Zelda: Spirit Tracks trailer, now with more Zelda

by JC Fletcher { Nov 6th 2009 at 10:59AM }

Nintendo's new The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks trailer (after the break) reveals a more exciting innovation than the whole train thing: You're not exactly rescuing Zelda in this game. In fact, she travels with you the whole time ... in spirit!

In one of the craziest Zelda trailers we've ever seen, some wizard shows up and turns Zelda into a ghost, and then she sort of mopes around as an apparition until some guy with wheels suggests that she go on a road trip with Link. If you were wondering how Link could gain control of the Phantoms in this upcoming DS game, it's not through a musical instrument he finds in a treasure chest (the usual Zelda route), but rather it's because Princess Zelda possesses them.

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Tags: action-rpg, legend-of-zelda, spirit-tracks, the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks, zelda

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Dreaded Fear @ Nov 6th 2009 11:08AM

Can't wait for this game. Hopefully they took out the game-lengthening, and boring dungeon that you have to repeatedly go back to.

Dante G @ Nov 6th 2009 11:08AM

I didn't know Princess Zelda was so naughty ;)

Massmass @ Nov 6th 2009 1:12PM

That bitch will do anything to prevent link from tapping that shit.

reiji @ Nov 8th 2009 10:30AM

Well, excuuuuuuuse me, Princess!

reiji @ Nov 8th 2009 10:33AM

I lose for not reading comments. Someone beat me to it below.

Ryan @ Nov 6th 2009 11:08AM

This game has to come out sooner. Im tired of my wife pestering me about when this game is going to come out.

I keep telling her December, its not good enough.

Junho @ Nov 6th 2009 11:11AM

Now, things are making sense...
It was Zelda's Spirit, not just random helper...
well, I guess it would be fun.

JXCgunrunna @ Nov 6th 2009 11:19AM

Looks amazing. I just added this to my list of must haves

Shadow Hog @ Nov 6th 2009 11:20AM

Admittedly, I'd been expecting this game to be shit, since Phantom Hourglass failed to impress me.

But, I dunno, if they cut down on the gimmicks like yelling into the microphone, or repeated forced stealth segments... could be worth a look again. Offing the princess in the fashion they did, and then using her spirit as they do, is actually a pretty unique tale for Zelda, so...

religiousjedi @ Nov 6th 2009 11:33AM

I second this....and I'm one who gets orgasms with the mention of Zelda!

Trailer looked nice, and I'm more intrigued on it, in spite of choo choo (besides, I'm obligated to buy it...it's Zelda!).

Special Agent Steve @ Nov 7th 2009 12:22AM

I thirdly this.

B3astofthe3ast @ Nov 6th 2009 11:22AM

I'm not exactly the biggest fan of handheld Zelda, although I did enjoy minish cap VERY much. I myself prefer the console epics, which always take forever to release. :/

Ashitaka @ Nov 6th 2009 12:50PM

I actually think the opposite. Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons and The Minish Cap are some of the best (if not the best) handheld games I've ever played. I absolutely love them all :)

lanceyami03 @ Nov 11th 2009 12:03AM

Oracle Series, Link's Awakening, and Minish Cap ARE THE best handhelds I've played; then Pokemon Red/Blue and Gold/Silver are afterward. It's Zelda on the go, what's not to love?

Juan C. Flores @ Nov 6th 2009 11:26AM

OMFG What a grea bday present for me!

NForever @ Nov 6th 2009 5:48PM

Happy Birthday!!! XD

What'd you get me??? (...better not be zelda socks, again.)

firstbornrogers @ Nov 6th 2009 11:29AM

I'll wait for the next handheld. These games... I don't mean to sound like a troll, but c'mon, the fidelity of these 3D graphics just don't compete with even the 2D graphics of something like Link to the Past.

Mr.ESC @ Nov 6th 2009 11:40AM

What? No.When was the last time you played LttP?

SNES sprites are hideous.Cell-shaded link looks much better also that was a console game at the time not a hand held game.

