When an established video game family gains yet another member, comparisons do happen. And inevitably, this is true in the case of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the second of the Zelda series to hit the Nintendo DS. One may wonder whether the game can even compare to its elders. In short, this installment certainly does.
As with its predecessors, Spirit Tracks has an entertaining plot. Taking place about a hundred years after The Phantom Hourglass, everpresent protagonist Link's chosen form of transport is a train. At the beginning, he must visit the similarly everpresent Princess Zelda to become a certified engineer, which is when the trouble is revealed: the tracks across the land have been slowly disappearing. It is clear within minutes that Zelda's advisor, Chancellor Cole, is literally a two-headed demon. Events largely centre around the Tower of Spirits, and, on their quest to restore the tracks and defeat the villains, Link and a ghostly edition of Princess Zelda travel from dungeon to map to town. And if you're a successful player, it all works out in the end, and Hyrule is saved for the umpteenth time.
Link develops some innovative new tricks with the help of the microphone. Playing the Spirit Flute with a stream of air from your own lungs is, for lack of a better word, really cute. The whirlwind, on the other hand, is tiring. There are only so many ways to switch it up on the same platform, yet old favourites such as the bow and boomerang retain their spice, and new favourites, such as the whip, are flavourful.
And, if it hasn't been mentioned, Zelda's spirit it is capable of possessing the Phantom Knights, and does so with frequency in the Tower of Spirits. She becomes extremely useful this way, allowing Link to hop on her shield and take advantage of other skills.
So what does Spirit Tracks do well? Consistent with the series, the music is lovely, and the plot is strong. It is undeniably a well done game with labyrinthine dungeons and plenty of awe-inspiring moments. It also takes time to complete, so bang for your buck is delivered. However, it isn't without fault. Certain parts do feel a little recycled, and it drags on at sections. There are situations during which you really want to get on with the story. For more seasoned gamers, the playful delights of conducting a train may not seem challenging enough at certain points; the dungeons seem to balance this nicely, however.
In essence, Spirit Tracks is respectable. Reveling in the childish fun of tooting your own horn, while avoiding rival trains, is an enjoyable ride.
As with its predecessors, Spirit Tracks has an entertaining plot. Taking place about a hundred years after The Phantom Hourglass, everpresent protagonist Link's chosen form of transport is a train. At the beginning, he must visit the similarly everpresent Princess Zelda to become a certified engineer, which is when the trouble is revealed: the tracks across the land have been slowly disappearing. It is clear within minutes that Zelda's advisor, Chancellor Cole, is literally a two-headed demon. Events largely centre around the Tower of Spirits, and, on their quest to restore the tracks and defeat the villains, Link and a ghostly edition of Princess Zelda travel from dungeon to map to town. And if you're a successful player, it all works out in the end, and Hyrule is saved for the umpteenth time.
Link develops some innovative new tricks with the help of the microphone. Playing the Spirit Flute with a stream of air from your own lungs is, for lack of a better word, really cute. The whirlwind, on the other hand, is tiring. There are only so many ways to switch it up on the same platform, yet old favourites such as the bow and boomerang retain their spice, and new favourites, such as the whip, are flavourful.
And, if it hasn't been mentioned, Zelda's spirit it is capable of possessing the Phantom Knights, and does so with frequency in the Tower of Spirits. She becomes extremely useful this way, allowing Link to hop on her shield and take advantage of other skills.
So what does Spirit Tracks do well? Consistent with the series, the music is lovely, and the plot is strong. It is undeniably a well done game with labyrinthine dungeons and plenty of awe-inspiring moments. It also takes time to complete, so bang for your buck is delivered. However, it isn't without fault. Certain parts do feel a little recycled, and it drags on at sections. There are situations during which you really want to get on with the story. For more seasoned gamers, the playful delights of conducting a train may not seem challenging enough at certain points; the dungeons seem to balance this nicely, however.
In essence, Spirit Tracks is respectable. Reveling in the childish fun of tooting your own horn, while avoiding rival trains, is an enjoyable ride.
