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Fun sequel to one of the previous best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 132 / 136
Date: October 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

***Note: Some spoilers within***

It's been a while since I enjoyed a Zelda title on a handheld. This selection doesn't disappoint.

I'm only a few hours in and I'm hooked. The story line, graphics, music and the characters are all excellent. This title, like Wind Waker, uses the cartoonish/younger set of characters versus the young adult set from Twilight Princess.

For now, here is what I like and don't like. Of course, I'll update the review as I get deeper into the game.

Pros:

- Picks up where Wind Waker left off. A great story!
- Having the map on the second screen is brilliant. Being able to jot down notes on it is even better. This is by far the most useful tool in the game.
- You can save at any point in the game.
- Puzzle mix is pretty balanced. Nothing too simple and nothing aggravating to the point I want to put the game down. I really dig some of the creative elements they've added to the dungeons. That's all I'm saying; I don't want to give away any spoilers. :)
- The boomerang. I love drawing the path out on the screen. Not only is it used to complete certain actions/puzzles, it's a vital tool in fights. Tip #1: Go slow when drawing the path. If you hit walls or obstacles, the throw is not completed. Tip #2: You can hold down the left shoulder button to instantly switch to the boomerang. This is a great way to quickly arm it.


Cons:

- I feel like I'm always running out of "screen". This just boils down to the stylus control and limited real estate of the DS.
- Getting Link to "roll" is quite difficult for me. Others may have this move down. I'm still struggling.
- You can "fall" into water (you lose a heart piece) and off of cliffs. One stylus touch too far and Link can be sent flying off a cliff forcing you to start a map from where you landed. For me, that always seems to be the beginning. :)
- Other than accessing menus and flipping the screens, the direction pad is pretty much unused. In similar games, I prefer to use it for "moving" characters on screen. It was a little disappointing to see this left out. Not a deal-breaker, just nice to have.
- Using the microphone. I don't think you need to incorporate this into every game. It's great for its intended purpose, but frankly, I don't want to have to blow on my DS to make candles go out as part of a puzzle. Is there a button that will do the same? If there is, I haven't found it yet. I'm still blowing. Just a minor annoyance.

So far this game is a lot of fun; more to come soon, if I ever put this thing down.

***UPDATE 10/08/07***

The game continues to rock. The story is getting deeper and I've very into it. I also like how the ocean-going portion of the game is panning out. (E.g. Upgrading the ship, plotting courses, ocean battles, etc.) The addition of "treasure hunting" or "salvaging" is like a mini-game in itself.

The versatility of the items you acquire continues to impress.

Examples:

- The bombs (oh, how I love the bombs) can obviously be used to blow up enemies, but they are equally useful in blowing up crates and walls so you can gain access to new areas and treasure.
- The bow and arrow (my new favorite) is not only a fast and accurate weapon, but a vital tool fot activating dungeon "eyeball" switches.

***UPDATE 10/14/07***

More great items, more great adventure.

Here are some highlights from the last week (hopefully I don't spoil anything).

- Fishing is great. I found myself a fishing rod. Well, I was actually given it. It is little hard to control at first, but once getting the hang of it, provides a lot of fun and there is a nice surprise waiting for you if you "catch 'em all".
- I'm hooked on the Grappling Hook! Like the boomerang, it's a vital tool and is used for much more than just grappling. One great example, think "Human Slingshot."
- I finally died (fire and ice dragons were tough until I figured out what to do). It was nice that all I had to do was walk back through the blue portal and I was right back to the boss fight again. Thank goodness I didn't have to do the entire dungeon again.

***UPDATE 10/28/07***

I finished the game on a flight to LA this weekend.

- The storyline continued to develop and really kept me interested; all the way to the end.
- The new items (especially the hammer) were perfect additions to the already creative arsenal. (Hint: Be sure to hold down the stylus for a second or two and the hammer doubles in size and punch)
- A couple of the boss-fights were actually in 3D-mode versus top-down 3rd person. The graphics during these sequences looked great.
- There were even some really funny moments towards the end. When G'Pa snatched the hourglass from Link mid-spin, I cracked up.
- Lastly, the final boss fight was excellent. Not too hard, multi-leveled (literally) and actually really fun. No frustration.

Kudos to Nintendo for making one of the best games I've ever played on the DS. Thank you!

What a DS RPG should be!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 29 / 31
Date: October 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Let me say, that I'm a HUGE Final Fantasy fan, and have only played two other Zelda games EVER, and never to completion. So it is with some surprise that I say "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass" stands the model upon which all future DS RPGs should be. It has replaced Final Fantasy III as my new favorite DS RPG and it was no contest.

