The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the DS is the newest of cartoon Link’s adventures, but it’s not merely a continuation of the same themes and ideas of Wind Waker or any other of the previous games.

Rating: E (for Everyone)
Genre: Action – Adventure
Players: 1
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: December 7th, 2009

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Two big changes provide a basic shift in game play that make this addition to the series: The most obvious is you’ve got neither your trusty steed nor your royal boat – you’ve just acquired your first train! This mode of transportation is the only one available across the wide world – it’s only in towns and dungeons you get to stretch your legs. It is somewhat limiting (read: boring) at first, but as both new tracks and new options for your train open up, it becomes an enjoyable part of the game. Most importantly, the train provides an ingenious way to further the collect-and-trade type of sub-games that have made previous Zelda games so enjoyable. Spirit Tracks takes those sub-games to new heights. Benevolent Link can spend hours upon hours doing favors, running supplies, solving small puzzles about what townsfolk need and bringing it to them with the help of his train. These side-quests get you prizes and access to new areas, of course, but that’s forgetting the satisfaction Zelda players get from making those townspeople happy – finding a lost pet cat can get you a piece of heart or an empty glass jar, no doubt, but all of those goofy characters are just so fun to please, the side-quests are silly and enjoyable all on their own, and Spirit Tracks packs plenty of them in, letting you load up your train with things to help Hyrulians near and far.

Second, Princess Zelda herself takes up a main role in the story and travels with Link throughout the main part of the game. Rather than being a major part of the storyline but a minor character, in Spirit Tracks she is both an important part of Link’s quest and also a personality he reckons with throughout the game. Not only does Link interact with her, but you do as well. At times you control her, and at times you must puzzle out how to control both her and Link in order to defeat certain enemies or puzzles. Not only does this add a fiesty, self-centered and humorous character to all your adventures, it requires the mental puzzle solving skills that the series has always challenged, and extra manual dexterity to boot. Princess Zelda provides interesting dialogue and a different point of view besides the ever-present Link, and she has more personality than he’s ever had. Spirit Tracks doesn’t spare the goofy facial expressions, dramatic “acting” on the part of the characters, or silly dialogue, and all of that helps to build the charming world we’re used to.

This enjoyable game will manage to remind long-time Zelda series players of their favorite aspects of previous games while adding to the things they love about the series as it grows, and it will introduce new players to a world filled with exciting game play and enjoyable side quests.