User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 395 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 34 out of 395
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. Jun 9, 2011
    9
    Huge improvement over Phantom Hourglass. Improved DS Stylus control, better story - Princess Zelda is the best companion you will ever have in a Zelda game and is actually funnier, difficulty is a bit more balanced but just not there yet (Nintendo should stop catering for casual gamers on difficulty, it's like they might cry if they keep dying or can't do it and this was a huge setback forHuge improvement over Phantom Hourglass. Improved DS Stylus control, better story - Princess Zelda is the best companion you will ever have in a Zelda game and is actually funnier, difficulty is a bit more balanced but just not there yet (Nintendo should stop catering for casual gamers on difficulty, it's like they might cry if they keep dying or can't do it and this was a huge setback for Phantom Hourglass. A challenge would actually benefit them) and a more reasonable handheld length. Though the train travel is actually more tedious than the sailing in Windwaker and Phantom Hourglass, it's actually nice to travel on something new in a Zelda game. Expand
  2. Jan 12, 2014
    8
    A wonderful addition to the DS and LoZ library of games. The touch control similar to that of Phantom Hourglass is greatly designed, although I would've preferred D-Pad moving...It does take all the capabilities of the ds and uses them well. Although some puzzles and the story may be a bit dumbed down, it's definitely a fun game that's worth your cash! The multiplayer is addicting asA wonderful addition to the DS and LoZ library of games. The touch control similar to that of Phantom Hourglass is greatly designed, although I would've preferred D-Pad moving...It does take all the capabilities of the ds and uses them well. Although some puzzles and the story may be a bit dumbed down, it's definitely a fun game that's worth your cash! The multiplayer is addicting as well....and the ability to have single card download play is a great addition to this game

    Gameplay: 9/10
    Story: 8/10
    Music: 8/10
    Presentation: 8.5/10
    Length: 8/10
    Overall: 8/10
    Expand
  3. JesseR
    Jan 18, 2010
    10
    While some critics argue that Spirit Tracks is by no means one of the best Zelda games out there, I have to disagree. While it does echo its predecessor Phantom Hourglass from time to time, and, admittedly, there were times when I wished the train would go just a LITTLE bit faster, it is still, in my opinion, the best handheld Zelda out there. The new Tower of Spirits is a riot, and after While some critics argue that Spirit Tracks is by no means one of the best Zelda games out there, I have to disagree. While it does echo its predecessor Phantom Hourglass from time to time, and, admittedly, there were times when I wished the train would go just a LITTLE bit faster, it is still, in my opinion, the best handheld Zelda out there. The new Tower of Spirits is a riot, and after two cell-shaded ocean-traveling games it Expand
  4. Jan 20, 2012
    7
    A nice game, with controls and visuals that suit the DS well. The boring part about it though is that is too easy, suppose its target audience is kids around 7-8 years old, because nearly every puzzle has an obvious solution. Also, the story is a joke (unless you are about 7-8 years old or younger...).
  5. sLm
    Jul 8, 2012
    8
    Though it may feel a bit similar to Phantom Hourglass, it's a good game, and they fixed many issues present in the previous game. For example, now you don't have to repeat the last Temple all over again, and there's no countdown, which is very very good in my opinion, it let's you enjoy the dungeons relaxed and without hurry. Also, you can control Zelda, who can possess special soldiersThough it may feel a bit similar to Phantom Hourglass, it's a good game, and they fixed many issues present in the previous game. For example, now you don't have to repeat the last Temple all over again, and there's no countdown, which is very very good in my opinion, it let's you enjoy the dungeons relaxed and without hurry. Also, you can control Zelda, who can possess special soldiers with cool abilities. Regarding dungeons, we get a couple new items very cool, like the sand lifter and the whip (I love this xd), as well as old ones like the boomerang and arrows. Bombs looks not to be needed to go ahead in the game, but you can take them too. Dungeons start easy, but in the mid-end game they become truly challenging, which may be a let down at first, but after you discover how to solve the difficult puzzles, it feels more rewarded than solving easy ones, which is very good. The hardest part of the game was the train pursuit almost at the end of the game, where you must destroy all the mad trains (it's really hard, they change their direction any time and pursuit you lol, you have to memorize their tracks to get them or you are dead). I recommend saving game after beating that xD. So, after some really frustrating moments in which I literally went mad at the game haha, I think it was worth playing it, because it's very rewarding in the end, due to it's difficulty. :) Expand
  6. May 3, 2019
    8
    Music: 5/5
    Game Play: 4/5
    Graphics: 4/5
    Story: 4/5
    Time-Value: 4/5
    Overall:4/5
  7. Oct 21, 2012
    10
    I hated Phantom Hourglass. The over world sucked, the music was bland, the puzzles were insultingly easy, and the plot was an excuse. So why does this game get a perfect ten from me? Because it did just about everything right. Admittedly the over world wasn't as good as in the 3D Zelda games, but it's still a vast improvement. The music offers some of the best tracks in the entireI hated Phantom Hourglass. The over world sucked, the music was bland, the puzzles were insultingly easy, and the plot was an excuse. So why does this game get a perfect ten from me? Because it did just about everything right. Admittedly the over world wasn't as good as in the 3D Zelda games, but it's still a vast improvement. The music offers some of the best tracks in the entire franchise, such as the Sacred Duet and the Overworld theme. The puzzles were easily the best out of any Zelda game, making it a bit more of a puzzle game than an action-adventure title. Finally, the plot was probably the best in the series, involving many great characters with a lot of life to them(Especially Zelda and Byrne). This game is different than other Zelda games, but as we established with Majora's Mask and Skyward Sword, different doesn't mean bad. Expand
  8. Oct 10, 2010
    10
    Phantom Hourglass was, definetely, one of the worst Zelda titles, and yet, it was fun. Spirit Tracks is better in pretty much every way it could be. The little problem we had with using the touchscreen were fixed, like the rolling attack. The soundtrack is, possibly, one of the best in the Zelda series. Spirit Tracks uses prety much everything the DS has to offer. The microfone, thePhantom Hourglass was, definetely, one of the worst Zelda titles, and yet, it was fun. Spirit Tracks is better in pretty much every way it could be. The little problem we had with using the touchscreen were fixed, like the rolling attack. The soundtrack is, possibly, one of the best in the Zelda series. Spirit Tracks uses prety much everything the DS has to offer. The microfone, the touchscreen. The buttons on the other hand... Spirit Tracks is definetely worthy of the "Zelda" title. It starts with easy dungeons, but by the end, you'll find yourself stuck for several times. The biggest problem in Phantom Hourglass, the central dungeon, is still here, but differently from the Temple of the Ocean King, the Tower of Spirits will never force you to go through floors you have already visited, instead, it will take you to differente challenges. It's a great Zelda to have in your pocket. The game is a tad bit short, lasting about 25/30 hours of gameplay. IF you are going through all the sidequests, it's a LOT longer, and for people who wants some real challenge, there is the Dark Ore Quest. Overall, Spirit Tracjs is one of the most inspired Zeldas out there, it might not be the best one, but it is one that is worth it. Expand
  9. Oct 11, 2017
    10
    The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is easily still one of my most favourite games to play, despite it being almost 8 years old. The entire game itself is simplistic but still makes you think enough for it to be classed as a puzzle game. The storyline isn’t entirely a prominent feature it’s more just woven through everything else to progress certain parts without it not making sense, it isThe Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is easily still one of my most favourite games to play, despite it being almost 8 years old. The entire game itself is simplistic but still makes you think enough for it to be classed as a puzzle game. The storyline isn’t entirely a prominent feature it’s more just woven through everything else to progress certain parts without it not making sense, it is however still a good storyline for those who enjoy a good plot.

    The story begins in Link’s home village whilst he’s being told the story of why the spirit tracks actually exist, this obviously sets up the base for the whole game or else nothing would make sense. It quickly begins the tutorial of how to use controls by weaving it into the story instead of just simply stating what to use for what, it’s more immersing using the story as a way of teaching controls.
    It soon begins the real story when Link has to make his way to Hyrule Castle by train to see the Princess and gain his engineer’s certificate, again the train journey mainly being used as a way to teach the train controls rather than being anything else important.
    A lot of cutscenes later the first ‘real’ playing begins when Link has to help Princess Zelda escape so that she can investigate why some of the tracks are mysteriously disappearing, this of course eventually leads to the typical “something bad happens to the princess and she needs saving by the hero himself, Link”.

    After the story is set up for the princess needing to be saved the real and true story begins filled with travelling, puzzles and enemies of all shapes and sizes.
    One of the best features, personally, is the use of the spirit flute for puzzles and shortcuts since it’s a new feature for spirit tracks which adds to everything else.

    The graphics are interesting since it’s much more basic compared to the other games and it’s played more on a 2D basis since you use the stylus to tap and walk around whereas in a game like Ocarina of Time you use the control pad to walk and look around, however I think that it makes it much easier to navigate and fight since you have more control using the stylus, therefore the overall game experience becomes better as you spend less time grasping the controls.

