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This thread has been linked to the game 'The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was arguably the pinnacle of Zelda excellence. By offering the best of everything, Twilight Princess managed to perfect an already near perfect formula. So it’s not surprising Phantom Hourglass chose to innovate. Boasting unbelievable controls and a unique design, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has just become the defining DS moment, and the most refreshing Zelda since Wind Waker.
VISUALS
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass uses the same vibrant and colorful pallet that were so controversial with the Wind Waker. Despite lacking the detail of its predecessor, it still manages to impress, putting to shame Pokèmon Diamond and Pearl, whilst offering one of the best looking DS titles to date.
The game adopts a semi-2D-quasi-3D look, displaying a top-down view for most of the game, yet switching into full 3D when entering some buildings and during the sailing. There are also plenty of special effects when firing cannons, defeating bosses, using items and battling enemies. It certainly looks attractive, and you’ll feel no shame in showing them off to your PSP brethren.
AUDIO
If there one thing that has remained consistent with every Zelda, then it is with the audio. You’ll feel at home from the moment you hear that fairy fountain music, and it isn’t long before the classic Zelda theme is introduced either. That epic sailing music present in Wind Waker has also been carried across, and the game continues to lack any voice acting whatsoever. Yet this is no bad thing, continuing Zelda’s audio traditions will only serve to remind fans that this is still a Zelda game, in spite of all the new functional gimmickry.
GAMEPLAY
Phantom Hourglass is a game that only the delicate hands of Nintendo could craft. After a quick re-cap on the events from Wind Waker, Tetra (or Zelda, as I’m sure you remember) goes in search of the Ghost Ship, which has been terrorizing the seas and is responsible for a multitude of disappearances. But things don’t go according to plan, and she’s soon captured by the evil vessel. In a bid to save her, Link attempts to board the ship, but falls into the sea and is washed up on a strange island...with a fairy.
For all its innovative claims, Phantom Hourglass is no different to the titles that preceded it. You must rescue a princess, conquer dungeons, push blocks, throw boomerangs, detonate bombs and slash enemies - everything is where it should be. How you go about doing this though has changed, a lot. You use the stylus for nigh on everything: throwing bombs, directing boomerangs, walking, sword fighting and even rolling; all of these are done with a touch of the screen - and it’s refreshing to see it all work. Link moves instinctively and at an excellent pace; striking enemies is hugely satisfying, whereas the boomerang, which follows a line you draw with the stylus, will never be the same again. The best use of the stylus, however, comes in the form of map notes. The ability to jot down little notes, to remind yourself of areas you cannot access or a solution for a puzzle is one of the biggest steps forward for Zelda since Ocarina of Time. Not only does it add to the sense of adventure, but there are even map-based puzzles for gamers to enjoy, which is a brilliant new addition to the land of Hyrule.
The whole experience is so beautifully realized and so brilliantly put together that you may fail to notice the flaws. And there are flaws. Those who didn’t like the sailing in the first game should prepare for an even more frustrating experience. To sail you must draw a line on the map for your ship to follow, which seems clever to begin with, but it’s not long before you’re frustrated by the lack of control - and no cannon or jump button can rescue this. The rolling can prove difficult to pull off too (you have to circle the corner of the screen), whereas some of the microphone uses (such as blowing sand off a map) feel forced into the game.
Yet these flaws are minor, and with some of the most impressive dungeons in the Zelda universe and some amusing dialogue, you can rest assured that Nintendo have crafted yet another Zelda masterpiece, a little under a year since the last.
MULTIPLAYER
As is the tradition for Zelda games these days, Phantom Hourglass comes complete with a multiplayer mode. The game plays a little like capture the flag (yet with a triforce) and is a fun deviation from the main quest. It is also completely playable online, and offers a host of stats as well as your overall standings. There’s a lot of fun to be had, and you can spend hours tapping away against your friends. However, this isn’t in the same league as Four Swords, and more experienced online gamers may get bored quickly.
