The previous Zelda game on the DS, Phantom Hourglass, was one of the great RPGs, not to mention Zelda games the system had to offer, and many got a DS simply because of that particular game. It didn’t only offer unparalleled gameplay, but it was also by far the best looking game on the system as well. It’s been two years since Phantom Hourglass, and Zelda fans have been waiting with great expectation for Link’s next appearance on the console. We can safely say that the wait has been worthwhile: Spirit Tracks not only takes the series in a new direction, but it does it in class and style.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is set a hundred years after Phantom Hourglass, and this time, Link has abandoned his boat and instead rides a train. But besides the new form of transport, Spirit Tracks is remarkably like Phantom Hourglass, from looks (which are a bit better), to gameplay and controls, everything feels familiar, which is a good thing, because the previous game pretty much nailed it on the DS. You’ll move Link across vast landscapes by drawing a route for the train with the stylus, the same way you drew routes for the boat in Phantom Hourglass. And you’ll be doing a lot of train riding — more than you should, actually, as several hours of the 25 hour long campaign (including side quests) will be spent on the train. But that’s expected, it was the same deal with the boat in Phantom Hourglass. But it doesn’t mean it should be that way.

The train rides aren’t that boring though, as you’ll be using your canon to fight enemies, and scare off livestock which might be blocking your tracks. You also need to keep your eyes open and on the map, make sure to switch tracks when needed, and to the right tracks, so you’re not on a collision course with another train. Should you hit a train, you’ll be sent back right where you started, which is always a bummer.

The gameplay keeps many of the great aspects from the previous game — including a Navi companion, this time, it’s Zelda herself, or rather, her spirit, which can take control of Phantoms, the heavy guards that guard the Tower of Spirits, thereby helping Link throughout his journey and dungeons. You’ll be using Zelda and the Guards extensively to solve puzzles, and it’s a great new addition to the tried and tested Zelda gameplay. The core mechanic is still the same: you enter a dungeon, fight your way through it, solve puzzles, get a new item, and finally, use that item to defeat the boss. Same Zelda formula that’s been used for decades now. In addition to that, you’ll be making lots of trips to the Tower of Spirits, where you’ll unlock maps to proceed, much like the Ocean Temple in Phantom Hourglass. However, you’ll be spending a lot less time there than before, and more time exploring and doing quests.

The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks offers enough new features than the previous game, enough changes and fixes to make it definitely the better of two. Furthermore, there’s also multiplayer, where up to four players can play competitive multiplayer games on half a dozen maps, and only one player is required to have the game cartridge to play. Visually, it’s easily the best looking game on the DS, and while it’s rather easy to beat, it’ll still offer hours and hours of satisfying gameplay to any DS owner.

The Good:
Lots of content
Improves on the predecessor
New features
Very polished
Multiplayer is great

The Bad:
Train riding can get tedious
Not challenging enough

Overall score: 9/10