The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is being released right around the corner and with the upcoming release there is naturally a lot of excitement. Some people think this may be the best Zelda title since The Wind Waker, while others feel it's just another Phantom Hourglass clone and isn't going to bring anything truly great to the series. Whatever stance you take, there is always something we want to happen in each Zelda title. Earlier this year, our own Phil Stetson gave his thoughts on what he feels Zelda Wii needs to be awesome. This time around I give you 10 things that Spirit Tracks needs to take that next step.10. Engaging Sound Track
We haven't had a truly inspiring sound track since The Wind Waker. So far, the music has been solid in the trailers, but so was the magical orchestrated piece used in the Twilight Princesss trailer. In game, Twilight Princess had poor quality and really lacked originality. Has it all been fools gold so far, or is Spirit Tracks really set up for an epic sound track? Who knows, but the sound track can really help make this game, and adventure, be that much more entertaining. Nintendo has some amazing composers, so lets take advantage of them again. Just glance at Super Mario galaxy. The music is just awesome, please Nintendo, bring that to Spirit Tracks. (Note, I am not asking for Orchestrated music, that's a bit too much to ask for a hand held release)
9. More Active Role For Zelda
Princess Zelda obviously plays an important role in this title, possibly the most important role she has played in the 23 years of this franchises existence. However, if she is going to be this important finally then she needs to actually be important. What I mean to say is, don't just take over phantoms and otherwise be a Navi product. She has already done that before for me in The Wind Waker by talking to me through a stone. I don't need that again. Her spirit accompanies me, so make her actually do stuff that matters. Minimally, at least give her some personality. You did it with Midna, why not with Zelda?
8. Higher Difficulty
It's no secret that Zelda has been really easy for awhile now. Phantom Hourglass was so easy that some people don't like the game for that reason alone. That mistake should not be repeated again. It made the game seem more like a quickly tossed together game to pass the time, then a true Zelda adventure. Of course, this isn't just based on PH. Twilight Princess struggled in this department too. Miyamoto already confirmed the game is harder then Phantom Hourglass, so we may get what we all want in this regard.
7. Side Quests
Zelda has been lacking in this department ever since Majora's Mask, and it is possible that game set the bar a bit to surrealistically high for future titles. However, it would be nice to side track off the quest a bit to do some meaningful side questing. Dragon Age: Origins, as an example, has amazingly epic side questing options, and I would love to see at least a few side quests of that quality thrown into the game. Adds some nice re-playability to the game.
6. Ganon Not Just A Final BossGanon's involvement simply needs to not be in the game at all (as I suggested earlier this year), or if he is involved he needs to not be the "plot twist". It's old, they've done it before, and it didn't feel righ the last time they did. Either give me a new evil, or tell me it's Ganon straight away. Playing around with him is no longer fun.
5. New Twists For The Train
The train has people worried. The main concern I really have isn't the use of the train as a traveling device, it's making the train a fun and unique experience. In Phantom Hourglass and The Wind Waker, the boat eventually became really boring and repetitive. I don't want that to happen to the train. Having a train opens a whole new world of possibilities, and I want that world explored. I want the train essentially be a fun experience throughout the entire game.
4. Link Actually Having A Personality
This is something fans tend to be split on. Some like Link being bland. It lets you think of him as you will, and some argue it makes the character feel like it really is you doing the questing. I think that illusion of "Link is you" has been overplayed too much. Link is a character in a game world, he should have his own thoughts and his own personality. Is it so much to ask that I actually care about what happens to Link? I almost care about what happens to Neil in The Legend of Neil more then I do Link.
3. More Characters with Backstories
Link and Zelda are not the only ones that I want more for. I want to know about Alfonzo, and why he looks like one of Tetra's old crew. I want to know how Niko survived this long, and I definitely want to know a lot more about Chancellor Cole. I want the characters to all have an interesting, none generic, background. I think it's easily attainable, but is it beyond Nintendo? To do this requires excellent story telling, and Miyamoto does not specialize in that regard.