CONCLUSION
The Legend of Zelda has just been dragged into a modern age, by the 21st century’s most influential video game machine. It is groundbreaking in every sense of the word, and successfully bridges that gap between the hardcore and the casual. A feat that is in no way easy. There are flaws, but they cannot overshadow what is the definitive must own DS game.
Miss it at your peril.
VISUALS
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass uses the same vibrant and colorful pallet that were so controversial with the Wind Waker. Despite lacking the detail of its predecessor, it still manages to impress, putting to shame Pokèmon Diamond and Pearl, whilst offering one of the best looking DS titles to date.
The game adopts a semi-2D-quasi-3D look, displaying a top-down view for most of the game, yet switching into full 3D when entering some buildings and during the sailing. There are also plenty of special effects when firing cannons, defeating bosses, using items and battling enemies. It certainly looks attractive, and you’ll feel no shame in showing them off to your PSP brethren.
AUDIO
If there one thing that has remained consistent with every Zelda, then it is with the audio. You’ll feel at home from the moment you hear that fairy fountain music, and it isn’t long before the classic Zelda theme is introduced either. That epic sailing music present in Wind Waker has also been carried across, and the game continues to lack any voice acting whatsoever. Yet this is no bad thing, continuing Zelda’s audio traditions will only serve to remind fans that this is still a Zelda game, in spite of all the new functional gimmickry.
GAMEPLAY
Phantom Hourglass is a game that only the delicate hands of Nintendo could craft. After a quick re-cap on the events from Wind Waker, Tetra (or Zelda, as I’m sure you remember) goes in search of the Ghost Ship, which has been terrorizing the seas and is responsible for a multitude of disappearances. But things don’t go according to plan, and she’s soon captured by the evil vessel. In a bid to save her, Link attempts to board the ship, but falls into the sea and is washed up on a strange island...with a fairy.
For all its innovative claims, Phantom Hourglass is no different to the titles that preceded it. You must rescue a princess, conquer dungeons, push blocks, throw boomerangs, detonate bombs and slash enemies - everything is where it should be. How you go about doing this though has changed, a lot. You use the stylus for nigh on everything: throwing bombs, directing boomerangs, walking, sword fighting and even rolling; all of these are done with a touch of the screen - and it’s refreshing to see it all work. Link moves instinctively and at an excellent pace; striking enemies is hugely satisfying, whereas the boomerang, which follows a line you draw with the stylus, will never be the same again. The best use of the stylus, however, comes in the form of map notes. The ability to jot down little notes, to remind yourself of areas you cannot access or a solution for a puzzle is one of the biggest steps forward for Zelda since Ocarina of Time. Not only does it add to the sense of adventure, but there are even map-based puzzles for gamers to enjoy, which is a brilliant new addition to the land of Hyrule.
The whole experience is so beautifully realized and so brilliantly put together that you may fail to notice the flaws. And there are flaws. Those who didn’t like the sailing in the first game should prepare for an even more frustrating experience. To sail you must draw a line on the map for your ship to follow, which seems clever to begin with, but it’s not long before you’re frustrated by the lack of control - and no cannon or jump button can rescue this. The rolling can prove difficult to pull off too (you have to circle the corner of the screen), whereas some of the microphone uses (such as blowing sand off a map) feel forced into the game.
Yet these flaws are minor, and with some of the most impressive dungeons in the Zelda universe and some amusing dialogue, you can rest assured that Nintendo have crafted yet another Zelda masterpiece, a little under a year since the last.
MULTIPLAYER
As is the tradition for Zelda games these days, Phantom Hourglass comes complete with a multiplayer mode. The game plays a little like capture the flag (yet with a triforce) and is a fun deviation from the main quest. It is also completely playable online, and offers a host of stats as well as your overall standings. There’s a lot of fun to be had, and you can spend hours tapping away against your friends. However, this isn’t in the same league as Four Swords, and more experienced online gamers may get bored quickly.
CONCLUSION
The Legend of Zelda has just been dragged into a modern age, by the 21st century’s most influential video game machine. It is groundbreaking in every sense of the word, and successfully bridges that gap between the hardcore and the casual. A feat that is in no way easy. There are flaws, but they cannot overshadow what is the definitive must own DS game.
