The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks

The next handheld Legend of Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks is a sequel to Phantom Hourglass that adds new game mechanics to the popular series, including the introduction of train travel, and a Darknut/Phantom ally to help Link. Controls are like Phantom Hourglass.

Basic Story

After Phantom Hourglass, Link, Tetra and the pirates find a new land, which they call Hyrule. However, it's being tyrannised by an evil dictator known as Malladus, who is pretty much a Ganon equivalent down to the face on the Demon Train and his general form. They defeated him, and sealed him away using the Spirit Tracks (train tracks which connect the corners of the land and come from the Spirit Tower). Afterwards, a hundred or so years on, the latest reincarnation of Princess Zelda is handing the latest version of Link his diploma as Royal Engineer. However, it turns out she is also suspicious of the evil chancellor, Cole, and they escape the castle, meeting with Alfonzo, who's the master that trained Link to be an engineer. They get a train and try to escape, but the tracks beneath them suddenly appear, which derails the train.

Now, they're attacked by Chancellor Cole, who defeats Link, Alfonzo and Zelda, taking away Zelda's body to revive the demon king Malladus. Zelda's Spirit however remains, and she helps Link by possessing the Phantoms through the game.

There are of course various other twists, like Byrne/Slavern (Cole's henchman) being one of the Lokomo tribe, and a corrupted good guy who sacrifices himself to hold off Malladus, and the requirement of the Light Arrows and Compass to access the Dark Realm and defeat Malladus.

And Cole himself gets possessed by Malladus for the final boss battle

Official Art

Game Logo.

Link and a Darknut/Phantom type figure by a train.

Link and this Darknut/Phantom character.

Basically the first non logo artwork with a fancier background.

Characters

Link

Zelda

Alfonzo

Chancellor Cole

Byrne/Slavern

Official Screenshots

Concept Art

Beta Train Designs