Game Card
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
- Publisher:
- Nintendo
- Developer:
- Nintendo
- US Release:
- 01.10.2007
- EU Release:
- n/a
- Number of players:
- n/a
- Type:
- Action
- Extra:
- Other World
Review
We play Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass...
The Zelda franchise has been living strong since the 80's, and it's
evolution over the years as far as console systems go has been an
ever-changing process. To think how far the console Zelda games have
gone, from their classic 2D top-down perspective, to a more fluently
rendered 3D counterpart. As the consoles evolve from generation to
generation, Zelda evolves along with it, and the differences are always
immense. However, this hasn't always been the case when you consider
handheld Zeldas.
From the original Gameboy, to the Gameboy Advance, Zelda truly hasn't changed that much, at least not enough to leave a lasting impression on me as "an incredible Zelda game". Nintendo definitely switched it up on me though with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. In fact, they switched up a lot of things that we've grown to know on handheld Zelda games. Clearly, it's obvious that Nintendo's efforts were definitely intentional, as they not only wanted to find a way to appeal to a wider audience of gamers (as opposed to your typical cast of hardcore Zelda fanatics), but they also wanted to properly utilize any and every feature the Nintendo DS has to offer. Every general area in the game from gameplay to graphics takes full advantage of the DS' various lineaments.
First of all, I think it's very important to note that this is an entirely touch screen based game. Moving around, attacking monsters, talking to NPCs, collecting items - it's all touch screen. Whether you're comfortable with touch screen gameplay or not, there is no alternate control scheme available. If you're a d-pad kind of guy/gal, you'll be disappointed to hear that the d-pad's only function is to operate through various parts of your inventory menu more effectively. If you don't consider yourself to be a fan of touch screen gameplay though, don't knock it until you take at least an hour or so in to get used to its feel. Trust me, once you get the hang of it, moving around and thrusting that sword of yours feels completely natural, and after your first boss or two, you won't want it any other way.
How about the game's storyline? In case you didn't know, Phantom Hourglass is in fact a direct sequel to "Wind Waker" on the GameCube. The story transitions smoothly from Wind Waker when Link and Tetra were sailing off into the horizon together after their epic adventure, and picks up in Phantom Hourglass with them sailing around, looking for the mysterious ghost ship that is said to plague the seas with it's presence. In the opening cinematic (which is brilliantly done by the way), Tetra gets kidnapped from the boat, and surprise - it's up to Link to save her. Obviously, if you're looking for a Zelda that's completely new and edgy with their story telling, you're not going to find it; there's nothing drastically new here. But really, keeping true to the roots of the Nintendo systems is what Legend of Zelda is all about, right? Anyway, after the opening cutscene, you're introduced to your partners in crime. There's Ciela, a very chatty fairy that can't quite seem to remember anything about her past, and then there's LineBeck, or shall I say, Jack Sparrow - a cowardly sea bound pirate destined for the spoils of treasure. I was a little annoyed at first at how much the storyline seemed like a rip-off of Pirates of the Carribean (Treasure hunting pirates? Ghost ships?), but the more I delved into the game, the less it bothered me. The gameplay alone was enough to keep me interested, though while addicting and very intuitive, it still has it's flaws that are worth pointing out.
The game is played in a top down 3D format, and moving Link around is as simple touching the stylus on the screen in the direction you want him to run. I found it really clever that Link's fairy, Ciela, serves as your "pointer" on screen when you're touching your stylus somewhere, and Link simply follows the fairy as you move her around. If you pull the fairy towards the edge of the screen far from Link, he'll run faster, and the closer you bring the fairy to him, the more he slows down. Slashing your sword is done by simply making a quick slash with your stylus in front of link, or you can effectively defeat the majority of your enemies by simply tapping the stylus repeatedly on them to perform "pounce-like" attacks. The infamous spin attack is performed by drawing a quick circle around Link, and you can perform the dodge roll by making a very small quick circle on the edge of the screen in the direction you want to roll. These are hard to get used to at first, and you might find yourself slashing the air instead of performing the roll you had intended, or rolling off a cliff when you meant to just turn around and walk the other direction. Another slight qualm I had with the touch screen is you'll occasionally block your view of an incoming enemy with your hand on accident as you try to move Link around, but getting used to that is really just a matter of technique. The oddities might throw you off a bit at first, but I got used to it with due practice.
