Spirit Tracks might be the disappointment of the year

I know that it's somewhat petty to base so much on just a basic demo or two from a single gaming event, but if the E3 impressions of Spirit Tracks mean anything, then this game may be a case of Nintendo underachieving beyond any degree seen thus far. Because if you've read the previews of SP from E3, you'd know they haven't been pretty.

PH often felt like it's key role was to be a showcase for what the DS was capable of in terms of handhelds. There's not doubt that it's highlights were the controls and the fact that Nintendo created a full 3D Zelda world on the system. You'd think that Nintendo would want to push this for the sequel, advancing what PH accomplished while creating an all around better game that had would be notable beyond what it did with the hardware.

Spirit Tracks doesn't seem to be the case. As expected, train travel just isn't turning out to be a good idea. Outside of fending off Gohma as she chases you, apparently the time spent on the train is boring, obnoxiously restrictive, and ultimately a step back from previous travel in Zeldas. As for the other new features, the whole "controlling enemies" appears to be as bare bones as it gets. When we first learned that it'd be in the game, I expected to see Link controlling a variety of enemies, and many at once during certain points. However, all things are aiming at this feature merely being for the Phantoms. From what was shown at E3, it's a slightly souped up form of the Goron co-op from PH, with one creature, one at a time.

Now I don't go into a big stink if a sequel doesn't have a myriad of new features, but what I'm really upset about are all the reports that Spirit Tracks is doing nothing to push what PH started. Eyes-on impressions all said the same thing; the graphics are the exact same as PH, no improvement whatsoever in any technical department. Controls haven't been changed at all, nor made more fluent, and the new items they showed off in the demos are nothing we haven't already seen before. What really set me off though was reading that the huge beetle boss we've been shown played out almost exactly like Cyclok from PH. He flies around in the air, you use the new Fan item to blow an exploding enemy into him. When he comes down you use the same fan to reveal his weak spot, and you slash away.

They've essentially taken the boss fight from PH and slapped it into SP. This is inexcusable, especially because there's no much more they explore the dual screens with as PH dabbled in. But hey, the multiplayer's been upgraded to 4 players, so there's some improvement

It just confounds me as to why Nintendo would not look to further take advantage of what the DS offered. I for one enjoyed PH, I thought it was a solid game all around, but there's no doubt that felt a lot like the first step to Nintendo really utilizing the DS's capabilities. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear at this point that Spirit Tracks is that next step, and personally that disappoints me quite a bit. I don't care if we get another fairly traditional Zelda with some new tricks as PH was, or even one as orthodox as TP, but it's just plain lazy and uninspired to not expand upon what PH started when it comes to creating a real Zelda experience with the DS.

Not cool, Nintendo, not cool.

I agree with much of what you said. I mean, I will give the game a chance. Most all Zeldas are good/great games. But I can't help but notice myself that this game looks like an uninspired rehashing of PH.

Not to mention that trains mixed in with Link and his sword just feels like a mixed message. It doesn't make as much sense as Link and pirates or Link in medieval times. Not to mention it's just an external change. It's basically just PH's boat travel with a train.

I made a bunch of points on this in the Spirit Tracks thread in Future Zelda if you want to read. But I am kind of worried it's going to be the worst Zelda so far.

Nintendo is just doing it all for an extra buck.

Is refreshing to see somebody thinking Spirit Tracks might be bad without defending their position with "lol toon grafix and/or trains R 4 babeez!11!1!!".

Though I disagree with you, I must commend your bringing a rational argument for the other side.

I watched a video on you tube that just showed a guy traveling on a train for a very long time. He just shot at enemies and then blew the wistle to let the animals know to get off of the tracks. I have not seen much of what you can do off of the train, but the train part seems very tedious and long. Hopefully it is not as bad as all of us think it will be, I would like to have a really good zelda game for my ds.

Originally Posted by Tobari

Nintendo is just doing it all for an extra buck.

