Review of Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks

Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks is the latest DS adventure starring Toon Link. It was released in December 2009 and is rated E10+. In true Zelda form, the video game is challenging, interesting, and full of surprises. Sprint Tacks is a must have for any Zelda fan with a DS.

Spirit Tracks Story
Taking place about 100 years after the Phantom Hourglass DS game, this one focuses on disappearing magic train tracks. Link is a newly graduated train engineer. When he tries to help the Princess figure out the mystery of the tracks, her body is kidnapped leaving her spirit to help Link on his journey. Link must restore the tracks before Zelda's body is used to resurrect an evil being.

There are plenty of towns to visit, dungeons to explore, and minigames to play. Some familiar Zelda characters like the Gorons, Niko, Lineback, and Beedle return. By transporting things like wood or fish and giving people rides from town to town, more of the Sprint Tracks are unlocked with Force Gems. Completing a dungeon also unlocks more tracks.

Spirit Tracks Game Play
Game play is similar to the Phantom Hourglass. Instead of a ship, Link travels on a train. Like the ship, the train is customizable with different parts. The DS stylus is still used exclusively in Link's movements. Although it seems easier to perform certain moves like rolling in this game. Just like Phantom Hourglass, there is a temple were you must go in order to get more of the map unlocked. The Sprint Temple isn't as tedious as the temple in Hourglass. There is little backtracking and you're not timed. It's great fun to watch Zelda's spirit get into the guard's armor and help Link. The temple easier this time around, but still challenging and not a chore to complete. There is also a playable instrument, the Sprint Flute. By blowing into the DS microphone, you can learn and play songs to awaken statues or call birds to aid you. The puzzles are varied and a blast to figure out.

Spirit Tracks Replay Value
In true Zelda fashion, the game has plenty of replay potential. There are two modes, Adventure and Battle. Adventure is the normal single player mode. In this mode, you have tons of minigames like catching rabbits, shooting targets with the train's cannon, and collecting stamps. By collecting the Force Gems, more tracks and train stations are unlocked. After completing Adventure mode, you can always go back, play through, and collect what you missed before. In Battle mode, you can challenge other players online. You can also trade items like treasure with other players.

I greatly enjoyed Sprint Tracks and think it's better then Phantom Hourglass. The Spirit Temple is improved over the timed temple in Hourglass. There is more to do and more people to interact with in this video game. I'm glad a playable instrument is back and it was fun actually playing the songs through the DS microphone. Spirit Tracks is a top notch Zelda title every fan will enjoy.

Sources:

Personal Experience