The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for Nintendo DS Reviews by Gamers

Admit it, the first time you saw Link wearing that conductor outfit and driving a train you thought what has Nintendo come up with now? I'll be the first to say I was one of those people. But after completing the game I feel like slapping my past self for doubting the potential of such an idea for just a second. Take the jump if you're interested in why I think Spirit Tracks ranks as one of the best Zelda games in the entire franchise's history. Yes, one of the BEST ever.

Phantom Hourglass was a good introduction to the touch based gameplay style, but Spirit Tracks perfected it. Controls are more or less the same, but the inclusion of all the DS' features; the microphone, the dual screens, and the touch controls; make it all feel like a complete game. Where Hourglass felt like a filler in a series, Tracks feels like the continuation of a narrative. Certain characters come alive like never before; seeing Zelda turn and actually question the fact that she, a princess, would have to accompany a commoner on a dangerous journey was something I thought I'd never see. The feisty side of the princess also made it that much more believable, giving credence to a character who seemingly always was in the background needing to be saved. Watching the two interact with each other, and even save the world together as equals, made me feel like the Legend of Zelda series is on the right track.

And just to note: Let me just say that the Sand temple gives the Water temple in OoT a run for its money. It can get pretty time consuming with the level of difficulty some of the later temples have, and that's not mentioning drawing up potentially dangerous routes on the Spirit Tracks, or the visits to the Spirit Tower. On a scale of 1 through 10 I'd give it an 8. It's certainly one of the more difficult Zelda games I've played in recent memory. Kiddies beware, or just have a guide opened up on GameFAQs.