For The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks on the Nintendo DS.
The booklet that came in the box explains the controls, the screens, the train, and Battle mode. Each section below sums up one part of it and quotes a line from the booklet with its page.
Long ago the spirits sealed the demon Malladus beneath the land. The Tower of Spirits stands at the center of that seal, and the tracks that run out from it across the land hold him down. When the tracks start to vanish, Link, a young engineer from Aboda Village, sets out with Princess Zelda to find out why.
These shackles cover the land to this day.
The booklet introduces Link, Princess Zelda, Alfonzo, Anjean, Chancellor Cole, and Byrne. Early in the story Zelda's body is taken from her. As a spirit she stays at Link's side, and in the Tower of Spirits she can take over the armor of a Phantom and fight with him.
Almost everything is done with the stylus on the Touch Screen. Tap where Link should walk, tap an enemy to attack it, and draw lines to slash. The microphone is used too: the Spirit Flute and the Whirlwind both need you to blow into it.
There are two save files. A file can be copied or erased from the file screen, but Battle data does not go with a copy. Adventure plays the story and Battle the multiplayer game, and Tag Mode opens once you have a treasure item. Options sets the message speed (three choices), the sound (four), which hand holds the stylus, and a microphone test.
You can save from the menu at almost any time, but the game does not always pick up where you saved.
After you save and quit a game, the next time you play, you will begin from the nearest start point and not necessarily the exact place you last saved.
Phantoms guard the floors of the Tower of Spirits, and Link's sword does nothing to them at first. Each floor has Tears of Light to collect. With all three, Link can strike a Phantom from behind, and once it is stunned Zelda can step into its armor.
If a Phantom hits you, you must start again from the level entrance.
When Link's hearts run out the game is over. You can carry on from close by, or save and stop playing.
Items are picked from the item menu and used with the stylus. The Boomerang flies along a line you draw, the Whirlwind is aimed and then fired by blowing into the microphone, and the Spirit Flute is played by sliding it and blowing. A green Rupee is worth 1, a blue one 5, and a red one 20.
If you find a Heart Container, the maximum number of hearts in your Life Gauge will increase by one, and your Life Gauge will fill completely.
Before setting off, draw the route on the map with the quill and press Go. On the way, the gear lever speeds the train up or slows it, stops it, or backs it up, the whistle cord clears animals off the tracks, and the panels at each junction switch the route. Keep an eye out on all sides while the train moves.
Any damage you take will be repaired when you stop at a station.
Up to four players can play Battle, each with a Nintendo DS. Only one of them needs the game card; the others join through DS Download Play. Nobody has a sword. Players pick up Force Gems while dodging Phantoms and traps, and a hit makes you drop the gems you carry. Player 1 is green, 2 red, 3 blue, and 4 purple.
The player with the most Force Gems at the end of the match wins.