The Tower in the Box Art

[Megamannt125]

http://www.zeldadungeon.net/gallery/albums/Zelda13/Official%20Artwork/Miscellaneous/EuropeanBoxArtwork.jpg

See the tower in the background, I know it's pretty early, but I wonder what it could be, and could it play a significant role in the story?

[Zeanith]

Perhaps the genesis of what will become new Hyrule Castle? Or the main antagonist's hideaway.

[NorthApple]

The background on this has got me really curious... I really wonder what that tower is... will edit in analysed picture within the hour...

EDIT:
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t326/ravenkle/stboxanalysis.png


Of course, this is just speculation (and mine at that xD)... but there are some of the other interesting things I found in the image. Maybe it's some sort of clock tower... or something. idk. What could be a hylian eagle could also be a bell of some kind... hmm...
We might get a better idea once a high-resolution picture is released... then I can laugh at how wrong/right I was xDDD

EDIT2: perhaps (as DarkLink0602 said) the tower has something to do with Zelda... especially since Link's driving the train (with her) seemingly away from it... so maybe that's where she is for part of the game (again, if it was as important as a main-baddie hideout, it would've been on the NA box as well)...but what about hyrule castle then... they could just as easily be passing and this just be a random feature in said town... idk anymore. We'll have to wait for the answers I guess xD

[basement24]

It looks too oddly alone to be a part of a main spire of the new Hyrule Castle. It's almost more like a lookout post or something similar due to the larger top portion. It also appears to be at least behind what could be houses, but in front of the mountain range. So, it's extremely tall given the perspective of the 'houses'. If they are indeed houses, then I would guess it's either a lookout point or the main villain's tower.

Of course, this is all just random speculation, but hey, it's fun!

Wow North Apple, I can't believe you got this much out of such a blurry pic! :) It does seem like a reasonable representation of what's there though. A hi-res photo will definitely help out, but good job nonetheless!

[Durion]

I think its there just to make the Box art seem more interesting, However I do think that it may play a part in the game...just a part that isn't that big.

I'm going to agree with Basement, I think that this is some sort of watch tower. It has the correct build (mainly the fact that the top is wider indicating in my eyes that this is a room and everything below is a stairway up to this room) and doesn't really seem big enough to fit the role of anything else.

Maybe it is a royal watch tower, You could have to get infomation (or even just go and find) Zelda here, It could contain an item as well, I just wouldn't know what.

I suppose (as I don't know who the antagonist is) that this could be the fort of the games antagonist, I do very highly doubt this though as it doesn't seem large enough enough to be used for something of such importance. If I think about the few Zelda's I've played, The Protagonist has been stationed in a large building/structure, Examples being Ganondorf in OoT and TP while Majora's Mask is found in the moon. This tiny little tower just looks too small to be used for this.

I guess though that this tower could be several things, leading from a large role down to a small role in the game...it could be that it isn't even that important but it seems a little odd for them to put it on the European Box Art if it isn't. It does bring up the question though that if it is important why doesn't it make an appearance (I think it doesn't anyway) on the North American Box Art. The answer to that though could simply be that Nintendo wants us to keep guessing...

Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see...

[Master Kokiri 9]

Alright here's something from the master of speculation.

First of all as DL and NA have said maybe the tower is where Zelda is at one point in the game. Or maybe it's a clock tower. It might also be a tower in Hyrule Castle.

The town might be this game's equivilant of Hyrule Castle Town or possibly something like Kakariko Village.

The mountain to the right of the town might be Death Mountain and the mountain range to the left of it may possibly be something like Snowhead or something.

[0o0oAdamo0o0]

Hey guys, just joined the forums after lurking for a long time! I don't know if this is old or not, but I found a bigger, high quality picture of the European box art.

http://cdn.cnetnetworks.fr/gamekult-com/images/photos/00/01/18/56/ME0001185650_2.jpg

Doesn't look like it's a town around the tower.

[basement24]

Hey guys, just joined the forums after lurking for a long time! I don't know if this is old or not, but I found a bigger, high quality picture of the European box art.

Doesn't look like it's a town around the tower.

It's new to me, and I've been lookign all day for something larger! Good find!

Yeah, it's definitely not a town then. It looks like we've got a Death Mountain-esque volcano on the right and an ice-ridge on the left with standard rock mountains underneath.