    If you were a fan of Phantom Hourglass you may find yourself a big fan of Spirit Tracks too since they are very similar in style, just you drive a train rather than a boat.
    Expand
  10. Feb 3, 2013
    9
    I guess Nintendo decided to carry on the easy, casual gameplay they brought in with Phantom Hourglass, because, this is quite frankly, one of the easier titles in the series. Nevertheless, Spirit Tracks provides the same fun, innovative touch-screen gameplay as it's predecessor and offers a smooth, progressive storyline. The action is not something to get worked about. Although, some ofI guess Nintendo decided to carry on the easy, casual gameplay they brought in with Phantom Hourglass, because, this is quite frankly, one of the easier titles in the series. Nevertheless, Spirit Tracks provides the same fun, innovative touch-screen gameplay as it's predecessor and offers a smooth, progressive storyline. The action is not something to get worked about. Although, some of the boss battles can be quite challenging at times. The game also offers some challenging dungeons (though few) and is a great DS title to add to your collection. It is a must-buy for DS owners and fans of all Zelda games. Expand
  11. Mar 16, 2015
    10
    Entspannende Zugfahrten , gute Unterhaltung , spannende Kämpfe und innovative Minigames : Das ist Spirit Tracks . Minister von Glaiss , Delok und Lineback waren geniale Charaktere und erst die Soundtracks ! Der zweite und vierte Boss hatte enorm geile Battletracks , aber der Finalkampf hat den besten überhaupt ! Unschlagbar , dieses Game ! ^-^
  12. Apr 25, 2017
    8
    I had many problems with phantom hourglass, but most of them have been fixed in this DS sequel: the touch screen controls are now more responsive (although a real pain during the final boss) and the main dungeon (the spirit tower) that you will be returning to during the whole game is much better in Spirit tracks than in Phantom hourglass. The fact that Zelda can control the phantoms addsI had many problems with phantom hourglass, but most of them have been fixed in this DS sequel: the touch screen controls are now more responsive (although a real pain during the final boss) and the main dungeon (the spirit tower) that you will be returning to during the whole game is much better in Spirit tracks than in Phantom hourglass. The fact that Zelda can control the phantoms adds fun gameplay, and Zelda's important role throughout the game makes the story pretty interesting. Driving the spirit train is pleasant, mainly thanks to an amazing overworked theme. Although the game may be linear at times, I don't actually care: excluding Breath of the Wild and the original Zelda for NES every Zelda game is pretty straightforward. The spirit tower and sand temple are some of the best dungeons on a handheld Zelda game: the rest of the dungeons are nothing special though. The boss fights are okay, and the addition of new items such as the sand wand make the game very fun. The best part of this game is undoubtedly the customisable pieces for the spirit train. The game has a very slow start however and getting from one place to the other is sometimes very time-comusing. the touch screen controls although improved are still unresponsive and make link roll instead of attack several times. This game is definitely flawed but its still a good game. If you own a DS and want to play Zelda, get this one it outclasses Phantom Hourglass. Expand
  13. Aug 13, 2012
    3
    I don't know how they did it, but they managed to screw up a Zelda game, and royally at that. I will admit many of the Zelda series can be rather samey, given how many of them are out there, but they are usually enjoyable none the less. This addition is not. It is terrible, and not worth your time or money.I don't know how they did it, but they managed to screw up a Zelda game, and royally at that. I will admit many of the Zelda series can be rather samey, given how many of them are out there, but they are usually enjoyable none the less. This addition is not. It is terrible, and not worth your time or money.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Where to begin? Basically, if you take everything you love about the Zelda series, and flush it down the toilet, and you will obtain the Spirit Tracks. Overworld exploration, a staple of the series, has been eliminated entirely, replaced with the Spirit Tracks and a train the runs on them. Essential you ride a train between several points on a map, each representing a location you can visit in the game. Riding the train essentially boils down to selecting the correct direction when you reach various intersections, and just waiting otherwise. Poor choices at intersections essentially amount to more waiting. Simply put, the trains do little more than waste time whenever you want to transition between maps, and are a horrible substitute for the overworld map found in most installments.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Next is the controls. Crippled is the only way to describe them. Rather than use the D-Pad for movement and the buttons for the sword and items, the stylus is used both to move link and to attack enemies. Both actions are carried out by clicking on the appropriate portion of the screen. Accidentally click just to the side of a monster, a you will walk face first into them rather than strike them with the sword. It only gets worse with items. One of the first you get fires tornadoes. You first have to select it with the stylus, then select the direction with the stylus, and then blow on the microphone to fire the thing. Its awkward as hell to operate, you can't move the character while doing so, and background vibrations, such as the motion of the car, can cause the thing to unintentionally fire. With a sensible control scheme, just about anyone would find much of this game a cake walk. Much of the difficult in playing this game arises from the terrible control scheme, not the puzzles or challenges. These controls wouldn't even be acceptable on a indie title written in somebodies garage, the fact that they made it into a Zelda game is inexcusable.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I found the dungeons and puzzles to be dull and uninspiring. The aesthetics are terrible. The dungeons all appear rather similar, and exploring them gets boring rather quickly. The puzzles simply are not interesting. The unique dungeon delving mechanic in Spirit Tracks involves an AI companion that you give pathing instruction to. The companion move rather slowly, so a lot of time will be spent just waiting for the AI to move around. The companion probably doesn't waist as much time as the bloody trains, but its still more unnecessary waiting.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The short of it is that you have a game with crippled controls, two mechanics that just waist the players time, and nothing to really see or do that justified putting up with these problems. You really are not missing anything by skipping this installment. Don't trust the positive reviews, too many people are willing to give any installment in this series a past. Their are far better uses for your entertainment budget.
    Expand
  14. Apr 10, 2013
    3
    I love The Legend Of Zelda but this game should never have been released. The train-travel sections are mind-numbingly boring and feel as if they're included just to pad the game out, while the dungeons are short and overly simple. For a good hand-held Zelda game, try Phantom Hourglass, or the 3D remake of Ocarina Of Time. Spirit Tracks is a complete embarrassment.
  15. Jan 22, 2021
    0
    The game receives the lowest score I can grade a game. It left such a sour taste in my mouth, so lets get it al out right now. Lets start with the gameplay. Its rubbish. The dungeons are really easy and controlling link through the stylist is just akward. But ehat ruined the game is the godamn flute mechanic. Never have I experienced something so utterly stupid. Who testet this?! It justThe game receives the lowest score I can grade a game. It left such a sour taste in my mouth, so lets get it al out right now. Lets start with the gameplay. Its rubbish. The dungeons are really easy and controlling link through the stylist is just akward. But ehat ruined the game is the godamn flute mechanic. Never have I experienced something so utterly stupid. Who testet this?! It just broke the game for me. Ultimy I quit the game at the fire temple and used the pc version to get past the flute sections because it just didnt work on my 3ds. Garbage! Expand
  16. MalcolmM
    Jan 17, 2010
    4
    I'm baffled as to why this game is getting such high scores. I didn't mind Phantom Hourglass, I would rate it as 6 out of ten. Spirit Tracks is Phantom Hourglass, only worse. Worse because there is nothing new, and the travel by train is mind numbingly boring. The dungeons are now tiny, and offer little challenge. Like most of Nintendo's offerings, Zelda is a shadow of its I'm baffled as to why this game is getting such high scores. I didn't mind Phantom Hourglass, I would rate it as 6 out of ten. Spirit Tracks is Phantom Hourglass, only worse. Worse because there is nothing new, and the travel by train is mind numbingly boring. The dungeons are now tiny, and offer little challenge. Like most of Nintendo's offerings, Zelda is a shadow of its former self. Expand
  17. Jul 21, 2016
    1
    This game is the scum of the Zelda franchise. You can only get enjoyment out of this if you love torturing yourself, or if you don't know what a Zelda game is all about. This game is an instant turn off to the series if you have never played a Zelda game before. I recommend a good game before you tread into the evil that is Spirit Tracks So finally, without anymore banter, I will tell youThis game is the scum of the Zelda franchise. You can only get enjoyment out of this if you love torturing yourself, or if you don't know what a Zelda game is all about. This game is an instant turn off to the series if you have never played a Zelda game before. I recommend a good game before you tread into the evil that is Spirit Tracks So finally, without anymore banter, I will tell you what sucks about this game.
    -=-=Travel=-=-
    The travel in this game is the most boring aspect. The train is very limited, its not like roaming freely around a vast area, its more linear than anything I have ever seen.
    -=-=Controls=-=-
    This is more of a personal gripe. If you have ever played a normal Zelda game (other than the overrated n64 titles) you will know that the controls of a Zelda game feel real freaking good. The stylus controls just cant do it justice in anyway shape or form. Again just a personal gripe.
    -=-=Adds Nothing=-=-
    This game adds nothing new or good to the series. Its like a phantom hourglass ripoff... with trains(づ ̄ ³ ̄)づ This game seems like it could be a Chinese bootleg or something with the amount of unoriginality that is being spewed at your face while playing this. That is all of my ranting, I hope I could open the eyes of all these reviews that said it was good. Good day, and good night
    Expand
  18. Aug 30, 2012
    3
    I have no clue whatsoever why everyone seems to not hate this game, never mind actually LIKE it. It just about makes it to 'playable', but you will NOT enjoy playing it. The controls are annoying (Couldn't they have just made it possible to use the D-Pad?), paticularly when you have to blow on the microphone. It provides limited levels of entertainment for a few hours. Then it suffersI have no clue whatsoever why everyone seems to not hate this game, never mind actually LIKE it. It just about makes it to 'playable', but you will NOT enjoy playing it. The controls are annoying (Couldn't they have just made it possible to use the D-Pad?), paticularly when you have to blow on the microphone. It provides limited levels of entertainment for a few hours. Then it suffers from the same affliction to plague the whole Zelda series. Bottlenecks. You're in a dungeon. It's mildly enjoyable despite the fact you're fumbling a bit with the awkward control scheme. Then you come to a room full of random objects. It gives you no clue as to how to proceed. You know that due to the way the series works if you do some random sequence of things the door will open. That's it. It gives you no clue as to what this sequence of things might be. If you can figure it out by pure chance then you have some awkward combat. Repeat ad infnitum. I hate this game. Expand
  19. DaveH
    Dec 7, 2009
    6
    It is basically a remake of Phantom Hourglass, the previous Zelda DS game, it is not worth buying if you're over 12.
  20. Gannon
    Jan 24, 2010
    5
    A so-so game, but the worst in the series. The graphics are good, and so is the music, except it's repetitive. Also, the tutorial and cutscenes are about an hour long in the begining, which is really overkill. You don't have a million things to learn like in Grand Theift Auto 4 or a cool story like in Kingdom Hearts 2. Also, the forced stealth sections are extremely boring, and A so-so game, but the worst in the series. The graphics are good, and so is the music, except it's repetitive. Also, the tutorial and cutscenes are about an hour long in the begining, which is really overkill. You don't have a million things to learn like in Grand Theift Auto 4 or a cool story like in Kingdom Hearts 2. Also, the forced stealth sections are extremely boring, and frequent. You don't have to go through several floors over and over like in Phantom Hourglass, but you have to climb a buttload of stairs to get to the next dungeon to discover the next spirit tracks map, which is STUPID!! Why isn't there an elevator up when there are elevators down? And if you save and turn off the game in one of these dungeons, it doesn't spawn you outside the floor you were on, you have to climb allllllll those stairs all over again. Also the passenger missions are extrememly redundant. I do like how you get infinate bombs when you're on the train. I also think the characters in this game are really funny. There is a train obsessed super nerd and a guy in a bunny costume who really takes rabbit-rescue seriously. Another thing I like is when you come to a yes or no option, they mix it up by giving you options like "LOCKED AND LOADED" or "I don't wanna." I just made those two examples up, but you get the idea. Those bits of interaction with the protagonist keep him from being a silent, emotionless, boring character. Even though they're small things, those interactions between you and the other characters are really immersive, and are what made the presentation in Persona 4 so perfect. What makes this game the worst is that there is nothing new. Every Zelda game did something new. Ocarina of Time introduced 3d, Majora's Mask did time manipulations, Four Swords had a level system instead of an overworld and items you could keep, Zelda 2 did sidescrolling (which sucked, though), Twilight Princess removed the magic meter, Wind Waker introduced Sailing, Phantom Hourglass introduced touchscreen controles, blah blah blah you get the idea. The train is basically the boat on rails, and taking controle of Zelda isn't really a huge innovation. There are new items but they are basically the same thing as in other games. The whip is basically a grappeling hook you can attack with, and the windmeal is just the deku leaf from Wind Waker. This game barely has any side missions, not unlike Phantom Hourglass. The puzzles have an uninspired "I've done this before" feeling to them and there are no new or interesting temple gimmicks. In conclusion, I can only recommend this if you've never played any Zelda game before, but I seem to be in minority since so many people love this game. I just dont get it!! Expand
  21. LBC
    Sep 9, 2010
    5
    While Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks certainly delivers the high-caliber dungeons and storyline that Zelda fans have come to expect, it falters in a big way. By adding the Train game-mechanic, Nintendo has essentially flushed out over world exploration, which is in my opinion one of the defining characteristics of the Zelda franchise. I refuse to believe that Nintendo couldn't find a wayWhile Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks certainly delivers the high-caliber dungeons and storyline that Zelda fans have come to expect, it falters in a big way. By adding the Train game-mechanic, Nintendo has essentially flushed out over world exploration, which is in my opinion one of the defining characteristics of the Zelda franchise. I refuse to believe that Nintendo couldn't find a way to keep exploration in the game and incorporate the Train at the same time. I also found that this game is noticeably easier than Phantom Hourglass. Hardcore Zelda fans will be pleased, but the rest of us on the fringe will find better gaming experiences elsewhere. Expand
  22. May 20, 2012
    10
    I was truly blown away with Spirit Tracks, it's a phenomenal game and I honestly can't bring myself to give it anything less then a 10/10, It's truly a masterpiece. The story and characters a fantastic, and provide some truly emotional and laugh out loud moments, the gameplay is fantastic featuring solid combat backed by great controls (although I probably would have preferred a moreI was truly blown away with Spirit Tracks, it's a phenomenal game and I honestly can't bring myself to give it anything less then a 10/10, It's truly a masterpiece. The story and characters a fantastic, and provide some truly emotional and laugh out loud moments, the gameplay is fantastic featuring solid combat backed by great controls (although I probably would have preferred a more traditional control scheme, this one works very well) and some really complex puzzles that will have you using every ounce of brain power you've got. The graphics look fantastically adorable, but don't let it's cuteness fool you this is every bit a hardcore gamers game(that also can be enjoyed by more casual gamers), and the soundtrack is outstanding and one of the best I've heard in a video game. And the bosses are epic most of them take up both screens and require skill along with quick thinking and reflexes, and the new items are great and the inventory system is fantastic. the game also packs a lot of content in the form of side quests and treasure hunting, the treasure hunting makes excellent use of the ability to write notes and mark locations on the map and kinda gives it a Indiana Jones feel, well that and the whip XD. I'm sure you've heard the complaints about the train by now and I'm just gong to give my opinion, I liked it, I thought it was a pretty sweet addition especially when you use it for combat (which controls wonderfully by the way). I highly recommend this game it's truly a amazingly fun experience and that's why I give it a 10 out of 10. Expand
  23. Jul 25, 2011
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For sure the worst Zelda game to date. It is a great game in every aspect except for two:
    1.story
    2.travel

