The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

2009

puzzle
adventure
action
fantasy
single player
multiplayer

The story

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the second Zelda game for the Nintendo DS. The art direction is still cel-shading, but the game have notable changes from Phantom Hourglass with more puzzles and a new mode of transportation by train. You have to draw your route to the next area on the map and then let the train run its course. While the train is moving, caution will be needed to avoid obstacles, animals and enemies on the tracks. In certain dungeons, both Link and Zelda will be playable as they will need to work together to solve puzzles.

What it’s like

Bright, hand-painted cel-shaded landscapes rendered in soft pastel greens, sandy ochres and sky blues, with the DS's top screen showing wide overworld vistas and the touch screen carrying the close-up detail. Rolling grassland, misty mountain passes and sunlit rail bridges make up most of the scenery, while the train's chugging rhythm and gentle orchestral-leaning themes give it a cheerful, unhurried pulse. The vibe is warm, whimsical and mildly adventurous, the sort of game that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a long commute with a handheld, or a comfort replay on a sofa. Pacing is measured: you draw a route on the map, watch the train run its course, then steer around track hazards and puzzle through dungeons in which Link and Zelda work together, and the story arc follows a young hero and a princess reclaiming their world, with a clear sense of friendship and gentle growth. Violence is cartoonish and mild, with enemies that poof away and a few boss fights, and there is no gore, no sexual content and nothing frightening. It is well suited to players who want a kind, puzzle-friendly adventure that is easy to pick up and put down.

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