Author Topic: The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks to Feature New Instrument (Read 11038 times)

NWR_pap64 · « **on:** November 09, 2009, 11:28:29 AM »

In addition to the train, Link will also have the Spirit Pipes to aid him in his journey.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20280

Official Nintendo Magazine has unveiled a new instrument in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the DS. Reminiscent of the Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker, Link will be using an instrument called the Spirit Pipes, which can be used to summon special powers.

Before visiting any temple, Link has to find guardians called Lokomos. They will teach Link a song that restores the tracks to the temple. The player will then have to listen to the metronome in order to keep the rhythm. In order to play the Spirit Pipes players will have to blow into the DS's microphone while tapping the touch screen.

The Legend of Zelda: The Spirit Tracks will be released on December 7 in North America, and December 11 in Europe.

Special thanks to forum user Killer_Man_Jaro for the tip. Discussion on The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is already underway on our forums.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2009, 02:42:06 AM »

Sigh... Nintendo, will you PLEASE pull your head out of your ass and realize that the DS is a portable system and not everybody is comfortable pulling embarrassing **** in public?

Killer_Man_Jaro · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2009, 03:10:38 AM »

I concur, KDR. Then again, a Legend of Zelda game is something that I would probably want to sit down with and put a couple of hours into in each sitting. If I'm playing my DS in public, it never goes beyond a 30 minute stint during a bus journey - I don't think I'd like to play Spirit Tracks in such bite-sized chunks.

But yeah, microphone integration in videogames is meant for home consoles, really.

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2009, 04:40:21 AM »

In my experience the DS microphone is really only used for blowing. So, you therefore might say that the DS microphone really blows...

Stogi · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2009, 05:09:25 AM »

Or you could say, Nintendo likes to be blown.

Stratos · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2009, 05:18:02 AM »

At least playing an instrument is a better use of the DS mic than having to scream 'how badly I want' parts for my ship. And I had to try and scream before I found out that you could just blow into the mic to get the same result. The next morning other people in the house were like "what in the world were you doing in your room last night?"...very awkward.

TheYoungerPlumber · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2009, 10:17:29 AM »

So what else can Nintendo announce about this game to further underwhelm me? Seriously, I've never been so unexcited about a Zelda game before.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #7 on:** November 10, 2009, 12:06:50 PM »

Quote from: Killer_Man_Jaro on November 10, 2009, 03:10:38 AM

I concur, KDR. Then again, a Legend of Zelda game is something that I would probably want to sit down with and put a couple of hours into in each sitting. If I'm playing my DS in public, it never goes beyond a 30 minute stint during a bus journey - I don't think I'd like to play Spirit Tracks in such bite-sized chunks.

But yeah, microphone integration in videogames is meant for home consoles, really.

I played PH on the train but that stupid shout part couldn't be done there, had to go home for it.

Quote from: Stratos on November 10, 2009, 05:18:02 AM

At least playing an instrument is a better use of the DS mic than having to scream 'how badly I want' parts for my ship. And I had to try and scream before I found out that you could just blow into the mic to get the same result. The next morning other people in the house were like "what in the world were you doing in your room last night?"...very awkward.

I tried to blow into the mic at the Goron city with the bridge part, it told me I wasn't loud enough.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2009, 12:38:50 PM »

Forced touchscreen controls, microphone blowing - you'd think this was a DS launch title.

Nintendo, the DS really got going once everyone stopped trying to use all the unique features and just made good games with whatever controls worked the best. Even YOU have made games like that. So why, with Zelda of all things, do you suddenly have a hard-on for shoving gimmicky bullshit down our throat? The DS is a huge success. Everyone likes it. You don't have to "sell us" on the concept anymore.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2009, 12:50:06 PM »

"The DS is a huge success. Everyone likes it."

They're giving more of why people like it! There!

KDR_11k · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2009, 03:12:49 PM »

Eh, touchscreen controls worked fine in PH and allowed the items to do much more than in regular Zelda games but the microphone is just stupid.

Halbred · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2009, 03:14:37 PM »

Yay, blowing forcefully into a mic. It sort of worked (but not really) in Mario & Luigi 3. I guess. But I'm with TYP on this one.

NWR_Neal · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2009, 03:16:34 PM »

I feel like every time that Spirit Tracks gets me back a little bit, it takes two steps backwards.

"New instrument? Sounds cool. Wait...microphone blowing? Are you effing kidding me?"

