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An after-thought to a real Zelda game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 56
Date: October 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I love the Zelda series and have all the games. I played Twilight Princess and thoroughly enjoyed the difficulty, the characters and the graphics. After many release date setbacks, I finally bought my copy of Phantom Hourglass the day it came out. And completed it the day it came out. Fully. All side quests complete. A lot of times, on other Zelda games, I was stumped and have to think on the puzzle for a while. Not so with this one. I figured them all out. I even tried to make it harder than it was! I kept trying to put complex solutions on simple problems. I was so vastly disappointed with this game. Also, I am SO over the stylus. Seriously. Your hand gets in the way and there were a few times I missed seeing a monster come up behind me because my stupid hand was in the way. Then there was when you slash, versus running. Sometimes I would try to slash something, and lo and behold, I would sedately walk up to the monster, and wait to be killed. Also... I like the play between the right hand and the left hand. You have to be good with both hands, it makes it just a little bit tougher. This was all one handed, with your other hand just sitting there. Limply. It was very frustrating, and I truly wish they had made the stylus optional. They were just trying for a new gimmick, and for me, it didn't work. I had hoped for better.

Gimmicky and uninspired, PH is rather disappointing for a Zelda title.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 23 / 45
Date: October 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm not sure why critics are giving this game such high scores. I personally felt very disappointed with it (I played the Japanese version, as I knew enough Japanese to get myself through the game.) In many ways, I felt PH was worse than its handheld predecessor, The Minish Cap. Here's my critical review:

Dungeons: You have some of the most linear and straightforward dungeons you will ever see in any Zelda game. While there are some challenging puzzles in Levels 6 and 7 (think TP Master Sword puzzle difficulty), for the most part, the dungeons are cake. The "jot down notes on your map" gimmick gets old by the second half of the game. If you want to challenge yourself, try memorizing the details instead of writing them down. Dungeons will take an average time of 20-40 minutes each, making some of the shortest dungeons since the days of ALttP/LA.

Game Length and Difficulty: I'd expect an average player to finish in 10-15 hours for an unaided first playthrough, and 20 hours for 100% completion. Veterans of this series should not take more than 10 if they focus on the main quest. The average player will score some gameovers, but nowhere near as many as the early NES/SNES/GB games.

This game also takes a giant step backwards from TP (and TMC) in a lot of ways:

Dungeon design: Instead of themed dungeons in TP, where each dungeon has a unique gameplay mechanic to remember it by (for example, guiding the statue in the Temple of Time), PH's dungeons are once again generic (Level 3 could have easily been Level 5, and vice versa), linear (even more so than in TP), and almost jokingly easy until near the end.

Inventory: There are no new items (i.e. everything is taken from previous LoZ titles). There are two items for which you draw out their flight paths in advance, and for the remaining five, you point your stylus where you want to use the item. Neither is particularly revolutionary or interesting.

Stylus controls: Surprisingly, they're not as bad as people make them out to be. You will get used to them by the end of the game. There are occasional annoyances (for example, your hands get sore after long periods of play much more easily), and I can't say that I prefer this scheme to the traditional D-pad/analog stick setup, but it's definitely tolerable.

Plot development: Three cutscenes: beginning, middle, and end. No dynamic characters. Story has almost nothing to do with The Wind Waker or the franchise. Tetra has about 10 minutes of on-screen time and you'll get the feeling she was thrown in just for the heck of it.

Music: For the first time since ALttP, each dungeon does not have a unique theme. In fact, the same theme, which consists of just 4-6 repeating notes, is used in all eight dungeons, and it gets really annoying fast. Most songs are simply remixes of classic tunes, and in many cases, their quality has been downgraded. For example, the Goron theme from TP got nerfed, and the light world dungeon theme from ALttP was "borrowed" to become a character's theme in PH, and boy, it sounds awful.

Other gameplay gripes:
You have to return to the Ocean King's Temple [the master dungeon] a grand total of six times, and must restart from the topmost floor (there are 13 basement levels) upon each visit. This becomes an annoyance. Yes, after a few return trips, you will be able to open a checkpoint at the halfway mark, as well as use alternative pathways/puzzle solutions with newly acquired inventory items. Nonetheless, there's still a lot of overlap and repetition (think six return visits), and it gets stale.

The time limit is _NEVER_ a problem as long as you remain patient and refrain yourself from taking chances and running into phantom guards. Since there are time bonuses on almost every level of the dungeon, it's actually possible to finish the whole thing with a net time of zero.

Verdict: Solid rent for me. The game's strong points are its graphics, boss battles, and multiplayer mode. Everything else is meh. I really think this game is being incredibly overrated by the press.