    What makes this game sad is that there is no story, it is a big joke. Train people and an evil leprechaun hardly stand up well in my mind. It felt more like a bit from mario, silly goofy, not at all zelda.

    The travel was the worst. I actually spent half an hour because I made the wrong turn on a train track a couple times. Unlike horse travel or boat travel, if you make a wrong turn, you can't turn around. Imagine hyrule field, now imagine instead of going back 2 feet, you walk around the entire field before going inside. Its brutally unfair to such minor mistakes, especially when you try to free cam to fight off enemies or get a good look at the next dungeon. By far the most annoying thing to date, sadly the shortcuts aren't worth the time spent to unlock them.

    However, the game does provide the same fun dungeons we have come to see, and it is without fail. When majora's mask followed up on ocarina of time, it was a more difficult game, but it worked, this game just doesn't.

    I am on the fence, if you crave zelda and puzzles to solve, get it, it will be worth it. However leave it if you are just looking for the good ones.
    Expand
  24. Nov 5, 2011
    10
    Spirit Tracks does everything Phantom Hourglass did and more. Although the same basic formula of a central dungeon with stealth that must be revisited, many things have changed. The most iconic feature of Spirit Tracks is the Train, you use this to travel the realms in order to reach destinations such as temples and towns. This is quite similar to the boat, you have a cannon, you canSpirit Tracks does everything Phantom Hourglass did and more. Although the same basic formula of a central dungeon with stealth that must be revisited, many things have changed. The most iconic feature of Spirit Tracks is the Train, you use this to travel the realms in order to reach destinations such as temples and towns. This is quite similar to the boat, you have a cannon, you can customise each part of the train etc. However, there are many improvements from the boat, although the tracks are pre-made, there are many routes you can take, this makes drawing your path less awkward and enables your route to be changed easier once you have already started moving; it also allows for more challenging gameplay as you must dodge the Phantom Trains on the track (which feels slightly similar to Pacman). As well as this, your movement is more advanced, you have the ability to control the speed of the train allowing more strategic movement than Phantom Hourglass's boats allows. Personally, I preferred the train a lot more than the boat and the music complementing how fast your train is going really made the train rides fun and engaging. The train journeys can get repetitive, but the more you progress through the game, the more warp points you'll unlock and the more tracks you'll recover, meaning getting from one place to another gets quicker and quicker with every quest you complete.

    The next new feature is the Spirit Flute, fans of musical instruments that almost always appear in Zelda titles will be a fan of this. It works the same as the Ocarina, only it combines touch screen and blowing to play it. There are many songs, each with different effects, which will come as familiar to anyone who has played Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask or Wind Waker. The touch and blow combo can make some of the songs a little challenging, especially the sequences where you have to blow with precise timing, which can be very frustrating. Apart from that, the flute is as worthy an instrument as the Ocarina.

    The central dungeon this time is very similar to the Temple of the Ocean King; there are phantoms patrolling the area which you must sneak by, whilst solving puzzles. However, there are many changes; the time limit is removed, this makes it easier in some sense, but allows the puzzles to become more complex (which nearer the end become very challenging). You no longer have to repeat floors which you have already done multiple times, in Phantom Hourglass the temple became annoying as you could only start on the 1st floor or the 4th, which made the dungeon quite repetitive, Spirit Tracks fixes this. The main unique feature of the Spirit Tower is that Zelda is able to possess a Phantom after they have been struck by Link's tear-infused sword. This allows many unique abilities, such as a Phantom which feels very similar to playing as a Goron in Majora's Mask, and a Phantom which can teleport to seekers. This feature also allows puzzles to become more complex, more unique and makes the tower feel a lot different to the Temple of the Ocean king. In dungeons, there are many new tools and mechanics to go alongside these. Some very unique tools that have never been in Zelda games before, as well as some of the most epic and most fun bosses in the series. There are also tons of extras, loads of mini-games, such as the rabbit rescue which keeps the train journeys more enjoyable as you'll be searching for rabbits whilst you travel to your next destination. Many side-quests which use the trains mechanics, such as transporting resources from one location to another, making sure you aren't attacked or your train doesn't turn too fast and lose some of the cargo. As well as many classic mini-games such as target shooting and agility-based races which take place on foot.

