquez625]

Yet the ship ressembles Tetra's, with the dragon-shaped figurehead at the prow greatly implying a connection to the Royal Family of Hyrule. Wouldn't it make more sense if the Ghost Ship belonged to Daphnes who told the ship's crew to flee the flooding kingdom with a shard of the Triforce of Courage? The ship would then be attacked by Ganon's minions, killing its crew and turning the ship into its ghostly form.

[@lovelighttao1859]

Yo, I love this theory!

[@DeerBonesBaby]

​@javiervasquez625 not really! It's a different figure head and most pirate ships had a similar build to other ships. The pirates also could've just stolen a royal hyrulean ship and put their own figure head (similar to how real pirates got their ships)

[@peterstorm8089]

3:30 I would like to point out the expression bears a striking resemblence to the Earth temple statue. Which has several interesting connections. Firstly, both the ghost ship and he Earth temple are heavily associated with death and the undead. Secondly, both the ghost ship and the temple statue are tied with celestial bodies. The moon and the sun respectively. Thirdly, I remember it was a comment on the Wind Waker dungeon lore video that more that just a redead the Earth temple statue also most closely resembles a Gerudo with its large pointed nose and topknot. Which if we go with the idea of the ghost ship possibly being tied with the Gerudo does tie these to grining faces together more.

[@Yamartim]

Omg that's so cool i never thought of making the connection with the gerudo, by that logic the painting at 3:22 could be a ghostly version of the smiling suns that act as light activated switches in the spirit temple!

[@NipplesTheEnchilada2323]

I honestly think the creator of the Ghost Ship Chart died by accidentally going on the Ghost Ship, since the only way to board it is to have the Chart in your possession. He probably made a habit of going through the Ghost Ship while making the Chart, and when he finished the Chart, he tried to go through it one last time, leading to his demise. Of course, that is just a theory of mine, but it would make sense if true.

[@snowmanO07]

It would be hard to explain how the chart ever left the ship again though

[@KingConnor523]

Something that intrigues me about the chart is that it seems to adjust to the islands state. Greatfish Isle is in depicted in its broken state instead of its original form.

[@dozytoast416]

Great point. This seems to imply that either the map was VERY recently made, or it was created with magic and always has current depictions.

[@KingConnor523]

The Gerudo most likely spread to other reaches of the world; no longer being in Hyrules area. The idea of the ghost ship being a Gerudo pirate vessel is interesting.

[@ericpeterson6520]

"David Jr.'s father" too bad we don't know that guy's name :/ If only there were some kind of hint...

[@PatrickGilland]

David Jr. Sr.

[@redchief94]

I bet you're right.

[@brieoconnor9824]

​@@PatrickGilland this made me giggle

[@lovelighttao1859]

I also like the idea that it was a group of Gerudo trying to survive the flood and protect the triforce of the hero until he returned. That crew eventually died and their spirits lingered until the hero came to retrieve his treasure. Monsters being on board also makes sense since Ganon is also searching for it.

[@lolpe1000]

WE NEED WIND WAKER AND TWILIGHT PRINCESS FOR SWITCH!!!

[@DriftingInSpace1]

totally AGREE

[@ozias_is_sans]

My hopes for these games on switch waver from time to time, but hopefully we’ll get them someday.

[@brendanreilly4675]

It’s too late into the switch lifetime for that, it would have to be the next console.

[@johnfodo4129]

%100

[@floppiethethirth]

We'll probably get a gamecube emulator at some point, so it will happen at some point. But I am hoping for the hd remakes.

[@ArcanaEric]

I think it was a real missed opportunity to not make the Ghost Ship a full-on dungeon. It’s one of the more memorable parts of Wind Waker and it’s only used for the lame Triforce Shards quest at the end.

[@Subremedy]

Yep a full fledged dungeon but make it end-game

[@kairi4640]

Lol, make it like the shadow temple. 😂 To be fair though, the ship wouldn't have been big enough for a full on dungeon.