2. Items Useful In More Than One Dungeon
There are six item slots, and we already know what most of them are. So far we have the snake whip, whirlwind, boomerang, whistle, and Spirit Pipes. What I want is to see these items useful for more then the dungeon they are in. Zelda has fallen into this habit a lot lately, and I think the "smaller" inventory in Spirit Tracks may actually solve that. The less items there are, the more Nintendo has to find new ways to use them.
1. Open WorldReally, this is something we seem to ask for with every Zelda title. However, I am not expecting this giant, expansive world to explore. What I am merely asking is the ability to get off the train and run around on foot. I want to see what is between the tracks, or what is in the lands the tracks do not traverse. In essence, I don't want to be restricted by the train in this regard. I get that later we can lay our own tracks, but if I want to get off the train and look behind some bush, I should be able to do so.
That's that folks. Are we likely to see everything on this list? Doubtful, but it would be nice to see some of it. It's no secret I am really excited for this game and as always, I just want it to be the best it can. If you feel like talking about Spirit Tracks, head over to our Community and chat with the rest of our fans. Props goes out to The Zelda Master for helping me form this list and engaging in conversations about the game.
Categories: Articles
1. yes, at least for a 2-d title.
2. maybe, what he was asking if Zelda would have a deep personality.
3. sorry, but in a Q&A it was revieled it's only slightly harder than PH
4. The Q&A also suggested that Ganon,or another spoiler worthy charathers from a previous game, may reappear in a plot twist. Not what he wanted.
I don't think they will add any personality to Link on any future games. He was made this was so that people could feel they are the ones having the experience, and to be easily related to Link.
The last time they did give him a personality was a huge screw up.
(CD-I Link's, and the Cartoon series).
I really think it is better this way.
@Eximius
why do people always think of the CD-i stuff when they think of what would happen if Link were given a personality?
That had NOTHING to do with Nintendo, and even then, that game was made by some of the worst of the worst.
ANYONE taking the task seriously would steer as far away from that image as possible. Why is it assumed it would be the most likely outcome?
>Side Quests
I don't think this should ever be a 'necessity' for for any game. If a game is good, the amount of side quests it has is trivial. They add more to the game, yeah, but they're only optional. Hence the term "side quests." A vast quantity of side quest just deters from the quality of the main story, even Majora's Mask suffers from this problem.
>Ganon is not the ending boss, or the mystical turn of even boss
The end of TWW suggests to me that he won't. Nevertheless I prefer to let the creators write the stories.
>New Twists to the train aspect
It would have been nice if you could have provided some examples for what sort of "new twists" you had in mind.
>Link having a personality, being an interesting character
>I think that illusion of "Link is you" has been overplayed too much. Link is a character in a game world, he should have his own thoughts and his own personality.
Let me just say that just because this is your personal viewpoint doesn't mean everyone else shares it. Why don't they make him start talking too eh?
>Back Story for Most of the Characters
Another subjective "need." I think it's to hear people asking for this considering most of Link's back story is always shrouded in mystery. And it isn't as if every character needs a reason to tell you their life story in a game. Main characters maybe, but not "most."
The recent Official Nintendo Magazine Q&A pretty much blasts a hole into #1, #5, #7, #8.
It labels side quests as a similar ground as PH. No Open World exploration. Train is like the boat with "fixed" to get on/off, just like the docks in PH. Difficulty was said to be just like PH... although perhaps a tad harder if PH was your first Zelda game.
The Items. I'm pretty sure the Whistle and the Spirit Pipes will be items, but not part of the SIX.
Whip, Whirlwind, Boomerang are 3 of them, and I think we can assume Bombs to make 4 of the 6 items. The other two... I'm thinking the Bow and Arrow might not return, since it seemed like it was one of the less effective weapons using the PH control scheme. Maybe Bombchus again. The hammer was fun in PH, but I don't think it will return. The Whip seems like an alternative to the grappling hook. I just think with the 'new' whip, and the whirlwind, that's already 1/3 of the weapons, and the rest will be rehashed old weapons.
I won't buy it.
