Import Review: Most of you reading this live on an island - one of the persistently rainy British Isles, probably. And your correspondent lives on the Japanese island of Honshu. So we at least have that much in common with Link in Phantom Hourglass. Of course, part of the fun of living on an island is the opportunity to leave and visit another one. On a boat. And that's something else Link gets his kicks from in this magical DS debut, which has just been released here in Japan. All aboard, then, for another classic Zelda adventure!
Don't worry people, we're not giving away any major plot spoilers in this review.
Controlling Link with the stylus is like riding a bike without holding the handlebars: you know it can be done, but at first you might worry that it's just a stupid thing to do. It's not. Stylus control of Link is a very cool thing. Say sayonara to the d-pad, then, and embrace the technology that makes Phantom Hourglass the most enjoyable Zelda game since Ocarina of Time.
As in that '98 classic, Link is accompanied by a fairy (and later on in Phantom Hourglass, fairies) on his quest. There's no better cursor than a cute little ball of spirit dust, so quite understandably Nintendo has opted to appoint Sierra, Link's whiter-than-white fairy companion, as the conduit through which you control Link's basic actions: drag Sierra around the screen and Link will follow, walking/running/rolling in sync with the accentuations of your stylus movements. Trust us - within 30 minutes it becomes so natural that you'll wonder how you ever completed Link's Awakening and Link to the Past, with their quaint d-pad control systems.
All the traditional Zelda elements are here - from Link's trusty sword and shield to his boomerang, cartoon bombs and bow-and-arrow - but thanks to the DS' touch screen interface, everything feels fresh and new again. The boomerang, in particular, is more useful than ever. Switches are often out of sight but, thanks to the boomerang, not out of reach: just draw a line from Link to your desired boomerang target (even if that means sending it down the corridor and round the corner) and it'll come zipping back, having flicked a switch or collected a key. Think laterally and Phantom Hourglass will pat you on the back, say "Well done!" and let you through to the next area. Perfect satisfaction: a job well done.
Sword control is also perfectly engineered. Tap enemies on their bonces and Link will rush towards them, landing a sword strike if at all possible. Surrounded by a gang of baddies? Just swirl the stylus around Link and he'll instantly unleash a 360-degree sword swipe. Nifty. Or, should multiple enemies charge at you from the same direction, scratch the stylus like fury and Link will perform a quick burst of hack-slash wizardry. Easier done than said.
Other aspects of the game use the DS technology in interesting ways, as well. Link receives sea charts, piecing together an atlas of possible destinations. One such map is caked in dust, because it's been stowed away for such a long time. Link's comical sidekick, Captain Lineback, says it's no good. It's not legible. What to do? Blow the dust away, of course - by blowing into the DS' microphone - and keep on blowing until you can see the chart beneath the dirt. Elsewhere the mic is used to signal your presence to a fortune-teller (by shouting "Oi!", no less) whose appointment you're late for, and who is waiting for Link in a secret room, so that she doesn't leave without seeing you. And, in a practical puzzle setting, you'll also need to exhale in order to extinguish flames inside dungeons and reveal entrances.
The stylus, too, has manifold uses. You'll need to make notes on the various maps that Link receives - jotting down useful information on the whereabouts of hidden treasures, penning special routes on the advice of talking statues and, when at sea, planning a course across the ocean. Although Link travels from island to island on a steamboat, you don't have direct control of the vessel; instead, after drawing a line from where you are to where you want to be, the main objective is to get there safely. Whenever the boat comes under attack from them thar pirates and other enemies, it pays to launch bombs in their direction. In line with Phantom Hourglass' determination to keep everything smooth, you can just tap on enemies as they appear on the waves; that'll be enough to lob something explosive yonder.
The game is constantly moving, regardless of where you are. Link always has something to do - whether it's an errand to run, a boss fight to win, a treasure hunt, a dungeon to explore, or a journey to the next island. And there is no downtime between objectives in Phantom Hourglass. You can sense at all times, and in everything you see and do, that Nintendo has rigorously tested the game to ensure that the high just keeps on rolling.