That's for sure.
Ps- What the heck is that thing in your sign?

I agree with what you said, Jeff. It does look like PH rehashed, but then again, Nintendo has probably disappointed us more in this gen alone than all the others combined.

I'll give the game a chance, because it might turn out to be good, though it's doubtful. However, I'm keeping my expectations low.

Yeah, very convincing what you said.

I'm also not that convinced in how the gameplay works out. The same as Phantom Hourglass. They could've made it better, like you said. Nintendo is using it as a boost. I hope the Wii Zelda game isn't a boost for the company. But rather a fantastic video game masterpiece.

The only reason im planning on getting Spirit Tracks is because of the story line. I want to see if Nintendo is able to make an awesome plot.
If the reviews/previews say bad stuff about the story line. Then its considered useless. Just a fun thing to play, nothing else.

I very much agree with you about the story plot. It's the only reason why I'm getting it.

I also play for storyline.

If we can only travel in the overworld by using train then its a failure to me

However, I'm still going to play it .

i really hope the train is just like a extra option. like.. you can walk around hyrule too.
and who knows, maybe the zelda team will surprise us with some cool new things.
but if they create another stupid main boss, im going to purposely crash my train into the side of hyrule castle.

Y'know, what I was really hoping for was for Spirit Tracks to use the ground Nintendo laid with Phantom Hourglass, the controls in specific, and use that to make a much more original experience, preferably way better.

But, it appears it's just firewood to fuel the Wii Zelda...Oh well.

Yes to me it seems as this Zelda is just to buy time and fill the gap until we get Zelda wii.

The slow train will probably be even morwe tedious than the sailing in Wind Waker.

I agree that what we've seen of Spirit Tracks so far hasn't really sang innovation, but I also thought the same thing before playing PH.
I just don't think it's fair to pass judgement on a game until you've actually played it. I get the feeling some were saying the same things right before MM came out.

Originally Posted by silver-hero

If the reviews/previews say bad stuff about the story line. Then its considered useless. Just a fun thing to play, nothing else.

Unlike every other videogame ever right?

I don't think it'll disappoint me. Mainly because I'm really not expecting much from the game. Sure the train looks nice, and sure it seems to be as fun as PH was (maybe more), but in terms of originality and fresh stuff I'm keeping my hopes loooooow. I was surprised by how they pulled off gameplay in PH though, so I won't write off this prediction as complete fact just yet.

Still, gonna stay on the ground. I'm looking more forward to info on Zelda Wii, to be honest, and the games I'm looking forward to this year are limited to the Conduit, Wii Sports Resort, Red Steel 2, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

I definately agree that the train is a step back, and if it's the only way to go around the overworld I also agree that it'll be a failure. One of the big points of Zelda is that you feel like you can do almost anywhere, but no. You're on a train, which means you can only go on tracks.

Who knows. I remember everyone being pissed off about Wind Waker back in the day, then it turned out to be a great game! But then again, WW was completely original and not the exact same as a game before it... Maybe the train will just replace Epona in the sense that you can run around, but when you eventually do something, you are able to use the train instead of having to run everywhere... I dunno, that's just wishful thinking I guess. It could be pretty good. I just wish they would have changed the fighting. I hate how in PH all you have to do is tap the enemies and Link automatically kills it... its kinda lame... But I must say I've never been disappointed with a Zelda game, so hopefully this won't be my first... And besides, the music sounds AWESOME! I watch the trailer all the time just for the music! I will play this game just for the score if I have to. Zelda (OoT in particular) is the reason I became interested in music and joined band and drumline and started trying to compose, haha. Zelda is AMAZING! So maybe this game won't be so bad...

Guys, just accept it. The train is the only way of getting from place to place.

It will have the same map mechanic as PH, only the areas aren't actually islands. Really, you're not losing any exploration between PH and ST, if anything it looks like the train tracks have more stuff to do than PH's ocean.