Not as fun as I remember, but a solid game for newcomers

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I've played nearly every Zelda game since the beginning (when I was 6) and I love the genre. Over the years, and that's a lot of years, the fundamental formula has never gotten old for me. There were a few games that strayed from the mainstream Zelda theme, and they were not as good because of it, but overall Zelda has been a great franchise and an excellent series of games.

This iteration of the Zelda series in particular I have found to be uninspiring. While I admit I'm not far into the game, it's mainly because I'm so bored by the game that I can't commit the time to playing it. I never played windwaker and so the characters, style, and plot seems foreign to me. Also, where the heck is Zelda? The name Tetra doesn't mean anything to me, but I can guess there must be some relation. Still, so far I don't like any of the characters and the controls take some getting used to. Maneuvering through obstacles is not very intuitive (like zig zags of fire that make me stretch across each side of the screen) but managable.

As for my girlfriend just started playing video games and has never played Zelda before. She absolutely adores it, and even bought her own pink DS to play it on. I can see the appeal to girls or kids, but I find it difficult as a grown man to relate to this cutesy sprite protaganist and the other childish characters. It just bores me. The Wii game was better since it has a darker, grittier feel that I could get into.

If the buyer of this product is a kid, a girl, a kid-girl, is new to zelda games in general, or just really likes having adventures with little kids in green, I would highly recommend this product. Otherwise, I would recommend that you try some of the other Zelda games. As I said, the series is a timeless classic but this one game seems like an abherration.

Meh...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: May 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I really tried to like this game. But there's just too much backtracking involved. Throw a ship into the mix and you've got hours of tedious sailing too. Every time you go and find a hint or a clue you have to return to the main dungeon and go through the same things you've cleared before until you reach a lower level that was previously unaccessible. It gets very frustrating and just isn't that much fun. It hurts me to give a Zelda game a low rating, but this one wasn't good. At all.

Fun, but falls short...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: December 30, 2007
Author: Amazon User

First off, this is a Zelda game. That means it's a good purchase and you should get it. However, this was easily my least favorite game in the entire franchise (WindWaker is my top in the series for comparison).

This game could have been really great but for one thing. The main attraction in a Zelda game in in the intricate dungeons and this game is severely lacking. There are a good number of dungeons... that's not the problem. But When playing a Zelda game, entering a new dungeon should evoke excitement and adventure. It should make you think, "whew... here we go!". Getting the new item in a dungeon should make you go "Aaaaah! Now I know how to get through those last 10 rooms!" and should be exciting.

This game had none of this feeling. Every dungeon but one seemed very short and was more like simply traveling through a cave with embellishments rather than a full-blown dungeon. Some of the bosses were cool, but you would reach them so quickly after entering a dungeon that they didn't have time to build up the suspense.

Honestly, if this game were not part of the Zelda franchise, I would have given it 4 stars, but being Zelda I really did have higher expectations. Still worth buying, but not worthy of the name "Zelda".

Eh... wait till the price goes down.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As everyone above me said, it is a nice game. For the DS controls, it is great- some of the best ideas were incoorporated into it. However, it is way too easy & way too short. A big disappointment for a very loyal Zelda fan like me.

Zelda arrives on the DS at last!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Ok, let's face it. If you are a gamer of any sort, you should know that the Legend of Zelda series has undoubtedly been one of (if not the) most influential, innovative, and downright fun ever.

I bought this when I was stuck in St. Peter, MN over a weekend. Boy, was it fun. I rarely buy games right after they come out (yeah, I'm a cheapskate), but I paid the $40 up front two days after release. I loved the innovative uses of the DS. You know how Rayman Raving Rabbids used every possible function of the Wiimote? Well, Phantom Hourglass does the same thing with the DS. You'll blow on the mic, write on the map, and every movement and combat is used exclusively with the stylus. This is how the DS was meant to be used.

About five hours in, however, I discovered a major problem. After a level, I have to return to The Temple Of The Ocean King, and run through everything again...on a timer? That means all the enemies, puzzles, etc. It was ridiculous. The Temple is hard enough the first time around, but on a timer? And having to repeat everything is just mean. Honestly, it's one of the most annoying things I've ever had to do in a game. (And be forewarned, you will want to do the Temple when you're out of earshot of other people. Played this on a flight to Europe and the man next to me thought I was insane for yelling every time the timer ran out.)

It's a classic Zelda game with a great new control scheme, pure and simple. Highly reccommended, but slightly difficult.