    The soundtrack is also one of the best in the series, from the wonderful overworld theme which changes slightly based on the speed of the train, to the epicness of the final boss theme. It really does sound beautiful.

    In conclusion, there are many features which feel similar to Phantom Hourglass, and a few issues such as some frustrating flute playing and train journeys which might become boring (although they didn't for me). But there is a lot of fun to be had with this game and many aspects of the game have improved from Phantom Hourglass, as well as this there are tons of new unique features such as Zelda's ability to possess Phantoms. Spirit Tracks has changed enough and added new unique features to feel fresh and exciting, it isn't perfect, but it's certainly worthy of a place in the Zelda series.

    9.5/10 (rounded up to 10 for Metacritic)
    Expand
  25. Sep 9, 2014
    10
    Un juego que me llego al alma , me encantas los trenes y ademas este juego es el que link esta mas compañado de zelda ,la historia es muy buena el final es muy lindo y tiene 3 alternativos , agregado a todo esto el juego tiene muchas misiones secundarias , estaciones por descubrir , la mazmorra del "al ataque " donde te vuelves a enfrentar con todos los jefes y una sombra de toon link,Un juego que me llego al alma , me encantas los trenes y ademas este juego es el que link esta mas compañado de zelda ,la historia es muy buena el final es muy lindo y tiene 3 alternativos , agregado a todo esto el juego tiene muchas misiones secundarias , estaciones por descubrir , la mazmorra del "al ataque " donde te vuelves a enfrentar con todos los jefes y una sombra de toon link, podria ser dark link o el link del phantom hourglass ya que en el combate esta su melodia , es muy divertido el juego , y con puzles bastantes dificiles tanto en tren como en link a pie . Exelente juego el mejor de ds Expand
  26. Apr 10, 2017
    9
    In 2007 Nintendo released Phantom Hourglass. Most of the people liked it, and a bunch of people hated it. But I think everyone will agree that it wasn’t precisely a stellar Zelda game. So when Nintendo announced Spirit Tracks, a direct sequel with the same gameplay style, the hype was relatively small. Another Phantom Hourglass, but with a train instead of a ship? I totally understandIn 2007 Nintendo released Phantom Hourglass. Most of the people liked it, and a bunch of people hated it. But I think everyone will agree that it wasn’t precisely a stellar Zelda game. So when Nintendo announced Spirit Tracks, a direct sequel with the same gameplay style, the hype was relatively small. Another Phantom Hourglass, but with a train instead of a ship? I totally understand people who didn’t give a **** about this game. But when the game came out, it turned out that it was actually a fantastic Zelda title that surpassed Phantom Hourglass in every aspect by far. Today, it still stands as one of the most unfairly underappreciated Zelda games.

    Spirit Tracks has everything you would expect from a great Zelda game. The overworld is way better than Phantom Hourglass’. It is big, charming ,varied and full of interesting locations to discover. It also feels more lively and believable than PH’s. The villages are all lovely. The story is much better and engaging, with cool characters like Byrne and some pretty good villains, as well as some epic and memorable moments here and there. The dungeons are far superior to those in PH, now offering a bit more of a challenge, as well as a better aesthetic design. The bosses are great too.

    As in any good Zelda game, there is a great deal of side activities to do, like helping other people with their requests, catching the bunnies, a really cool minigame where you have to fight rounds of enemies and finally bosses, and even a secret dungeon. A whole secret dungeon!!! How awesome is that? Speaking of dungeons, this game also has a master dungeon similar to the Temple of the Ocean King in PH, and it is the Tower of Spirits. Needless to say, it is much better designed and way more entertaining than its predecessor. Being able to control a Phantom in the Tower of Spirits is a really nice gameplay mechanic, and I think it was well carried out overall.

    People like to speak **** of this game’s train travelling mechanic. Ok, the train is a bit slow. But I don’t know, I never had an issue with this. Travelling through the world with the train is a nice experience to me, as it managed to immerse me into the game’s world even more. And it’s not like you spend all the time travelling either.

    The soundtrack completely humiliates PH’s pathetic excuse for a soundtrack, and it is clearly among the best Zelda soundtracks of all time. Listen to the Overworld Theme, and you’ll get a grasp of the quality level of this OST. Definitely one of the best aspects of the game. On the matter of music, Spirit Tracks introduces the Flute, which is kind of nice, but can get a little frustrating in some parts. Like, when I played it for the first time, I got stuck for hours on the final boss because I couldn’t perform the flute song correctly. Maybe I was being a stupid kid, because I did it on the first try on my second playthrough, so I don’t know. The flute songs might bother some people.

    Can you think of any other aspect that defines a great Zelda game? Well, if you can, it’s probably present in Spirit Tracks too. 6 years after playing it for the first time, it’s still my favorite game in the DS’ library, as well as my favorite handheld Zelda title.

    Score: 9.3
    Expand
  27. Oct 11, 2018
    1
    Great dungeons, very linear story and HORRIBLE FLUTE game mechanics, it simply doesn't work. It killed whole joy of gemaplay. In the end 10 points for dungeons and minus 9 points for flute.
  28. Sep 25, 2014
    5
    I didn't like this game as much as I thought it would. The game is very constricted due to the train mechanic, and there isn't much to explore. The characters and story were also pretty bad and even annoying. However, I think the dungeons and bosses were very well made, and the flute was pretty interesting, albeit difficult to control.
  29. Nov 4, 2014
    10
    This game gets too much hate. It is a huge improvement over Phantom Hourglass, with better dungeons, music, gameplay, story and boss battles. Traveling is also much better than before, some people might think it's tedious, but at least it adds some variety unalike in Phantom Hourglass where absolutely nothing happens.
  30. Aug 17, 2015
    8
    To get my main complaints out of the way, traversing the overworld is boring and uneventful. You eventually activate Stargate-looking warps but they each take you to one specific spot! It's bad enough that you can't warp from anywhere like in Wind Waker, but once you enter a warp you can't even choose which warp to go to from there! And completionists will have a problem because you haveTo get my main complaints out of the way, traversing the overworld is boring and uneventful. You eventually activate Stargate-looking warps but they each take you to one specific spot! It's bad enough that you can't warp from anywhere like in Wind Waker, but once you enter a warp you can't even choose which warp to go to from there! And completionists will have a problem because you have to collect treasures to buy all the train parts, but you have to rely and randomly getting the right treasures from the environment. You have to grind by leaving and reentering areas over and over again hoping you'll get the right stuff.

    But enough complaining. You're a Zelda fan: if you can get over the train segments then you'll like this game. And interestingly, I think Zelda plays a larger part in this game than any other Zelda title, because the titular princess is now your very own sidekick! This lets you get a better impression of who she is as a character, which I liked. And Spirit Tracks also has the coolest instrument of any Zelda game in my opinion, because blowing into the microphone gives the impression that you are actually playing it!

    Reasons to skip this game:
    - If you don't like Toon Link or Zelda in general
    - If you're a compulsive completionist and can't stand to have missing items
    - The overworld is slow and boring to traverse
    - There's not a lot that's different about this installment in the series

    Key differences between this and Phantom Hourglass:
    - Because of the titular tracks, Spirit Tracks gives you even less control in the overworld navigation
    - Spirit Tracks is more detached from the Wind Waker storyline
    - Spirit Tracks gives you a cool instrument to play like in other Zelda games
    - The recurring dungeon in Spirit Tracks has no time limit, and doesn't require you to redo sections
    Expand
  31. Mar 29, 2016
    8
    This game in a "Deku" nutshell is good. There isn't much that stands out as amazing and there isn't much that is bad either. The towns in this game are fun but they aren't very big with only the dungeons being of any large size for this game. However there are lots of towns/villages with many stations to find on other tracks. The side quests in this game are fun and numerous and theyThis game in a "Deku" nutshell is good. There isn't much that stands out as amazing and there isn't much that is bad either. The towns in this game are fun but they aren't very big with only the dungeons being of any large size for this game. However there are lots of towns/villages with many stations to find on other tracks. The side quests in this game are fun and numerous and they unlock more of the spirit tracks that you have to travel along to reach destinations which allows for faster travel across the lands and adds some tracks that reveal new stations that have things like mini games or treasure on them. I also love the train customization as there is a few choices and all of them are different but you have to collect treasure to build them which is a problem as some are very difficult to find. If it had been done like Phantom Hourglass I would have liked it more but I understand that some people didn't like the way it was done in that game. The bosses are all cool and unique and some can be challenging like the Sand Temple's boss. The problem is that none of these are super unique and everything is done to a good standard. This doesn't mean that it is a bad game but compared to other Zelda titles like Ocarina of Time and A Link to the past it doesn't stand out.