Also, that's DEFINITELY not a castle spire. NorthApple seems to be correct that there's some sort of gear formation on it. I thought it was a clock at first, but it looks like the white half-circle is cogged. The top part, or roof I suppose, with the spiral pattern looks a bit mechanical as well...

(Oh no, more technology for all you haters out there!) :P (Personally I love it!)

[NorthApple]

AWESOME FIND!!! I love you for this, 0o0oAdamo0o0 (dang your username is hard to type xD).

Rofl, so my predictions were a mixed bag then... I was wrong about the town, but right about the gears... odd. It certainly looks more like some sort of clocktower now... but why would there be one in the middle of nowhere... and why is it so huge? Does that mean it's important? And if so why is it not on the NA box...?

And I agree with basement24... it does look rather mechanical... the spiral roof reminds me sort of a drill head. But I doubt it is lololol On a side note, Zelda still looks oddly pale and... spirit like... I thought maybe it was the not-so-good quality of the other image, but meh, it wasn't.
xDDD also imagine if the tower was the main baddie or something. Man I need sleep.

Anyway, this is awesome.

[Crazyfreak]

I still think the ghost Zelda is the main plot of the game, I don't think Ganondorf will show up... I wonder what happend to her body...

[NorthApple]

@ CrazyFreak: but the Zelda shown reading the piece of paper in the original trailer looks pretty solid to me... unless something happens during the game, or unless it's willing on her part... or something... (I'll have go further into it on the plot theories thread...)
http://zeldawiki.org/images/7/7e/STzelda.jpg

ANYWAY to keep this on topic, I don't thing it looks likely that the tower has that much to do with Zelda and her location anymore... (as it's certainly no longer a castle type-structure)... although nothing can be said for sure on such little info. :)

[0o0oAdamo0o0]

Thanks guys! And you can just call me Adam.

Now with the bigger box art, I actually think the tower on the cover is the tower that was seen behind the (Hyrule?) Castle in the E3 trailer, as seen in this picture:

http://i35.tinypic.com/4gi7es.png

and this one:

http://i36.tinypic.com/2udys6u.png

It fits the description of being surrounded by generic grey mountains. The castle seen in the E3 trailer could be hidden behind the mountains in the box art. The only thing is, if the tower is near a Death Mountain-esque mountain, why don't we see it in the trailer too? Same thing goes with the Icy Mountains.

Of course, the tower in the E3 trailer and the tower on the Box could be two completely different buildings, but I enjoy speculation!

[NorthApple]

Wow Adam... I hadn't even noticed that behind Hyrule Castle... MAN IS THAT BIG 0.0
It certainly fits the description... and the other mountains could pretty easily be off-screen in that shot, considering how far away they might be in propotion to the tower... wow. And if that isn't the tower in the screenshot... then what else is it/could it be?!

NOW I'M EVEN MORE CURIOUS OF ITS PURPOSE... I can't get over how big it would be... I thought maybe it was just an odd perspective in the artwork... but wow.

[Zenox]

To me, I think that tower could be one of two existing towers, however, both are in Termina, which seems to never be coming back, so it's extremely unlikely.

It could either be The Clock Tower in Clock Town, with Clock Town hidden behind the mountains. This could work, as the mountains surrounding it look similar to Snowpeak and Ikana Canyon.

Or, it could be the Stone Tower, and this could be supported by the fact that Stone Tower was in a mountainous area (Despite being called Ikana Canyon)

Of course, Termina is more than likely not coming back ... soo ... yeah.

[Crazyfreak]

@ CrazyFreak: but the Zelda shown reading the piece of paper in the original trailer looks pretty solid to me... unless something happens during the game, or unless it's willing on her part... or something... (I'll have go further into it on the plot theories thread...)
http://zeldawiki.org/images/7/7e/STzelda.jpg

ANYWAY to keep this on topic, I don't thing it looks likely that the tower has that much to do with Zelda and her location anymore... (as it's certainly no longer a castle type-structure)... although nothing can be said for sure on such little info. :)

I know, Link is still in his old garbe as well... So I think this is just the introduction of Zelda.. Something will happen with her and it probably has to do with the storyline and that tower.

