The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks – Review Round-up

Official Nintendo Magazine UK – 91
Not a huge leap forward for the series but a wonderful game nonetheless. Enjoy.

1UP – 91
Fortunately, Spirit Tracks is nowhere near as toothless as its predecessor, so these issues amount to minor irritants at worst. It’s a deceptively meaty adventure with enough novel twists on the Zelda formula to keep it from feeling phoned-in. It’s definitely a game that rewards casual play — not in the sense of “casual games,” but rather in the sense that it’s packed with events and quests that you’ll completely miss if you simply rush from dungeon to dungeon. The loose, upbeat banjo-and-whistle melody that plays as you ride the rails says it all: Relax, take it easy, enjoy the ride, see the sights. And while I miss the traditional overworld design of the core Zelda games, there’s something inherently fun about rambling across the countryside on a steam engine, unlocking new tracks by completing side quests, and filling a little book with station stamps at each stop along the way. The end result is a charming side story that, like Link’s Awakening and Majora’s Mask, forges its own unique personality — something the medium could certainly use a little more of these days.

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.

Computer and Video Games – 90
A superb quest that doesn’t rewrite the rules but delivers another engrossing Zelda adventure. If you own a DS, buy it. Spirit Tracks has that same Zelda intrigue with each new unexplored area, be it a village, dungeon or cave in the wall, drawing you towards it like a fat man to a fridge. You just have to look around. Explore. Lose yourself in its world. And with an abundance of side quests (catching bunnies, collecting jewels, stamping in a stamp book, giving characters lifts around) there’s plenty of activities to get absorbed into.

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks isn’t the refresh so many fans are calling for, but that task can be left for the next big boy Wii entry. Despite this – and the fact that it’s a little on the easy side, like Hourglass – this is still a stunning example of brilliant game design and you won’t find much better on any handheld.

GameTrailers – 90
Spirit Tracks addresses all of the shortcomings of Phantom Hourglass and delivers a brilliant experience. It hasn’t done much to change up the established formula, but it’s still a solid adventure that ranks as one of the better outings in the series.
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Edge Magazine – 80
Spirit Tracks’ aging tricks continue to carry you cack into the narcotic realms of pure ritual, until you’re deep in the caverns yet again, holding the magic yellow boomerang once more, and wondering what quirky brilliance it will bring with it this time.

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