Before you start getting intimidated by the touch screen though, it's time to have a mention at all the pros, and believe me the pros strongly outweigh the cons. As mentioned earlier, this game utilizes every feature the DS carries, and the touch screen is no exception. Everything ranging from taking puzzle notes on your various maps, charting your sailing course, using items, throwing your boomerang, firing/aiming your bow fishing, and even salvaging for treasure is all mapped out wonderfully on the touch screen, and just when you think they've thrown all the features in your court, they'll introduce another!
The well known "themed temples" formula takes stride here, as it does in every other Zelda. Every temple you visit has a theme, and you're typically introduced with a new item/weapon that's essential to that temple's puzzles - but what disappointed me slightly, was that the temples don't seem quite as long and epic as you'd expect from a game like Ocarina or Twilight Princess, for example. Not to mention, the boss battles are fairly short and easy for the most part, but of course the touch screen innovation takes form in these battles like you'd expect. Each boss battle requires you to solve some kind of unique touch screen riddle, and while you'll get a kick out of the riddles they've come up with, unfortunately you'll probably figure them out in a matter of 30 seconds at the most.
If you're wondering how long this game is, it weighs in with most other DS games at a good 15 hours of gameplay if you run straight through (it took me about 20 hours, but I was really taking my time with it). Not to mention, the game has loads of side quests and other "adventure inspiring" goodies that will keep you busy for hours on end. The various sections of the oceans contain several uncharted islands that are there for you to find, map out yourself, and explore. You're also able to collect treasure maps that are used to salvage treasure from the bottom of the sea, and you can literally keep a stable income far after retirement just by collecting loot, and peddling it off to your friendly neighborhood treasure hunters.
It's also worth mentioning that the game includes an amazing online Wi-Fi feature, which lets you go into a one on one battle mode, where you essentially fight for the possession of triad crystals in a turn-based manner. When the battle starts, one player will be on offense, and the other defense. The Link on offense runs around a maze-like battlefield map searching for the crystals, while the Link on the defensive controls these invincible monsters that play a vital role in the single player game called "Phantoms" (I'd tell you all about them, but I'd rather you discover their role for yourself). The defensive Link has three of these Phantoms in his possession, and he draws routes on his touch screen map for them to follow. The goal is to stop the offensive Link from gathering crystals and bringing them back to his base. Once one of the Phantom's takes Link down, then it switches sides, and whoever has the most points after the set amount of rounds wins. If that's not involving enough, the online feature includes a lightweight version of the X-Box 360's "achievements system", urging you to complete a long list of achievements in the online world which will ultimately help unlock new items in the single player game. Even if you fly through the single player adventure, I think it's safe to say just the online world alone will keep you busy for at least another 15 hours or so.
Controls and gameplay aside, the game looks amazing visually (amazing for DS standards, anyhow). The animation is of course cartoony and cel-shaded (a la Wind Waker), but the detailed cinematics might have been even more impressive to me than some of Squaresoft's previous DS hits (IE, Final Fantasy III). The action is creatively mixed up on both DS screens, and at times you might be fooled that you're playing a portable Gamecube, which is really impressive for the DS. The musical score is also very moving, and while it doesn't beat out the compositions of the console Zelda's, it's still compelling all the same.
That's my overall stance with the game as a whole really - if you're expecting a game that's going to blow Ocarina of Time out of the water, you'll be disappointed, but as far as handheld video games go, this is a must have if you're a DS owner. Top of the line DS graphics, a captivating musical score, and enough gameplay features to keep you entertained until the release of Mario Party DS. Plus, with a price tag of only $35? Come on now, who can argue with that?
Top Game Moment: Linking up with other players worldwide via Wi-Fi, and pawning them with my l33t Tri-Force l00ting skills. What, doesn't everyone talk like this online these days?