The graphics are second-to-none for the system. I thought FFIII and Chocobo Tales were good, but this takes what the system can do to another level. It's colorful, bright, cute, and stylish. For a game on such a small screen, the detail is wonderful.

And while some may pass off the stylus-only gameplay as gimmicky, I felt that the tight integration gave me a feeling of being more involved with the game, as opposed to simple button-mashing. The ability to control Link's speed with your stylus is a very clever take, and I actually prefer it to the usual "Hold down B to run." I also like being able to plot the path of my boomerang with the stylus. A very nice touch that adds to the fun of the game.

I enjoy the puzzles and the "time limit" set by the Phantom Hourglass is a great way to keep players on their toes in dungeons. The puzzles, while not overly difficult, offer enough challenge to be fun and not frustrating. And if you can find the hints to solve the puzzles (which are usually scattered somewhere), almost no thought is needed at all.

The story is engaging (this is a sequel, tho' you don't need to have played "The Wind Waker" to understand what's going on) and the characters likable. I also found the music and sound effects to be pleasant and very good for a game that already packs so much into such a small cartridge.

There's so much to LoZ:PH, that I haven't even had a chance to try the multiplayer mode, though it seems to be a watered-down version of Four Swords. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Four Swords is universally considered the pinnacle of multiplayer Zelda, so if it's anything like that, PH is definitely headed in the right direction in that department.

This is a great game for players of any level. Hardcore gamers will appreciate the innovative gameplay and great graphics, and casual gamers will like the challenge and interesting story. Kids will like the bright, colorful graphics and slick fighting/boomerang moves, while adults will like the story and puzzle-solving. This is what a DS RPG should be. Heck, this is what ANY game should aspire to be!

Big adventure

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 19
Date: December 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User

In this episode of Zelda (my first one ever) Link has to save Zelda after yet another unfortunate encounter with a villain. This time she is kidnapped by a Ghost ship, Link falls from his ship and washes up on the shore of Mercay island, where he meets his companion for this trip: the fairy Ciela. Together they have to defeat a whole array of increasingly scarier monsters before they can truely free Zelda.

I admit it: I'm 44 and new to gaming. This game is rated as 7+ in the Netherlands (even though there are very few 7 year olds than can already read English), so I was kind of anxious about the childishness of the game, but, boy, did I have fun! Yes, I agree with some reviewers that it is tedious to return to the Temple of the Ocean King all the time, but that is made more than made up for by shooting, stabbing, hooking and bombing all the very ingeniously invented monsters of the various temples and islands. But apart from that you can also fish, trade, dig up rupees, pimp up your boat, fly with chicken. And you have to solve some riddles that are difficult, but not impossible.

Some people claim that they went through this game in 12 hours. I have no idea how they did that: the final fight alone took me all in all almost 3 hours (and some less-than-polite language) to complete. And apart from the game proper there are a number of side-quests or you can just go treasure hunting or shoot seagulls, all according to your preferences. And their is a multi-player mode that I have not even explored yet...

The graphics are amazing for such a little screen and after a while you actually start to like Link, the little green fellow with the tight pants and the big eyes that is your alter ego in this game.

first zelda dual screen action

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 27 / 39
Date: July 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The epic story of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker continues as Link finds himself lost and alone in unknown seas in a new adventure. Featuring intuitive touch-screen controls and innovative puzzles, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass offers new challenges for fans of the series and an easy-to-grasp introduction for gamers new to The Legend of Zelda. But time grows short, and only the Phantom Hourglass can buy Link the minutes he'll need to survive.
Many months have passed since the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Link, Tetra and Tetra's band of pirates have set sail in search of new lands. They come across a patch of ocean covered in a dense fog, in which they discover an abandoned ship. Tetra falls into danger when she explores the ship alone, and Link falls into the ocean when he attempts to rescue her. When he washes up unconscious on the shores of a mysterious island, he is awakened by the sound of a fairy's voice. With the aid of this fairy, he sets off to find Tetra - and his way back to the seas he once knew.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is controlled almost entirely by the stylus. Using the touch screen, players direct Link's movements and attacks: A sweeping motion triggers Link's spin attack and tapping characters makes Link speak with them. The stylus controls offer a more intuitive means of playing the game and open up new possibilities for puzzle solving.

