14 DAY TRIAL // Nintendo has confirmed that it will release The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks on December 7 on the Nintendo DS. The game is the long awaited sequel to the 2007 hit Phantom Hourglass and will have to really deliver a complex and engaging experience to satisfy gamers who have been asking Nintendo for it since 2008.
The game builds on the same stylus control mechanics as the previous title but is set to offer better built dungeons, more challenging boss fights and new gameplay mechanics focused on controlling the phantoms that gave Link so much trouble in the first iteration.
Another significant difference is that the boat sections that often felt frustrating in Phantom Hourglass have been replaced with sections during which Link controls a train, as hinted at in the title.
The train will feature sections where ghost trains need to be avoided and its weapons will allow players to take on a variety of enemies. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks will not be a game that redefines the series but Nintendo is hoping that enough innovation is present to make it as loved by players as Phantom Hourglass.
The Japanese company has also announced release dates for a few other titles set to appear before Christmas. A Nintendo Wii port of Call of Duty 4, which has been renamed to the weird Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex should be released on November 10, the same date when the Mobilized Nintendo DS version arrives.
It's also no surprise that the all-new Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Wii is set to appear before the end of the year, although no clear date was mentioned, while the company is also planning to release Space Invaders Extreme 2 on October 20 and Phantasy Star Zero on November 10.