Phantom Hourglass

[Axe Kazama]

Why hasn't there been a topic about this!

My brother just got it a couple of days ago, and I have to say, it's perhaps the ONLY game that utilizes the DS to it's maximum potential, essentially making the game touch screen only

Although...to be honest, call me old fashion, but I do miss using the d-pad
Touchscreen Zelda, is just not Zelda to me anymore.

Anyway, I'll just wait til my bro finishes with it before I have a full hands on experience with it. So what are you thoughts about the new Zelda?

[Freedan]

I got it when it came out, and I've been having a blast with it. I'm nearing the end now, but there's still some more messing around to do.

I was a bit skeptical about the touch-only controls, but it doesn't take long at all to get used to it. It becomes second nature in no time at all, and I feel just fine using either control scheme.

And they included some really neat uses for the DS' functions. You might have to 'call' out to someone to get their attention, 'shout' your enthusiasm for an item in to the mic, or make a loud noise to make an enemy cover their ears, leaving them vulnerable. Just to name a few, that is.

If there's one gripe I have, it's that the dungeons are incredibly short. They're generally much more linear than a Zelda fan is probably used to, so don't expect to spend a few hours trying to figure one out.

The boss battles are awesome, though. I believe every one of them makes use of both screens, and some of them are really clever.

I kind of wish there was more to do on land. The ocean can be a pretty busy place, with lots to do and plenty of space to explore, looking for hidden areas. But when you're on land, aside from the occasional treasure to find, towns tend to be small, and you're quickly sent off to the dungeon without much else to do.

Fantastic game, though. I hardly regret spending the money.

[tay120n64]

Phantom Hourglass is much better than I expected it to be. Most DS games (i.e. Kirby Canvas Curse) make me hate the touch-screen controls and wish I could just play the damn game like normal. But, like all Zelda games, innovation just seems to work here. The sailing isn't nearly as tedious as Wind Waker, and dredging up items is now a minigame! There's alot to do. I got it the day it came out, and still haven't finished it. Most handheld games take me about a week to finish, but I just now reached the seventh dungeon.

I do agree with Freedan, though, the game is far too linear. The dungeons barely pose a challenge, and the bosses aren't that hard either. However, the game is fun to play, even if the exploration factor is taken away. Once you start, you barely notice you're using the stylus, because it's so immersive. This game uses the stylus in so many creative ways, part of the fun of the game is finding out how it's going to be used next.

In short, if you have a DS, buy this game. It's awesome.

[Freedan]

Update: Finished the game a couple of days ago. The final boss, while not particularly difficult either, is still pretty entertaining.

There's still more for me to do, though. Ideally, I'd like to finish my collections and fill out my ship catalog. Still a few power/wisdom/courage gems to collect, too.

[tay120n64]

Yeah, those ship parts are a pain. They remind me of the rings from the Oracle series. I never got all 64 of those little bastards...

[Blade]

I tihnk I'm gonna get the Oracle series some time soon, since the Game Boy Color is the only working "console" I have left (the N 64 still works, but only in Mono sound, and it breaks down at random)

I played the Oracle games on an Emulator (didn't finish them though) and they were quite nice. And the rings were entertaining!

[tay120n64]

I would certainly reccomend them. They have the hardest puzzles in the entire series, and they're fun to play. Oracle of Ages is the better of the two, however.