[Smitie]

I wonder what that towers purpose is. Maybe it is a dungeon, but maybe hyrule castle is a bit too close. The top of the tower looks a bit like a drill >.>

I sure hope it is not the 'new tower of the ocean king'. Instead of going down, you have to go up several levels to reach the end.......let's just hope I'm completly wrong.

[Crazyfreak]

I wonder what that towers purpose is. Maybe it is a dungeon, but maybe hyrule castle is a bit too close. The top of the tower looks a bit like a drill >.>

I sure hope it is not the 'new tower of the ocean king'. Instead of going down, you have to go up several levels to reach the end.......let's just hope I'm completly wrong.

Maybe it's Vaati's tower orrrrr the one in oracle of ages??? Or a new enemy!
Yeah ocean kings temple -shrugs-

[NorthApple]

Oh gosh not another TotOK. T-t-they wouldn't do that to us, would they...?
I really really hope that doesn't happen. Oh gosh no. It can't be D:
AH and that's what I'm thinking of, it does remind me of a cross between the two MM towers and Queen Ambi's tower in OoA. But it isn't/can't be any of them though xD

But yeah, I always considered the Zelda shots from E3 to most likely be some form of character intro too... so something could very well happen to her later on :)

[Megamannt125]

Adam those are really great finds, when I first saw the high resolution picture I thought "Hey maybe it's a dungeon" but the I scrolled down to find how close it is to Hyrule, or whatever that castle is, the fact that it's so big and is on the box art must signify that it has some importance to the story.

[Raven]

i don't believe it is hyrule castle or clock tower, but a new construction completely. i guess we will find out what that is soon, but i will take a guess at it as well and say that it is either an outpost of hyrule of some kind, a dungeon. or where link begins his journey from.

[0o0oAdamo0o0]

I'm sure this has been noticed before, but I just noticed. Anyone think the tower and train are related to the Royal Family? I was looking at the design on the train's front and the top of the tower on the box art, and they have the same design. Both designs look somewhat similar to the Royal Family's Crest.

http://i34.tinypic.com/2cpvwwy.png

The two designs aren't exactly the same, but Wind Waker showed us that the crest could change over time, or they implied it with this picture.

http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/3/32/Portrait.jpg

And since Spirit Tracks takes place 100 years after PH, I think it's plausible that the crest changed again.

[Megamannt125]

I'm sure this has been noticed before, but I just noticed. Anyone think the tower and train are related to the Royal Family? I was looking at the design on the train's front and the top of the tower on the box art, and they have the same design. Both designs look somewhat similar to the Royal Family's Crest.
And since Spirit Tracks takes place 100 years after PH, I think it's plausible that the crest changed again.Hm, maybe the upsidedown triangle is the symbol of the new Hyrule?

[NorthApple]

Cool idea! That seems pretty likely... lol I hadn't actually noticed it was upside down before on the train o.O
I was thinking about whether the thing on the top of the tower was anything, but I see it now I know the inverted triangle thing! A modified hylian royal crest is likely what both of them are~

...Which begs the question, what kind of building is the tower to have the royal crest on top?

[Steve]

Cool idea! That seems pretty likely... lol I hadn't actually noticed it was upside down before on the train o.O
I was thinking about whether the thing on the top of the tower was anything, but I see it now I know the inverted triangle thing! A modified hylian royal crest is likely what both of them are~

...Which begs the question, what kind of building is the tower to have the royal crest on top?

The tower obviously seems to use clockwork, and it almost makes me think that it is a train station. The train bares the same symbol as found at the steeple of the tower, so just like the old Hylian Crest, it's probably just a national icon.

[NorthApple]

Interesting... although I'd say it's too big for a train station, which means (as you said) it's probably just their nation icon...
If it is the royal crest on top of tower... the kind of places that bear the crest are usually things like temples, castles, or monuments... but that still doesn't mean much xDD

[ottobot]

Thanks guys! And you can just call me Adam.

Now with the bigger box art, I actually think the tower on the cover is the tower that was seen behind the (Hyrule?) Castle in the E3 trailer, as seen in this picture:

http://i35.tinypic.com/4gi7es.png

and this one:

http://i36.tinypic.com/2udys6u.png

It fits the description of being surrounded by generic grey mountains. The castle seen in the E3 trailer could be hidden behind the mountains in the box art. The only thing is, if the tower is near a Death Mountain-esque mountain, why don't we see it in the trailer too? Same thing goes with the Icy Mountains.