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| Attacking enemies with the stylus is truly a snap, and it's quite addicting | Your boomerang is controlled by drawing it's path and then releasing, making the completion of puzzles like this possible |
From the original Gameboy, to the Gameboy Advance, Zelda truly hasn't changed that much, at least not enough to leave a lasting impression on me as "an incredible Zelda game". Nintendo definitely switched it up on me though with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. In fact, they switched up a lot of things that we've grown to know on handheld Zelda games. Clearly, it's obvious that Nintendo's efforts were definitely intentional, as they not only wanted to find a way to appeal to a wider audience of gamers (as opposed to your typical cast of hardcore Zelda fanatics), but they also wanted to properly utilize any and every feature the Nintendo DS has to offer. Every general area in the game from gameplay to graphics takes full advantage of the DS' various lineaments.
First of all, I think it's very important to note that this is an entirely touch screen based game. Moving around, attacking monsters, talking to NPCs, collecting items - it's all touch screen. Whether you're comfortable with touch screen gameplay or not, there is no alternate control scheme available. If you're a d-pad kind of guy/gal, you'll be disappointed to hear that the d-pad's only function is to operate through various parts of your inventory menu more effectively. If you don't consider yourself to be a fan of touch screen gameplay though, don't knock it until you take at least an hour or so in to get used to its feel. Trust me, once you get the hang of it, moving around and thrusting that sword of yours feels completely natural, and after your first boss or two, you won't want it any other way.
How about the game's storyline? In case you didn't know, Phantom Hourglass is in fact a direct sequel to "Wind Waker" on the GameCube. The story transitions smoothly from Wind Waker when Link and Tetra were sailing off into the horizon together after their epic adventure, and picks up in Phantom Hourglass with them sailing around, looking for the mysterious ghost ship that is said to plague the seas with it's presence. In the opening cinematic (which is brilliantly done by the way), Tetra gets kidnapped from the boat, and surprise - it's up to Link to save her. Obviously, if you're looking for a Zelda that's completely new and edgy with their story telling, you're not going to find it; there's nothing drastically new here. But really, keeping true to the roots of the Nintendo systems is what Legend of Zelda is all about, right? Anyway, after the opening cutscene, you're introduced to your partners in crime. There's Ciela, a very chatty fairy that can't quite seem to remember anything about her past, and then there's LineBeck, or shall I say, Jack Sparrow - a cowardly sea bound pirate destined for the spoils of treasure. I was a little annoyed at first at how much the storyline seemed like a rip-off of Pirates of the Carribean (Treasure hunting pirates? Ghost ships?), but the more I delved into the game, the less it bothered me. The gameplay alone was enough to keep me interested, though while addicting and very intuitive, it still has it's flaws that are worth pointing out.
The game is played in a top down 3D format, and moving Link around is as simple touching the stylus on the screen in the direction you want him to run. I found it really clever that Link's fairy, Ciela, serves as your "pointer" on screen when you're touching your stylus somewhere, and Link simply follows the fairy as you move her around. If you pull the fairy towards the edge of the screen far from Link, he'll run faster, and the closer you bring the fairy to him, the more he slows down. Slashing your sword is done by simply making a quick slash with your stylus in front of link, or you can effectively defeat the majority of your enemies by simply tapping the stylus repeatedly on them to perform "pounce-like" attacks. The infamous spin attack is performed by drawing a quick circle around Link, and you can perform the dodge roll by making a very small quick circle on the edge of the screen in the direction you want to roll. These are hard to get used to at first, and you might find yourself slashing the air instead of performing the roll you had intended, or rolling off a cliff when you meant to just turn around and walk the other direction. Another slight qualm I had with the touch screen is you'll occasionally block your view of an incoming enemy with your hand on accident as you try to move Link around, but getting used to that is really just a matter of technique. The oddities might throw you off a bit at first, but I got used to it with due practice.
 |
 |
|
| Making notes on your map is vital to planning a particular route, marking treasure, or remembering where you have to go next | Sailing around in your boat is made possible by drawing the boat's route on your touch screen, and then simply hitting 'go' |
Before you start getting intimidated by the touch screen though, it's time to have a mention at all the pros, and believe me the pros strongly outweigh the cons. As mentioned earlier, this game utilizes every feature the DS carries, and the touch screen is no exception. Everything ranging from taking puzzle notes on your various maps, charting your sailing course, using items, throwing your boomerang, firing/aiming your bow fishing, and even salvaging for treasure is all mapped out wonderfully on the touch screen, and just when you think they've thrown all the features in your court, they'll introduce another!