The game action takes place primarily on the touch screen, with a map on the top screen. However, the player can inspect the map on the touch screen and make notes using the stylus. The notes on these maps are saved for review on the top screen during game play. Players use the map to chart courses for their ships, too. Using the stylus to draw a path through the islands, players set their ships' courses. Then, as the ships automatically follow the paths drawn, players can control their ships' cannons to target oncoming enemies.

In dungeons, players can use the touch screen to draw paths for boomerangs, sending them flying around corners or into otherwise unreachable areas.

The stylus-driven game play is the most compelling new feature of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Players use the stylus to control Link, chart courses for their ships, mark notes on maps and solve puzzles in both the overworld and dungeons. A two-player wireless battle mode pits one player, as Link, against another player who controls the enemies pursuing him. Link must collect enough Force Gems before the enemies close in.

Features:

The stylus makes controlling Link easier than ever. Tap on the screen to make Link move, or sweep the stylus around him to swing the sword. Players can even draw a path for his boomerang and send it flying into hard-to-reach targets.
Players can stash the map on the top screen for quick reference or drop it to the touch screen to make notes, study enemies, or chart a path for their boat to follow while they man the cannons.
Compete with a friend over a local wireless connection: Guide Link through special dungeons to capture the Triforce, or command the forces that oppose him.

done and completed by Baaizeed Rahman

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.

Wow. Simply, wow.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is fantastic, and quite possibly one of the best games that I've played on the DS so far.

The setting is a few months after Wind Waker, and it takes place in a brand new ocean, so you're not stuck with the same map that you had before. Basically, Tetra is kidnapped and it is up to you, Link, to save her. With a new fairy partner (that has the same voice clips as Navi from Ocarina of Time, I might add) named Celia and the somewhat-shady Captain Linebeck, you're off on your quest to rescue Tetra and revive the Ocean King. (But you'll learn about that later.)

The game controld fully utilize the DS's touch screen. It's fantastic. With your map constantly on the upper screen, game control is fully devoted to the bottom screen. The player uses the stylus to move Link about, swing his sword, throw the boomerang, and other things. Targeting a specific enemy has never been easier - just tap them - and by pressing 'B' or down on the D-pad, you can pull your map down to the touch screen, where you can scribble down notes and memos to yourself about the overworld (another very handy feature.)

The only big complaint that I have with this game is that whever you save and quit in a dungeon, or you need to leave for some reason, you need to everything all over again. It gets very tedious very fast, not to mention incredibly frustrating. However, that is the only thing that I would want to see changed.

Even with the DS' processing power, the overworld is vibrantly colored and fun to play in, and the music is very similar to the Wind Waker's score.

I am incredibly pleased with this game, and couldn't ask for anything more in a DS game so far.

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!

Like Sands Through the Hourglass

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: October 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

You can't go wrong with a franchise that has sold more than 52 million units worldwide since 1987. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is definitely no exception. I've been waiting for this game to be released since I got my Nintendo DS Lite last year and all I can say is that it was all worth the wait.

This is the direct sequel to Nintendo GameCube's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, similar in both the style and the characters.

Utilizing the power of the stylus, one can play the entire game with only the touch screen. I feel more in control of the game when, for example, I draw the path of my boomerang, plot my ship's course, and swing Link's sword by doing a slashing motion across the screen. I thought it would be weird using the stylus to play the game but somehow it felt like it was the natural thing to do (there was very little learning curve, if any).

I'm not really a fan of the cel-shaded graphics because it creates too much of a cartoon feel. I would have wanted for a Link incarnation that would be similar to the Link in Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess but I guess this young Link would suit better in cel-shaded animation.

To date I have 4 extremely satisfying games on my Nintendo DS but the Phantom Hourglass definitely supercedes them all. I'm one of many gamers here who were (a little) disappointed that Japan got this title roughly 4 months ahead. But the agony of the long wait seems to disappear now that I'm experiencing the magic of this game. I hope to see another The Legend of Zelda game on the DS (though there is unlikely to be one in the near future).

Great game for the DS, while a bit short, overall a good bye.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

First off, this game utilizes the DS capabilities quite well. At the start the lack of ability to use the arrows was irksome, but I quickly got used to the touch screen. It allows lots of versatility so you can switch between weapons and items quickly.

The Phantom Hourglass is like much of its Zelda predecessors, especialy Windwaker. While it has boat sailing as the primary mode of transportation,it is not as time consuming as Windwaker's sailing voyages, and feels much more enjoyable. As in Windwaker there are warp points that you can discover later in the game, and also the ability to search for treasure on the ocean floor. Searching the ocean floor for treasure, or "Salvaging" as it is called is a fun little mini game were you drag a crane down through the water, avoiding mine like enemies. Usually you will find either ship parts(another new idea) or sand for your Phantom Hourglass. Besides salvaging there are several other mini games like the other Zelda games(such as archery practice, cannon accuracy practice, etc).