[@matthewmuir8884]

@@kairi4640 They could easily have made it bigger on the inside; it would fit the mysterious and eerie nature of the ship.

[@benwertenberger6730]

Wind waker had a lot of content cut. It might have been the original intention

[@RinzlerWraith]

Has been a long time since playing it, but im sure in my uk copy the ghostship interior was a make of portal pots and not an empty room

[@PatrickGilland]

I remember being so fascinated by the mask in the back above the chest that I was so disappointed when they removed it in the HD version. I can surmise they removed it because there used to be a crash if you jump-slashed towards the chest, but still disappointing they couldn't fix it without replacing the whole interior entirely. It's also a shame that for all the build-up for the Ghost Ship lore-wise, in-game it's basically an over-glorified submarine that you go in, kill some enemies, grab chest, leave.

[@world-travelingpikachu9066]

I remember watching my brother play Wind Waker on the GameCube when I was younger. When He boarded the Ghost Ship and that scream played, I ran straight out of the room! It scared me a lot…

[@joshryan155]

The more WW videos I see makes me wish Nintendo would make another Zelda seafaring game that could either be a sequel from PH or be a different timeline.

[@8bitdaydreams]

I also like to think that maybe the ghost ship has some connection to the ship in the shadow temple from OoT

[@oussamabekk1108]

Bro be pumping up videos like crazy these days ...

[@insupportofjunhado]

I'm impressed you managed to say more about the ghost ship than the fishmen. I thought it was a pretty nothing vessel, only remembering that I couldn't get to it at first and that it laughed at me when I got the chart. I beat Wind Waker twice without noticing all the rest.

[@dfx5886]

new zeltik right when my zelda hyperfixation popped back in LETS GO

[@EnchantedSmellyWolf]

I was always fascinated with the Ghost Ship when I was a little. Since the game was the first open world game, I was hoping it would have a follow-up to this mystery, but that would steer away from the main story of the game itself.

[@patrick8358]

Oh yes, 11:00pm, can't sleep, new Zeltik drops, Ghost Ship. First time I saw it as a kid I froze

[@kairi4640]

Ikr? It was so creepy back then. That and the aliens from Majora's Mask is why I don't like playing those games because it got too creepy. 😂 It's funny because I'm okay with the bottom of the well and the shadow temple. 🙃

[@nave712]

I love it when you upload new videos

[@nick-np1bb]

I like to think the ghost ship of wind waker is the same of to phantom hourglass. Once Link takes the triforce from it (or map) the ship tries to gain back it's power, tracking it back to Tera's ship while Link also tells Tetra of his encounter with it so they go looking for it.

[@literallyanangrymoose7717]

I like to think the ship is a literal ghost of a Hyrulean navy vessel charged to protect the Triforce shard or chart, reanimated and warped by the shard.

[@tikkelbikkel]

This ship was the bane of my original playthrough when I was like 8. After the Wind Temple, I didn't know what to do. I thought the ghost ship was cool and got pictures of it, but I didn't know it was the key to progression. So for years that was it. Until I picked the game back up when I was like... 16? I randomly decided to sail into the ship and voila, that's when I also beat the game finally.

[@felixmckinney7132]

I feel like I tell this story every time this darn ship gets mentioned, but it’s very special to me. Wind Waker is my favorite game of all time, and it has been ever since I was a kid. One of my favorite things to look at was Lenzo’s photo collection. One picture that I always found cool was the ghost ship, but I didn’t necessarily believe it was real. Like some sort of in-game rumor and Lenzo edited the image or something. Well, I was met with the fright of my life one night when I was sailing around Greatfish Isle and the ship I didn’t believe was real appeared right before me. I immediately ran to my bed to get my iPod and take a picture, thinking I just caught some really rare easter egg, obviously unaware that it’s required to beat the game 😅 I still have that photo, and despite now having photography as a minor hobby now, it remains one of my favorites I’ve ever taken.