The well known "themed temples" formula takes stride here, as it does in every other Zelda. Every temple you visit has a theme, and you're typically introduced with a new item/weapon that's essential to that temple's puzzles - but what disappointed me slightly, was that the temples don't seem quite as long and epic as you'd expect from a game like Ocarina or Twilight Princess, for example. Not to mention, the boss battles are fairly short and easy for the most part, but of course the touch screen innovation takes form in these battles like you'd expect. Each boss battle requires you to solve some kind of unique touch screen riddle, and while you'll get a kick out of the riddles they've come up with, unfortunately you'll probably figure them out in a matter of 30 seconds at the most.
If you're wondering how long this game is, it weighs in with most other DS games at a good 15 hours of gameplay if you run straight through (it took me about 20 hours, but I was really taking my time with it). Not to mention, the game has loads of side quests and other "adventure inspiring" goodies that will keep you busy for hours on end. The various sections of the oceans contain several uncharted islands that are there for you to find, map out yourself, and explore. You're also able to collect treasure maps that are used to salvage treasure from the bottom of the sea, and you can literally keep a stable income far after retirement just by collecting loot, and peddling it off to your friendly neighborhood treasure hunters.
It's also worth mentioning that the game includes an amazing online Wi-Fi feature, which lets you go into a one on one battle mode, where you essentially fight for the possession of triad crystals in a turn-based manner. When the battle starts, one player will be on offense, and the other defense. The Link on offense runs around a maze-like battlefield map searching for the crystals, while the Link on the defensive controls these invincible monsters that play a vital role in the single player game called "Phantoms" (I'd tell you all about them, but I'd rather you discover their role for yourself). The defensive Link has three of these Phantoms in his possession, and he draws routes on his touch screen map for them to follow. The goal is to stop the offensive Link from gathering crystals and bringing them back to his base. Once one of the Phantom's takes Link down, then it switches sides, and whoever has the most points after the set amount of rounds wins. If that's not involving enough, the online feature includes a lightweight version of the X-Box 360's "achievements system", urging you to complete a long list of achievements in the online world which will ultimately help unlock new items in the single player game. Even if you fly through the single player adventure, I think it's safe to say just the online world alone will keep you busy for at least another 15 hours or so.
Controls and gameplay aside, the game looks amazing visually (amazing for DS standards, anyhow). The animation is of course cartoony and cel-shaded (a la Wind Waker), but the detailed cinematics might have been even more impressive to me than some of Squaresoft's previous DS hits (IE, Final Fantasy III). The action is creatively mixed up on both DS screens, and at times you might be fooled that you're playing a portable Gamecube, which is really impressive for the DS. The musical score is also very moving, and while it doesn't beat out the compositions of the console Zelda's, it's still compelling all the same.
 |
 |
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| Zeldas opening cinematic sequence brilliantly uses both DS screens to fully emerge the player in the action at hand | The occasional theatrical camera sequences make it feel like you're actually playing a mini Gamecube |
That's my overall stance with the game as a whole really - if you're expecting a game that's going to blow Ocarina of Time out of the water, you'll be disappointed, but as far as handheld video games go, this is a must have if you're a DS owner. Top of the line DS graphics, a captivating musical score, and enough gameplay features to keep you entertained until the release of Mario Party DS. Plus, with a price tag of only $35? Come on now, who can argue with that?
Top Game Moment: Linking up with other players worldwide via Wi-Fi, and pawning them with my l33t Tri-Force l00ting skills. What, doesn't everyone talk like this online these days?
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Gameplay Trailer
Posted 09.03.07
Length 01:41 Views 1107 -
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Gameplay Trailer #3
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Length 00:25 Views 722
