syntheticgerbil Posted December 9, 2009 (edited) Where did Donald Duck's Playground come from? That thing is mostly a minigame collection to make money, right? Trivia about Donald Duck's playground: - Al Lowe, creator of Leisure Suit Larry, designed and programmed it early in his career when he did exclusively kid's games - Graphics for Sierra-made Disney games had the licensing rights to use cel animation sources from actual movies and shorts to make the graphics. I don't know really what the process was to create chunky pixel art from cels, but what I've heard is that Disney gave Sierra access to such materials. Edited December 10, 2009 by syntheticgerbil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kolzig Posted December 10, 2009 That is one of the extra cool points of DD's Playground. I had actually forgotten that it's Al Lowe's game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemariano Posted December 10, 2009 Spirit Tracks is adorable so far. I've completed the first two proper dungeons and three floors of the central tower. I still don't understand why all of these Zelda games need to take place on a continuous timeline. It's more confusing than revelatory. Someone needs to write a women and gender studies paper on the role of Princess Zelda in this game. Her spirit is removed from her body, so no one can see or hear her. She can possess the Phantom Hourglass demon knights and become much more tough than Link, getting into swordfights and blocking fire. However, she is also afraid of mice. Too many gender role stereotypes asserted and inverted! At least she isn't pretending to be a man like in Ocarina of Time. Oh, and train track switching is harder, but more exciting than it is in Donald Duck's Playground. I just wish I didn't have to avoid one-hit-game-over demon trains . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roderick Posted December 11, 2009 I've finally gotten my own mitts on this game, and so far it's pretty fun! It feels like returning to an old friend. I suddenly realized how much I had really enjoyed Phantom Hourglass, and how good that game was. Whether or not Spirit Tracks is as good, it's too early to tell. The train is decidedly less cool than the boat, but I do really enjoy that it's something different, something I haven't done before. That's valuable. So far I'm liking the steering-Zelda mechanic, not very far yet... so I'll just see where it goes! =) Mikemariano: I think they gave Zelda those typical characteristics for comedic effect. I think it's pretty hilarious. Exactly because she has nothing to fear from rats and bugs, her fear is comical. The game is also clearly playing with the 'damsel in distress' cliché, as seen in the early cutscene where Zelda doesn't even consider helping Link herself because that's so unheard of in a Zelda game. It's a great self-reflective moment of irony! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuckpebble Posted December 11, 2009 So is anyone buying it. To me the addition of a train is little offputing but I will be buying it when the prices come down. Yeah, I think the whole train thing conjures the idea of "on rails", which IGN has successfully made into an automatic black mark for any game with which the phrase is associated. I'll bite on this one, loved Phantom Hourglass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miffy495 Posted December 11, 2009 Wait, what's wrong with on rails? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tanukitsune Posted December 14, 2009 I don't know I can say if this is the worst Zelda game ever, but it is the one that annoyed me the most.... -The train is just an excuse to not have a real overworld, at least the boat games had an overworld even if it was 90% water, also those bomb trains! Sometimes I think the DS can't handle a real 3D Zelda game and that's why they all have "fake" overworlds... -Touch controls.... -Pan flute, it's broken, I spent half an hour in one of the final songs, and I finally got it "right" when I CLEARLY only hit ONE of the six notes! -Train parts are useless! I spent my best treasure to get the most expensive cannon.... It only gave me an extra heart, which you don't even need! -The treasure you get for beating the 3rd level in the tower minigame in the main town? It was something I could buy in the store next door! Did I tell this is a minigame where you fight tons of enemies and all the bosses plus a secret one... WITHOUT HEALING? -Zelda's AI is terrible.... If you call her and there is something there is two paths, one safe and one not safe, guess which one she'll chose? Also I can't get her to drop items... -The sidequests are all obviously train based, driving people to other towns, bringing people items from other towns... they are just boring fetch quests... The good thing? It's probably the Zelda game with the funniest moments! I don't know if I just have a bit of a Nintendo fanboy in me that's trying to find excuses to not openly say I think it sucked and this is coming from someone who liked Sonic 2006! I keep making excuses.... My grandfather did die the day I bought Phantom Hourglass, so that game was ruined for ever for me, so a part of me is afraid Zelda is ruined for ever.... Also, Nintendo didn't warm me that I was about to lose TEN THOUSAND STAR POINTS! Do you know how much time it takes to get that many? AGES! I almost had enough for that dumb Zelda statue... Was it really that bad? Am I making excuses? Am I just unlucky and they just happened to have everything that annoys me and everybody else loves? A part of me refuses to say a Zelda game sucked and another part of me is thinking of never buying a DS Zelda game ever again... Oh yeah, the ending is kinda disappointing too... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemariano Posted December 14, 2009 I don't know I can say if this is the worst Zelda game ever, but it is the one that annoyed me the most.... Wow, you beat it? I still have plenty of Spirit Tracks to go (I think). I must apologize, though. I can sympathize with none of your annoyances. Touch controls are the only Zelda control scheme I like. Zelda treats me right. The pan flute works fine for me---though I had to learn to slide it correctly and keep breathing. And the train concept still holds its novelty. It's strange---the 3D console Zeldas have been getting further away from what I like, but these two DS Zeldas have made me giggly and delighted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sombre Posted December 14, 2009 Just got the spirit train, and loving it so far. Music is superb, link in a train outfit is brilliant, and the humor is spot on Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tanukitsune Posted December 15, 2009 Wow, you beat it? I still have plenty of Spirit Tracks to go (I think).I must apologize, though. I can sympathize with none of your annoyances. Touch controls are the only Zelda control scheme I like. Zelda treats me right. The pan flute works fine for me---though I had to learn to slide it correctly and keep breathing. And the train concept still holds its novelty. It's strange---the 3D console Zeldas have been getting further away from what I like, but these two DS Zeldas have made me giggly and delighted. How far are you in the game? The pan flute songs get super annoying near the end.. XP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemariano Posted December 15, 2009 How far are you in the game? I'm just outside the fourth sanctuary, so I guess I have a song coming up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tanukitsune Posted December 15, 2009 That's the one people hate the most! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psych Posted December 17, 2009 I've gotten through the first two dungeons, and I love the dungeons but the train is like desert bus. It's long and boring and I wish I could leave the game to finish itself but evil trains and snowmen keep getting in the way. Also I don't like being able to equip only one item at a time. it makes comboing them a real laborious task. I don't remember whether or not this was also an issue with Phantom Hourglass, but for some reason here it's particularly noticeable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sombre Posted December 17, 2009 I've gotten through the first two dungeons, and I love the dungeons but the train is like desert bus. It's long and boring and I wish I could leave the game to finish itself but evil trains and snowmen keep getting in the way. Also I don't like being able to equip only one item at a time. it makes comboing them a real laborious task. I don't remember whether or not this was also an issue with Phantom Hourglass, but for some reason here it's particularly noticeable. Forced mic use is also a pain in the arse, especially when I'm on the bus. Also, what's the deal with almost EVERY special weapon being ranged alone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