[@Saben.C-Spoon]

Its like it was a real ghost story/mystery for you, it has all the hallmarks of a ghost horror film. Thats pretty funny

[@cherubin7th]

Ghost Ship for Christmas

[@lowinlofi]

Yes yes yes I’ve been waiting for this film for a while

[@XX-sp3tt]

The game creators have said that the reason Ganondorf died for good and didn't reincarnate again and a vessel of Demise's curse is that he finally remembered the REAL reason he wanted to invade Hyrule.

[@FieryRed_BE]

i hope we‘ll get some totk master work videos soon

[@samuel_salmon966]

That’s a really good theory I like it

[@_teem_]

amazing theory!

[@theanthropologuy]

We know that the Royal Family and the Sheikah do shady things in service of Hylia. I think it was you who suggested that the Redeads are Sheikah guardians. So, what if this was just a simple ship? I think they were just merchants unknowingly hauling a triforce chart/shard and were either cursed by either the Sheikah or the Triforce of Courage itself

[@yatanogarasu]

It maybe a creation of the Sheikah, by orders of the Hyrule royalty, via dark magic similar to the Shadow Temple, in order to protect the Triforce fragment from unworthy hands.

[@zomfragger]

I'm not convinced it was a Gerudo base. More likely it was an Shiekah base because of shields on display in Ganondorf's cabin which have the crying eye painted on them. However I will admit those could be trophies as well. Some else here in comments section theorized that Ganondorf could have taken over the Gerudo and had them search the sea for the triforce shards and never returned. I some what agree but disagree more. I think Ganondorf may have sent them to kidnap girls with pointed ears looking for Zelda. One of the ships stumbled upon the triforce shard/chart and was on its way back to Ganondorf with their find. The Goddesses stopped them and cursed the ship to guard the triforce peice until a new hero could be found.

[@maximilianosotomayorga4977]

That blue flower is called "forget me not"

[@JamesDevereuxWebber]

Perhaps the Gerudo were condemned by the Gods to live an eternal, tormented “half life” as punishment for their support of Ganondorf in OoT, forever doomed to back breaking labour by way of manning the ship for all eternity on its endless, pointless voyage. I read somewhere that the Ghost Ship was one of the 2 dungeons that were cut from the final game. What a missed opportunity. They could have even snuck in an extra sage plot line with Link tasked with breaking the curse by one of the Gerudo’s descendants.

[@card44]

Hey you might wanna check out game theory's newest video... it's umm... Let's just say MatPat stayed away from the Zelda timeline for a reason...

[@chrispork1443]

Considering the actions of Ganondorf in other games like Four Swords Adventures and most blatantly in Tears of the Kingdom, no matter the incarnation, he never cared for his own people. And if he really is the reincarnation of Demon King Demise, then he is a monster adopting the form of a Gerudo, as Urbosa would put it.

[@Cookiedon15]

Maybe Ganon killed a competing male Greudo, who was the new Gerudo king of the pirates at that time

[@JusticeForIanRobb]

I'd like to think that Ganondorf becoming the monster that he is isn't the main reason that the gerudos only allow men into there kingdom.

[@CallMeNoa]

I never realized the commonality between David Jr's father and the cartographer of the ghost ship chart. That's actually super interesting even just on its own! I don't think Ganon is behind the ghost ship though. Ganon seemingly only started acting up shortly before Wind Waker begins, but the ghost ship has clearly been a story for a while given the chart leading to it is old and abandoned.

[@card44]

Are my comments coming in?

[@sadib100]

I think the Ghost Ship is actually the same Ghost Ship from Dragon Quest III and Super Mario World.

[@heiral7773]

It reminds me of the Ghost ship from Legend of Dragoon. Exact same model.

[@HeroOfRinku]

makes more sense when you consider wind waker was originally meant to follow majoras mask

[@neniv]

I really liked the Pirates from the Oracle series games. I wonder how they tie in to this mystery, if at all?