    Thanks for reading my review.
    Expand
  32. Jul 22, 2016
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I should enjoy a Zelda game. I should have fun and be motivated to in fact go back and find all the secrets. But in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, I don't have those feelings. So let's talk about how bad this game really is. For one, the over-world. It's GARBAGE. There is nothing there, no secret treasures, no hidden caves, no enemy posts, just emptiness. And the scenery...well, there is none, unless you like looking at flat trees. The game-play isn't too bad, but still atrocious. Moving your stylus across a screen is STUPID! Sure, you get used to it, but it's still bad. This is especially bad in combat scenarios. Now, I love the combat in most Zelda games, but I just don't like it in the DS titles. Sliding the stylus and tapping on the enemy to attack? Why not use the B button, there's nothing assigned to that. Why not just use buttons? The story is really not appealing either. Right from the start, you have no idea what's going on. Why is an older Niko here? Why is this guy called Alfonzo here? I have an exam today? What? It's one of the worst Zelda openings I've ever seen. And then Zelda gets her body taken by some guys that we NEVER see until about 3/4 through the game. What kind of game makes me FORGET who the main villain is? They could've easily done a Twilight Princess and shown us Cole and Malladus much later in the game, having Bryne pose as the main villain for a while (in Twilight Princess, Zant is believed to be the main villain until we see Ganondorf much later in the game...or on the box art of the HD re-release). The dungeons were pretty easy to figure out, the bosses were cool and unique, and the items... Well, they weren't too bad. Some of them even made it to later games (Sand Wand in A Link Between Worlds; Whip in Skyward Sword), so that's a plus. Then there's the final parts of the game. The Dark Realm is awful, and then the final boss is TERRIBLE. Moving Zelda AND Link around at the same time is NOT FUN. It was much better in Wind Waker, where you only controlled Link, and Zelda moved on her own. Then after beating the boss, the Lokomos rise into the air and leave, because the game thinks that apparently I cared for those people who sat in train cars all their life, just waiting for me to come along to open the door to a temple. Can I also take a moment to say that the equivalent of the Master Sword in this game, since the sword is currently at the bottom of the ocean, is the Lokomo Sword. What kind of sword has RAILS etched into the blade!? And last and definitely least, the trains. The train is the WORST part about this game. It's SO slow, and because there's nothing in the world, about 90% of this game is spent doing nothing... This is by far one of the worst Zelda games out there. Tried to be original, but failed miserably. Expand
  33. Apr 5, 2017
    6
    This is the first and still only Zelda game, I didn't finish. I was simply too bored to continue.
    I didn't like the villain Malladus at all. He was like a bad cartoon character.
    The concept with the trains was fun at first but in the long run too limiting and slow. I liked Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, so the graphics and gameplay were absolutely alright. But all in all it was
    This is the first and still only Zelda game, I didn't finish. I was simply too bored to continue.
    I didn't like the villain Malladus at all. He was like a bad cartoon character.
    The concept with the trains was fun at first but in the long run too limiting and slow.
    I liked Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, so the graphics and gameplay were absolutely alright.

    But all in all it was the biggest disappointment in the franchise to me.
    Expand
  34. Mar 31, 2017
    10
    muy contento con este juego, es rico en mecánicas como todo zelda y en mecánica. las mazmorras son muy buenas y también la cooperación que realiza la princesa zelda. Dzaga
  35. Jan 14, 2022
    4
    Generic medieval music in Zelda?! The graphics might be good for DS and the overwold maps huge also for this system but the frames drop around 10 FPS if not lower when there are 2 or more ennemies on the screen on the overworld. The gameplay would feel good though...except the freakin' flute ruins it all. Not matter how you play, it never seems to register. After a while of doing exactlyGeneric medieval music in Zelda?! The graphics might be good for DS and the overwold maps huge also for this system but the frames drop around 10 FPS if not lower when there are 2 or more ennemies on the screen on the overworld. The gameplay would feel good though...except the freakin' flute ruins it all. Not matter how you play, it never seems to register. After a while of doing exactly the same thing, the game decides that thing you did that wasn't good enough suddenly is. Basically, you need to quickly play your partition in rythm. No DS or 3DS mic is good enough to ask the level of precision they're asking. Sometimes, I just blow in the mic but it registers as puffs. Easily my least favourite Zelda game because of that dang flute alone. The train is also kind of dumb. Early in the game, the tracks disapear. The characters need to reach a destination NO MATTER WHAT. But there aren't any tracks! How could they possibly ever get there?! Idk, what about....WALKING?| Crazy idea, I know, right? It's not like other incarnations of the Hero ever did that. I LOVED Phantom Hourglass, to death! But Spirit Tracks...Idk. I tried to love, even only like this game since I'm a huge Zelda fan, but this one, I cannot recommend. It's mechanics are both dumb and broken. The cutscenes were really nice though, I gotta give it credit for that. Felt like watching anime with DS graphics. But that's it, nicely animated cutscenes and (I know I ranted about the generic medieval music, and yes, that IS lame) but there are also pretty good tunes in there also. Overall, a poorly executed idea. I get what they were going for, but it just doesn't work very well. Expand
  36. IchigoK
    Dec 10, 2009
    8
    +2 The new central dungeon removes the biggest complaint of phantom hourglass. +2 The addition of Zelda really expands the gameplay & story. +2 Things you can do with the train (Transporting Passengers & Materials, Blowing up stuff, Whistle, Catching Bunnies, etc...) +2 Tons of secrets, mini-games, and some incredible "Zelda" moments +2 Puzzles are very challenging especially in the +2 The new central dungeon removes the biggest complaint of phantom hourglass. +2 The addition of Zelda really expands the gameplay & story. +2 Things you can do with the train (Transporting Passengers & Materials, Blowing up stuff, Whistle, Catching Bunnies, etc...) +2 Tons of secrets, mini-games, and some incredible "Zelda" moments +2 Puzzles are very challenging especially in the central dungeon. +1 Soundtrack is great -1 Sometimes touch controls doesn't work quite well -1 A lot of obligatory microphone use -1 You get bored from to much train travelling Expand
  37. edf
    Dec 28, 2009
    7
    Something needs to be done to revive zelda! Where has the old zelda magic gone?Why does it seem like it's made for a 6 year old? It would be a tradgedy to lose one of the greatest games of all time. Sadly Zelda seems to be on it's way out.
  38. NiteshM
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    The most unique Zelda game to date. I have to admit that I was quite skeptical going in but deciding to pick this game up has been a very rewarding decision. Although slightly tedious at times, Spirit Tracks is miles ahead of its predecessor, and contains some of the hands-down most unique and creative puzzles that I have ever seen in a Zelda game, or any action-adventure game for that The most unique Zelda game to date. I have to admit that I was quite skeptical going in but deciding to pick this game up has been a very rewarding decision. Although slightly tedious at times, Spirit Tracks is miles ahead of its predecessor, and contains some of the hands-down most unique and creative puzzles that I have ever seen in a Zelda game, or any action-adventure game for that matter. With a huge amount of content, a game like this is a must buy for any Nintendo fan or a fan of puzzlers or action adventure games. Expand
  39. NilsB
    Dec 9, 2009
    10
    The dungeons are much better then in Phantom Hourglass. It is one of the best games of this year!!
  40. RileyM
    Jan 26, 2010
    9
    Phantom Hourglass created a wonderful engine, but it used it could have used it to create such a better game. This, in my opinion, is that game. This is the way the engine should have been used to begin with. The dungeons are some of the best I've seen in Zelda since Wind Waker, and the puzzles bring in fresh new ideas. The graphics are beautiful for a DS game, much like in Phantom Phantom Hourglass created a wonderful engine, but it used it could have used it to create such a better game. This, in my opinion, is that game. This is the way the engine should have been used to begin with. The dungeons are some of the best I've seen in Zelda since Wind Waker, and the puzzles bring in fresh new ideas. The graphics are beautiful for a DS game, much like in Phantom Hourglass. My only complaints have to do with the train. The train works all right, but it seems that you spend a lot more time on it in this game. The train should have moved a bit faster than it did, and this only makes the train segments seem even longer and more boring. The excessive train usage cuts out of the exploration, and most of what Link does on foot will be in the dungeons. The storyline is also pretty generic and simple, but it gets the job done. I am not really a fan of using the microphone, but this game did a fairly good job handling it. The game is a vast improvement over Phantom Hourglass. From the awesome new items to the slightly improved difficulty, this is definitely what the DS Zeldas have needed. Expand
  41. MineneT
    Jan 4, 2010
    9