Freedom Town @ Nov 6th 2009 12:57PM

I agree. I would much rather have a snes Zelda look then the DS offerings.

This is the same comparison I make when describing how much better I think Final Fantasy 4 looks on DS over FF7 on PSP.

Sometimes the old graphic style just looks better. Especially on an underpowered handheld.

Elranzer @ Nov 6th 2009 4:12PM

Mr. ESC you can't be serious. SNES sprits are timeless! Games like Secret of Mana and Super Mario All-Stars would still be considered beautiful by today's standards.

Polygon games don't age well. Look at any game on the PS1, I'll bring up FF7 for example. Looks like grainy shit today. It's rather painful to go back and play. On the other hand, FF6 on SNES is still easy on the eyes.

ese150 @ Nov 15th 2009 1:37PM

"SNES sprits are timeless!"

BS. When I first played the Advance versions of SMB2 and SMW (not having played before the SNES versions), I thought they looked awful and wished Nintendo had updated the graphics to GBA standards. Also the ALTTP graphics lacked graphical diversity (even compared with other SNES games) and made Link look like a frog >.>
There are some SNES games that still look good to me like the All-Stars version of SMB3, Kirby Super Star, and Yoshi's Island. But that doesn't mean that I will let nostalgia fool me into believing that ALTTP has pretty and colorful graphics.

"Polygon games don't age well. Look at any game on the PS1, I'll bring up FF7 for example. Looks like grainy shit today. It's rather painful to go back and play."

Also BS. SOME 3D games look shit today. Others have aged better and still look pretty. The Nintendo 64 Zeldas look way better than ALTTP, with prettier and more diverse colors, more graphic diversity, and models whose shapes still look good despite being low-polygonal.

Wiiplayer @ Nov 15th 2009 2:02PM

'made Link look like a frog'

ROFL! Now that you mention, I agree =) ALttP sprites look ugly by today's standards. Plus its graphics in general aren't as timeless as ALttP fanboys claim they are, and this comes from a guy who played and loved the game as a kid.

Kael @ Nov 6th 2009 11:32AM

I used to think of myself as a big Zelda fan -- that I would, of course, play every Zelda game that comes out and love it -- until I sadly realized I hadn't picked up my DS and resumed my Phantom Hourglass save in almost two years. I was only a couple hours into it, and didn't hate or even dislike my time with it; I just set it down for the day... and never picked it up again.

And now I realize that I'm not hyped for this game one bit. I find that weird and a little disturbing. Quick, Nintendo; show me a trailer for the next big Zelda for Wii. Let me see if it's just the DS games or if I'm dead inside.

Chalky @ Nov 8th 2009 5:30PM

I feel the same way...
I somehow managed to make my way through phantom hourglass, but that was only because my DS was the only thing I had during 4 consecutive train rides...
Irony?

Anyway, I simply cannot bring myself to hype up for this game.

Stix Remix @ Nov 6th 2009 11:32AM

Hey! Listen! On an all new scale...

NForever @ Nov 6th 2009 5:52PM

Yeah lol, this time around we get to hear Zelda nagging Link instead of the usual Navi blatherings.

"Don't slouch!"
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
"Don't you roll your eyes at me!"
"Who's Saria? Someone I should know about?"

...oh man, this is gonna be epic.

Harrie @ Nov 6th 2009 6:29PM

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuse me, princess

NForever @ Nov 6th 2009 7:20PM

"Don't you back sass me!"
"Don't make me turn this train around."
*makes tracks disappear*
"Well that's what you deserve for cheating on me with that Midna thing."
"WHAT!?! YOU LET HER RIDE YOU ALL OVER THE PLACE!!! YOU SICK WOLF!"

"...I'm never talking to you again."
"...but seriously, why would you do that?"
"You don't even let me ride you, I have to jump into the scary statue thing."
"Nag nag nag nag nag"

Chris Gregg @ Nov 6th 2009 11:34AM

CANT WAIT for this!

