It takes a hell of a lot of courage to admit you were wrong about something. We know that feeling all too well, don't we? We like to be right. We have strong stances and opinions on subjects, and most the time there is little to nothing that will make us change our minds and admit being wrong. Well, I want to apologize openly to Nintendo. I doubted you when it came to Spirit Tracks. I felt it would be one of the worst games in the series, and would hold zero interest to me. Of course I love Zelda, so I would of bought the game regardless, but who knows if I would have even gave it a chance.My initial impressions back at GDC 2009 were not those of glee. I was pretty upset, admittedly. That's even putting it mild. I was outraged at Nintendo. Not only did we not get a Zelda Wii trailer, we were handed what appeared to be a quickly thrown together Phantom Hourglass sequel as an excuse to say "we did give you a core game this year".
It's no secret that Phantom Hourglass was aimed at a crowd that mostly did not include myself. That is not to say Phantom Hourglass was a bad game. It was rather enjoyable for a stand alone DS title, but it was also just didn't appeal to the Zelda in me. It felt like Linebeck was the only character in the game designed to give core gamers a thrill, and I honestly didn't like him. The game was far too easy, the story itself was pretty weak, and lets not even get into the Temple of the Ocean King. There were redeeming factors of course, but the negatives to me just made this one of my constant cellar dwellers in terms of my rankings of the Zelda titles.
That being the case, it's rather easy to understand my outrage at seeing Spirit Tracks. It wasn't that the game would be bad, it's that we got it before even getting a Zelda console announcement. Twilight Princess came out in 2006. Phantom Hourglass came out in 2007. It was clearly the time for a console announcement. Instead, we were greeted with a PH sequel and a Link riding a train. Forgive me for this, but here was my initial reaction: "Link is on a train? This the worst damn Zelda game in history."
The previews of the demo that ensued didn't really make me falter too much on those thoughts. Adding in the fact you had to blow into a mic to use an item, and it mimicked the control scheme of Phantom Hourglass (I really was not a fan of the touch controls) it only furthered my hate towards the game. Nintendo didn't help either, not revealing anything new about the game for such a long time. To me, it felt like they knew the game was rushed and just a "tide me over till Zelda Wii" thing and thus they didn't really want to highlight it.
Boy, was I dead wrong. From here on out be warned, as spoilers may leak in. It started really with our own Nathaniel Coughran's viewpoints on our exclusive ST demo preview. I say, it may have been one of the single most unbiased reviews of the demo to date. It didn't really get me excited or anything, but it was bit of a shocker to see that some of these gameplay elements may have been tainted in my mind by the numerous reviews that mostly bashed the demo.
Then, last night, Nintendo hits us hard. New trailers revealing so much stuff my mind was blown. This was only furthered today as we discovered the story behind the game. Needless to say, my jaw dropped. The train overreaction seems like a distant memory. Zelda is finally involved heavily in the game, even to the point where you get to control both her and Link. The whole Phantom being a good guy finally got explained as to how to works, and it was confirmed that this land is indeed the "New Land" they talked about finding at the end of Phantom Hourglass.
The story itself is enough to make me like the game. If you couldn't guess, I am big into story when it comes to Zelda. I felt before that Twilight Princess may have been the greatest story ever told. I may stand corrected with Spirit Tracks. So far, all the characters revealed have a clear purpose, arguably a personality even. You see a world in trouble, and it may not even be Ganondorf... it's just a Demon King that was at the land before we even showed up. The tracks have an actual meaning to the game outside of just pure transportation. Honestly, I could go on and on about the excitement that Spirit Tracks is bringing me.
What I am trying to say here, in the end, is I am sorry Nintendo. I was wrong. Spirit Tracks may indeed be exactly what I wanted in a Zelda title. I was quick prejudge it, basing it on the surface alone before being able to dive in. While I have yet to play the title, I can already safely say it's going to be a lot better than many of us thought it would be. I am not saying that this game is for everyone, but I will say that this game is definitely for me. Thank you, Nintendo. You have shown me the light at the end of the train tunnel, and it's beautiful.
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idk about all that, but my excitement level has definitely gone up over the past few days
Great article I think most of us compleatly agree with you I know I do! except I loved PH and Linebeck is just to epic for words for me ha
Well said man... it does take a lot of courage to admit you're wrong about something :3
I think a lot of us jumped to a similar conclusion when it was first announced... and in the absence of new information that doubt and dislike was allowed to fester in our hearts.
But now all that's been truly washed away by this new flood of information released today... and honestly it now looks like Nintendo were actually doing everything right, improving on the PH, and Zelda formula to make what looks to be an absolutely brilliant game... full of exciting story and deep characters. I really can't wait now.
Heh, I learnt this lesson from PH... I thought I knew not to judge a book by its cover... but that game proved I didn't xD
From the start I hated it... we got it, and I didn't even play until the first dungeon before I put it down in disgust. I hated the graphics, the controls, the ocean, the TotOK, and Linebeck, without really giving it a chance. I let my expectations get the better of me.