Of course, the tower in the E3 trailer and the tower on the Box could be two completely different buildings, but I enjoy speculation!
wow that's huge. juging by the size of the tower ( if the boxart and e3 towers are indeed one and the same) i think we may have a tower of the ocean king on our hands. **shudders** hopefully its something different. maybe a sort of grand central station, prehaps? the simularities of the emblem on the train and top of the tower seem to support this.

[Axle the Beast]

I suspect the tower is part of the main town of the game, or perhaps some other major location. I don't think it's part of Hyrule Castle, because it looks nothing like it (and we've seen it briefly in trailers). It could be related to the Royal Family, though, or be otherwise affiliated with hyrulian royalty or the Goddesses.

Like Clock Town, and how it was featured in the background of several of the pictures done for Majora's Mask.

That's my opinion. Or, alternatively, it could be a major location in the game. Like North Castle in AoL, the Temple of the Ocean King in PH, and etc.

[Dungeon killer]

Hum....
I think that it is either a temple or hyrule castle.

Temple
He could have just defeated the temple and is riding to another temple to complete it.

~Reasons~
He has the hero of time tunic on and he is smiling because he got rid of more evil that lied in hyrule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hyrule Castle
He could just have set off to do his first temple and start his next adventure.

~Reasons~
He is riding off with an image of zelda on top of one of the cars and she is momentarily joining him for a little spiritualy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways it could either play on eof those roles or some other role that the makers intended for it to play.:nerd::thinking:

[Josh]

That's uh....interesting?

So. What can you see?

Mountains, probably for the Gorons, if not then.....I don't know.

Ice, fits with the zoras too.

The castle in front of the Tower. If the castle is in front of the tower than to me that's pretty obvious it's important.

Zelda is in it, you can see that everywhere.

The fact that this IS Hyrule and has SOMETHING to do with it is whored everywhere around what we've seen so far, so this can't possibly have anything to do with Termina.

As for the tower itself....it's interesting. It's not like anything I've ever seen, but my instincts still go with a clock tower. What I find intersting about it is, it seems like it has three different parts to it going up to the top, one near the mountains, one in the middle, and one near the top that kind of looks like a face.

As for the rest, who knows?

[Megamannt125]

That's uh....interesting?

So. What can you see?

Mountains, probably for the Gorons, if not then.....I don't know.

Ice, fits with the zoras too.

The castle in front of the Tower. If the castle is in front of the tower than to me that's pretty obvious it's important.

Zelda is in it, you can see that everywhere.

The fact that this IS Hyrule and has SOMETHING to do with it is whored everywhere around what we've seen so far, so this can't possibly have anything to do with Termina.

As for the tower itself....it's interesting. It's not like anything I've ever seen, but my instincts still go with a clock tower. What I find intersting about it is, it seems like it has three different parts to it going up to the top, one near the mountains, one in the middle, and one near the top that kind of looks like a face.

As for the rest, who knows?

There is no confirmation anywhere this is Hyrule. The only plausable evidence of such is Zelda, but that doesn't mean much considering this takes place 100 years after PH, which takes place after WW, and in WW Spoilers: Hyrule stays underwater, and Link, Tetra, and the gang set off to find a new land, which is likely, what the land in Spirit Tracks is (SPOILERS END HERE), however I could be wrong, but it is NOT a fact that it is Hyrule, but mere speculation.

[Rylander77]

http://www.zeldadungeon.net/gallery/albums/Zelda13/Official%20Artwork/Miscellaneous/EuropeanBoxArtwork.jpg

See the tower in the background, I know it's pretty early, but I wonder what it could be, and could it play a significant role in the story?

Also, if you look near the tower you can see ice mountains, normal mountains, and a volcano. Maybe these could be some important dungeons. -Rylander77

[Megamannt125]

Also, if you look near the tower you can see ice mountains, normal mountains, and a volcano. Maybe these could be some important dungeons. -Rylander77You can also note the forest, maybe showing the 4 main dungeons, with the tower being the final one.

[ironknuckle1]

I think the pictures back ground shows snowpeak Death Mountain and another new area.