[@neniv]

And for that matter, the Subrosians. Are they just hooded Gorons?

[@nick-np1bb]

Wind waker, top 1 Zelda

[@hypnoteapot]

Good thing I didn't notice that painting the first time I played at 12 years old 😅

[@MisfortunateJustice]

Very astute connections. I think I'll buy this theory. 😃

[@Titin-oz6jh]

Nice a new Zeltik video!

[@daniellemcloughlin1612]

I always do a little happy dance when i see a new Zeltik video on my feed 😂🎉

[@khveteran013]

3:30 No, that creepy smile is in the HD version as well. I should know, it's the only version of WW I've played so far.

[@WCircuit7224]

The smile isn't, but the painting is.

[@khveteran013]

@@WCircuit7224 No I distinctly remember that smile and the way it changed as Link approached. I even walked in and out of the area on purpose to watch it change back and forth.

[@brendanreilly4675]

At first, I thought you were going to point out that the ghost ship figure head looked like Trump praying lol.

[@MollyOKami]

I wonder if the figurehead is supposed to be Princess Zelda/Goddess Hylia. It's also blonde.

[@lilkorok]

wind waker >>>>

[@777idkineedausername]

Do you think he saw game theroy's video?

[@bobosaurus331]

Wind Waker!!!!

[@Mr.Foxhat]

Are there any theories on what happened to the Ordonian Province from Twilight Princess?

[@Magnymbus]

The figurehead looks more like it has blonde hair than a gold headdress.

[@hiddendesire3076]

5:13 Wasn’t there some LoZ Manga that said the ship was formerly the ship Linebeck sailed upon as the cabin boy, before it succumbed to the curses of those demonic sisters and the rest of the crew withered away before Linebeck’s eyes?

[@Alexander79080]

Think that was just made up for the manga. Maybe I’m wrong.

[@SWIFTO_SCYTHE]

Being stuck on a ghost ship - cursed to sail the seas for eternity - sounds like a terrible fate for the sailors.

[@OmegaFox09]

I can’t tell you how many people are resorting for the “IT ETS BRUH” 😂 1:42 out of focus star. Vetted did a brief segment on this. 7:59 it’s not a real mothership 😒 and that has been denounced I believe 10:33 sarcasm? Mind you there’s a lot of conflicting information. 19:00 this guys an idiot. 😂

[@shelinkzelda]

How the heck am I the first to the party‽

[@mapotofuu]

1 day ago is crazy

[@theguardiandex]

Using the song of time I see😂

[@Thegaminglord4-6-7]

BENDROWNED IS BACK!!! Ruuuuun!!!

[@shelinkzelda]

@@theguardiandex membership early access, but I didn't think I'd be here before the others 😅

[@TheDogsbarkcatsmeow]

“Features this figure head… Donald trump”

[@glitchkrieg768]

Is there any connection between these and the ghost ship from Ocarina of Time?

[@darvida719]

loved this video

[@ShirpaTheShirpa]

I know that after i watch this I'm going to want to playthrough WW again!

[@casparfang]

Zeltik I need to know if you’ve seen the new game theory Zelda “timeline”

[@alakazamlover4908]

never played WW but with all the lore surrounding it, i WANT to i wish they'd port WW and TP to switch already....

[@mariotaz]

Had no idea about that face!

[@NeoDeity]

The game theorist just dropped a new Zelda video... please we need your help again.

[@skyholmes5322]

I personally find it more likely that the ghost ship is a remnant of the Hyrulean navy, thus their final voyage and mission was to protect a piece of the triforce. A mission they continue in death until Link, rightful owner of the triforce of courage, recovers it

[@Coroplocs-Chameleon]

Wind Waker is my favourite Zelda game of all time and my second favourite game of all time.