The only way you could get me back on the train (pun intended) with Zelda is to go back to the awesome visual style of the 64/TP Zeldas, with the more mature themes intact.
The only "cartoonish" Zelda (as in, lighter mood, not WW-style visuals) I can honestly enjoy is Link's Awakening.
If you ask me, the Oracle series is where it all started going wrong.
I totally agree; The dificulty Zelda has been having this last years... Its lame... Thats the only reason why I didn't like Twilight Princess as much as I should have....
C'mon Nintendo, we want some challenge here!!!
The difficulty hasn't been confirmed yet. All we know is the beginning and first temple is easy. Miyamoto said the game was "becoming kind of hard", which implies to me that it gets harder later on. The beginnings of Zelda are always easy, anyway. Though he said that compared to PH, so I'm assuming it might have Minish Cap difficulty or something.
Open world exploration, as in where you're riding around on the train, thats pretty much confirmed to be limited to train riding. Maybe they'll let you find secrets on the tracks though, or secret things to..blow up. Still, a lack of side-quests hasn't been confirmed at all. It just said you do sidequests for wooden hearts, dragon scales and heart containers.
The game seems to look short so far (although it hasn't been confirmed, of course), and with only 6 items. That tells me the difficulty and side-quests could very well be better in this game. We're also most likely gonna get much better music in this game compared to PH, as well.
Whoops, nvm some of the parts from my post above. Mases was right. I didn't see the article =x Still, heart PIECES were confirmed. That makes me happy. I wonder if he completely explored, though.
I like the fact that Link doesn't talk. Now, what I would like to see is a gender option for Link. I'd love to have Link playable as a girl. I love the fact that Zelda is a playable character in this game and is not a Navi counterpart. You can tell that just in the trailer. You play as the Phantom (Zelda) and Link throughout most of the game. Zelda is not a Navi. In the way of Side Quests, I never do them, so honestly, I wouldn't mind a Zelda without side quests. If the game isn't good enough on its own, then the game is no good.
Zelda has been getting easier, but Twilight Princess and Oracle Series were a couple of the most difficult games I've played. TP is harder then MM, but lacked the ability to get completely and utterly lost to the point where you don't know what to do (it took me a year to figure out how to get to Woodfall in MM). Honestly, I've enjoyed the newer games just as much as the old games.
The Zelda soundtrack for TP is one of my favorite soundtracks. There was a lot of good music in the game, and personally, I think Nintendo is doing a good job with Zelda as it is. Could they do better? Yes, but remember, one person's opinion does not outway the many, and in the end, Nintendo has to make the game for all fans, not just for you. What you think makes a good game is irrelevant. What 10 million people think does, and that's what Nintendo is working with, trying to please everyone.
Remember one big factor: When Zelda came out they had a small fanbase and could risk taking huge risks as far as the game was concerned. Now, if they take a big risk and completely change the game, their fanbase is so big that they risk losing 90% of their fans with one change, and thus, it's becoming harder to make a game that is truly original. Some Zelda fans want a "re-imagining" of previous games, not a new game. They want to see the same Link playing the same adventure. I know, cause that's what a friend told me he wanted, and I've heard it from a few others as well.
Also, WHY does everyone fall back to the CD-I games? Because they are so bad everyone remembers them. People fear that Nintendo will do something that horrible with the game. Unfortunately, to give Link a personality would be troublesome. Some people liked the CD-I games -cring- others didn't. The truth of the matter is, if they give Link a personality, all the fans who don't think that is Link's personality will immediately go "OMG! LINK'S PERSONALITY SUCKS!" and hate the game and call it the worst game ever and WILL place the game with the CD-I games in category.
The best thing Nintendo could do is make a game where you play as Zelda. I mean, come on, it's "The Legend of Zelda" why is Link the main character? Make the main character Zelda, send her off on an adventure! There's ideas you could use for that, you just have to think a bit on it. Of course, my opinion matters none. It's only one of 10 million.
