A Couple of Gamers

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Preview (or Why is Momin Qureshi so Excited?)

Posted on Nov 13, 2009 by Lori in DS

“Combining…unprecedented new story and game-play elements with the series’ innovative touch-screen interface on Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, the game is sure to surprise and delight new and longtime fans,” the press release I received attributed to Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s EVP of Sales and Marketing, of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks—and if the look on Got Game co-host Momin Qureshi’s face is any indication, she may just have something there…

When I arrived to the corner of York and Wellington streets in the heart of downtown Toronto for the Spirit Tracks preview yesterday, there were three handsome sights awaiting me: the aforementioned Momin Qureshi, GameShark Senior Editor/Community Manager Jeff McAllister, and a cool old-timey streetcar.

As we boarded the “train” (okay—not a train), we were handed a DSi and a burlap sack. The sack contained a nice little snack and a Link toy (all Happy Meals past and future pale in comparison—and I think Jeff agrees), and the DSi (a loaner…boo) contained a preview level of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. As we toured the streets of Toronto, we got a chance to check out what this newest iteration of the Zelda series had to offer.

Now, I’ll admit that the previous version of Zelda for the DS (Phantom Hourglass) was a bit too hand-eye-coordination-tastic for me to play on my own, but it was fun for Dave and me to hand back and forth. This one, on the other hand, seemed more on my level; though the preview I played didn’t get too far into the track laying and train riding that seem to require more fine-motor skills to navigate, I had much grindtastic fun running around and tapping the hell out of enemies and breaking urns to collect the sweet, sweet loot inside.

Sorry…where was I? Ah, yes—the gameplay…

Though I didn’t have a chance to chat with Matt (the Nintendo Canada rep) about multiplayer/co-op modes (because I was too busy playing the game and peeking at the Link toy in my snack bag and taking pictures of Jeff and Momin and brushing burlap strands from my jacket), I’m disappointed to say that I was unable to glean anything from subsequent emails and research about anything beyond Spirit Tracks‘ single-player gameplay (though I’ll update this post if I hear otherwise).

Does this mean I won’t buy it? Well, in the sense that I wouldn’t refuse it as a birthday gift (hint, hint), I may not buy it for myself (hint, hint)—but I certainly am in the market, despite its lack of apparent multiplayer options (though the idea of co-op play with Link and the Phantom would be super fun), for a little something to while away the hours whilst Dave’s fragging around with his MW2 friends. To make a long story short (too late), consider the interest of this half of a couple of gamers sufficiently piqued. And Momin Qureshi’s brow attractively furrowed.