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Zelda: Spirit Tracks trailer, now with more Zelda

by JC Fletcher { Nov 6th 2009 at 10:59AM }

Nintendo's new The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks trailer (after the break) reveals a more exciting innovation than the whole train thing: You're not exactly rescuing Zelda in this game. In fact, she travels with you the whole time ... in spirit!

In one of the craziest Zelda trailers we've ever seen, some wizard shows up and turns Zelda into a ghost, and then she sort of mopes around as an apparition until some guy with wheels suggests that she go on a road trip with Link. If you were wondering how Link could gain control of the Phantoms in this upcoming DS game, it's not through a musical instrument he finds in a treasure chest (the usual Zelda route), but rather it's because Princess Zelda possesses them.

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

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Japan receives special Zelda Spirit Tracks stylus with purchase

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 4th 2009 at 10:45AM }

Japanese purchasers of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks will receive a transparent quill stylus as a gift when they put down their yen for the game. AndriaSang reports that the stylus will be given out on launch day as an "early buyer bonus," but there's no need to pre-order.

If the plastic quill seems familiar, it's because Nintendo used it as a bribe back in 2007 for registering Phantom Hourglass and filling out a survey. Spirit Tracks choo-choos into retail on December 7. We're currently unaware of the quill being offered as a pre-order in North America but if the retail masses out there know differently, please let us know in the comments.

Miyamoto: Next Zelda will use MotionPlus for more realistic swordplay

by Randy Nelson { Nov 3rd 2009 at 5:30PM }

Nintendo's resident legend, Shigeru Miyamoto, has revealed that the next installment in the Legend of Zelda series on Wii will make use of Wii MotionPlus for more realistic sword combat and targeting. "In this (installment of the series), we're using MotionPlus to make you feel much more like you're actually fighting while holding a sword in your hand," Miyamoto disclosed during an October 30 Q&A session, as translated by GameLife.

"In the previous game, you aimed at things by pointing at the screen, but this time we'll use MotionPlus to create a much more convenient targeting system and a more pleasurable playing experience," Miyamoto added.

Despite these revelations, Nintendo has yet to officially state whether Wii MotionPlus will be an option or a requirement for playing the game. When this next Zelda was announced during E3 2009, Miyamoto could only say that MotionPlus-exclusivity was "possible." These gameplay elements -- especially the swordplay -- only make it seem more likely.

[Via GameLife]

Batman: Arkham Asylum creator focused on quality over quantity, hasn't played BioShock

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 19th 2009 at 8:00PM }

In a lengthy post-mortem with Gamasutra this week, Rocksteady Studios creative director Sefton Hill spoke his mind on a mess of topics regarding this summer's surprise hit, Batman: Arkham Asylum. "There are too many games out there that deliver lots of average content," Hill said when asked about the relative "tightness" of Batman in comparison with other games. Personal inspiration for the game's design came from places like Zelda and Metroid, two game series he's been a fan of "for years," as well as Silicon Knights' Eternal Darkness. And though Arkham's audio logs and "environment as a character" motif hearken back to 2007's BioShock, Hill claimed he's never played it. "It's on my list of games to get back into ... I can't say for me that was a big direct influence."

Truth be told, we're just scratching the surface of Gamasutra's thorough dissection of Batman -- a game we loved with all of our jaded, rancorous hearts -- so do yourself a favor and stroll through the entire five pages. Call it an afternoon treat! You deserve it, dearest Joystiq reader.

Gallery: Batman: Arkham Asylum

UK retailer offers Zelda: Spirit Tracks collector's tin

by JC Fletcher { Oct 19th 2009 at 5:40PM }

Nintendo UK seems to have gone tin crazy of late -- first announcing a Limited Tin Edition of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, exclusive to GAME, and now offering a similar package for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. This is, of course, wonderful news for people just starting their tin game box collections.

Retailer Gamestation is taking pre-orders on the Spirit Tracks: Limited Tin Edition for £39.99. However, Nintendo told CVG that the box is actually a pre-order bonus, and will be available from Gamestation's parent company, GAME, with early purchases of the regular £29.99 game. So, basically, don't buy this thing from Gamestation just yet!

While the box doesn't seem to be designed to hold coins like the Mario one, it is designed to hold the two figurines that will be included. We're really hoping (and almost certain) this is a mockup, and that it doesn't come with oddly flat figurines and a game box that tells you to "Pre-order your copy today!"

[Via CVG, Coplanet]

3D Dot Game Heroes looks delightfully familiar

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 1st 2009 at 3:00PM }

If the frequent comparisons between From Software's upcoming blocky adventure title 3D Dot Game Heroes and The Legend of Zelda have been completely lost on you, then apparently you haven't seen the gameplay videos. The game does more than slyly reference the mainstays of Miyamoto's Triforce-hunting classic; it more or less recreates them. We're definitely not saying that's a bad thing -- we're just worried that Nintendo will eventually catch wise, and somehow prevent this charming little game from ever making it westward.

Check after the jump for three gameplay clips; the first showing off the game's best Zelda impression; the second just how gargantuan the player's sword can become; and the third suggesting the perils of playing through the game as the vertigo-plagued hero from Spelunker.

[Via GameSetWatch]

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Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks pulling into retail station Dec. 7

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 15th 2009 at 3:57PM }

A Nintendo press release promoting the company's holiday lineup has confirmed a December 7 release date for Link's next Nintendo DS-based outing, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. That's just in time for the cold, harsh winter -- but it's still quite a ways off. We suggest playing through Phantom Hourglass while watching reruns of Thomas the Tank Engine in order to tide yourself over until then.