[@htxsteven]

Ocarina of Time is my favorite game of all time

[@botellopiedraleonelcristob6366]

Its up there But majoras and Totk better tho

[@enecofan888]

What's your first favorite?

[@Coroplocs-Chameleon]

@ Xenoblade Chronicles

[@LinktoSonic]

It was always my headcannon that Jolene from Phantom Hourglass was a Gerudo, or atleast had some Gerudo ancestry

[@kairi4640]

Lol wow. I just wrote this. 😂

[@kennycarter5682]

the sad thing is the ship may of been a full dungeon if the game had enough development time

[@snuffydog8153]

The Ghost Ships figurehead is Donald Trump. Based.

[@kairi4640]

I was thinking while watching this, maybe Jolene from Phantom Hourglass was a gerudo descendant, but she has black hair. Which actually could add to this concept that Ganondorf despised the remaining Gerudo descendants. Maybe they looked like Jolene, barely recognizeable as Gerudo over generations of them mixing with the other races to reproduce. So no Gerudo characteristics remained, and this disgusted Ganondorf so he banished them, and possibly cursed them to roam forever with part of the triforce they possibly stole from him in retaliation. Interesting idea though.

[@xsouldriverx]

Ghost ship has a trump figure head, it is just a concept of a ship.

[@CaelSkielsthear]

Random shower thought. David could be an anagram for Vaddi, which sounds like Vaati, and the demon is subjugated by Tingle!

[@rendumguy7596]

The Wind Waker Ghost Ship is one of the most disappointing Zelda reveals tbh. It's basically nothing.

[@AVoiceForRadio]

I'm surprised there's no mention of the "ghost ship" from Skyward Sword here. It was found in the Sand Sea, which likely becomes the Gerudo Desert

[@Aris262]

I always loved the ghost ship and the theory it may be the 'final' lost hyrule civilization? It fits perfectly.

[@JPBrooksLive]

Oooh, a Halloween episode in December!! Kick ass!!

[@BobBilly-gq8xy]

very good theory i did not even think about them missing from ww

[@jensvide777]

Makes perfect sense. Gerudo Fortress - Forsaken Fortress, and you use stealth in both places.

[@songoku9348]

I bought Wind Waker limited edition today. How appropriate Zeltik uploads a WW video.

[@simplyixia3683]

2:31 not related but the rhythm of the sentence is really good for poetry or lyrics, especially when read by Zeltik’s UK accent. Doubt it was intentional by the translators but it adds an extra element of spooky.

[@reidotte5564]

Yes!! Back to traditional Zeltik content!!! My absolute favorite

[@archmdc370]

I have never really considered the connection here to the Gerudo but this makes a lot of sense. Great video and theory, @Zeltik !!!

[@Harry-rm5is]

Anytime you talk about classic Zelda, I click

[@derrickdaniels3955]

The Gerudo being the Wind Waker Ghost ship is an interesting thought, I kinda like it

[@bradhedgehog12]

Man that’s scary.

[@tako-amiko6794]

A new Zeltik? you got my curiosity A Wind Waker ghost ship theory video? you got my attention

[@alexmaster5832]

Hello Zeltik!!!!

[@Ninjafox-lz6jb]

Wow, such an interesting theory about the gerudo been linked with the Forsaken fortress. Your explanation makes complete sense especially comparing the world maps of OOT and WW. I thought this video was going to be about the ghost ship in PH at first as had forgotten about the one in WW, mainly because I wasn’t a fan of the Tri force quest so even though I have played through the majority of WW many times I often stopped after the Wind Temple. Another great video Zeltik!

[@michaelsevinglerton9345]

Am I the only one seeing the ghost ship figurehead as Donald Trump

[@dylanrutherford4425]

Now with Knull being a thing, I wonder if the ghost ship has been a thing anywhere else in the timeline.

[@mkjirges5405]

Woohoo, another Zeltik video!

[@BruceBoyde]

Holy shit, a KZbin notification the second a video goes up instead of 6-12 hours later? Amazing