Nintendo seems to be changing its approach toLegend of ZeldawithTears of the Kingdom, and it will hopefully pave the way for even more direct sequels like it. Typically, eachLegend of Zeldagame has been tenuously connected, butTears of the Kingdomwill actually serve as a direct sequel toBreath of the Wild. This means that direct sequels are on the table once again for theLegend of Zeldafranchise, and that makes it a perfect time to revisit the uniqueLegend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Trackslaunched in 2009 for the Nintendo DS, and it is the only Zelda game of its kind. It gave Link a train conductor’s hat and sent him across New Hyrule in his own locomotive. The addition of this new mechanic made this title stand out from the rest, and it deserves to be revisited. It was a fun and unique addition to the franchise, and it could shine once again througha sequel or remaster on the Nintendo Switch.
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Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks Was a Unique Entry in the Franchise
The story ofLegend of Zelda: Spirit Trackswasset afterThe Wind WakerandPhantom Hourglass, and it serves as a finale of sorts to the Adult Era of theZeldatimeline. It follows Link as he becomes an Engineer and is tasked with repairing the mythical Spirit Tracks to prevent the rise of the Demon King Malladus. Link and Zelda must head off on a wild adventure across New Hyrule and protect the land from everything that wishes to do it harm. It is a classicZeldastory, but its unique gameplay helps shake it up.
Thecombat and controls ofSpirit Tracksare pretty much the exact same as they were inPhantom Hourglass, but it throws a pretty unique train mechanic into the mix. Players traverse the overlord on Link’s Spirit Train, and they have control over almost every aspect. They can control the speed, the direction, and what track it turns on, and they can even blow the whistle. The Spirit Train is far more than a simple transport method as players also use it for certain missions, and they will eventually unlock upgrades that give the train even more functionality.
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracksdoes not do a lot to shake up theLegend of ZeldaDS-era formula, but its train mechanics do make it different enough that it feels like an entirely new experience. It is sometimes lauded as the best handheldLegend of Zeldagame out there and is often praised for its narrative. It was a pretty fun and engagingLegend of Zeldagame at the time, and it could shine again on the Switch.
Spirit Tracks Could Shine Again if it was Revisited
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracksis a greatZeldagame, but it can only be experienced on the DS or 3DS. Nintendo has not given Switch owners a way to check out some of these classic handheld titles, and that has left many great games gathering dust. The studio has only brought twoolderLegend of Zeldatitles to the Switch, while the rest of the series can only be played on their respective consoles. That feels like a huge missed opportunity on Nintendo’s part, and it needs to change.
The Switch seems like the perfect place to revisitthe bulk of theLegend of Zeldafranchise, and it should start withSpirit Tracks. The game is almost 15 years old, and that makes it the perfect time to revisit the concept. A direct sequel could further expand this era ofLegend of Zelda, and a remaster would allow the original game to shine once more. Whatever Nintendo chooses, it could be a great way to honor this unique entry in the franchise.
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