As for an open world...they need to do that, I agree, but the engine the train is run on does not support that kind of gameplay. They are using the Phantom Hourglass engine for the game, and as such, they'd have to totally remake the engine for it to work. People forget that the thing that takes the longest in making a game is making the engine for the game. Once you have an engine that can run the game, you can then make the game. To make a Zelda game that actually has use of the touch screen requires it to be 2D and thus, there's just stuff you can't do. The train and the spots you stop at are on fully separate maps. They cannot be mixed unfortunately, and there's not much they can do about it without making it 3D and thus having to remove the touch screen, which is what Shigeru wanted (to make the game more touch screen usable).
I honestly think the touch screen on the DS has been its major downfall. They could do so much more if they weren't trying to make it so the touch screen was so important (it took them 5 non-spin off Pokemon games for the DS to finally make a game that needs the touch screen). In either case, that's just my own opinion.
Oh, and, ORACLE SERIES RULES! (second favorite Zelda game)
That Q and A was absolute garbage and revealed crap. It blasted a hole in #1, I will admit that.
#5 they didn't say much save that you fight bosses like PH. That doesn't mean there are no new twists, they just couldn't talk about. THere is a reason they took these generally "already known" questions and just answered them again.
#7 was far from debunked in the Q and A. Here is the quote from the crappy Q and A:
"Does the Phantom join you in every dungeon, or just one?
A: Phantom Zelda is always with you but is only playable in the Tower Of Spirits, with a few exceptions. "
So now Zelda ONLY does the Phantom thing? I don't see that stated anywhere, nor do I see my statement being asked at all.
#8 They did say it was slightly harder then PH: I have heard from other sources who have played the game to completion that it is significantly harder then PH. This is neither confirmed nor debunked, as it appears it is a subjective question. I may think it's a lot harder, someone else may not, but what is agreed is that yeah, it is harder then PH. So if anything is confirmed, then it would be that point #8 is actually right.
So yeah, the only thing debunked is #1. Everything else is "I don't know", as the Q and A didn't touch base on any of it directly.
I will agree that PH was an easy game but I don't understand why everyone is complaining about TP that was so bad it wasn't as hard as OoT but was still an amazing game. I think some of the above should be done nice job Nathan.
P.S. That's an awesome name
well, i think is more your opinion, but i agree with some of them, like the music and difficulty, the others, for me, aren't very important, ganon is the true villian ? i could care less i just wanna kick the butt of all the bosses, link having more personality ? naa, i prefer him in the way he is, but that's my opinion, anyway, i really wanna play this game, it doesn't matter if is similar to phantom hourglass, i will enjoy spirit tracks no matter what, i'm a die hard zelda fan, yes i know it will have some flaws but still, for me all the zelda games are awesome, but you have some good points at how zelda spirit tracks can be way more awesome
As far as difficulty goes, it isn't confirmed that its as easy as PH. Its confirmed that from one person playing it, that its still easy except maybe for people who started off with phantom hourglass. Please realize that means its harder than PH >_> MC was easy, but it takes more than one person to decide whats harder between it and PH, in which resulted MC being declared harder. All we know is its still easy.
Also, heart pieces = more/better sidequests, as well as dragon scales and wooden hearts (whatever those will be used for) You can also probably still explore on the train tracks, but its probably less satisfying than it would be on foot. Its obvious that if the game has less dungeons and even one less item compared to PH that the sidequesting will be increased in STs. Just take all of this with a grain of salt, please. Its only one persons opinion untill the general public decides for themselves.
@Jack: Of course it's my opinion and not facts. It's a top 10 list. What top 10 list isn't an opinion?
I'm Exziron from ZeldaUniverse . com,
and I was just wondering about this one paragraph, or more like sentence:
"There are six item slots," how do you know? is there a picture you can send me? if you can,that'll be great :P
over all I think you summed up what I want to see in ST, although I love every Zelda game no matter what,(omg no CD-i plz) I Think I'll LOVE this game a lot. But I don't think it'll be better than OoT, although I hope so, better Zelda is always better :P :P
4. Link having a personality, being an interesting character
-I don't agree on this one point :)
k thanks bye
Exziron, the quote is from the latest Nintendo Power Magazine:
"---There are six slots for items in Link's inventory."
