Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 9/10
The word “Zelda” is instantly recognizable in the gaming world. The success of Zelda games and the fan-base it created is phenomenal. But there are claims that the franchise has worn out its welcome, that Nintendo need to find another money cow to milk. So are these claims justified? Is the new DS addition to the Zelda family just a money-grabbing exercise, or is it worthy of the adulation the other games have received?
For many people, it is a love/hate relationship with Zelda games. The puzzles get down-right frustrating, and a lot of people always end up using a walkthrough, to stop themselves from throwing the game out the window. But they still love the games. No one can pinpoint what it is, but something always draws you back.
The storyline in Phantom Hourglass is very familiar, Zelda has been taken (again…), and Link must save her. This time Link is in pursuit of a mysterious ghost ship. Along the way Link must enlist the help of Linebeck, a disgruntled, glory-stealing captain, who lends you the use of his ship in exchange for “treasure”.
Phantom Hourglass has taken traditional Zelda controls, cut them up, threw them into the air and stuck them back together to create a completely stylus-based system for getting through the game. To walk around you just move the stylus in the direction you want to go. You can swipe with your sword, jab with your sword, even execute a spin attack! The map is conveniently placed on the top screen, with all the action on the touch, requiring a single press of a button to quickly switch the screens around for writing notes on the map. The extra weapons work seamlessly, with possibilities being opened up by the touch-screen, even allowing you to draw the path of your boomerang.
Phantom Hourglass has, for lack of a better word, been “dumbed-down” for the younger/casual audience the DS is aimed at. Zelda veterans will find it a breeze, as dungeons are very linear, with barely any backtracking needed. No longer will you spend hours crawling through every room in a dungeon looking for the one key you missed; only to realize to get it you need to complete a sequence of complex actions. In Phantom Hourglass, if you don’t know where to go, you can just go ask the fortune teller, and you will soon be on your way.
With the new controls, battling in Phantom Hourglass is a completely new experience. Fighting has more variation, with some enemies requiring you to stun them with a boomerang to the back (drawn with your stylus) before you can hack away with your sword or other weapon. No longer do you have to guess where your bombs will land, you can just point on the screen where you want to throw them. The opportunities opened up by the touch-screen allow for new weapons as well.
Boss battles at the end of each dungeon are varied, occasionally taking advantage of the DS’s two screens. However, defeating a boss isn’t the brain-bending exercise it used to be. Often the needed tactic is either spelt out for you, or uses a new skill/weapon you gained in the dungeon.
Keeping with the new, “kiddy” theme, the graphics in Phantom Hourglass are bright, colourful, and clear. Some people hate this style of graphics, and some will love it, but at least you know a rock is a rock, and that thing squirming over there needs a good poke with your sword!
Sea travel in Phantom Hourglass is like a fun minigame. You chart out a route on you map using the stylus, and while the ship follows the chart, monsters will pop up from the ocean for you to blast with your cannon, and barriers will appear for you to jump over. You can also blow up the sea-gulls flying around your ship if the urge takes you. You aren’t alone on the seas though, there is a merchant ship, and various “random traveler” ships you run into on your quest. While travelling by ship was generally enjoyable, occasionally you will find yourself willing the ship to go faster so you can just get there!
You can customize your ship with parts you find throughout the game at the ship yard. There are different “sets” of ship parts, and if you find and use all the parts from one set, your ship will gain a small bonus (e.g. an extra heart container). Eventually you will attain a “salvage arm” to add to your ship, which, while not necessary, can be used for an extra minigame where you have to delve into the ocean for sunken treasure.
The music in Zelda is just annoying. Effects are fairly standard, with the twang of the bowstring, and the “fwit-fwit” of the boomerang as you launch it through the air. The background music is repetitive and unimaginative, and doesn’t vary that much, sounding like the music in every other Zelda game.
There is an online minigame which you can play, where 3 players take the role of “Phantoms”, and one the role of Link. It is Link’s job to get the crystals back to the base while the Phantoms try to coordinate efforts to catch Link. While this is fun, it doesn’t really add much to the game, and online play on the DS is, in general, frustrating. You wouldn’t notice if this mode was not included.
SUMMARY:
Compared to other DS titles, Zelda Phantom Hourglass is the best game available at this time. “Hardcore” Zelda fans may be disappointed by the drop in difficulty, but, Zelda Phantom Hourglass is still a must have title, and makes for a great introduction to the series.
GAMEPLAY:
A revolutionary way of playing Zelda, with an all-new control scheme, and a thoroughly enjoyable experience for any DS owner.
10/10
GRAPHICS:
Labeled “kiddy” by some, but like them or not, they are still clear and colourful, and work with the game.
8/10
SOUND:
Any Zelda fan will recognize the tunes instantly, but there just isn’t enough variation.
6.5/10
VALUE:
About 20 hours gameplay all-up, and you will want to relive them at least once.
8.5/10
OVERALL:
A worthy addition to the Zelda franchise. Only the music gets in the way from creating a near-perfect DS experience. The drop in difficulty will allow for newcomers to the series, and the control system works perfectly. It is a fabulous DS game, but only a good Zelda game. Still, it is a must-buy for every DS owner.
9.5/10
By insectoid
Please leave feedback and let me know how to improve!
Submitted by insectoid
04/03/2008
160
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