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The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

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The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
North American box art
Developer(s)Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Producer(s)Eiji Aonuma
Artist(s)Yusuke Nakano
Composer(s)Tōru Minegishi
Manaka Tominaga
Asuka Ōta
SeriesThe Legend of Zelda
Enginemodified Phantom Hourglass engine
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Template:Nihongo title[4] is the fifteenth installment of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. Developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console, it was released in North America on December 7, 2009[1] and is to be released in other regions by the end of the year. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced the game at the 2009 Game Developers Conference and set its release date for late 2009.[5] The game features a cel-shaded art style similar to that of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.[5][6] Spirit Tracks's protagonist, Link, travels across the game's overworld using a cannon-equipped steam train much like the steamboat in Phantom Hourglass.[5][6] Link is also able to control Phantoms, one of the enemies from Phantom Hourglass, which is possessed by Zelda,[7] and play an instrument called the Spirit Flute.[8]

Story

Spirit Tracks takes place 100 years after the events of Phantom Hourglass, in the land discovered by Tetra and Link from that game. In the present, a young boy known as Link seeks to become a rail engineer along the land's ethereal "Spirit Tracks", but must attend a ceremony at Castle Town in order to be granted the title by Princess Zelda. The ceremony, seen as useless by Zelda's councilor, Chancellor Cole, due to the waning use of the Tracks and their slow disappearance, is taken to heart by Zelda, and encourages Link to secretly visit her in her chambers after the event. There, Zelda implores Link to sneak her out of the castle and take her to the Spirit Tower, the centerpoint of the land, as she believes the reason for the Tracks disappearance lies there, and has been prevented by Cole from leaving before. As they make their way to the town, the Tracks they are on disappear, causing Link's train to crash. They are met by Cole, revealed to be a horned demon, and a mercenary named Byrne (Staven) under Cole's command. Cole seeks to free the Demon King Malladus, presently sealed by the Spirit Tracks, and requires Zelda's body to fully allow for his return. Cole manages to attack Zelda and dislodges her spirit from her body; Cole and Byrne depart with Zelda's body, leaving an unconscious Link and Zelda's spirit behind.

Link wakes up in Castle Town, saved by Teacher, Zelda's mentor. The spirit of Zelda finds only Link can see and hear her. After retrieving a ceremonial pan flute that Zelda has been taught to keep with her from her chambers, the two travel through a secret tunnel behind Hyrule castle to the Tower. There, they meet a Lokomo named Anjean, who explains that the only way to restore the Spirit Tracks, restore Zelda's soul to her body, and prevent Malladus' return is to re-establish the Spirit Tracks between several outlining temples to the Spirit Tower; the Tracks act as conduits to maintain the seal on Malladus's prison. Anjean assists Link and Zelda in recovers portions of the Tracks map in the Spirit Tower, and locating other Lokomos like herself in each temple, each who are entrusted with a two-part song using Zelda's pan flute and their own instrument that can restore the Tracks. Anjean allows Link to use the special train based in the Spirit Tower for their travels. Zelda finds that while ethereal, she is able to enter the body of Phantoms that roam the Tower and temples, and is able to assist Link in restoring the Tracks.

As they complete the Tracks and seek the location of the Bow of Light, the only weapon that can defeat Malladus, they face Byrne who attempts to stop them, but they are able to overpower him. As Byrne recovers, they learn he is also a Lokomo but had turned away from his duties. With the Compass of Light, they soon discover the entrance to the Spirit Realm where Cole would have taken Zelda's body. They follow him, too late to find that Malladus has started to take over Zelda's body, but Link manages to shoot on it with the Bow of Light. Zelda takes the opportunity to reclaim her body, but as she does so, Malladus attempts to claim it first. Byrne steps in the way, sacrificing himself for Zelda. With no other body available, Malladus takes Cole's body, transforming him to a giant beast. Link defends Zelda long enough for her to charge her sacred power. After she does so, she performs a duet with Link and the music playing guardian Lokomos join in. This identifies Malladus' weak spot, and allows Zelda, restored to her body, to kill it with the Bow of Light, as Link distracts it. With Malladus defeated, Anjean reveals that the world is now safe and the Lokomos, including the newborn spirit of Byrne, will take leave of it, leaving the world in the care of Zelda and Link. The two are met with a warm return back at Hyrule Castle.

Gameplay

Link operating the Spirit Train along the Spirit Tracks in the overworld.

Spirit Tracks continues its style of game play from The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, in which players use the stylus to control Link and use his assortment of weapons and items, albeit with a few game play tweaks. The game is divided into an overworld, which Link traverses using the Spirit Tracks, and towns and dungeons which he travels by foot. The player alternates between moving about the overworld and exploring towns and dungeons in order to complete the game's main story, but may opt to take in side quests for further rewards. In both the overworld and in dungeons, the player is able to make notes on their current map as an aid in puzzle solving or further reference; for example, some puzzles require the player to find the spot where two statues' gazes intersect to find a specific treasure or dungeon.

On the overworld, Link is able to direct his train across the land, with the ability to control speed and forward or reverse direction, to turn at track intersections, and to blow the train's whistle to scare animals off the tracks.[9] The player is able to automatically set a route for the train by drawing on the Spirit Track map, though not all locations are immediately available in this fashion. Later, Link is given a cannon that he can use to defend the train from attacks. Link also eventually gains a cargo car, which he can use to move goods from one town to another for additional bonuses. Some missions require Link to transport a passenger along the rails, and require the player to keep the passenger happy by following the signs along the side of the tracks, such as slowing down for tight turns or blowing the train's whistle, in order to successfully complete the mission. As the game progresses, the player opens more of the map, and encounters special warp points, activated by blowing the train's whistle, to move quickly between map sections.

