Back to the handheld side of games for a bit, with my first post about one of my favorite series of all time. 

                The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the second legend of Zelda game made for the Nintendo DS.  The series dates back to the original Nintendo Entertainment System and has been a centerpiece of any Nintendo system since. In each story the green clad hero Link must save whatever realm he happens to be residing in from destruction by evil forces.  While the villains change throughout the series, Link is our ever present hero.  By traveling through dungeons and solving puzzles, the player is ultimately able to save the day and thwart whatever evil plot had been concocted.  

                In this game Link has been awarded the honor of being a spirit train conductor, giving him the ability to travel all across the world in his special train, following the spirit tracks that crisscross the countryside (hence the title of the game).  Unfortunately, the tracks that are so important to everyone in the kingdom are slowly disappearing and no one knows why.  It is up to the player to guide Link across the world to bring the tracks back and find out why they are in danger.  Players navigate their way across the tracks to reach new levels and complete side missions, gaining new equipment and bonuses along the way.  Exploration is always a big part of any Zelda game and for a lot of experienced Zelda gamers Spirit tracks was a bit of a disappointment due to the fact that you were only allowed to navigate where the tracks were.  In the previous game the entire world was covered by an ocean and the player was able to sail anywhere they wanted, without any prohibitions.  However, being stuck on the tracks actually makes this a perfect game for younger players or those who have never played a Legend of Zelda game.  The tracks help guide you along to the major plot points and also give hints as to where side quests are hidden.  Whereas in other games less experienced gamers could become hopelessly lost and confused, Spirit Tracks is the perfect place to start for someone playing a Zelda game for the first time.

                This particular game has the same cel shaded graphics that were used for the Gamecube “Windwaker” Zelda game and for the first Zelda game on the DS “The Phantom Hourglass”.  This type of animation embraces  its cartoony side, using a lot of round shapes and bright colors.  This is one of the reasons why this is one of the better Legend of Zelda games for younger players.  The bright colors and graphic style appeal to younger gamers without coming off as babyish or too cute and cuddly.

                Overall, I think that any Zelda game for a Nintendo system is a great purchase.  While there is no multiplayer aspect to the games, they story that each weaves along the way on top of the puzzles that need to be solved to pass each level make them classic pieces of gaming.  If you’re new to the series and have a DS, Spirit Tracks is a fantastic place to start.  If you’ve played Zelda games before and haven’t picked this one up yet, you won’t be disappointed.