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Not much has been seen of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks since it was announced eighty ten billion thousand years ago. All we knew was that it involved a train. We still don't know much more than that, but have some screenshots and a video anyway.

I was never really enthused with Phanton Hourglass, due to the fact that the game tried to make the touch-screen controls do too much. It was great in theory, but a game that relies too much on the stylus can become confused and muddled. I could hope that Spirit Tracks reduces the reliance on the stylus somewhat, but the trailer lets me know not to bank on it.

I'll definitely be playing it though, because more Wind Waker-style Zelda games are always welcome.


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22 comments | showing # 1 to 22

phantomile's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 17:44
phantomile
I honestly didn't mind the touch screen controls of Phantom Hourglass at all.
The game was still terrible, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't because of the controls.

I am definitely looking forward to Spirit Tracks.
DanlHaas's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 17:50
DanlHaas
I'm beginning to think they're taking their time with this so they can decide whether or not to shoehorn in a bunch of DSi-specific features. It's something Nintendo loves doing with flagship franchises after releasing new hardware.
gamadaya's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 17:59
gamadaya
PH was really good (don't know what the hell phantomile is talking about), but it was too short and too easy. I doubt this will be any longer or harder. And it doesn't look like it's the same Link from PH. I really fucking wish Nintendo would finish the storyline for any of its Links. At least PH didn't end on a cliffhanger like MM.
peachboy's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:01
peachboy
phantom hourglass was so incredibly disappointing to me, i traded it not hours after i finished my first run through. although the train thing is fairly interesting, this seems like more of the same to me.

i hate to be the one jumping on the nintendo bashing bandwagon, but it feels like they're running this series into the ground.

now if they actually made this game fairly steampunk themed, that would be a different story, that's why wind waker worked so well for me, it was such a new experience, not just the same old recycled stuff.
Daxelman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:07
Daxelman
I liked PH, despite it's horrible backtracking.

If the backtracking is gone, or not so horrible in Spirit Tracks, I'm game for some TRAIN BATTLES.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:08
Holyetheline
I think it looks quite good. I don't mind the stylus.
flabzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:29
flabzilla
I really liked making notes on the map with the styles, was a nice touch that helped make me feel I was actually part of the game.
The backtracking did suck though I hope thats gone from this game.
D-503's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:33
D-503
I liked the Stylus, it was that terrible dungeon that made it my least favorite Zeldas.
Schabracke's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:33
Schabracke
I'd love to play this!

It kind of reminds me of Full Metal Alchemist :)
bobyoko's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:39
bobyoko
i'm going to buy this game, as i do every zelda title (the series is one of the few that has never burned me). i don't think that it'll be the greatest zelda yet, but i could be wrong. phantom hourglass was surprisingly good, so we'll see.
ChickenNow's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 18:46
ChickenNow
I'm pretty sure this is the same trailer we saw months ago...

If not, it's very very similair...
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 19:05
wanderingpixel
A new Zelda? I FORGIVE YOU NINTENDO!
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 19:07
Jetsetlemming
@ gamadaya
How is Majora's Mask's ending a cliffhanger? You save Termina. There are no loose plot threads left that are introduced in that game.
gamadaya's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 19:21
gamadaya
Yeah, but the whole thing was a sidequest for another quest. Link was looking for Navi, he got stuck in Termina, and then he's still looking for Navi. So maybe not a cliffhanger, but it implied that something was coming after it.
Electrium's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 20:17
Electrium
Yeah, this trailer is pretty old, but it still looks really cool. =D
buffaloAAA's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/19/2009 20:44
buffaloAAA
I agree with what people are saying - the damn temple of the ocean king was an IMMEDIATE deal breaker for me. What was my least favorite part about ANY Zelda game? Lets see - having to hide around and sneak and not being able to fight back. So Nintendo decided to take this frustrating mechanic and grow an entire branch of the franchise around it. From the looks of those screens we're probably in for the same ride, notice the maps with the "phantom" looking things, the key?! The only problem I had with the control was only being able to equip one tool/weapon/item at a time. Not that it really mattered, the gameplay was pretty straightforward that you never really needed more than one tool at any given point.

...Sorry. I've never properly vented the rage and frustration I felt for PH - the only Zelda to this day I have never finished because I couldn't stand the site of it anymore.

and what about some bottle quests?! and more than like 7 items? And islands that aren't all peanut butter colored? how about some goddamned grass nintendo? Grass!?!?!
Laird's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/20/2009 00:06
Laird
All aboard! Next stop: ADVENTURE!
The CronoLink's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/20/2009 00:32
The CronoLink
All that train traveling (and battling!) looks ridiculous. If MM, TWW and TP were subtle about being more of the same, from the looks of it ST seems blatantly more of the same PH. I hope at least it'll be as fun as PH was but I'll have very low expectations regarding that train stuff (it doesn't even feel like "Zelda" anyway).
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/20/2009 09:56
PappaDukes
@The CronoLink - Yes, it does look ridiculous, ridiculously awesome!
Pic0o's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/20/2009 10:40
Pic0o
I also liked PH, but saying you simply 'like' a Zelda game (as a huge fan of the series) is pretty much a confirmation of mediocrity.

I was saddened by the ease of completion and lack of time I had to invest to complete Phantom Hourglass. I did enjoy the boat, I'd fire the game up just to sail and find treasure - Loved that aspect, but it's not like I cannot pop in Wind Waker and get the same, along with some Epic playtime.

Nintendo got on my shitlist this gen, for forcing the 'alternate' play controls, while straight up ignoring classic controls (Wii Included - IE one of the reasons why we sold ours). If PH had support for BOTH touch and buttons, it would have been a large improvement.

The biggest improvement needed for a DS Zelda, is that it should have the playtime in the range of the DS'vania titles.

I am still very interested in Spirit Tracks, but more interested in this next game, to give me playtime in hours near = to the sticker price.
mgmgarcia01's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/20/2009 11:16
mgmgarcia01
I'll take a more of a SNES Legend Of Zelda TYVM.
Johnny Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/20/2009 15:39
Johnny Justice
I liked the controls. The only thing that bothered me about them was firing the boat's cannon, but that's only because my touch-screen is permanently uncalibrated.
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