In towns and dungeons, the player controls Link using the stylus, directing the character where to go. The stylus is also used to perform attacks and dodges and to select special items, such as bombs and a boomerang, used for combat and puzzle solving in order to progress further in the game. Certain items, in particular Zelda's pan flute, require the player to blow into the DS's microphone to simulate playing of the instrument. In the case of the pan flute, successfully completing songs can unlock new songs with magical properties, reveal hidden secrets, heal Link, or restore more of the Spirit Tracks.[10] In certain dungeons, the ethereal Zelda can inhabit Phantom Guardians that patrol the levels after Link successfully attacks them. Once Zelda has possessed one of these, the player can direct the Guardian along a stylus-drawn path or to attack a creature, to carry Link safely across dangerous fields, or to simply follow Link. Several puzzles of the game require the player to manipulate Link and the Zelda-possessed Phantom along different paths to complete a goal, switch back and forth between control of the two allies. In towns, the player can have Link speak to its residents, buy goods at local stores, and learn more about where to travel to next.

Multiplayer

Unlike The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks does not feature Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection multiplayer. However, up to four players can play via DS Download Play, using only one game card, and one game system per player. This multiplayer mode is non-canonical, as all four players play as different Links, each with different-colored tunics (a differential style used in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures). Each player attempts to collect as many Force Gems (of varying sizes, value and number) as possible within a set time limit. Opposition includes the other players; a varying number of non-partisan Phantoms, who will attack any player on sight; the play stages themselves, with environmental hazards such as icy floors and traps; and certain bonus power-ups attainable by any player. Power-ups include a thunder shock attack (which causes other players in its wake to drop some of their Gems) and Invincibility. While swords cannot be used, red Bomb Flowers can be used as a weapon. Results of the most recent game played will show up on a bulletin in most in-game towns and cities. "Tag Mode", an item trading system, is also available between local players.[11]

Promotion

To promote the game a collectors tin was available for anyone who pre ordered Spirit Tracks from GAME or Gamestation. This came in a Spirit Tracks tin with figures of Link and Phantom Zelda.

Reception

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks received the "Best Handheld Game" award at Gamescom 2009.[12] The game was also selected by IGN as their "Best of Gamescom 2009" winner for the Nintendo DS.[13]

It was given 91% in the December 2009 issue of the UK Official Nintendo Magazine who said "It's rammed to the gills with side-quests, secret areas and collectibles to find" and also stated that "although not a huge leap forward in the series, its still a great Zelda game nonetheless."[14]

NGamer magazine gave it 92%, stating that the game "takes the bane of our traveling life and turns it into a grand adventure."[citation needed]

Edge gave it 8/10, saying "Spirit Tracks' aging tricks continue to carry you back 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".[14]

GameTrailers gave the game a score of 9.0, saying it fixes Phantom Hourglass's shortcomings and holds up as one of the better titles of the series.[15]

Game Informer's staff reviewer Andrew Reiner gave the game a score of 8.0/10, stating that "Spirit Tracks is [his] least favorite Zelda title yet," claiming that the train segments are restrictive, and are thus detrimental to the trademark exploration aspect of the series. He did, however, concede that it is still a "good game." [16]

IGN gave the game a rating of 9.3/10, higher than Phantom Hourglass which received a score of 9.0/10.[17][18]

GameSpot gave Spirit Tracks an 8.5/10, lower than the 9/10 for Phantom Hourglass, although Spirit Tracks was said to improve on all aspects of Phantom Hourglass.

On Metacritic, the game has received an average rating of 87/100, based on 44 critic reviews.[19]

On Gamerankings, Spirit Tracks has received an 87.20.

Nintendo Power gave the game a 9.5.

Gamespy gave the game a 4.5 out of 5 calling it, "An amazing game that breaks the tradition without breaking the formula."

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/xAYNy6ZBrXXvmtev0W0aGPUWIrewwhh_
  2. ^ "Link and Mario make their return this Christmas as Nintendo announces the autumn/winter line-up". Nintendo. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  3. ^ "Zelda's Special Stylus". andriasang. 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  4. ^ "E3で新たなソーシャルエンターテインメント体験を紹介" (in Japanese). Nintendo. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2009-06-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. ^ a b c Mc Shea, Tom (2009-03-25). "GDC 2009: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Trailer Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  6. ^ a b Moriarty, Colin (2009-03-28). "GDC 09: Zelda's Spirit Tracks Official". IGN. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  7. ^ Harris, Craig (02-05-2009). "E3 2009: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Hands-on". IGN. Retrieved 03-05-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ "News Link's new instrument".
  9. ^ http://www.gametrailers.com/video/japanese-all-zelda-spirit/59262
  10. ^ http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=27461
  11. ^ http://www.zelda.com/spirittracks
  12. ^ "The winners of Gamescom 2009 are..." MyInsideGamer.com. 08-23-2009. Retrieved 09-05-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  13. ^ "GC 2009: Best of Gamescom 2009 Winners". IGN. 08-28-2009. Retrieved 09-05-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  14. ^ a b http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/legendofzeldaspirittracks?q=zelda
  15. ^ http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-zelda-spirit/59651
  16. ^ http://gameinformer.com/games/the_legend_of_zelda_spirit_tracks/b/nintendo_ds/archive/2009/12/07/spirit-tracks-review.aspx
  17. ^ http://ds.ign.com/articles/105/1052939p1.html
  18. ^ http://ds.ign.com/articles/822/822825p1.html
  19. ^ Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the (ds) reviews at Metacritic.com
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