Porker @ Nov 6th 2009 11:37AM

I love me some new Zelda, but honestly, my favourite part about Zelda trailers? The fact I never have to worry about going through an annoying age gate. Yes, I'm that lazy. And I bet you are too!

Mr.ESC @ Nov 6th 2009 11:38AM

You got to keep her in your pocket,where there is no way out...(Incidentally there is a White stripes article next)

Mother 3 snake rope,awesome and Zelda is finally useful.

I didn't like Phantom Hourglass because it was repetitive as all hells.Even Doom today is more entertaining than PH but as long as I don't have to repeat the same dungeon over 9000 times I see me myself getting this one as well.

(Seriously Nintendo just poty Mother 3,people will buy it.)

Mr.ESC @ Nov 6th 2009 11:41AM

*port,I don't know why I typed poty maybe I was going to type goty.

bongoes Sector 2814 @ Nov 6th 2009 3:17PM

I love that song...

Anyway, this looks really good. Zelda possessing Phantoms might make them less annoying then in the last one.

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Nov 6th 2009 11:45AM

Graphics look weird on cut-scenes but they really shine on gameplay.

Platy @ Nov 6th 2009 11:48AM

So ... the armored guy with the big sword was zelda all along ???

That is for those who complained that sheik was too girly and too obviously her xD

....the diference is that this time this isn't a spoiler =P

uncle jesse @ Nov 6th 2009 12:17PM

I don't blame her for not wanting to go with that dude who rolled up with the lazy eye...

Bert @ Nov 6th 2009 12:17PM

Okay, i'm sure I'll get voted down for this but.... i'm just not impressed in the slightest. What is with all the stupid gimmics in Zelda games these days? The original story line has been spun so many different ways that I feel like i'm watching the 11th season of some Nickelodeon cartoon at this point.

I truly hope that the next Zelda on the Wii sticks to the tried and true formula. Make the story a little dark, the animations non-cell shaded, and some classic dungeon crawling gameplay. If I see another Zelda game with a stupid train, silly masks, sailboats, etc. i'm going to puke!

Devin @ Nov 6th 2009 12:27PM

So you dont think turning into a wolf was gimmicky? Or playing an ocarina to turn back time every 3 days was? Zelda was built on awesome gimmicks, this ones just a bit... Different.

Shoyz @ Nov 6th 2009 12:53PM

Silly masks?

Majoras Mask was considered the darkest Zelda game, and my favorite.

Chalky @ Nov 8th 2009 5:43PM

Tried and true Zelda formula?
There is none!
Zelda's been turned on it's head every couple years since its conception.
Zelda was a fantastic action/adventure game...
Zelda 2 was the first innovation, with side scrolling...
Zelda 3 with the dark world...
Ocarina of Time had time travel...
Majora's Mask had the 3 day cycle and the masks...
Oracle of [Ages/Seasons] had the linked ending...
Minish Cap had the shrinking...
Four Swords the multi link adventure...
Wind Waker the sailing...
Twilight Princess the transformation...
I've probably missed some, too xD

Gimmicks are the name of the game, my friend. That's Zelda.

emperorzeroxx @ Nov 6th 2009 12:59PM

The game looks weird but at the same time it looks like it will be fun. I hope this time they will give us the option to walk around with the d-pad..... using stylus for boomerang or other bow and arrow is fine but walking around I found annoying... either way I will get this... just mentioning a little pet peeve about the previous ds zelda..... that looks like it might be there yet again.

Raffi @ Nov 6th 2009 4:03PM

I played this at PAX and the controls are the same as the Phantom Hourglass.

Gunslinger5000 @ Nov 7th 2009 8:51PM

Games looks awesome but too bad you have to use the lame stylus to play.

Mr Khan @ Nov 6th 2009 1:38PM

This one really ratcheted up my hype. We can finally (probably) see a deeper Link-Zelda relationship than ever before, because she has been made more integral to the gameplay than ever before (except for her limited roles in fighting Ganondorf in WW and TP)