The Final DS Release of A Zelda Game, Uses The Same Stylus Controls of Phantom Hourglass - Improves With More Elements
Graphically Spirit Tracks takes much from Phantom Hourglass, not much has changed from the layout of controls, and presentation with cell-shade graphics. There is some improvement on environments and characters, their sides and edges have been smoothed out, and enhanced.
Game-play is smooth as it's predecessor was on the DS, with the use of the stylus the controls are smooth and simple - switching between using your sword, to driving your train along the spirit tracks, as a conductor it's all done very well for the gamer. You use the stylus to unlock doors, interact with elements in the game, and even alter your map in-game - marking points of interest for yourself in later levels.
The music element of the game is one of it's strongest points - Spirit Tracks seems in comparison to Phantom Hourglass, to use more epic, fantasy musical scores that really lift the moments of the game-play. At times of battle, and some of the in-game cut scenes the musical score really gives it an epic feel.
I believe Spirit Tracks takes what made Phantom Hourglass so accessible to us a as gamers, and improved what we enjoyed with the use of the stylus, and added a more epic, fantasy feel and musical score, and more of an appropriate story-line for a Zelda game with more depth. The elements of Phantom Hourglass were improved upon, in this sequel.
The Good:
- A strong, in-depth story and plot involving lore from past games and characters of Hyrule.
- Game-play with the use of the stylus is similar to Phantom Hourglass, but improved on with sharper controls, and mechanics.
- Strong musical score, with an epic feel that really draws on the game-play and plot of the game.
- There are more puzzles, and they are not too easy to complete and they have a lot of variety.
The Bad:
- Without an automatic save option to the game, you can end up dying and be forced to replay the same level again, even with doorways and puzzles open and completed.
Spirit Tracks is a strong, deep sequel to Phantom Hourglass, with a strong game-play and story-line, and as the final Zelda title released on the Nintendo DS it's a worthwhile addition to your collection, particularly as it is quite cheap to buy online and in certain stores. It's a must-have for Zelda fans, and for those lovers of action-adventure games it gives you a worthy game to play through.