The green cap carrier breaks again on an adventure on the DS, but so awesome are some changes on closer examination, so sobering are some other points.
The story reinvents the wheel is not really new. Merely the fact that our hero is not a farmer or a simple daydreamers more, but an apprentice to train drivers for the first time novel. At the very beginning it is then already on to the castle to fetch the railway diploma, which is awarded by an admittedly not exactly unknown videogame princess. Just while she puts our hero a letter to, by asking him to help break out of the castle and then we have to start to "Spirit Tracks", in which - you guessed it perhaps - played two heroes simultaneously. I let wanted some points of the intro from, because even though they are well known already from trailers, the PAL-pack and some other texts I want this not really spoilers. One thing is certain: Zelda is playable and it goes with. How, why, why, that must find out for yourself the geneiegte gamers. The plot is first, of course, not earth-shattering and something tells long, but it will be noted for that matter that the title a new rail strikes - in the truest sense of the word.
What has changed? Now the actual gameplay of its predecessor, Phantom Hourglass, not much. Via Stylus controls to link the worlds Tap opponents or drawing a line on selfsame performs an attack. Dragging a circle around the hero Fürt a spin attack and double-tap in the direction leading to a role. By clicking on an icon, you can control Zelda, but which may be similar to walk along the boomerang from Phantom Hourglass, only a drawn path. A nice feature that brings new gameplay, but sometimes you would have wanted something better AI values Dame, because it stays like to hang on corners, or finds its way to link not, even if she stands before him.
However, what has fundamentally changed, some items and, of course, the means of transportation. If we cut short the new items to, such as the Ocarina of Time - pardon, the panpipe of ... I forgot. In any case, the pan flute is handled as Ocarina replacement, but otherwise controlled for via stylus you have to draw the desired timber tube under the microphone and then produce a sound in selbiges by targeted blowing. Ever Spirit Tracks operated much more the characteristics of the DS, but only insert the new control but not really a new gameplay element.
So handle it by train, which has replaced the small barge. Again, one may draw routes via stylus, but like a train usual, only on a rail network. From riding forth it remains then the already known principle, only a little more planning is needs to avoid interfering with other trains to hunt and the clever insertion of the pipe to cows and monsters from the roadbed. Later in the railway gained even a gun that is operated as the floating counterpart. Apart from the limitation on rails and associated non-complete freedom of movement here not too much change is therefore discoverable.
Little changes are noticeable even at the worlds and dungeons. Of course, everything is updated, but too often you stumble over things the 1: 1 were taken from the first DS offshoot. especially in dungeons that sometimes have the same music as before (!) it's a shame to see that nothing has changed. Everything is somehow still so "bulky" how to NES times. Somehow quite nice - from retro-vision - but if a forest temple opposite a ice temple changed only by the color of the wall and the floor, I find it kinda goofy. I would want to Forestal, icy, etc. have it - but perhaps I am thus alone. The individual houses in villages and towns, however, are almost slaying of detail. Why only here and not in the dungeon?
Also back again a central dungeon of the "Spirit Tower", which is visited by each dungeon to new tracks unlock. Although the principle is like the critics hated you can now comforted, because you have the individual levels here never really completely visit again and again. The game of two heroes loosens this temple also on, since this is where both figures come very used and it is almost always asked tactics. Nevertheless, there remains a, by many just hateful, central dungeon, which is visited several times.
Spirit Tracks makes generally also a somewhat sedate impression. Link seems to me to run slower and the story is told slowly. Even traveling by train - although very funny - sometimes runs somehow in the length. Nevertheless, it must be clearly stated that not negatively strike these lengths, but are well filled. Attracting attention does it anyway somehow.
The difficulty was not largely increased, only the puzzle can be a bit annoying, because now there is more on time / timing, rather than simple push or pull. Many a puzzle requires several tries, but it's at least a good step in the right direction. Boss fights and dungeons ever had but can tolerate a little more length and demand. Heart parts there are here again to find only at a time.
In addition to tasks may certainly not be missed and are quite fun. Collecting stamps in the world is a little monotonous, creative it is there to provide passengers and goods a good and rapid journey from A to B. Much like in the typical Japanese Train-Sims like Densha De Go! or Railfan. Here it is exactly for the signs to drive on the track edge and not too wild to slow down when driving into the station. Entertaining, but fun!
Graphically everything moves on also known Phantom Hourglass level with some improvements. Some textures are still pixelated and fragment effects you have to plan, but the DS can not stop necessarily different. It is beautiful nonetheless, albeit not for purely graphic fetishists, which is mainly the, amateurish spoken, "Pappaufstellern" are eschoffieren, such as trees and signs. This approach has certain things in 3D display so nothing to do with displeasure at design and programming, as well as a lack of money, but is a standardized procedure. Even with PS360 titles can be seen, although not quite so striking, which is simple and to the quality of textures. In addition, be said: Who beibt specially during a train journey and are rotated the camera just look at an object. Can you make, no one denies, but who is running normally by train will not notice it so much badly.
The music is, as before mentioned, taken from Phantom Hourglass in part, the new pieces predominate but are true and earwigs. Sound effects are somewhat mixed and I have my link a slightly different voice that sounds again little younger and not quite as grater. Speech, as always, does not really exist - does not need it but with Zelda, because the pictures speak enough words.
For multiplayer I can not say anything because I note this rather less, but it is again the same as built-in and well with the already known.
In general you have to say that the title brings a lot of fresh air to the series. Not only the train and the slightly different story achieve this, but also the major personalities of the individual figures. Especially Zelda blossoms scary here and a lot of good scenes go on her cap. Also link has somehow a new personality and even though I was always something quite skeptical about the Cartoon Zelda manages this title - even with a lot of cartoon humor - to captivate me. While some fall repetitions (Copy & Paste) from Phantom Hourglass repeatedly on and the microphone control could be a bit less sensitive (like two tones in quick succession registered, etc.), but beneath their line it's really a terrific Zelda. Well, I'm kind of a railwayman, but reason alone it is of course no guarantee of fun. Would it be longer and slightly heavier, then we would have probably the best portable Zelda.
