The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

"One of the most epic RPGs on the DS"

The Legend of Zelda. It's a game series that should be familiar to millions of gamers who started during the Nintendo console era. The Legend of Zelda was one of the first nonlinear games out there. It offered a nice sized world for its time to explore in any manner you chose. From then on, the Zelda games have been evolving from the 2D perspective up to a full fledged 3D experience akin Zelda Ocarina of Time. Just about every Nintendo system has had a Zelda game. Finally, the DS gets its own entry in the Zelda franchise. Set sail for the Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

Story:

The story is pretty good with a pirate/sailor aspect to it. Link is once again on the task of saving Tetra from a devious phantom ship rumored to be the source of disappearances across the neighboring islands. The story does have its funny parts to it. For example, Linebeck is a living parody of Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean movies. The little arguments he has with the fairies are humorous and often brings a chuck while playing the game The story isn't as epic as Twilight Princess or Ocarina of Time, but that was never the game's purpose. While it's more lighter in tone than the two listed Zelda games, the story can still be deep and involving. Big plot twists in the game are rare, but not left out. It all depends on how you like the stories in games If you enjoy Zelda games, then Phantom Hourglass's story should not be any problem.


Gameplay:

This is where the fun part starts. Let me start by saying Phantom Hourglass is completely stylus controlled. Everything Link does is controlled by the stylus(which is played off by Link's fairy). But it works a lot better than you think. Want to attack a nearby enemy? Just tap the enemy and Link will attack. The games has several variations for attacking an enemy and are all explained thoroughly. Though, I will admit that some of them can take some time getting used to.

Another addition to Phantom Hourglass, thought not a new one, is sailing. Sailing is much better in this game as it is not done by wind. Rather than use the power of wind, have a ship commanded by a guy named Linebeck. To get to a destination, simply plot your course on a sea map and your ship takes you there. Very easy. You can stop your boat at any time to replot your course, or look for treasure, fish, etc. With sailing comes monsters and pirates that can and will attack. Luckily, you can customize your ship with parts that you can find or buy from various islands. With some of the parts, you can use to attack other ships or sea monsters with a tap of the stylus. Then again, other parts can be used to salvage the sea floor for treasure.

Speaking of stylus, one of the most interesting and useful tool Nintendo could've added to any Zelda game is note taking. This feature is VERY helpful. See something in a dungeon that looks suspicious? Drag your map down and jot it down. Any notes that you think are helpful can be drawn or your handy dandy map. Puzzle clues from tablets in the dungeon? Bring the map down and doodle it on there. If it's helpful, then doodle it on your map.

Speaking of dungeons, PH introduces the series' staple dungeons in addition to a new master dungeon. This dungeon will have to be revisited constantly throughout the game because you can only advance so far in it until you reach a roadblock that can not be passed until another dungeon is built. Some people dislike it because it can be a tad difficult with the phantoms running around(the guardians of said dungeon that can not be beaten at all by normal methods, and if they attack Link, he dies and has to restart the level he is on) and the time limit on each floor. But personally, I think it's a worthy addition to the Zelda name. Gives a nice challenge for those who're breaking into Zelda.


Sound:

The sound is good and passable. The good part is the special effects. Link will grunt, shout, etc. whenever he's attacking or getting attacked. The clangs from the swordfights in the game are a nice touch and brings about a little realism in the game.

But the music is passable. It's not bad or anything, but it's not as good as it can be, but I want the hold the game against it. The town theme in the game is actually pretty catchy. It's not as good as the traditional overworld Zelda theme, but then again, it's not bad. The only thing I will criticize is the absence of the said familiar overworld theme. It's played a few times during the opening cutscenes, but playing a Zelda game without the traditional overworld theme seems odd. But once again, this is totally on a personal level so it is not a distraction from the gameplay.


Graphics:

The graphics are splendid. The game uses the same cel shaded engine as Windwaker did, and it's really nice. Each little area and dungeon feels diverse. Nintendo trully pushed the DS's power in this game. Link's motion is also very fluid. His facial expressions are comical at times. Just watch him when his health is low or when he's dizzy from doing his Spin Attack, and you'll see for yourself. In closing, the graphics are really awesome. They really work wonders on the game. There is a minor, and by minor I mean VERY small, slowdown issue whenever you're on the sea and several things are going on. This does not harm the game in any way, so don't let it stop you from enjoying Phantom Hourglass to the fullest.


Replayability:

Phantom Hourglass gives you more bang for your buck. The game can last you up to 35 hours depending on your play style. The puzzles in the game are indeed clever and may require some strategic thinking, but not enough to frustrate you. Then there's the abundance of sidequests. Yes, there are plenty of sidequests to tackle throughout the game. For people that love to play with their friends, multiplayer exists in the game too through Nintendo Wifi or through the regular DS wireless connection.


Overall, Zelda Phantom Hourglass is a worthy purchase. One of my favorite RPGs on the DS so far. The graphics are very nice, the sound is still good, but the gameplay is awesome. So much to do, so much time to do it all. The control setup, while controversial at first, is very simple and effective for Phantom Hourglass. I honestly can not see Phantom Hourglass in any other way. I don't recommend a rental. I recommend you buy this game immediately and immerse yourself into Link's latest quest.

Pros:
-Awesome graphics
-lengthy quest
-simple, yet effective control style
-Link's facial expressions :P

Cons:
-Controls can take some getting used to.
-The backtracking from scratch to the Temple of the Ocean King can be a bit tedious at times

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/08/07, Updated 12/17/07

Game Release: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (US, 10/01/07)