If you've played Phantom Hourglass, you'll get a distinct case of deja vu when playing Spirit Tracks. Not only are the graphics and controls exactly the same, but the structure and gameplay are almost identical. The same characters reappear, Link utilises the same equipment, and Spirit Tracks feels less like a sequel, and more like a continuation of the story started in Phantom Hourglass. Gamestyle liked Phantom Hourglass, and the stylus-only controls were refreshing and innovative. If it wasn't for the infuriatingly repetitive Temple of the Ocean King, it would rank as one of the best Zelda adventures on any console. You would think that adopting an "if it ain't broke, do fix it" approach would be a sensible course of action for Nintendo, but Gamestyle can't help feeling disappointed by Spirit Tracks.It soon becomes apparent that little creative effort has gone into Link's latest quest to save Princess Zelda. There are minor tweaks (Link's customisable boat complete with canon has been replaced by a customisable train complete with canon, and the Temple of the Ocean King has been replaced by the Spirit Temple, to name a few), but these superficial changes do little to mask the fact that Spirit Tracks is almost a carbon copy of Phantom Hourglass. Before each dungeon you must enter a floor of the Phantom infested Spirit Temple to recover a map that will lead the way there. In the Temple, you must avoid the Phantoms using stealth, and although you now have the assistance of Zelda (who accompanies you throughout your quest in spirit-form), those who have played Phantom Hourglass will be all too familiar with the trials and tribulations the Phantoms pose.Once the map has been obtained, you must set a course to the dungeon by drawing a route via the train tracks laid across the kingdom. As in Phantom Hourglass, your vehicle drives along your chosen route, and you use the canon to fend off monsters that pop up and attack you. Beadle once again appears to sell you his wares, and the golden frogs are replaced with golden dolphins and mischievous rabbits. Even when you reach the dungeon, the route to the boss feels stale, with similar puzzles and enemies. Yes, Link's quests have never been radically different, with the boomerang, bomb, and bow making frequent appearances, but at least the style changes with each game. To have such a similar game to the last is quite frustrating.The real question is whether it's a better game than Phantom Hourglass, and Gamestyle isn't convinced that it is. There are some improvements, including the removal of the need to repeat every floor of the main temple to obtain the maps, but the use of tracks makes the game feel more constricted. There is less joy (and more effort) in exploring the kingdom, and the characters you meet are dull and boring, mainly because you've met most of them in Phantom Hourglass. On it's own, it is a fine game, but if you have played Phantom Hourglass, it soon becomes monotonous.The innovative controls work as well as they did in Phantom Hourglass, and although they may not be to everyone's taste, they do make the Zelda games on the DS unique. It's intuitive to tap where you want Link to go, or what you want him to attack. There are a few moments where those who have had a long history with Zelda may long to have traditional D-pad controls, but these are few and far between. It has the similar "light" feel from Phantom Hourglass, so the dungeons are relatively short, and there are only six to conquer (not including the floors of the Spirit Temple). There are a few side quests, but the ones that exist are ruined due to the dull manner in which you navigate across the kingdom.It's hard to remain positive about Spirit Tracks, due to the disappointment it carries. The foundations laid by Phantom Hourglass aren't built upon, but reinforced. It's a solid game, and if you enjoyed Phantom Hourglass, you'll most likely enjoy Spirit Tracks, but it feels so similar that Gamestyle would go so far as to say that it would be a wasted purchase. On its own, however, it retains most of the elements that have made the Zelda series the success it has been, and if the train elements don't bore you, there are many hours of entertainment to be had. Gamestyle just can't recall a Zelda game that has had as little effort put into its creation. Maybe it's indicative of Nintendo's current business model; making family friendly games that are simple, and won't rock the boat. Yes, they had a winner with Phantom Hourglass, but Spirit Tracks reeks of complacency.
You might also like to check out Solatorobo: Red the Hunter for the Nintendo DS.
or alternatively Inazuma Eleven for the Nintendo DS.