If you're not familiar with the Spirit-ed, Hylian adventure, check out our hands-on impressions of the game from E3 earlier this year, or watch the debut GDC trailer!

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

The Legend of a giant papercraft Link

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 11th 2009 at 5:10PM }

Remember how frustrated you were when you tried to build that tiny papercraft Link? Yeah, well this guy made a life-size statue of Link ... out of paper. Paper. Just look at it. It's insanity. Seriously, if someone handed you a pile of card stock and asked you to build insanity, it would turn out like this. Sure, it's awesome and everything but ... damn.

If you can feel your grip on reality slipping a little every day, then feel free to download the detailed plans to craft your own right here. (Note: You'll need a special Windows-only viewer to view the plans.) Oh, and be sure to stock up on printer ink.

[Via GoNintendo]

Twilight Princess Korean localization dated for release

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 14th 2009 at 7:15PM }

No, really. Nintendo of Korea has posted a release date for Twilight Princess: August 27, 2009. Let us never, ever complain about a localization delay again. Unless, of course, you're reading this from South Korea, in which case, we feel for you. Actually, we can't. We have no idea what it feels like to wait for a Zelda game knowing everyone else can and did scoop up the game and already beat it, and probably lent it to friends to beat, and then traded it in ... only to buy it back ... to hack their Wiis and maybe beat again, and then sold it off -- for good ... years ago. No, that level of agony -- *shudder* -- is unknown to our fragile beings.

[Via GoNintendo]

Time runs out for Zelda-esque chicken strip auction

by JC Fletcher { Jul 6th 2009 at 12:45PM }

One Zelda fan discovered that McDonalds had selected a very special Chicken Selects strip for him: one that bears a resemblance to the Ocarina of Time from, well, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The one on the right is the chicken strip -- we know it can be hard to tell the two near-identical images apart. After holding the treasure aloft and singing the classic Zelda "You Found an Item" fanfare (we are approximately 100% certain this happened), the lucky owner of the magical instrument ... -shaped chicken strip decided to share his good fortune. By putting it on eBay.

Despite starting bidding at a reasonable (for a legendary artifact) $25, nobody bid on 0iz0's auction for some old food. Now what is he to do? How does one dispose of something like this?

[Thanks, George!]

Miyamoto: Next Legend of Zelda won't be 'radically different'

by David Hinkle { Jul 2nd 2009 at 11:10AM }

If you subscribe to Nintendo Power, the latest issue should be arriving at your house very soon -- Aeropause has the scoop on some details on Nintendo's upcoming lineup from the issue. Most important to folks reading this text is likely what Miyamoto had to say regarding the new Legend of Zelda game, announced back at E3: "I don't think it's going to be that radically different." But, what about the theory of the girl being the Master Sword? Surely that is radically different!

In typical Nintendo fashion, that's all Miyamoto had to say. He left us hanging to speculate, and we're sure most will be able to turn this appetizer of a quote into a five-course meal.

[Via Videogamer]

Those ears look totally fake: a collection of Zelda cosplay

by Xav de Matos { Jun 25th 2009 at 6:15PM }

Turkish website Nintendocu.com has a gallery of fantastic Legend of Zelda cosplay compiled from various photography websites and gaming events. The primary character in action is Princess Zelda herself, with cameo appearances from Link. In one of the images (above) Zelda and Link can be seen locking lips, which we're pretty sure jumps the shark from "dress playing" lore to "blue" fan fiction. It's especially "blue" if you've got a thing for plastic ears.

[Via GoNintendo]

Tingle teaser site updates with unhelpful video

by JC Fletcher { Jun 18th 2009 at 4:30PM }

As promised, today brings new updates to Nintendo's Tingle website, though the updates are brief, inscrutable, and tell us absolutely nothing about whatever game this site is teasing.

The TV on the left side of the Flash site now shows one of three brief, blurry videos before cutting out to static. We've dutifully captured the videos for you here (see them after the break), but in case you don't have about fifteen seconds to watch, we'll summarize for you: the first features Tingle and an unidentified figure dancing, the second shows Tingle standing around with two other characters, both of whom are dressed in Tingle-style clothing, and the last clip shows Tingle floating on his balloon.

So what have we learned about the new game? Tingle's in it ... along with some other characters.

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New Tingle website springs up, is weird

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 15th 2009 at 1:15PM }

Hot on the heels of a new ad spotted in Famitsu, a new Tingle website has appeared at Nintendo Japan. The website actually features the fairy-obsessed man-in-green very little, but it still contains plenty of his ... eccentric charm. Our Japanese is rusty (nonexistent, really), but it looks like you can sign up for something. Also, clicking on the television reveals a static filled screen with the date June 18, so we expect something should pop up by then.

In the meantime, clicking the bell in the center of the screen allows you to have your fortune read by the freaky soothsayer seen above. What does it all mean? All signs point to a new Tingle game be revealed soon.

Rumor: New Tingle game in the works

by Justin McElroy { Jun 10th 2009 at 2:00PM }

We love that we live in a world where an almost universally loathed character like Tingle could continue to get work. For our part, we adore the idea that a 35-year-old man obsessed with fairies continues to appear in Nintendo games, though we get that not all of you share our adoration.

You're just going to indulge us then as we squeal for glee at the site of this Famitsu ad, which seems to hint at a new outing for our favorite fairy lover. Not that we'll ever get to play it.