A year later, when I was off ill and bored out of my head, I decided I might as well take another look at it... and man did I feel stupid. At the time (being ill) I found it pleasantly easy to complete, and I found it had so much charm, just as much as Wind Waker. I remember smiling happily when I recognised some old LttP enemies, and when I found old puzzles re-invented.
So when ST was announced, I was actually pretty happy about it, since an extension of PH was fine by me- when I finished PH I'd wished for more. But now today I see it's so much more than that, and I just can't wait for it now!
Awesome article :3
I wouldn't count your chickens just get. This game could still suck.
I would bet my life that it won't, but I could be dead tomorrow.
I agree. It could still turn out bad, although I doubt it now. Zelda Wii will still surely be better.
I remember Aonuma saying that he wanted to make a Zelda game with a good storyline. Maybe this is it.
I was excited when they showed the first trailer. Not because of the gameplay, graphics, or train; but because we finally found out Old Hyrule's fate. Then, with last nights announcements and leaks, i nearly cryed (both from happyness and sadness) The story is simply too beautiful........and i cant believe that Zelda actually dies in the first couple of minutes of gameplay :O I would like to see people's faces when they first play the game (unknowing of its fate) and watch zelda collapse. :D
Zelda NEVER dissapoints, Thank-you Nintendo for another Masterpiece!
Jake: Masterpiece? It... hasn't even been released yet.
So after 1 day, Spirit Tracks goes from being, "Oh great Phantom Hourglass Part 2"... to now something that the almighty Nathan is apologizing to Nintendo for?
In the future please refrain from signing up to my site with no purpose other to just rant at me and my members about our opinion on the game. I know you have no intention of actually playing an active part in my community so that was very uncalled for.
I respect your opinion so you can respect ours as well. We have our own reasons to not be so excited about the game.
It is not even out yet and you are calling this perhaps one of the best zelda games and "publically apologising"
Is that not just as ridiculous as me not liking how the game looks so far?
You were quick to prejudge it and now you are quick to re-prejudge it.
The only thing about that trailer that got me excited was that there is new land and a new looking Hyrule.
The trailer showed no more character personality then any of the other zelda games have had so I am not sure why that has you so excited.
I am interested in how much control we will have with Zelda but from what we have seen so far, it is not as revolutionary as you are trying to make it out to be. It is not some big series change. And it most certainly is not this amazing event that makes a game that, even you yourself thought, looked bad, all of a sudden some amazing awesome game.
I wholeheartedly agree Nathan. This game is going to be amazing.
By the way, Noah, you suck.
Noah, unlike you, I actually took the time to research the game. Believe it or not, the first couple of hours, and for some the entire game, has already been played and they talked about the experience, and yes, the story and game play developement. Check out hte updates on ZI. This isn't just based on some trailer, this is based on people who actually played the game.
So, say what you want, I don't think I am too quick to re-prejudge it in this case. So far, everything, specifically in my IGN update, is enough to warrant this game a sale from me. If there is something I don't like (outsid eof the controls) surely I will find it, however, the story itself is, from what we know as outsiders, pretty damn solid. Story is what sells me, and so far, so good.
I see what people mean, about being too quick to 're-prejudge' it... but honesly it is looking brilliant. And less than a month away I personally don't think it's that big of a jump to start counting your chickens, but eh.
And even if for some unlikely reason it does turn out to be bad, I know I, for one, probably won't notice it that much while I'm playing. It's just exciting to get a new Zelda game to play, and I don't normally go picking through it and pulling my face at all it's faults, I just enjoy it regardless. But that's me.
However, from all we know so far, not just the trailer, it looks amazing.
People are entitled to their own opinions on both sides, though.
I made a wrong judgement too. By looking at the first trailer the only thing that came to my mind was exactly what you said "Link in a train? What'n the heck?"
But after watching this new trailer, I've completely changed my mind. I don't even mind the train thing anymore. I will sure buy this game, and I apologyse to Nintendo, too.
>_>
Am I supposed to cry?
I have done plenty of research and based my statements on a lot.
And I respect that you think it will now be a good game. But I think the overly hyped statements is a tad bit far on the other end of the spectrum now.
Things are coming together and looking a little better then before but it is still by far the "exactly what we have been asking for." As you told us this is what we were asking for before Twilight Princess. I just disagree with that. Zelda playing a role is cool but the way they are doing it is not coming across to me as the most amazing or best potential way to do things. The game is not shaping up to be that brand new epic omg the people at nintendo have finally listened kind of game.
But I do apologise if my comments seemed harsh. I had just put up with a night of bs on my site and getting name called constantly for my opinion.
And I do appreciate you going on there and saying a few words.
Regards,
Noah
I'm pretty sure Nintendo doesn't give a flying fuck about what you write here.
Well put. I do think that Zelda Wii will be superior, but Spirit Tracks looks like it will be great, better than Phantom Hourglass for sure.