Jonnyboy117 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2009, 03:50:03 PM »

I'm actually feeling negative not only on the blowing part but also on the inclusion of yet another instrument. I know this trend goes back all the way to the original game, but why does Link need to have something musical in every game? It usually feels like an excuse not to design a new item that is actually useful in combat/exploration. Brutal Legend is getting called out for having needless guitar solo mini-games, and I think it's time we became more critical of Zelda doing the same, especially since the music bits are so repetitive even from game to game.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2009, 04:16:43 PM »

This whole attacking enemies with swords and riding some weird transportation are so repetitive even from game to game.

I'M LOOKING AT YOU, 8-BIT NES ZELDA.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #15 on:** November 10, 2009, 06:08:43 PM »

Quote

I'm actually feeling negative not only on the blowing part but also on the inclusion of yet another instrument. I know this trend goes back all the way to the original game, but why does Link need to have something musical in every game? It usually feels like an excuse not to design a new item that is actually useful in combat/exploration. Brutal Legend is getting called out for having needless guitar solo mini-games, and I think it's time we became more critical of Zelda doing the same, especially since the music bits are so repetitive even from game to game.

The sad truth is that most of Nintendo's franchises are old enough now that they've become formulaic. You see this with everything. Earlier on a franchise isn't defined yet so it tries all sorts of new stuff out. But eventually people expect certain things and it becomes less about pushing forward and more about meeting expectations. When A Link to the Past was released Zelda was still being defined so they introduced all sorts of new stuff that became conventional. Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda so they were breaking all this new ground.

But now, Zelda is clearly defined so it's going to fall into the trap of being formulaic. Having a musical instrument is seen as a requirement so they throw it in every time. What they really need to do is strip Zelda to only it's bare essentials (ie: having an adventure in a continuous open world with real time interaction) and then go for broke with whatever ideas they want without feeling the need to reuse certain ideas because they're traditional. It's hard for developers to do that though. There is always the risk of re-inventing a franchise in a way people don't like and it is of course easier to reuse the same ideas again and again. So while I'm not thrilled when Nintendo does that, I can certainly see why they would.

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2009, 12:55:30 AM »

Blowing aside, I also disapprove of the presence of a Train, which is an anachronism in the medieval world that is Hyrule...

TheYoungerPlumber · « **Reply #17 on:** November 11, 2009, 01:03:14 AM »

Phantom Hourglass had a steam boat, did it not? Why not have a Train? The touch screen controls don't bother me. It's just this stuff like blowing or yelling into the microphone, annoying switch puzzles, and a missing overworld that turn me off to these DS Zelda games.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #18 on:** November 11, 2009, 01:03:22 AM »

It's been more than 20 years since Zelda came out on NES. Hyrule already had an industrial revolution.

King of Twitch · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2009, 01:15:34 AM »

It's a slippery slope, next thing you know she's gonna be demanding equal pay, maternity leave

broodwars · « **Reply #20 on:** November 11, 2009, 01:30:46 AM »

*sigh*

Once again, as we all know: Microphones are for blowing. Yeah, Nintendo seems to be doing its damnest to make even me completely uninterested in this game (and Zelda is my favorite franchise of all time!), and shoveling DS launch-caliber crap into the game is just the latest nail in the coffin. I have to agree with Jonny as well: I love music, but I'm sick of every Zelda game having to have an mandatory musical element for solving puzzles. I see we'll have to wait for Zelda Wii to finally see something new in this franchise (outside of the train, of course, but we'll have to see how that shakes out)...maybe.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #21 on:** November 11, 2009, 02:54:52 AM »

The only way I'll buy this game is if Ganon or Ganondorf pops up at the end or something. Besides that I just can't get excited for it, the new trailer does nothing for me.

Stratos · « **Reply #22 on:** November 11, 2009, 02:59:24 AM »

The multiplayer possibilities alone excite me about the game.

Speaking of which, if anyone still wants to play Phantom Hourglass multi, Post here and I'd love to play.

broodwars · « **Reply #23 on:** November 11, 2009, 03:15:45 AM »

Quote from: GoldenPhoenix on November 11, 2009, 02:54:52 AM

The only way I'll buy this game is if Ganon or Ganondorf pops up at the end or something. Besides that I just can't get excited for it, the new trailer does nothing for me.

I'd like to see a new Zelda villain, personally. Give Ganon/Gannondorf some time to become cool and exciting to see again. Just don't give us another lame villain like Vaati.

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2009, 03:17:47 AM »

Its not like me to hope for a Nintendo game to fail, but if this one did it might send Nintendo a message to quit crappifying their core franchises.

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Author Topic: The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks to Feature New Instrument (Read 11038 times)