Mine Cart

A Mine Cart is a recurring object in the Legend of Zelda series, serving as a short-term means for transportation in the games in which they appear.

General Characteristics
Mine Carts, simple vessels with wheels, appear exclusively in dungeons, and certain mini-games. They are essential to the navigation of the dungeons in which they appear, as they are able to break open doors that Link cannot. Mine Carts always run an automated path along a defined track. Switches that alter the cart's path can often be found near the tracks. In all its appearances except The Minish Cap, Link can use his items while riding in the cart, either to defeat enemies, or even to flip the switch that will change the cart's path. Mine Carts usually appear in lava/mine-themed dungeons.

Oracle Series
The Mine Cart is first introduced in Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. In these games, carts are of a bluish color. They are heavily featured in dungeons throughout the games. In fact, Mine Carts appear in these games more frequently than any other. On occasion, gates will block the cart's path. These gates can be lifted by a nearby switch. Mine Carts are featured in the Wing Dungeon and the Skull Dungeon in Oracle of Ages; and in the Gnarled Root Dungeon, the Dancing Dragon Dungeon, the Unicorn's Cave and the Sword & Shield Maze in Oracle of Seasons.

The Mine Cart is the centerpiece of the Target Carts mini-game on Rolling Ridge in Oracle of Ages. The object of the game is to hit crystal-like targets (using the Seed Shooter) while riding in a mine cart.

The Minish Cap
In The Minish Cap, the Mine Cart appears exclusively in the Cave of Flames. Compared to its other appearances, the Mine Carts in this game travel at an extremely high velocity, practically flinging Link out of the cart when it comes to a stop. Since Link must hold on to the cart with both hands to avoid being thrown out, he cannot use his items while riding in the cart. Occasionally, Mine Carts are found flipped upside-down, and must be righted using the Cane of Pacci.

Oblivious to the speed at which the carts travel, Link and Ezlo are greatly startled and dazed after their first ride in the cart. However, Link smiles afterwards, suggesting that he enjoyed the ride. Contrarily, Ezlo does not share Link's humor.

Spirit Tracks
Spirit Tracks is the latest game of the Legend of Zelda series to feature Mine Carts. Unlike it's past appearances, the mine cart has no wheels and runs on one single rail. Therefore, it is more of a monorail than a conventional mine cart. When the cart reaches the end of the track, the cart will dump Link out, causing him to fall face-first to the ground. Switches that alter the cart's tracks are flipped by using Arrows or the Boomerang, the only weapons Link is able to use while riding in the cart.

Reminiscent of The Minish Cap, Mine Carts appear exclusively in the Fire Temple. They are the centerpiece of a puzzle on the final floor of the dungeon, where the Boss Key is obtained. The mine cart is also essential to defeating the dungeon's boss, Cragma. The mine cart also appears in a part of the Pirate Hideout mini-game, where Link must rescue a prisoner kept within the hideout while fighting off Miniblins coming in on their own mine carts.

Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword is the first console Zelda game to feature mine carts. They are found throughout Lanayru Desert, Lanayru Mining Facility and Lanayru Gorge. Link can ride empty carts to traverse the terrain. In the Rickety Coaster minigame, he can control the speed and direction of the cart with the Wii Remote to remain stable on the sharp turns of the track. Other carts carry Timeshift Stones which move and change the surroundings when Link activates them.