Reviews Surfing - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)

There’s no denying it—the biggest DS game right now is The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. You may be a bit disillusioned with the last Legend of Zelda because of a certain recurring level, so you may not be your usual Zelda-loving self. It’s perfectly understandable! But good news—Nintendo has learned its lesson in Spirit Tracks, and has ditched the punishing design of the previous game.

Despite this improvement, Spirit Tracks‘ overall rating is slightly lower compared to Phantom Hourglass. But you know what? I’ll take a slightly-lower score over better overall design any day. Here’s what the critics think of Spirit Tracks:

IGN: (9.3/10) “While Spirit Tracks has some obvious deja vu elements and can drag on from time to time, Nintendo’s latest pocket Zelda trumps the first game hands-down, delivering amazing bosses once again, now complemented with impressive dungeons, a truly epic challenge in the Spirit Tower, and a substantially longer adventure overall. Nintendo fans now have two must-play Zelda offerings on DS, as Spirit Tracks is an adventure not to be missed. Pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.”

1UP: (A-) “I suppose it’s pretty much a given that Nintendo fans are always going to buy the latest Zelda game, but Spirit Tracks doesn’t simply coast along on its legacy. Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, it’s a direct follow-up to a recent release that exceeds its predecessor in every way. And while it may not hit the soaring heights of Mario’s latest, it’s a fine game in its own right.”

Eurogamer: (9/10) “Spirit Tracks is, like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a straight rehash, a derivative sequel of the kind the company used not to make, and based on a decades-old template. You could easily mark it down for that. But that would belie the fact that it’s also a tighter and more rounded game, crafted with more care, than not just Phantom Hourglass but most modern games for grown-up consoles. As an all-ages adventure with a spring in its step and a twinkle in its eye, it’s hard to beat. All aboard!”

Giant Bomb: (4/5) “Though parts of Spirit Tracks are a little disappointing, most of those low points are offset by its terrific puzzle design and a great, fun story that feels noticeably different from the standard “save the princess” saga that series fans are used to seeing. Plus you can blow the train whistle, at will, whenever you’re on-board. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

While the average rating of this Zelda game is oh-so-slightly lower, the overall reception is much more positive than its predecessor. Chalk the lower score to déjà vu if you will, but what’s most encouraging about The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is its better design as a whole. We can’t wait to get our hands on it, so expect a review soon.

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