GDC: Iwata unveils new DS Zelda

By Tom Bramwell Published 25 March, 2009

Spirit Tracks, due out later this year.

Nintendo has unveiled The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for DS during Satoru Iwata's keynote address at GDC.

The game is due out "later this year", according to the Nintendo boss, who showed a video of it in action to satisfy "long time Nintendo loyalists". (You can check out the trailer on Eurogamer TV now.)

According to Ellie "Princess Diana" Gibson, who was on hand at the conference, a big DS logo was on-screen, not DSi, suggesting it'll work on the lot.

In the video, Link was seen fighting things from the comfort of a train - hence the title, which is tentative - including a giant spider. We also got to see Princess Zelda reading him something. The top-screen had a map, suggesting you get to direct the train. Choo choo!

Judging by the trailer, the game will use the train to move around the overworld and then delve into classic, Phantom Hourglass-style gameplay for dungeons, of which several are seen in the two minutes of footage. Expect to be using the touch-screen to draw your way out of tricky situations once again.

UPDATE: Here's a summary from Nintendo's post-conference press release, which we just received: "The new The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks game that Iwata announced will utilise the intuitive touch control of Phantom Hourglass in an all new adventure that will please longtime Zelda fans while keeping the game accessible to all DS owners. The concept behind this Zelda game includes utilising a steam locomotive to travel around the world, switching Phantom and Link to explore the dungeons, and solving puzzles using new items."

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • david78 #1 3 years ago

    Yay!
    New Wii Zelda at E3 also plz/

  • antony_williams #2 3 years ago

    Reminds me I need to get Phantom hourglass!
    Edited by 1 at 25/03/09 @ 17:20

  • david78 #3 3 years ago

    @Coin-Op: It's not on rails you twat, the train's how you move around the overworld like the boat in PH. Besides, it's GDC, and not even really meant fir announcements like this anyway. I presume they'll show more at E3.

  • alimokrane #4 3 years ago

    Of course, Zelda and Mario to the rescue, that's all Nintendo is capable of .... oh pity.

  • Burkey123 #5 3 years ago

    Would everyone complainig just shut up!
    Before GDC: ''We better get a new Zelda!''
    After GDC: ''Oh, Zelda is all they are capable of''

    I am ecstatic about this. If its anything like PH, I'm very very happy indeed.

  • Physically_Insane #6 3 years ago

    Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

  • Santino #7 3 years ago

    I think an important lesson can be taken from the last hour or so of today: if you respect yourself and you intelligence add Coin-Op to your ignore list.

  • alimokrane #8 3 years ago

    @Burkey123

    Never said bring in a new Zelda/Mario and never will. It seems that's all Nintendo can come up with. Not sure why this is so hard to comprehend for some.

    Now, u want to add me to ur ignore list because of this, you go right ahead. I'm speaking my mind up, get used to it.
    Edited by 1 at 25/03/09 @ 17:34

  • the_dudefather #9 3 years ago

    Hope this comments thread doesn't get derailed

  • ProtoformX #10 3 years ago

    Not so happy about this. I've loved every Zelda game since the NES so when I found Phantom Hourglass to be a frustrating piece of wank I tried restarting it about three times to see if I was missing something. I have since decided that it is, IMO, wank and this sounds like more of the same just with, sorry, a train?! WTF?!

  • nedworthy #11 3 years ago

    Sounds like a cash in to me. It'll be good tho.

  • FaceOmeter #12 3 years ago

    I understand some of the scepticism on here but I really enjoyed Phantom Hourglass, despite its several flaws, and I'm really looking forward to this.

    Anyone who's STILL playing Mario Kart DS, I think we could also use a cash-in DS sequel here too? At this point I'd pay full price for the same game with 16 new tracks and some gimmicky bollocks - the Wii version was good but not in the same ballpark.....

  • paul_haine #13 3 years ago

    They'd better not have anything like the Bloody Temple of the Bloody Ocean Bloody King again or it's no sale.

  • smelly #14 3 years ago

    EG Forums : We want zelda.. we want zelda.
    Nintendo : we give you - a new zelda!
    EG Forums : Oh, we didnt want a zelda on THAT machine...

  • Goodfella #15 3 years ago

    Blimey, smelly, are you some sort of Nintendo fanboy? ;)

    Seriously though...

    "The game's due out "later this year", according to the Nintendo boss, who showed a video of it in action to satisfy "long time Nintendo loyalists"

    He may as well just have said "We're going to make the cheapest AAA title we can by making it for the DS, that way you'll all hopefully STFU and it'll give Reggie something to bang on about for the next year and say how we don't ignore our traditional fanbase."

  • Cid #16 3 years ago

    Good stuff. I loved Phantom Hourglass.

  • Goodfella #17 3 years ago

    I loved Phantom Hourglass apart form the aforementioned bloody Temple of the Ocean King.

  • Malek86 #18 3 years ago

    Aight, Nintendo! Make this harder than Phantom Hourglass, and you've secured yourself a sale!

    On the other hand, make it easier and I'll stay well clear of it (although, technically speaking, is it even possible to make a game easier than Phantom Hourglass?).

  • mega7ech #19 3 years ago

    Well personally I'm sick to the back teeth of all this Touch/Waggle/Wave crap from Nintendo. Ive tried my best to like the Wii, I really have but I just cant be arsed with anymore shitty "casual" crap. A new Zelda game used to be a highlight of the gaming year & now this?! Some touchy/waggle sub-par windwaker crap to sell, sorry, pimp the DSi!!! Nintendo are not the company they once were. No, sorry, I like my games epic, in full HD, with full surround sound thank you!!

    Rant over! :)
    Edited by 2 at 25/03/09 @ 21:51

  • Freelancepolice #20 3 years ago

    Looks superb, Coin-op nice knee jerk reaction. Consider yourself ignored

  • varsas #21 3 years ago

    Phantom Hourglass was very good indeed so I'm looking forward to this one.

  • Grayvern #22 3 years ago

    I still havent got round to finishing phantom hourglass got annoyed with the temple and, I think the goron island, that and it was nowhere near as compelling as twighlight princess or the gba zeldas.