    A crazily remarkable game,THIS should be the sequel to the number one Zelda game The Wind Waker.phantom Hourglass was an obviously rushed game--Nintendo just wanted to get it out there without really putting their heart into it.the music was horrible--and the fact that it was all the same throughout the entire game made it worse.The gameplay was atrocious--a drastic departure from the A crazily remarkable game,THIS should be the sequel to the number one Zelda game The Wind Waker.phantom Hourglass was an obviously rushed game--Nintendo just wanted to get it out there without really putting their heart into it.the music was horrible--and the fact that it was all the same throughout the entire game made it worse.The gameplay was atrocious--a drastic departure from the dream-like TWW controls.the graphics indicated laziness.the storyline was bland and boring,the temples made you want to shoot your eyes out.ST is a jewel of a game.They enhanced graphics in subtle ways,the music is tear-inducingly beautiful,and focuses on more of the "tribal' aspects of TWW instead of the orchestra,like PH.link actually HAS a personality,unlike his neutral behavior in PH.There's suggested romantic interaction,which has been craved by fans since Ribbon kissed Kirby in his 64 debut.There's actualy DIFFERENT music for each dungeon.i think I've repeated myself.anyway,Spirit Tracks is DEFINITELY worth your money.The only reason it isn't a 10 is because The Wind Waker has already stolen that spot. Expand
  42. MorganW
    Dec 10, 2009
    9
    If you love Zelda games, then this game is a must buy. It feels as though Nintendo took the criticism of Phantom Hourglass and crafted a game that fixed all the problems. Spirit Tracks is a charming Zelda game and will be enjoyed by Zelda aficionados of all ages.
  43. SteffenH
    Dec 12, 2009
    10
    100% Improved over Phantom Hourglass. Dungeon? Fixed. Better Story, Cutscenes, Music. Despite what some have said, the Flute is so much fun. The additional 'weapons' such as the whirlwinds are used very well. But mostly, it is so much fun to have Zelda jump into one of the Phantoms and pal around the dungeons. I can't say how much MORE fun this one is over Phantom 100% Improved over Phantom Hourglass. Dungeon? Fixed. Better Story, Cutscenes, Music. Despite what some have said, the Flute is so much fun. The additional 'weapons' such as the whirlwinds are used very well. But mostly, it is so much fun to have Zelda jump into one of the Phantoms and pal around the dungeons. I can't say how much MORE fun this one is over Phantom Hourglass. Only complaint is the Train can be a little boring..but not as bad as the Sea Travel was in PH. Best game on DS by far. Amazing. Expand
  44. WillY.
    Dec 13, 2009
    8
    Great game and I'm loving the storyline. Multiplayer is a bit sad though. All you do is run around dodging phantoms and collecting force gems. Personally i preferred the old multiplayer where you had to actually think about what to do. Good game nonetheless, good job Nintendo!
  45. NorbertN
    Dec 24, 2009
    9
    It improves on Phantom Hourglass in every way. And it does bring some inovation to the series as well. Still there's a bit of Deja Vu though - ow many times have we had to collect the Boomerang and Bow? At least in Twilight Princess they managed to put a neat twist on many of the traditional weapons. Overall a very good game, but for me it lacked the 'OMG' factor of some of It improves on Phantom Hourglass in every way. And it does bring some inovation to the series as well. Still there's a bit of Deja Vu though - ow many times have we had to collect the Boomerang and Bow? At least in Twilight Princess they managed to put a neat twist on many of the traditional weapons. Overall a very good game, but for me it lacked the 'OMG' factor of some of the other instalments. Expand
  46. LuísC
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    One of the best in the entire series. Definitely worth buying.
  47. RubZG
    Dec 8, 2009
    10
    An amazing an extremely fun game. The train is so fun an the graphics incredible for a DS game. A DS must buy.
  48. EliK
    Dec 9, 2009
    9
    Vast improvement over the last DS outing, however it suffers from too much of the same, both in it's predessesor and previous series's entries. A bit on the easy side also. Still, a polished and incredibly fun game nonetheless.
  49. Matt
    Jan 23, 2010
    8
    What you're going to think of this game is entirely contingent upon how much you enjoy the train element in Spirit Tracks. The reviews are mostly correct in that yes, the dungeons and "Zelda-y" portion of the game are clever and well-designed. However the pacing of the game is almost constantly interrupted by the largely mediocre travel by train. At least with Phantom Hourglass the What you're going to think of this game is entirely contingent upon how much you enjoy the train element in Spirit Tracks. The reviews are mostly correct in that yes, the dungeons and "Zelda-y" portion of the game are clever and well-designed. However the pacing of the game is almost constantly interrupted by the largely mediocre travel by train. At least with Phantom Hourglass the player could draw their own path. The train forces you to draw a path through what is essentially a linear and rigid set of paths. I want to clarify that this is a good game, but mostly because Nintendo played it safe, altering very little of the formula that made Phantom Hourglass a success. If you're a hardcore Zelda fan then you've probably already picked this one up. But if you're a casual fan of the series like me then do some research, and try before you buy. Grade: B. Expand
  50. ChristopherP
    Dec 23, 2009
    10
    Awesome, even better than Phantom Hourglass!
  51. BrendanK
    Dec 7, 2009
    10
    A great game filled with challenging puzzles.
  52. EricC
    Dec 9, 2009
    8
    Saying this is a remake of Phantom Hourglass is like saying The Two Towers is a remake of Fellowship of the Ring. Great game, but train travel can get a little old at times.
  53. GabeM
    Dec 11, 2009
    10
    Either you are going to love the train, or you're going to hate it. If you like the train, this is one of the best Zelda games you'll ever play. The dungeons are challenging, the side quests are plentiful and Zelda is hilarious. If you don't like the train you still get all the above mentioned just a means of travel that can drag on. However in my opinion it's a Either you are going to love the train, or you're going to hate it. If you like the train, this is one of the best Zelda games you'll ever play. The dungeons are challenging, the side quests are plentiful and Zelda is hilarious. If you don't like the train you still get all the above mentioned just a means of travel that can drag on. However in my opinion it's a fantastic game that every Zelda fan should experience. Expand
  54. ErnestoL
    Dec 14, 2009
    9
    Great game! Really! I was very impressed! Awesome direction, and the only bad thing was the controls sometimes... Now i can't wait for a new Zelda game!
  55. Apr 12, 2012
    8
    Spirit Tracks is an enjoyable and suitable epic Zelda adventure. The world is sprawling and the unique DS features (touch controls, microphone) are used in imaginative ways and get the most of the handheld. The two primary concepts of ST are the trains used to navigate the world and having Zelda as a very useful companion. These are both great but are also responsible for the game's mainSpirit Tracks is an enjoyable and suitable epic Zelda adventure. The world is sprawling and the unique DS features (touch controls, microphone) are used in imaginative ways and get the most of the handheld. The two primary concepts of ST are the trains used to navigate the world and having Zelda as a very useful companion. These are both great but are also responsible for the game's main flaws. As fun as the train mechanics are, they are used to such an extent that it becomes a bit tiresome and feels like padding. As for Zelda, her AI can be downright embarrassing at times. These aren't huge grievances but they do detract from the overall experience. Overall, the good far outweighs the bad in Spirit Tracks and the high quality of the LoZ series is kept intact. Expand
  56. Apr 12, 2012
    8
    The game play improved, the story is decent, but the temples are too short, and when the game is too easy, it is really easy, but when it is hard, it's extremely hard, some puzzles don't give you a clue to solve, so you will get stressed, but I must admit that it's funny and very cute. You only need some patience to finish it. Not the best Zelda's game.
  57. Nov 20, 2011
    8
    Well this game didn't really have much of a Zelda feel to it, although it was okay. I didn't like how some parts needed the microphone and then it didn't respond properly. Some temples were really easy while others were really hard. Also the train rides were very boring and bland. Even when you want to play around at an area, it got boring sometimes because the arsenal was very small. ButWell this game didn't really have much of a Zelda feel to it, although it was okay. I didn't like how some parts needed the microphone and then it didn't respond properly. Some temples were really easy while others were really hard. Also the train rides were very boring and bland. Even when you want to play around at an area, it got boring sometimes because the arsenal was very small. But all in all, this was a good game. Expand
  58. Aug 23, 2012
    9
    Large improvements from Phantom Hourglass, enjoyed it through the whole game (100%).
    Minor setback was the pan flute, it's not my ideal instrument and playing next to a complete stranger makes it awkward to play.
  59. Mar 14, 2013
    9
    When Phantom Hourglass was released, I was impressed: they seemed to have envisioned the perfect DS Zelda game. It made good use of pretty much every DS feature, from the touchscreen (you actually control Link's moves and sword attacks with the stylus) to stuff like the microphone (used to blow into one of the weapons and shout).