Great fun - Too easy

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Let me just say that this game has some of the most fun gameplay elements I've seen in a while. Cramming everything onto the touch screen was a risk that Nintendo took, but it payed off beautifully. There are only a few areas of the game where touch control seems contrived or gimmicky. The game also has a feature that I've been craving since playing Link to the Past in my teens: map notes. This is such a clever and useful tool, and I love it.

However, the game is tainted by one thing: it is way too easy. They practically spell most of the puzzles out for you, and it is a real disappointment in the difficulty area. Even so, I still recommend it, as it is fun and gives a lot of enjoyment.

Tons of fun!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have a confession: I've never been much of a Zelda fan. I prefer my games with experience points and lots of dialog, and for some reason I had sort of pigeon-holed LoZ into a lame puzzle game. Now I'm gonna go back to the series and see what I've been missing.

Other reviewers here have already covered the graphics, plotline, and atmosphere of the game, so I'd like to focus on the gameplay itself. The touch-screen controls are nearly flawless on this. I love my DS but it really feels like the touch-screen is a useless accessory to most games. In Phantom Hourglass, though, they implemented it so well that I can't shut up about it. In a lot of other games it feels awkward letting go of the buttons and grabbing the stylus just to click a few things before putting it back. In this game, EVERYTHING you do is done using the stylus so there's no awkward transitions, and more importantly, it's done very well.

This game had me hooked within minutes of turning it on, based on the feel of the controls alone. Combat is fast paced and responsive, like it should be. The gameplay is so intuitive that the manual is pretty much unnecessary. Want to grab something? Click it. Want to talk to someone? Tap them. Aiming your bow? Just tap the target. Animal Crossing had similar controls but they always felt sluggish to me, whereas Phantom Hourglass has the sort of immersive controls that really put you inside the game.

The rest of the game feels balanced to me: the boss fights are tough until you figure out the trick, and the puzzles require just enough thought and strategy to make you really think but not so much that you become frustrated. I really like how the puzzles are so well-integrated into the world. It isn't like you reach a dead end in a dungeon and have to solve some brain-twister. It's more like the whole dungeon is one big gradual puzzle that you are unlocking.

Overall, this game is tons of fun. Real fun, not "a challenge" or "something to kill time," but the kind of game that will engage you and make you smile to yourself while playing it. Go pick it up now!

Zelda on DS...it had to happen

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: October 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm sure Nintendo is feeling pretty safe. Through the years, they've amassed a nice collection of franchises they can bet on to keep people coming back. So here's another entry...The Legend of Zelda on Nintendo DS. Fans of the series should know what to expect, this game is really no different from any of the other ones. What made this one fresh is the fact that it's on one of the most innovative consoles ever, bringing that innovation to the Zelda series.

This is a direct sequel to GameCube's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. While that game isn't the strongest entry (that honor goes to Ocarina of Time for N64), the cartoon look and humor fits quite nicely with the DS and I personally wouldn't have it any other way. All the usual Zelda elements are there, but this time you control with the stylus, which makes playing it all the more fun. Sword-fighting is done by simply touching the enemy or making a slash mark. The boomerang is used by tracing the path you want it to follow (this is simply ingenious!). Your ship's course is determined by tracing the path you want it to follow. The fact that you can also write notes on the game's map is very useful too.

Story-wise, it's simple and to-the-point. Obviously, Nintendo wanted to focus more on gameplay than story, and that's not a bad thing. The dungeons are rather short, but again, simplicity is rampant in this game. I really like the incorporation of the microphone! While it doesn't have speech recognition, you can simply blow in the mic to make things happen. I'm not a fan of having to do the main dungeon over and over again. That will definitely get tedious. The roll move is somewhat difficult to execute, which takes away from the otherwise brilliant play control.

My biggest complaints stem from aspects that have been done before in other games. The fairy that accompanies Link speaks for him and also suffers from memory loss, which is identical to Tippi the Pixl from Super Paper Mario (they even look similar). Also, in the main dungeon, Link's life will slowly drain unless he's in designated "Safe Zones", which is straight out of Dark Aether from Metroid Prime 2. Sure they change that up slightly with the use of the Phantom Hourglass, but that just serves to make the game somewhat on the easy side. Incidentally, Metroid Prime 2 borrowed part of its gameplay (light and dark worlds) from Zelda: A Link To The Past, so I guess the favor is returned?

Overall, however, this is probably one of the best games for the DS. It certainly will keep you occupied and coming back for more. While those looking for an expansive Zelda epic like Twilight Princess will undoubtedly be disappointed, this wasn't the point of Phantom Hourglass and it should still satisfy fans. It's a strong entry in the Legend of Zelda series.

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