The main difference I found in Phantom Hourglass was a dungeon you enter several times throughout the coarse of the game called the Temple of the Ocean King. The Temple of the Ocean King is basically a dungeon in which you have a certain amount of time(the time in your Phantom Hourglass) to reach your goal(which gets progressivly lower in level). Inside there are safe spots, in which your hourglass does not lose time, and you cannot be attacked by the phantoms that patrol the corridors. Phantoms are armored knight like guys who are invincible until the end of the game(Accept in certain instances were you can lure them into traps or roll boulders onto them). You must sneak past phantoms or shoot them in the back with an arrow(which momentarily stuns them). Since phantoms will drain 30 seconds off your hourglass and send you to the start of the level, stealth is extremly important. Not only must you deal with the phantoms, but you must also find the way to go down to the next level(usually involving hitting a series of switches and collecting a key to open a locked door.). Over time, from defeating boss battles or finding sand in a sunken chest, you can venture deaper into the Ocean King's Temple.

There are numerous side quests in Phantom Hourglass, mainly the collection of ship parts(which can increase your ship's stamina.), the collection of spirit gems which provide buffs such as, damage reduction, extra sword damage, and the ability to shoot beams out of your sword. Then there is also the classic trading sequence that has been used in earlier Zelda games. You find X item which you trade to Y guy for Z item to trade to Another guy and so on and so on.

There is also a fun mini game you can play either with friends(who don't need a Phantom Hourglass game3 pack) or over wifi. The game is very simple, one player plays as Link, while the other plays as 3 phantoms. Link must run around grabbing Triforce triangles to carry back to his base, while the 3 phantoms are controlled by drawing lines that they will follow, and must stop Link(by running into him) getting the Triforce triangles. Once Link is caught, the sides switch and the other player tries to get Triforce triangles.

The main problems I had with Phantom Hourglass was the short life of the game. There are only 6 dungeons in the entire game, which are much shorter than most zelda games. This game cannot have taken me more than 20 hours to complete, and I found 15 of the 16 heart containers, and 41 of the 60 spirit gems. However, I feel that those 20 hours are well worth the money to buy this game.

Pros

- Same, fun, Zelda game we all expect
- Fun mini games
- Temple of the Ocean King provides a more fast passed stealth side to the game
- Well adapted to DS, with lots of inventive mini games and ways to solve puzzles
- No more long sailing trips like Windwaker
- Nice pleasing cell shaded graphics, the game has a good feel.
- Fun multiplayer(wifi and DS connect with just one game)
Cons

- No more heart pieces ;_; (just heart containers)
- Short (about 20 hours for an experienced Zelda player)

One of the best games to hit the DS yet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 13
Date: October 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

A direct sequel to the Gamecube's Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, the eagerly anticipated Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is finally here on the DS, and its one of the best games to hit Nintendo's dual screened portable yet. Phantom Hourglass picks up right where Wind Waker left off, with Link and Tetra (Zelda) sailing the seas. Naturally, things don't go quite well as a ghost ship appears, Tetra takes off, and Link is washed ashore on an island. Despite the familiar storyline, Phantom Hourglass has all the fun puzzle and adventure elements that fans of the series have come to expect. Making inventive use of the touch screen and stylus controls, Phantom Hourglass may take some getting used to in this department, but once you do, you'll have a blast. Since this is a direct sequel to Wind Waker, the game follows the same graphical and gameplay styles, meaning the cartoonish, diminuitive Link that we came to love (and in the case of a good amount of players, hated) is here, as are the sailing elements. Fortunately, some improvements have been made for the DS, particularly the sailing parts which are performed much better here. Graphically, Phantom Hourglass boasts some of the best visuals of any DS game. The boss battles are wonderful, and the environments are inventive as well, rounding out another masterpiece in the Legend of Zelda series. The only real downside to Phantom Hourglass is that the touch screen controls, as I've said before, take a bit of getting used to. Gamers may be turned off by not using the traditional control scheme we've come to expect from a portable Zelda game, but once you get past that, it's smooth sailing (literally). Not to mention that if the differently designed art style from Wind Waker wasn't your cup of tea, Phantom Hourglass' visuals won't win you over. All that aside, Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a smashing title for the DS and the franchise, and undoubtedly one of the best games to hit the system yet.

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