    Enter Spirit Tracks, and it seems Nintendo has made the
    When Phantom Hourglass was released, I was impressed: they seemed to have envisioned the perfect DS Zelda game. It made good use of pretty much every DS feature, from the touchscreen (you actually control Link's moves and sword attacks with the stylus) to stuff like the microphone (used to blow into one of the weapons and shout).

    Enter Spirit Tracks, and it seems Nintendo has made the old adage "if it itsn't broken, don't fix it" ring truer than ever. Everything I loved about Phantom Hourglass is back, along with some new features. The game succeeds by pretty much every metric: charming cell-shaded graphics, dynamic and fun controls (which have been considerably improved to give the touchscreen more sensibility), funny characterization, amazing sound.

    The train setting is even more fleshed-out than the seas of Phantom Hourglass, and just as endearing. Side quests should give you a lot of extra stuff to do in game (even though some of them, like the train customization, is a bit too tedious to really get going). Overall, Spirit Tracks is a game that does exactly what it should and almost never disappoints.
    Expand
  60. Sep 2, 2013
    8
    Spirit Tracks is the standard zelda- dungeon structure, items, bosses, puzzles. Though it doesn't innovate as much as it should, it's a solid adventure.
    Link must, as usual, take on some terrible evil, rescue someone, and save the land of Hyrule. To do this, he must traverse dungeons, fight enemies, solve puzzles, and explore Hyrule. This is the ordinary zelda we have known for years.
    I
    Spirit Tracks is the standard zelda- dungeon structure, items, bosses, puzzles. Though it doesn't innovate as much as it should, it's a solid adventure.
    Link must, as usual, take on some terrible evil, rescue someone, and save the land of Hyrule. To do this, he must traverse dungeons, fight enemies, solve puzzles, and explore Hyrule. This is the ordinary zelda we have known for years.
    I won't talk about the structure of a zelda game, or any of that, because you know it already. Instead, the differences.
    The graphics are good but not great- scenery is especially flat, but dungeons look good. The music is often great, woth a lovely overworld theme, though I wasn't keen on the dungeon music.
    Spirit Tracks has an unusual control scheme ehich using the stylus for everything, like Phantom Hourglass. While this sounds cumbersome, in reality it opens up new possibilities. It's used in a variety of clever ways, from drawing a path for you to throw the boomerang to control where Link (or Zelda) goes. And Spirit Tracks deserves an award for being the first ever game to make blowing into a microphone fun. One item, the whirlwind, which you obtain early in the storyline, lets you create a gust of wind. You do this by blowing.
    Another innovation is one I didn't enjoy: the train driving. Link has explored before by horse, by boat, on foot, by bird... but now he commands a train. The touch screen is used well for this, but when on the rails, there is little to do, and in the end you're just sitting there waiting for the train to reach its destination. There are other features brought in to try to make it more interesting, like enemies, but all you do to kill them is to shoot with cannons, an incredibly boring experience. Worse, if they hit you enough, you'll die, forcing you to make the entire journey again.
    Thankfully for Spirit Tracks, there are very many stations and places, so when advancing through the storyline, you'll rarely be driving for a very long time in one go. There are many fiendish overworld puzzles, which are excellently presented. Sometimes I however found myself hating those tedious fetch quests.
    Spirit Tracks also has a 'tower of spirits', which plays a vital part in the storyline. You'll progress through it in between dungeons, but it's like a giant dungeon, with multiple sections, in itself. I found it a little uninspired despite introducing an interesting new mechanic.
    Spirit tracks' dungeon gameplay is thankfully as good as ever- puzzles are inventive and challenging, and you'll find a surprisingly high amount of mini-bosses, something which I love. The dungeon bosses are very cleverly constructed too. And don't be put off by the fact there are only five dungeons, as Spirit Tracks has a lot more content in between each dungeon than other zeldas, resulting in 30-40 hour experience. There are also plenty of side quests to complete, which could add on over twenty extra hours, too.
    Spirit Tracks is a Zelda game, through and through. While this means it plays it a little too safe, it also means you're guaranteed a great time. There's even a multiplayer battle mode that sees you fighting to collect more gems than your opponents. It's crazy, and, surprisingly, hilarious fun with plenty of traps you can activate to bring down your opponent. Expect a lot of fun from that feature.
    Expand
  61. Jun 27, 2014
    9
    Phantom Hourglass was a good game and it was a lot of fun, but it had lots of little problems that irritated a lot of people. Spirit tracks fixed lots of those problems such as the very boring over world, and the train to me just seemed more fun than the boat. It is much more detailed than Phantom hourglass in just about every way. Its main dungeon the tower of spirits is more interestingPhantom Hourglass was a good game and it was a lot of fun, but it had lots of little problems that irritated a lot of people. Spirit tracks fixed lots of those problems such as the very boring over world, and the train to me just seemed more fun than the boat. It is much more detailed than Phantom hourglass in just about every way. Its main dungeon the tower of spirits is more interesting than the temple of the ocean king because you can control a phantom. It has less dungeons than most zelda games but a lot of side quests some of which are quite fun! I cant think of many things that this game did wrong, i can only think of things that would have made it better. Spirit tracks is one of the best games on the ds and a great entry in the legend of zelda series. Expand
  62. Nov 23, 2014
    9
    This is a great game that is definitely underrated by most. Yes, the graphics are cartoonish, and the train ride is a bit long, but there are some sweet puzzles in the game. Definitely a must play for any Zelda fan.
  63. Oct 19, 2015
    9
    This was my first experience with Zelda on a handheld console, and I got it Christmas morning. Didn't put the DS down for hours. Great story, great enemies, and great bosses. My only pet peeve is the use of the microphone in the game which can be hard and touchy. Nintendo should remake this game for 3DS with an extended storyline and DLC.
  64. Jul 27, 2016
    9
    The only main problem with this game is that this game is strange and out of place. Overall this game has great gameplay, good controls, and you can play on the go!
  65. Jan 31, 2017
    10
    The reason why I loved this game was because this was my first Zelda game ever! I played it since I was 7 and I had been making theories about what did the Tower of Spirits look like before Zelda was basically killed. It also had one of the best music and I almost thought of a new Zelda game that takes place after the story that is called The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks X PhantomThe reason why I loved this game was because this was my first Zelda game ever! I played it since I was 7 and I had been making theories about what did the Tower of Spirits look like before Zelda was basically killed. It also had one of the best music and I almost thought of a new Zelda game that takes place after the story that is called The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks X Phantom Hourglass since I also love that game. Expand
  66. Aug 30, 2020
    5
    Similar to Phantom Hourglass, but with this weird train system. Makes getting from point A to point B pretty tedious. Why is there no proper fast travel? The dungeons are mostly good, but the dark dungeons and the stealth part is pretty annoying. The controls overall kinda suck. Movement is only possible by tapping, not with the D-pad. The phantom controls are horrible and prone toSimilar to Phantom Hourglass, but with this weird train system. Makes getting from point A to point B pretty tedious. Why is there no proper fast travel? The dungeons are mostly good, but the dark dungeons and the stealth part is pretty annoying. The controls overall kinda suck. Movement is only possible by tapping, not with the D-pad. The phantom controls are horrible and prone to miss-tapping. Fast-switching between items/weapons is not possible. It all makes the game more challenging than it actually would be. Also, there's a big dungeon tower that you need to revisit couple of times in the game where everytime, the game makes to climb more and more strairs instead of a quick travel to the dungeon entrances. Fun! Towards the end it gets worse, and the final boss requires you to have perfect timing with those fuzzy controls instead of some witty puzzle to defeat him. And if you die even once, the game makes you replay the whole final boss battle with its 4-5 stages from the beginning. Even more fun!
    The story is better than in Phantom Hourglass and having Zelda as a character you actually talk and interact with (and she even helps in the dungeons!) is way better than her usual 'damsel in distress' role, but other than that, the story is your usual 'defeat the villian who is evil for no real reason' thing.

    Also, in you ever take a break from the game and decide to continue it afterwards, it's quite hard to get into the game again. There is no encyclopedia or similar where the game mechanics, weapon effects, defeated enemy types, etc. are described. Similarly, the world map has only very basic hints on whats on the map. The game instead makes you take notes directly on the map. Good luck with figuring out what your notes meant after half a year. A simple green mark next to the already visited locations would have been great. So your best bet is just to grab a guide, or starting over. I don't like this.

    Despite quite the criticism, overall, it's still not a bad game per se, and if you enjoyed Phantom Hourglass, you will enjoy this one and (most of its) dungeons too. But keep in mind that the game lacks fast travel, has meh-ish controls, that the train travel isn't great and towards the end, there are couple of frustrating moments. Not a game that I can recommend. Phantom Hourglass was overall a better experience.
    Expand
  67. May 2, 2018
    8
    After the disgrace of a game known as Phantom Hourglass, this great game arrives at the station. This game improved upon everything Phantom Hourglass did.

    Pros: + Controls: WAY better than PH's. This was the game that mastered touch screen controls. + Dungeons: Really cool dungeon design honestly. + Items: While it's not the largest variety, it still has really fun to use items like
    After the disgrace of a game known as Phantom Hourglass, this great game arrives at the station. This game improved upon everything Phantom Hourglass did.

    Pros:
    + Controls: WAY better than PH's. This was the game that mastered touch screen controls.
    + Dungeons: Really cool dungeon design honestly.
    + Items: While it's not the largest variety, it still has really fun to use items like the Sand Rod.
    + Soundtrack: Riding the train around Hyrule has to have my favorite Hyrule Field theme, if you can consider it Hyrule Field.
    + Trains: Honestly, while trains shouldn't be in Zelda at all, they were pretty good in this game.

    Cons:
    - Final Boss: Portal time! Honestly, that brings the final boss down in my eyes.
    - Zelda: She's extremely annoying in this game, worse than Navi.
    - Rabbits: ...Really tedious fetch quest.

    Overall, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is a really great game and warrants an 8.5/10 from me.
    Expand
  68. Oct 11, 2022
    5
    Jesus, this might suck even harder than Phantom Hourglass. There are some minor improvements here and there, like Link's walking speed and the improved cinematics and use of the dual screens. The Spirit Tower is obviously so much better and more fun then the Temple of the Ocean King and Zelda actually has a personality this time. But overall, it's really equally as tedious and annoying asJesus, this might suck even harder than Phantom Hourglass. There are some minor improvements here and there, like Link's walking speed and the improved cinematics and use of the dual screens. The Spirit Tower is obviously so much better and more fun then the Temple of the Ocean King and Zelda actually has a personality this time. But overall, it's really equally as tedious and annoying as PH or even more so. You're still forced to use the dumbass touch controls, even though they do literally nothing better than button controls, which is especialy infuriating in the heat of a (boss) battle. Riding the train is EVEN WORSE than than the boat in PH because while you're still just drawing your route and tapping on stuff you need to shoot while you're on your way, you now also have to avoid bad trains coming your way and if you touch them JUST ONCE it's GAME OVER. What kind of moron thought that this was fun? Oh, and did I mention that the train moves PAINFULLY slow and you cannot upgrade it to go faster? So, you're forced to pay attention to a mind-numbingly boring activity because otherwise, you might die and have to do it all over again. Fun times.

    The cherry on top of the sh*t-cake is playing the Spirit Flute. Seldom have I seen such an asinine mechanic in a video game. Whoever thought that this was a good idea hopefully lost their job a loooong time ago. Even going beyond that, there is just way too much dumb microphone-blowing going on, for item-use, for dialogue... We get it, Nintendo, the DS has a mic. Good for you. Doesn't mean that over-utilizing it results in a fun experience.