Miss it at your peril.
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The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was arguably the pinnacle of Zelda excellence. By offering the best of everything, Twilight Princess managed to perfect an already near perfect formula. So it’s not surprising Phantom Hourglass chose to innovate. Boasting unbelievable controls and a unique design, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has just become the defining DS moment, and the most refreshing Zelda since Wind Waker.
VISUALS
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass uses the same vibrant and colorful pallet that were so controversial with the Wind Waker. Despite lacking the detail of its predecessor, it still manages to impress, putting to shame Pokèmon Diamond and Pearl, whilst offering one of the best looking DS titles to date.
The game adopts a semi-2D-quasi-3D look, displaying a top-down view for most of the game, yet switching into full 3D when entering some buildings and during the sailing. There are also plenty of special effects when firing cannons, defeating bosses, using items and battling enemies. It certainly looks attractive, and you’ll feel no shame in showing them off to your PSP brethren.
AUDIO
If there one thing that has remained consistent with every Zelda, then it is with the audio. You’ll feel at home from the moment you hear that fairy fountain music, and it isn’t long before the classic Zelda theme is introduced either. That epic sailing music present in Wind Waker has also been carried across, and the game continues to lack any voice acting whatsoever. Yet this is no bad thing, continuing Zelda’s audio traditions will only serve to remind fans that this is still a Zelda game, in spite of all the new functional gimmickry.
GAMEPLAY
Phantom Hourglass is a game that only the delicate hands of Nintendo could craft. After a quick re-cap on the events from Wind Waker, Tetra (or Zelda, as I’m sure you remember) goes in search of the Ghost Ship, which has been terrorizing the seas and is responsible for a multitude of disappearances. But things don’t go according to plan, and she’s soon captured by the evil vessel. In a bid to save her, Link attempts to board the ship, but falls into the sea and is washed up on a strange island...with a fairy.
For all its innovative claims, Phantom Hourglass is no different to the titles that preceded it. You must rescue a princess, conquer dungeons, push blocks, throw boomerangs, detonate bombs and slash enemies - everything is where it should be. How you go about doing this though has changed, a lot. You use the stylus for nigh on everything: throwing bombs, directing boomerangs, walking, sword fighting and even rolling; all of these are done with a touch of the screen - and it’s refreshing to see it all work. Link moves instinctively and at an excellent pace; striking enemies is hugely satisfying, whereas the boomerang, which follows a line you draw with the stylus, will never be the same again. The best use of the stylus, however, comes in the form of map notes. The ability to jot down little notes, to remind yourself of areas you cannot access or a solution for a puzzle is one of the biggest steps forward for Zelda since Ocarina of Time. Not only does it add to the sense of adventure, but there are even map-based puzzles for gamers to enjoy, which is a brilliant new addition to the land of Hyrule.
The whole experience is so beautifully realized and so brilliantly put together that you may fail to notice the flaws. And there are flaws. Those who didn’t like the sailing in the first game should prepare for an even more frustrating experience. To sail you must draw a line on the map for your ship to follow, which seems clever to begin with, but it’s not long before you’re frustrated by the lack of control - and no cannon or jump button can rescue this. The rolling can prove difficult to pull off too (you have to circle the corner of the screen), whereas some of the microphone uses (such as blowing sand off a map) feel forced into the game.
Yet these flaws are minor, and with some of the most impressive dungeons in the Zelda universe and some amusing dialogue, you can rest assured that Nintendo have crafted yet another Zelda masterpiece, a little under a year since the last.
MULTIPLAYER
As is the tradition for Zelda games these days, Phantom Hourglass comes complete with a multiplayer mode. The game plays a little like capture the flag (yet with a triforce) and is a fun deviation from the main quest. It is also completely playable online, and offers a host of stats as well as your overall standings. There’s a lot of fun to be had, and you can spend hours tapping away against your friends. However, this isn’t in the same league as Four Swords, and more experienced online gamers may get bored quickly.
CONCLUSION
The Legend of Zelda has just been dragged into a modern age, by the 21st century’s most influential video game machine. It is groundbreaking in every sense of the word, and successfully bridges that gap between the hardcore and the casual. A feat that is in no way easy. There are flaws, but they cannot overshadow what is the definitive must own DS game.