[NorthApple]

The "four areas surrounding the tower" idea does some pretty viable- on the top screen map in the original trailer you can see a Castle (most likely Hyrule Castle) at the top right corner of the map (and judging by the pattern on two of the map sides, it's most likely another 4-part map like in PH...) which would mean [Hyrule] Castle is situated roughly in the center of the overworld... and if the Tower is behind the Castle (like in the screenshots Adam posted) then it could very well be surrounded by 4 different areas, one in each section of the map.

(if that makes any sense). And now I'm seriously being reminded of the Clock Tower and Termina... could it be possible they stumbled upon Termina in their quest for new Hyrule? Termina was advanced enough for Trains (they had the clocktower, the Ikanas, and even plans for a rocket to the moon in the bomb shop)... The tower definitely seems to draw from MM and it's clock tower, that much can be seen. Eh, just a thought.

But I hope there's more than 5 dungeons then (like Megamannt125 pointed out)... PH was on the short side with 7... so ST would be too short then (imo) o_o

[Notorious NATE]

Those blue colored mountains and the rock in the background are most likely dungeons that Link must travel to in the game. I wouldn't be surprised if a tower could be a dungeon as well.

[zelda1947]

The right of the tower sure looks like a volcano where gordons might be living, not so much as tracks around a mountain, could be a path around a volcano that probably has a dungeon. We sure can tell we will be going up to the snow again, But the tower reminds me of Tingle, could it be????

[Cucco Lady Anju]

Or maybe the tower is a train station. But that's too simplistic and convenient.

[NorthApple]

...
http://i35.tinypic.com/73oygx.png


...It appears to be fairly early in the game, so I doubt the track was drawn, due to Nintendo saying you can draw your tracks later in the game. Also, notice the tower is now located on the map in the very top right corner. Just a little thing I noticed.

HAH, so the Tower is in the center of the map, with probably 4 screens around it... and this looks like a forest one to me! Also it seems to be fairly important if it has an icon on the map and is in the probable center of the overworld... but please don't let it be another Temple of the Ocean King :(
I wonder what the other icons are... maybe stations? And is that the great deku tree?

I wonder what it could be for... it would surely be seen everywhere in the overworld (so it must be fairly important), so it would make some sense for it to be some kind of Clock Tower or something... but it looks kind of likely it's a dungeon or something. idk.

[Gohma]

Maybe the tower will be a new "temple of the ocean king" that you must beat over and over again...

...

I hope it won't . =_="

[0o0oAdamo0o0]

The Japanese teaser site for ST opened, and the front page has a nice, colorful, hi-res picture of the box art. Not that big of a difference from the box art we were referencing before, but the new picture is more colorful and a little bit more detail can be seen in it. Nothing too major though.

http://i35.tinypic.com/3166qzq.png

If you guys want to see the teaser site for yourself and you haven't already, it's here. (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/bkij/index.html)

[NorthApple]

Hey cool... now it seems to look like it's spilt up into sections... and if it is another Temple of the Ocean King, then maybe you have to complete a certain portion of the game and obtain certain items before you can advance to the next level in the tower... I don't know what could be at the top though.
Or maybe you have to get missing cogs or something to be able to rise to the next level. *random speculation*

But the symbol on top is definitely the same one as on the train :3
I just looked at it then and it makes me think of the Tower of the Gods from Wind Waker, for some reason also. If it hadn't been stated by several nintendo people that it's set 100 years after PH, that's what my guess would probably have been lol.
It's interesting all the same. And I keep posting on this thread too much. I should shut up for a while lol :D

[ottobot]

Hey cool... now it seems to look like it's spilt up into sections... and if it is another Temple of the Ocean King, then maybe you have to complete a certain portion of the game and obtain certain items before you can advance to the next level in the tower... I don't know what could be at the top though.
Or maybe you have to get missing cogs or something to be able to rise to the next level. *random speculation*

But the symbol on top is definitely the same one as on the train :3
I just looked at it then and it makes me think of the Tower of the Gods from Wind Waker, for some reason also. If it hadn't been stated by several nintendo people that it's set 100 years after PH, that's what my guess would probably have been lol.
It's interesting all the same. And I keep posting on this thread too much. I should shut up for a while lol :D

well, for one, if it is a tower of the ocean king, i know what would be at the top. the final boss! just like PH.
other wise, maybe it is the tower of the gods. the great sea could have drained, and the resulting land would have a big tower smack dab in the middle. maybe it's both options combined. that would be cool :cool:.