    Overall, one of the worst Zelda games in existence, together with PH.
    Expand
  69. Dec 23, 2018
    10
    Игра хорошая. В ней есть хорошая музыка, интересные головоломки, масштабные боссы.
  70. Jan 17, 2019
    10
    Best portable Zelda ever made. The soundtrack is better than Ocarina, the panflute is amazing.
  71. Apr 20, 2019
    10
    The game is a piece of art! I totally loved it!
    However... sometimes my hands ached. You can't spend a lot of time in a row playing old 3DS with a stick.
    However, the game was totally worth it :)
  72. Sep 4, 2022
    8
    This game is an improvement of Phantom Hourglass by my opinion. The story, the overworld and the dungeons are great. It's a very fun little adventure in the Nintendo DS and one of the best games in the console.
  73. Jun 26, 2021
    6
    Now this is not a game for me. Still take my opinion on this game with a grain of salt.
  74. Nov 30, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Even if i felt like the Train mechanics were a bit limited compared to Phantom Hourglass' more free ship guide (to the point i found them annoying because of the bomb trains), this is a really valid and original title as well, with interesting characters and an original take on princess Zelda, being actually playable through the game; the ost is in par with PH. The worst con are the treasures: there is too much disparity in their rarity odds, having some ones super common, and other ones very rare for every rarity group. I think they should have been equal in odds (Common treasures all of the same odds, and same goes for Uncommon and Rare ones). Furthermore, there is too much treasure farming required if you want to have a lot of rupees or train parts (for the first ones, the Lost at Sea station allows you to have as many regal rings as you want, so that improves the aspect a bit). Even with the worsened treasure mechanics, this game is worth playing through, offering a bit more challenging experience to the players, and a fantastic Link and Zelda co-op final showdown. Expand
  75. Dec 28, 2022
    8
    While the new train mechanic may sound more restricting than a boat, it actually adds a sense of strategy to the adventure, which being a distant second sequel to "The Wind Waker", continues the younger-fan-focused handheld gameplay we've seen for years already, but with much better cutscenes and the welcomed twist of Zelda herself as a companion.
  76. May 3, 2020
    9
    Honestly one of the best games I've played sometimes the spirit flute is glitchy but other then that being able to play it again is super enjoyable would play it a million times over great story and over all nice game
  77. May 27, 2020
    9
    I know its kinda unfair for me to rate this game since i played it with an emulator on a mobile phone so i don't have problems with the controls and spirit flute. But even if i'm playing this game on the DS and the spirit flute annoys me a lot, i say its still an amazing game and worth the time and struggle
  78. Oct 19, 2020
    9
    The game was really fun, and in my opinion, a good improvement in comparison to phantom hourglass. The music was just perfect, specially the train theme. The puzzles were really challenging, but what I appreciated the most were the characters, one character in particular had a really cool arc, and the fact that Zelda is not just a useless pretty face is so good, she's not just anThe game was really fun, and in my opinion, a good improvement in comparison to phantom hourglass. The music was just perfect, specially the train theme. The puzzles were really challenging, but what I appreciated the most were the characters, one character in particular had a really cool arc, and the fact that Zelda is not just a useless pretty face is so good, she's not just an objective, or a price, she's your companion and actually helps you a lot, how cool is that? Aside from that, the flute was really frustrating. Not a perfect Zelda game, but a really good one, definitely. Expand
  79. Apr 9, 2023
    7
    He tenido que dejar el juego a la mitad porque no me apetece seguir perdiendo el tiempo yendo en tren (lentísimo, además) para poder ir a las mazmorras. El control táctil hace aún más tediosa la experiencia. Ya lo retomaré algún día, supongo.
  80. Aug 7, 2022
    8
    I love all Zelda games but this game is one of my least favorites. I didn't like traveling on rails. Because it takes too long to go from one place to another and new warps are not opened without the passenger quest. Likewise, 'Zelda with the phantom armor' takes a lot of time to manage. Some dungeons are boring. Some puzzles are weird. The story and characters didn't really interest me.I love all Zelda games but this game is one of my least favorites. I didn't like traveling on rails. Because it takes too long to go from one place to another and new warps are not opened without the passenger quest. Likewise, 'Zelda with the phantom armor' takes a lot of time to manage. Some dungeons are boring. Some puzzles are weird. The story and characters didn't really interest me. Even though the phantom hourglass was weak as a dungeon, it was more fun to go by boat. Most of the time, when I want to go somewhere, another train comes in front of me and I have to deal with it. Anyway. A nice DS Zelda game. Some people's favourite. This is the best feature of Zelda games. Every game has a fan. Expand
  81. Nov 21, 2020
    9
    Very good game overall. But many of the side quests are boring and similiar. And the oundtrack is spectacular. 9/10
  82. Apr 18, 2021
    7
    This game has a lot of good and bad things. This game uses the features of the Nintendo DS in a very creative and fun way, which is this game's main appeal, but other than that this game's travel is quite annoying and really slow, you also have to revisit the same dungeon after every single other dungeon, and with the travel being so slow and annoying it can make you get annoyed with thisThis game has a lot of good and bad things. This game uses the features of the Nintendo DS in a very creative and fun way, which is this game's main appeal, but other than that this game's travel is quite annoying and really slow, you also have to revisit the same dungeon after every single other dungeon, and with the travel being so slow and annoying it can make you get annoyed with this game, not to mention the fact that there are only 5 main dungeons, which are all incredibly simple and easy to get through, however it is mainly the travel that really hurts this game. Expand
  83. Jun 9, 2023
    10
    My favorite nintendo game of all time. Every 6 months or so, I start up and 100% the game.
  84. Feb 8, 2022
    3
    I hated Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks shares almost all of it's same flaws and annoyances. It's just a slightly more polished piece of stool. Just like Phantom Hourglass, the amount of annoyance and frustration I felt far out weighed the amount of enjoyment I got from this game. The Spirit Tower is in some ways worse than the Temple of the Ocean King because the later floors are hugeI hated Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks shares almost all of it's same flaws and annoyances. It's just a slightly more polished piece of stool. Just like Phantom Hourglass, the amount of annoyance and frustration I felt far out weighed the amount of enjoyment I got from this game. The Spirit Tower is in some ways worse than the Temple of the Ocean King because the later floors are huge and very intensive. And the stupid flute, I'm not trying to give myself a headache or get spit all over my 3DS. It's like they decided to force themselves to use all these features on the DS regardless of whether it enhances the game or not. This game was just a slog to get through, don't play it unless you're doing it for completions sake. Expand
  85. Apr 7, 2022
    10
    Great game. Very underrated and the music is phenomenal. Great final boss too.
  86. Jul 1, 2022
    10
    This was one of the most fun games to have zelda with a companion from the link during her journey
  87. Oct 26, 2022
    10
    My first and favorite zelda game. I hated the game as a kid because I couldn't figure out how to beat it, but I came back a little later and completed it. I loved the puzzles in the Tower of Spirits with Phantom Zelda the most and I still come back and play the game for that section in particular. There is so much charm and creativity in the game. Will always be my number 1 zelda.
  88. May 27, 2023
    10
    Eu gosto muito desse jogo ele muito bacana e uma os melhores jogos de ds e um dos que eu mais me diverti
  89. Mar 31, 2023
    7
    It was good, not the best I’ve played, however it was worth the money and time one the first playthrough, it had pretty good graphics for its time and it has good music, but unless you are a collector I wouldn’t get this, I would probably choose to play it on a Friends Console, if they let you of course.
  90. Jun 4, 2023
    7
    The follow up to The Phantom Hourglass follows the formula to the letter, but with trains instead of pirate ships...for some reason. It doesn't work quite as well for this very reason but it's still pretty good fun.
  91. Apr 10, 2023
    8
    Focusing on what this Zelda title excels at, dungeons are clever and don't overstay their welcome, the visuals are vibrant and impressive for the system, the music is great, and the story is quite heartfelt and impactful. As far as the rest, mechanics could have been more creative, some quests feel uninspired, and I often felt discouraged by using my finger to control Link while lacking aFocusing on what this Zelda title excels at, dungeons are clever and don't overstay their welcome, the visuals are vibrant and impressive for the system, the music is great, and the story is quite heartfelt and impactful. As far as the rest, mechanics could have been more creative, some quests feel uninspired, and I often felt discouraged by using my finger to control Link while lacking a stylus where I wish I could have just used the D-Pad/circle pad. Still a great title overall, just one that could have been better. Expand
  92. Jun 25, 2023
    9
    This game is a really great game, and a massive improvement on The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass in many ways. It has very good dungeon design, A great soundtrack, and one of the best stories in the Legend of Zelda series. That said, this game is held back by a few things. The biggest problem is the control scheme. It remains largely unchanged from Phantom Hourglass, and will likelyThis game is a really great game, and a massive improvement on The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass in many ways. It has very good dungeon design, A great soundtrack, and one of the best stories in the Legend of Zelda series. That said, this game is held back by a few things. The biggest problem is the control scheme. It remains largely unchanged from Phantom Hourglass, and will likely hurt your hand. That said, while the control scheme takes some getting used to, the controls don't ruin the game at all. Spirit Tracks is a wonderful and unique Zelda experience that should not be overlooked if you are a fan of the Legend of Zelda series. Expand
  93. Jul 13, 2023
    10
    Tremendo Juegazo, fue el segundo juego que jugue de La saga Zelda y el que mas me encanto de los Zeldas de Nintendo Ds, todo en este juego es perfecto, la relacion de Link con Zleda, Las Mazmorras. Todo es perfecto em este juego 10/10❤❤

Awards & Rankings

4
4
#4 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
4
#4 Most Shared DS Game of 2009
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 75
  2. Negative: 0 out of 75
  1. 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. [Christmas 2009, p.92]
  2. Not a huge leap forward for the series but a wonderful game nonetheless. Enjoy. [Christmas 2009, p.91]
  3. A superb quest that doesn't rewrite the rules but delivers another engrossing Zelda adventure. If you own a DS, buy it.