Zelda Spirit Tracks

Zelda Spirit Tracks
Platform – DS
Distributor – Nintendo
Genre – RPG Action/Adventure
Rated – PG

Although the mode of transport has changed, this is instantly recognizable as a Zelda game. Link is back and he has bought with him some old friends but now Princess Zelda is playable, in flesh and blood (in game pixel flesh and blood of course so don’t expect her to appear before you) or as a spirit. Being on tracks the train transportation takes away some of the exploration and feel of freedom that I was used to in previous Zelda games I had played but quite you usually followed a certain path to get to the destination anyway, whether it was on foot by boat or by pony so a train kind of made sense in a way. But you don’t want every game to be the same gameplay just different enemies and environments now do you? The touch screen is put to good use here tapping or drawing lines and circles to move around and executing different attacks. The stylus also comes in handy to draw on the interactive map that can be used for scribbling all over making notes and marking points of interest along with doing what maps do best.

As you would expect Link also acquires different items and abilities to help in the adventure that have a variety of different benefits and uses like the Spirit Flute, swords, shields, bombs, boomerang, whirlwind and whip. Apart from the main quest there are also a number of optional side quests and mini games (like catching cute little bunny rabbits, not to eat either) to be completed that will make people happy and garner you force gems, that then in turn open up parts of the world otherwise inaccessible to get some special goodies.

The train is like a character itself with its own health bar, controls, weapons and enemies. Travelling requires not only basic controls but sometimes strategy to make it to your destination blasting enemies and rocks along the way. There are a variety of Multiplayer game that are a great extension to the game foer up to four players. So if you have a friend/s around with their own DS and they feel left out and jealous you are spending more time in the Overworld, then get them involved. Battle it out in different stages picking up items and powers that will hinder your opponent’s progress in a race for Force Gems. For friends that have the game themselves and if you are feeling generous you can trade items that will help in their journey. Although they just appear as coloured sprites on the screen you get involved in the excellent story with likeable characters, huge variety of enemies and bosses, varied landscapes and environments and the multiple of challenges that it brings.
It is an expansive and long game for the DS and it even has its own strategy guide if you prefer to leave the guess work out of playing and want to be told where to go next.
– Maceman