So there you have it.
I see a lot of people not agreeing with Link having a personality. Why? You like bland heroes? I don't get it. Link is not me, because if he was I wouldn't running a train or talking to a tree.
My point is, Link his is own character, that is whey when we reference him it's "So what about when Link saved Zelda", not "what about when I saved Zelda".
He si the character you play, and in most games, those characters have a story. They have personality. Snake, for an example. Just saying, him ahving a personality is long overdue. Note, I did not say he should talk (have a voice), just a personality.
To be honest, he didn't really answer or confirm anything aside from the open world, and we all already figured we couldn't do that. We also already figured it would be harder than PH but still considered easy. Freds also a speed runner apparently (to as much as his abilities grant him), so I wouldn't take his sidequest answer with much faith. If pieces of hearts and other collectible items are involved (like dragon scales), its certain to have more things to do outside of the main quest to get said items.
The only bad news I hear is the train customizing (who knows if we can take even that to heart), and the lack of even greater difficulty. The the soundtrack is pretty much confirmed to have easily surpassed PH in that aspect, and maybe TP.
Sorry for my overload of posts, but I have to ask:
Nathan, what are those other sources who stated the game was alot harder than PH?
Realm: You will find out sometime on friday. For now, they wish to remain not known due to contract conditions with their employers.
No worries, you wont have to wait long for confirmations of it. :)
Hmm... Better sidquests, yes, preferably trading ones.
Difficulty: Of Course
Musical quality: Who wouldn't want that?
Open World: Maybe, at least it's not all ocean on a train.
I'd actually like Ganon to return, I'm kinda a linearist, and if Hyrule's geography matches (ish) ALttP, AWESOME!
But Ganon should have something different in mind if it's a good plot twist. Possibly in relation to another villain or element (BEllum, Majora) connecting spin offs to the main series.
We can notify Nintendo of our desires, but really, whatever will be, will be.
Who's ever heard of a bad Zelda game anyway (CD-i never counts)?
I read on Official Nintendo Magazine that you won't be able to get off the train whenever you want. Sadly.
I second you on every item of the list.
All I care about is that fact that Zelda is actually useful. The games are named after her and barely does anything. I'm only sore about her because I don't like the LinkxZelda pairing, but I'm so happy she's his constant partener for once.
OK...when it comes to difficulty, if Spirit Tracks is like your umptienth run through of a Zelda title, then of course it will be easy for seasoned vets, but kinda tough for those who have Spirit Tracks as their intro to the Zelda world.
We can all pretty much agree that Ocarina was basically the first title some of us played, and we had our own trouble here and there (such as the Water Temple). Also, we didn't have as much on-line help back then as we do now. Nowadays you can get the game on Monday, and then playthrough while looking at a walkthrough and be done by Wensday.
As for Zelda herself doing more, what do you expect a frightened little princess to do. Look back at the trailer, when is suggested she go with Link, she didn't have a happy or excited look on her face. She had kind of a scard confused look. As for when she first takes control of a Phantom, I think that was Zelda having a spur of the moment type deal.
Nathan, reread what you wrote for #7. I said 7, not 9. Here's the ONM quote,
Question: Any sidequests? If so, more than PH/WW
"I'd say there are a similar amount to Phantom Hourglass."
Granted, I didn't think PH was miserable with Sidequests. It had heart containers, and three types of collectible gems, along with 1 short trading sequence. I think it can improve on that a bit, but it looks like there is no way it will be MM-ish.
and for #9
Question: Is the game harder then Phantom Hourglass?
"Maybe slightly? It's not significantly more difficult in my opinion, but then I've been playing Zelda games for a long time. Perhaps anyone who came to the series with PH will find more of a challenge here."
That last bit sounds like it matches Miyamoto's quote. That if you started playing Zelda with PH, then it is a bit more difficult. Believe or not, a lot of people who jumped in with PH as their first Zelda game had some trouble.
