Nintendo delivers one more present with The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the Nintendo DS just in time for the holiday season. In this adventure, Toon Link will be accompanied by Zelda as they save the world aboard a train. While Link goes choo-choo, do we go boo-hoo?
Thumbs up: Humorous presentation, catchy tunes, train sequences are actually fun, progressive difficulty, fair amount of side quests
Thumbs down: Phantom AI, mic sensitivity, choppiness during train sequences
Eh…: Stylus-heavy action
Spirit Tracks’s charm lies within its presentation. The music is quite catchy and you might find yourself humming them randomly. Toon Link has the best facial reactions whether he’s dizzy from spinning too much, saluting to the player before embarking on the train, or being adorable in cutscenes. Zelda throws a tantrum because baddies are doing naughty things with her body, leaving her in a ghastly figure. While she has the resolve to solve her dilemma, her fear of mice inhibits the duo from progressing through dungeons.
The game uses the stylus heavily just like its predecessor, The Phantom Hourglass. It still has a hard time reading some slash movements. You’ll use the mic occasionally to play an instrument or use the whirlwind. It gets annoying because the mic will pick up even the slightest hint of wind. Players can choose to use the L and R triggers to use their secondary weapons. The directional pad allows you to write notes on your map. The other buttons are near useless.
Exploring the world via train is dull at first. Links can blow the train whistle and switch its gears as he’s riding from place to place. As you progress through the game, it can get intensive as you have to avoid colliding into evil trains while blasting critters and enemies with an on-board cannon. Players can choose to blast signs, barrels, and rocks to pieces out of boredom if they please and they’ll get rewarded with rupees or hearts once in a while. Unfortunately, the game does get rather choppy when there’s at least two enemies on the screen during the train sequences.
The dungeons aren’t tedious and they do get progressively harder thus giving a fair challenge. Link would have to use any and everything in his arsenal to solve puzzles and advance through the levels. If you’re stuck, something was overlooked. A Phantom accompanies Link through certain dungeons as a helping hand. Players can manually set the Phantom’s route themselves or they can leave it on follow. The Phantom AI gets whacky when it’s far away so it’s better to control it manually at all times.
The main game is rather short. But completionists can enjoy various side quests whether it be collecting stamps or rabbits (baw…), accessing extra areas of the world, and upgrading their train.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is an enjoyable experience for DS owners. It’s a no-brainer for Zelda fans and a treat to stylus-game lovers and players who are looking for a worthwhile adventure.
Vice Verdict: BUY
Popularity: 1% [?]
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Sweet, just coming to the end of Layton 2. The first Zelda used the stylus excellently, so this is next for my DS.
Great review Kevin, as usual. I asked for it for Christmas so we’ll see if I get it!
PS, I’m still using the Spirit Tracks styli we got from E3, lol.