The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Critic Reviews

Zelda fans are going to love this - but the multiplayer mode is a little bit boring.

The sights, the sounds, the characters, the environments, they all combine to make a game that may not represent as much of a move forward as its predecessor, but represents a high watermark in both handheld gaming and video games in general.

The evolution of the series in Nintendo DS has left us open-mouthed, and makes us have great hopes for the next Wii game.

If you like Zelda games, you were going to buy Spirit Tracks no matter what. But rest assured that you will not only be getting another fine Nintendo DS installment, but one of the series's best handheld titles to date.

Like previous offerings in the revered franchise, it brings plenty of new bells and whistles, but is still a mostly recognizable Zelda game at its core.

This is the big launch of DS in 2009.

The gameplay is also polished and strong as well, continuing to prove the impossible feat of designing a game with a multitude of complex game mechanics all being distilled into stylus-based touchscreen controls.

Spirit Tracks is one of the best videogames in the Zelda's franchise and it has probably the hardest puzzles in the series. Although it hasn't the best story and a big longevity, it's a title that will pain you when it starts to end.

While Spirit Tracks has some obvious deja vu elements and can drag on from time to time, Nintendo's latest pocket Zelda trumps the first game hands-down, delivering amazing bosses once again, now complemented with impressive dungeons, a truly epic challenge in the Spirit Tower, and a substantially longer adventure overall.

The bold lines, simple colours and innocent aesthetic emphasises the idealism of the Zelda series at its finest: this tiny, wide-eyed boy can conquer unimaginable evil, and his stoic determination can achieve more than even omnipotent deities could manage. These games might be perfect for children, but they're as fine an example of gaming as any adult could hope to encounter.

Peril, puzzles, laughs and rabbits - everything you'd want for a cracking Christmas romp.

It's not quite as lengthy or extensive as a Zelda game for the Wii, but it certainly includes all those elements Zelda fans are looking for: lots of dungeon crawling, puzzles, good storyline, charming visuals, etc. Best of all, you can take it with you on your next trip and even play it with a friend.

Despite echoes of Hourglass, Tracks emerges as its own game. And a delightful one at that.

Not a huge leap forward for the series but a wonderful game nonetheless. Enjoy.

Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, it's a direct follow-up to a recent release that exceeds its predecessor in every way. And while it may not hit the soaring heights of Mario's latest, it's a fine game in its own right.

A superb quest that doesn't rewrite the rules but delivers another engrossing Zelda adventure. If you own a DS, buy it.

A fun time and very well executed game. If you’re looking for something to play on the road while on vacation, or hiding away from society in a bomb shelter until Christmas blows over, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks makes as good a companion as a Ghost Princess.

Spirit Tracks is an absolutely fantastic way to cap off 2009. With so many great titles this year, it’s fitting that a series so many of us have grown up on is able to keep us entertained during the holiday period. Once again, it’s the story, interesting use of music and Link and Zelda’s partnership that makes this such a worthwhile title.

All together, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks doesn't quite knock one out of the ballpark, but it's still a better game than Phantom Hourglass for the much needed changes to the Spirit Tower / Ocean King Temple mechanics.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is everything its predecessor was and more.