The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

by Nintendo

Product Features

• Helpful interactive map functionality that players can draw notes on the using the stylus that allows players to quickly mark spots in the game world for later exploration, or to note them as already explored.
• A whole new adventure in the Legend of Zelda series set in the years following the events of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.
• Links new AI ally, The Phantom (from the previous game in the series), whose bulk and immunities to dangerous elements like fire and magma, make him valuable in combat and in subterranean lava-filled levels.
• New propulsion and problem-solving game mechanics through Link's new in-game train which he uses as transport, and must be maneuvered and utilized to deal with obstacles.
• New in-game items and weapons like the Whirlwind, which Link uses to move items and overturn enemies, a whip, useful both in combat and in platforming, as well as his train's cannon, which can shoot bombs into the distance.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001TOQ8UW
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches ; 3.5 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: December 7, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (136 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #3 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Adventure
  • #11 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > All Games

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is an action/adventure game for the Nintendo DS and DSi that sets Link, the iconic hero of the Legend of Zelda series, on a daring new adventure. The game provides players with a new story, more puzzles, a new mode of transportation--by train--and a new companion in combat, the Phantom. Together these offer up new possibilities for problem-solving, adventure and fun to both longtime and new fans of the franchise alike. Propulsion and Problem-solving One of the most prominent features of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the ability to travel by rail throughout the game. When Link conducts the train, players enjoy a satisfying combination of action and real-time puzzle solving as they determine which track to take and how to best manipulate their speed. When on the train, Link must plot the best route to the end of the line around ever-moving obstacles. While en route, Link might need to fire an onboard cannon at enemies who attack the train or sound the whistle to scare animals off the tracks. New adventure, a new means of transport, and a new companion. View larger. The Phantom In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Link has a valuable new companion in combat and puzzle-solving, the Phantom. A faceless knight in a hulking suit of armor with immunities to dangerous elements like fire and magma, the Phantom responds to Link's directional commands. Players can simply tap the Phantom with their stylus to take command of him, then draw a line on the touch screen to direct him where to go. He will engage enemies automatically when he comes within range of them. The stout Phantom can also be used as a platform to carry Link above and over dangers, or even run interference to block Link from harm or help finish off an enemy. New In-game Items Spirit Tracks also introduces a variety of new items and weapons to The Legend of Zelda franchise. One of the most notable is the Whirlwind, which Link uses to move items and overturn enemies. Players activate this by blowing into the microphone of the Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system. Other new items include a whip, useful both in combat and in platforming, as well as his train's cannon, which can shoot bombs into the distance. Map Functionality As with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, in Spirit Tracks players can look forward to helpful interactive map functionality. The game map appears on the system's top screen, as opposed to the action on the bottom, and players can draw notes on the in-game maps using the stylus on the touch screen. This allows players to quickly mark spots in the game world of note for later exploration, or to note them as already explored. Screenshots: New train transport. View larger. Phantom functionality. View larger. Impressive boss battles. View larger. Easy to use maps. View larger.

Product Description

Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks NTRPBKIE 299

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

112 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zelda is back-and better., December 7, 2009

By 

tmujir955 - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Video Game)

Phantom Hourglass, for me, was a disappointment. I found it to be EXTREMELY repetitive because you had to go back to the same dungeon after every mission and solve the same puzzles over and over again.

Luckily, Spirit Tracks removes this problem, because every time you go back to the "Spirit Tower", you have to solve a different level(or floor) of the tower.

There is no button control scheme, but the stylus controls work fine.

Graphics are REALLY nice. Your jaw will drop when you see some of the bosses.

Train rides are a bit monotonous, especially when you have to travel all over the place.

Puzzles are entertaining as always, and Spirit Tacks is "different" because you have a Phantom helper at some points in the game.

Overall, an enjoyable way to kill, say, 20-30 hours. Also, there are new weapons in this game; certainly an improvement. I am absolutely sure this game will sell like hotcakes for the holiday season.

Note: If your planning on this as a gift, your target audience should be 10+. Some puzzles are fairly challenging, make sure to take note of that.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Addition to the Series, December 10, 2009

By 

Lynne A. Grabow - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Video Game)

I had my expectations set pretty low for this game, Link using a train didn't seem to appeal to me. Also, Phantom Hourglass was a disappointment to me so I was expecting a bit more disappointment.
When I put Spirit Tracks in my DS I was actually surprised on how good the game was. So I'll split everything up.

Movement:
The stylus movements are a bit more refined so it seems to read it easier than Phantom Hourglass, you don't find yourself stopping when you get too close to the edge of the screen. It's also a bit easier to roll, this can be a problem or can be an advantage for you.

Items: There are the usual items, the sword, the bow and arrow, boomerang, and bombs. Then new items are the Whip and Fan. The whip is very easy to use, the fan can be a pain at first since you have to blow into the microphone but it becomes second nature after awhile. Your new main item is the Spirit Flute, it's great for them to add in the DS Microphone but if your DS is old, it can be an issue picking up when your blowing into it or not, but other than that the new items are a great addition to the series.

Graphics:
Not much to say, they are the same as Phantom Hourglass, maybe a tad better.

Gameplay:
Now this is where this game shines over Phantom Hourglass, The train can be a bit tedious after awhile, but there are a very shortcuts to help along. A new feature is the control of a second character, this only comes into play in the Tower of Spirits, Zelda is able to take control a Phantom when you have 3 Tears of Light. This makes some puzzles very interesting and can be very entertaining when you see a large suit of armor cowering over a little mouse. Other than that Zelda takes the role of a helping character, such as Navi or Ceila. Your main source of transportation is the train of course.

