Zelda: Spirit Tracks review
There are certain games, from certain games series I await. The Zelda series is one of those and Spirit Tracks was certainly one of those games. As soon as it landed on my desk, I had ripped off the plastic and shoved it straight into my DS console and got down to business. I do promise however to be constructive with my review, though I'm a massive fan.
Spirit Tracks is the second original Zelda to grace the DS console, and like its predecessor Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass it is styled in the same cell shaded fashion we saw on the Game Cubes Zelda: Windwaker.
So the story goes as follows... Link (You) are a trainee steam engine driver and have been summoned to Hyrule castle by princess Zelda to graduate as a full fledged driver. Once you get there it all kicks off and I'm not going to spoil it for you but as most my favourite games entail, you have to save the princess.
This style of game is perfect for the DS, almost what the DS was made for (which wasn't cookery games may I add). The use of the stylus with this game is almost compulsory. Movement, attacks, puzzle solving and train driving all come under the stylus which I like, it frustrates me even when games don't abuse the touch screen technology.
Something I love about Nintendo, over other games companies is there ability to make things simple. A game like Zelda could be considered quite complicated with its train driving, multiple sword fighting techniques, very tricky puzzles and general detail that has been put into a game, but the designers of this game have made it very easy for it all to become second nature to you. Every tutorial is implanted into a small task which is easy and becoming more tasking the further you get into the game.
My favourite thing about Spirit Tracks is the beautiful level design. The temples and the lands around them are beautiful to look at even on your DS and its the simple things that really make this game an instant classic.
The sound design like any Zelda is very clear and well orchestrated. I still think though that Link sounds like he is swearing when he does a bit attack.
Between playing the game and doing this review I still haven't managed to complete it, and I can tell you, I've played it ALOT. This game is long and if you are looking for a game to get you through the cold winter period, this game is definitely the one.
Now for my complaints. This was hard because though i am genuinely a huge fan of the Zelda series, but this game is great. Everything is very smooth, easy and fun to play and long enough to take you through to 2012. If I had to improve anything, is that the story takes a little while to fully get going and it could do with being a few gears faster. I do think that doing that may effect how easy the game is to fall into.
I wanted to give this game a 4 star rating to prove I wasn't being biased, but i can't. It's too good. Sampage out.
Rated: 7+
Available: Nintendo DS only
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