The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks trailer show new gameplay details

More details on the new Zelda game emerge. Is it something to be excited about? If you loved Phantom Hourglass, the only Zelda game to hit the DS so far, then maybe. The next installment is called The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. If you know Nintendo, then you’re probably expecting a generous amount of devious dungeon adventuring, but does this new Zelda address the nauseatingly recurring Temple of the Ocean King problem posed by Phantom Hourglass?

We don’t know but until the game ships, there’s no way to tell for sure.

The video shows us several gameplay concepts that should make Spirit Tracks an interesting romp:

• A lot of travel is done by train, and its mechanics are similar to the Phantom Hourglass boat. The train’s speed and direction are controlled by pulling a lever (or touching the screen). See that rope dangling at the edge of the screen? You can pull that to activate the horn.
• Link gets a Phantom companion. Remember those indestructible armored enemies in Phantom Hourglass? Well, one of them would be accompanying Link in Spirit Tracks. You’ll be making good use of the Phantom’s indestructibility by making it walk through dangerous traps by drawing its direction on the touchscreen. The Phantom can keep foes busy or act as a moving shield.
• Link gets a whip! Yes, call Link “Indy” while you’re at it. The new whip item can be used on enemies, and can also help Link get over some nasty chasms.
• The big, pattern-based Zelda bosses are still here. One battle is against a particularly big boss that’s running after Link and the train. Here’s one speculation: this boss would have a weak spot and Link would have to shoot it using the train’s cannon.

Release date for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is said to be Christmas 2009, but it doesn’t say what region it’s coming out in first. The last Zelda had Japan getting Phantom Hourglass ahead by four months, but Spirit Tracks provides no such details. Our solution? Wait for it—we know you will.

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