And about the Train,
Basically it said that you ride around the train just as much as you ride around on the boat in PH. In PH you were constantly fighting enemies, and there were a few larger enemies/mini-boss battles in PH, of which that seems to be the similar case in ST. In your quote, "the boat eventually became really boring and repetitive". Lack of overworld navigation, mini-boss battles, less train customization compared to PH, and roughly the same amount of time on train as on boat. I think this gives us a decent idea of what to expect from the train.
I read this article you wrote, and just felt you are setting yourself up from disappointment. Too many highs and lows. Despised the direction Nintendo was going, then after a few tidbit quotes from Nintendo and the revealing of the storyline, you apologized to them. Now with this post, there are already things that aren't going to be drastically different from PH. As somebody who really didn't think that much of PH, in comparison to other Zelda games, I can't image your views of ST would change much either.
I can see it... in 2 months there will be a rant. "10 Things that SHOULD have been in Spirit Tracks".
Yikes for bad spelling and grammar. I should re-read before posting.
tell that to nate
@ Mases:
Sidequests: Were not getting MM amounts, I merely asked that the sidequests MATTER like they do in MM. It's not really debunked, it's just mentioned it's the same amount. I do doubt they are what I want them to be - can't I have some wishful thinking? This whole list is wishful thinking.
#9 is indeed subjective. I have heard from other sources that the game is definitely harder then PH, and not just by a little. I have also heard on good word that ST may possibly be a top 5 Zelda title. It's not debunked, thoughi t may fit more with what Miyamoto said, it is more or less, subjective. I wanted it to be harder then PH, and he even confirmed it is, as have my other sources.
The train: The questions had nothing to do with what I said. I said I wanted new, unique, ideas to keep the train fresh throughout the run.
What was asked is how much you ride around in it and if you fight bosses on it. None of which has anything to do with what I wanted to see happen: Hence, my question wasn't answered. They could very well do some unique things that he didn't find to be important enough to talk about, or no one asked, or he possibly can't talk about.
FYI: From what I have heard from unanimous sources:
10, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 are all happening. Do I know if my sources are lieing? No, but I will be finding out on friday.
My biggest beef with PH was the sailing. It was annoying, too long, and not interesting. I agree with your assessment that it was boring and repetitive. If there are some unique things in ST with the train, like there was with PH, perhaps even more... then that will be great. But It bothers me that the person said that ST Train is used about the same as PH Boat. I'm thinking boring/repetitive is going to be back, regardless of additions. Just looking at the playable demo, as well as the ONM Q&A... the train is not something I'm looking forward to as I think its going to the the steamboat all over again. Lack of overworld exploration really bothers me as well. All tie into my uncertainty of the train portions of the game.
Difficulty, we'll have to wait and see. I'm a supporter of PH, even though it was easy. I liked TP, but thought it was much easier than PH. Both are great games. Unfortunately there are a lot of Zelda gamers that did not enjoy either title because they felt they were way too easy. I just don't think ST will be much more difficult than PH was, since it would break the mold of what Nintendo is shooting for. Slightly harder, maybe. But I'm fairly confident, you, and many Zelda fans alike will be moaning about how easy the game is in a month or so, and more so, I think it would be silly to think there would be drastic changes in difficulty to phantom hourglass. Miyamoto's quote seemed rather passive when discussing the difficulty, and the ONM seemed to say that more gamers that have been playing Zelda for years and years, the game was easy.
This is a really great top ten list, I love this game, but there are some definite room for improvements. Anyone can post their own list to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.
Looking foward to friday, then.
And to Mases: I personally thought Twilight Princess was harder than Phantom Hourglass, but there comes a point eventually where you can't even tell whats harder anymore between two easy games when you've played the series long enough, so I guess its subjective. For example, I thought PH was harder than WW.
Well we have some things confirmed.
1. The game will have a better story than ever in the series.
2. Zelda will have a bigger role and will even be playable... to an extent.
3. The game will be harder.
4. Ganon most likely isn't the main villain.
For me, those four things are enough to make me excited. They show exactly what fans have been asking for... although I'm sure people still won't be satisfied.