Miss it at your peril.
VISUALS
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass uses the same vibrant and colorful pallet that were so controversial with the Wind Waker. Despite lacking the detail of its predecessor, it still manages to impress, putting to shame Pokèmon Diamond and Pearl, whilst offering one of the best looking DS titles to date.
The game adopts a semi-2D-quasi-3D look, displaying a top-down view for most of the game, yet switching into full 3D when entering some buildings and during the sailing. There are also plenty of special effects when firing cannons, defeating bosses, using items and battling enemies. It certainly looks attractive, and you’ll feel no shame in showing them off to your PSP brethren.
AUDIO
If there one thing that has remained consistent with every Zelda, then it is with the audio. You’ll feel at home from the moment you hear that fairy fountain music, and it isn’t long before the classic Zelda theme is introduced either. That epic sailing music present in Wind Waker has also been carried across, and the game continues to lack any voice acting whatsoever. Yet this is no bad thing, continuing Zelda’s audio traditions will only serve to remind fans that this is still a Zelda game, in spite of all the new functional gimmickry.
GAMEPLAY
Phantom Hourglass is a game that only the delicate hands of Nintendo could craft. After a quick re-cap on the events from Wind Waker, Tetra (or Zelda, as I’m sure you remember) goes in search of the Ghost Ship, which has been terrorizing the seas and is responsible for a multitude of disappearances. But things don’t go according to plan, and she’s soon captured by the evil vessel. In a bid to save her, Link attempts to board the ship, but falls into the sea and is washed up on a strange island...with a fairy.
For all its innovative claims, Phantom Hourglass is no different to the titles that preceded it. You must rescue a princess, conquer dungeons, push blocks, throw boomerangs, detonate bombs and slash enemies - everything is where it should be. How you go about doing this though has changed, a lot. You use the stylus for nigh on everything: throwing bombs, directing boomerangs, walking, sword fighting and even rolling; all of these are done with a touch of the screen - and it’s refreshing to see it all work. Link moves instinctively and at an excellent pace; striking enemies is hugely satisfying, whereas the boomerang, which follows a line you draw with the stylus, will never be the same again. The best use of the stylus, however, comes in the form of map notes. The ability to jot down little notes, to remind yourself of areas you cannot access or a solution for a puzzle is one of the biggest steps forward for Zelda since Ocarina of Time. Not only does it add to the sense of adventure, but there are even map-based puzzles for gamers to enjoy, which is a brilliant new addition to the land of Hyrule.
The whole experience is so beautifully realized and so brilliantly put together that you may fail to notice the flaws. And there are flaws. Those who didn’t like the sailing in the first game should prepare for an even more frustrating experience. To sail you must draw a line on the map for your ship to follow, which seems clever to begin with, but it’s not long before you’re frustrated by the lack of control - and no cannon or jump button can rescue this. The rolling can prove difficult to pull off too (you have to circle the corner of the screen), whereas some of the microphone uses (such as blowing sand off a map) feel forced into the game.
Yet these flaws are minor, and with some of the most impressive dungeons in the Zelda universe and some amusing dialogue, you can rest assured that Nintendo have crafted yet another Zelda masterpiece, a little under a year since the last.
MULTIPLAYER
As is the tradition for Zelda games these days, Phantom Hourglass comes complete with a multiplayer mode. The game plays a little like capture the flag (yet with a triforce) and is a fun deviation from the main quest. It is also completely playable online, and offers a host of stats as well as your overall standings. There’s a lot of fun to be had, and you can spend hours tapping away against your friends. However, this isn’t in the same league as Four Swords, and more experienced online gamers may get bored quickly.
CONCLUSION
The Legend of Zelda has just been dragged into a modern age, by the 21st century’s most influential video game machine. It is groundbreaking in every sense of the word, and successfully bridges that gap between the hardcore and the casual. A feat that is in no way easy. There are flaws, but they cannot overshadow what is the definitive must own DS game.
Miss it at your peril.