Nintendo seems to be changing its approach to Legend of Zelda with Tears of the Kingdom, and it will hopefully pave the way for even more direct sequels like it. Typically, each Legend of Zelda game has been tenuously connected, but Tears of the Kingdom will actually serve as a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild. This means that direct sequels are on the table once again for the Legend of Zelda franchise, and that makes it a perfect time to revisit the unique Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks launched 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 through a sequel or remaster on the Nintendo Switch.
Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks Was a Unique Entry in the Franchise
The story of Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks was set after The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, and it serves as a finale of sorts to the Adult Era of the Zelda timeline. 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 classic Zelda story, but its unique gameplay helps shake it up.
The combat and controls of Spirit Tracks are pretty much the exact same as they were in Phantom 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 Tracks does not do a lot to shake up the Legend of Zelda DS-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 handheld Legend of Zelda game out there and is often praised for its narrative. It was a pretty fun and engaging Legend of Zelda game at the time, and it could shine again on the Switch.
Spirit Tracks Could Shine Again if it was Revisited
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is a great Zelda game, 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 two older Legend of Zelda titles 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 revisit the bulk of the Legend of Zelda franchise, and it should start with Spirit 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 of Legend 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.