[Sparky]

Well I couldn't see any other posts about it in this thread, so......

We all realize that the Phantoms shield looks exactly like this tower, don't we?

http://images.p-nintendo.com/jeux/nds/thelegendofzeldaspirittracks/scans/nin03.jpg

[0o0oAdamo0o0]

Well I couldn't see any other posts about it in this thread, so......

We all realize that the Phantoms shield looks exactly like this tower, don't we?

Wow, I never noticed that before. The shield certainly does resemble the tower. That gets me thinking, is the tower a dungeon, and the phantom will only appear in that dungeon? I say this because if you look at the E3 trailer, three distinct dungeons can be seen (One with the Phantom, the Forest themed dungeon, and the dungeon with the Whip), and the Phantom only appears in one.

Of course, there is evidence against my thinking. I remember an NoA representative saying that the Phantom will appear in all dungeons, but then again, it wouldn't be the first time NoA was wrong. Also, the sections of the dungeons shown in the E3 trailer could have been a part of the dungeon where the Phantom isn't allowed to go.

I'll just stop talking before I completely disprove my theory. >_<

[NorthApple]

HEY yeah! If it is a TotOK tower, then it makes sense for the phantom would be in there, or be found in there originally...

But wow, I hadn't noticed that xDD
You seem to be great at spotting important details, Adam :)

[Sparky]

Hey guys.....Did we have these pictures already?

It's in a post about half way down. (http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=242079&page=3)

I'll go find them again and post them in a separate post.

In fact I won't. These pictures seem to be MAJOR spoilers, so i'll let you check the link in the post above yourself if you want to.

Edit: To explain this whole thing situation better......There's supposed to be a trailer out tomorrow.....or later today, i'm not really sure, that appears to of been accidentally posted early and then taken down immediately, though someone looks to of got screencaps from it.

[0o0oAdamo0o0]

I looked at the pictures, and my response is this:

SADKLJFKJKLJDKLFJSAKDJF KLDSJFA.

Omfg. November needs to get out of the way. >=[.

[Sparky]

I feel that will be most of our responses.

At least it answers a few questions.
Namely Zelda's role in this game and an explanation of the Phantom.

[Gohma]

Wait... I don't want that little flying jerk as the main villain! o.o
By the way, nice spoilers, we were right about Zelda. =P

[Sparky]

Well it's not like we have a choice.
Bellum is dead, maybe. And in some other dimension place, maybe.
Ganondorf is dead as a rock at the bottom of the sea.
Majora doesn't do comebacks.
Vaati doesn't want to get involved without the four sword.

So the only logical option is bizarre, non senseish random big bad of the week. And his/her? friend.

[Gohma]

He could have look better in my opinion x)
Well...
Maybe he'll have a cool-looking final form (every final boss has more than one form now-)...

[NorthApple]

WHAT! HOLY COW *jumps over there immediately*
Hah, and here I was thinking Nintendo was carefully orchestrating the amount of info it released xD

...

fdthignklajdhgknlrhodgjihkd I'm trembing now.
omfg AWESOME! Holy cow... we were right about the spirit thing. o.m.g.
But this just made me curious about the other characters.... but omg. I can't believe we were right about Zelda :3

But lol... the tower seems to be being taken over by evil magic or something in one of the pics... but omg. I can't wait for the trailer!

[Shine]

I think the tower is part of idk... maybe Grand Hyrule Trainstation lol
That would be weird.

[Durion]

I believe that the tower in the background is named the Spirit Tower (or something along those lines). Not sure if this next parts a spoiler but whatever....highlight the section if you want to read it.

I think it's where the Demon King (probably Ganondorf) is sealed inside within the/a Dark Realm. So the tower in the box art is the building where Ganondorf is Shackled down.

So as you can see if you read that Spoiler that this building if I'm correct will play a major part in the game.

[Jetter]

Did anyone ever notice that on top of the tower of spirits there is the bottom part of the hylian royal crest? It only has the legs of the bird and the upside down triangle. Could the game reveal what the upside down triangle means?