Overall the game is very good, If you were disappointed in Phantom Hourglass then you wont be disappointed in Spirit Tracks. Even if you haven't played a Zelda game, this would be a great game to start.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our heroic Hyrulean is at it again, December 15, 2009

By 

Paul Kim (Newport, RI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Video Game)

There may be some vague spoilers below, but nothing too revealing. I'll cover the new gimmicks first:

Link, the engineer - "Geez, the Zelda idea well is sure running dry, huh?" was my first thought upon seeing the trailers a few months before the release date. Turns out that I enjoy the train elements more than I expected. The designers give you plenty of stuff to do while traveling, and you encounter a growing cast of enemies as the game progresses. And when there's nothing else to do, it's always fun to try your stylus-equipped hand at creating slow and dramatic cinematic camera sweeps of our favorite green-clad hero on his way to save Hyrule. Towards the end of the game, the use of the train figures in more significantly, even including a sort of Pac-Man-on-steroids bit of gameplay. While being able to travel only where the titular Spirit Tracks lay on the overworld map makes traveling a bit more efficient, it does kind of take away from the free roaming exploration aspect of the series. While I imagine some people will hate the train, I think it's a nice change of pace (though I'm already itching to get Link's two feet back on the ground).

Zelda, the Phantom puppeteer - Again, this idea turned out to be better executed than I expected. While controlling Zelda is a little cumbersome at first, it ends up adding a nice gameplay element. Though nothing revolutionary, the Link-Zelda partnership allows the designers to add some creative puzzles and action sequences. There are a variety of different Phantoms this time around so that helps keep things fresh. The use of Zelda is generally confined to the Tower of Spirits, so you won't be dealing with this during the normal temples. All in all, I highly approve of how they worked this into the game.


The temples:

The temples (or dungeons, if you will) have always been to me the bread and butter of Zelda games. The temples in Spirit Tracks are good, if not incredibly challenging for the most part. They are also extremely linear, which is probably not surprising to most. Even when you're backtracking, it's all linear backtracking, if that makes any sense. The first few temples are quite easy and short, but from the fourth temple and on the puzzles get increasingly complex, and you'll likely spend an hour or more on each one the first time you play them. The later boss fights are also pretty epic, and a whole lot of fun.


Pros:

+ The graphics are great, and the various cutscenes are well done.
+ DS stylus controls are well-implemented with only occasional annoyances. I found myself using the left shoulder button to equip items, and doing that in conjunction with aiming or drawing paths with the stylus proved to be quick and efficient. One of the later items, new to the series, would be chore to use with the conventional D-pad and buttons, but the stylus makes its use fast, easy, and fun.
+ As we've come to expect from the Zelda franchise, the music here is excellent (and using headphones is recommended if at all possible). The songs played with the Spirit Flute, especially the duets with the various Lokomos, are all enjoyable. However, the real winner for me is the overworld train theme. It is simply fantastic, which is fortunate because you're going to hear a whole lot of it, and the slight alterations of it that occur in different situations (train speed, how much of the Spirit Tracks have been unlocked, etc.) are a nice touch. At certain moments in the Ocean Realm, there's even a reference to the sailing theme in The Wind Waker. Every time Link departs from a location, the theme starts up, the train starts steaming, and then music and train blast off together. You'll experience this dozens of times, and it never loses any excitement.


Cons:

- It takes about an hour to get into any action (and by action I mean not just fighting, but puzzles and exploration as well), and even that initial bit is far from gripping. You'll play for over two hours before reaching the first temple. Compare this to the beginning of A Link to the Past (whose opening is my favorite in the Zelda canon), where within minutes you're in the heart of the action. To be fair, this somewhat long orientation period is now quite typical for Zelda games so it's nothing out of the ordinary.
- DS gimmicks (blowing into the mic to play the Spirit Flute, having to yell at certain times) are sigh-inducing but tolerable.
- Princess Zelda is often pretty annoying, both in cut scenes as well as during actual gameplay. Though they are unplayable characters, the Princesses in OOT and TWW are much better. And if you hate the look of Toon Link, you'll definitely groan at Toon Zelda.
- Contains the tedious filler that has been customary for Zelda titles for quite some time. By that, I mean fetch quests and the like which are unchallenging but time consuming, simply acting as chores. And I don't mean side quests, either (of which Spirit Tracks has plenty). I mean mind-numbing stuff that you simply HAVE to do. Though this adds gameplay hours, it hurts replay value. Take out the padding and I'd probably start the game over again tomorrow even though I just beat it today. As it stands, I don't expect to replay it again for quite some time. Limiting side quests to a minimum, experienced Zelda fans should complete the game in 20-25 hours the first time through. However, I'd argue that at least 30% could be trimmed off, resulting in a better game with more replay value. And this is coming from someone who likes long games.

It may seem like I'm being overly critical on what is overall a fantastic game. I imagine it's simply because the Zelda franchise is the one that I hold nearest and dearest to my heart, and therefore I tend to being extremely critical of it, desiring and demanding nothing short of near-perfection. However, though I consider Spirit Tracks to be merely an excellent Zelda game, I always remind myself that when given a fairer comparison against all video games, it's nothing less than outstanding. I'm grateful for every new Zelda title that comes out, and this one is no exception. I'd easily recommend it to just about anyone.