The only comedown is when, to attend to silly real world matters, you reluctantly turn off the DS. But even then, this is the kind of joyous gaming experience that you'll think about while you're away from it.
Not only is Phantom Hourglass testament to the d-pad/analogue-trumping capacity of touch screen control - it's also proof that Nintendo still has what it takes to create real gamers' games.
The success of Phantom Hourglass is attributable to the hundreds of little things here that make you think, "Ha, nice!" It's in the dungeons, which are multi-leveled and labyrinthine, carefully leading you ever deeper into their web through puzzles (both of the stated variety, where clues are provided, and of the DIY type where only your own musing and experimentation can succeed). It's in the option to upgrade your boat with new parts, enabling you to create a mean sailing machine. It's in the two-player Wi-Fi mode, which offers competitive dungeon challenges for Zelda players the world over. It's in the facial expressions of the bit-part characters, which are based on the soulful Wind Waker style. It's in the music, which we would happily listen to for ever. It is everywhere, because Phantom Hourglass is complete.
There are many excellent games on the DS but few masterpieces. This one, though, is a masterpiece. And worth every penny you'll pay for it. Hopefully it'll be released in Europe before Christmas.
The single greatest reason to own a DS, Phantom Hourglass is everything we've come to love about Zelda games wrapped up in a shiny new package. Genius and brilliant fun from start to finish.
Uppers
Innovative and enjoyable controls Looks and sounds gorgeous on DS 30 hours' worth of consistently absorbing adventure Challenging puzzles and dungeons Terrific atmosphere
Downers
When it's over, it's over (but even then, there's multiplayer...)
Looks pretty cool. Must admit that i'm impressed that you completed it in japanese form. Maybe a reason to own a DS instead of a psp, deliberating you see. I have a ps3 so the psp had the slight edge being able to download the classic ps1 games onto it. Now I've seen this, I'm back to square one again. Is it out this year though? Could get a psp now and wait till just after xmas to get a ds. The missus would kill me if I got both. Still smarting from the lashes she gave me for blowing Ł1000 on ps3 and HDTV!
Looks pretty cool. Must admit that i'm impressed that you completed it in japanese form. Maybe a reason to own a DS instead of a psp, deliberating you see. I have a ps3 so the psp had the slight edge being able to download the classic ps1 games onto it. Now I've seen this, I'm back to square one again. Is it out this year though? Could get a psp now and wait till just after xmas to get a ds. The missus would kill me if I got both. Still smarting from the lashes she gave me for blowing Ł1000 on ps3 and HDTV!
Where did you get a HDTV For Ł500? I want one (or maybe a few at that price).
Can't wait for this game! It's going to be so, so good! Might have to import it. Will the multi player bits work if I have a USA version and want to play against a UK version? Or would it not matter because you only need one copy of the game?
Looks pretty cool. Must admit that i'm impressed that you completed it in japanese form. Maybe a reason to own a DS instead of a psp, deliberating you see. I have a ps3 so the psp had the slight edge being able to download the classic ps1 games onto it. Now I've seen this, I'm back to square one again. Is it out this year though? Could get a psp now and wait till just after xmas to get a ds. The missus would kill me if I got both. Still smarting from the lashes she gave me for blowing Ł1000 on ps3 and HDTV!
Where did you get a HDTV For Ł500? I want one (or maybe a few at that price).
Since when were ps3 Ł500? Anyways, you can buy a 32" Toshiba HD ready tv for less than Ł500 in these parts. Argos I think.
Looks pretty cool. Must admit that i'm impressed that you completed it in japanese form. Maybe a reason to own a DS instead of a psp, deliberating you see. I have a ps3 so the psp had the slight edge being able to download the classic ps1 games onto it. Now I've seen this, I'm back to square one again. Is it out this year though? Could get a psp now and wait till just after xmas to get a ds. The missus would kill me if I got both. Still smarting from the lashes she gave me for blowing Ł1000 on ps3 and HDTV!
Where did you get a HDTV For Ł500? I want one (or maybe a few at that price).
Since when were ps3 Ł500? Anyways, you can buy a 32" Toshiba HD ready tv for less than Ł500 in these parts. Argos I think.
He probably means one with 1080p output which are more expensive.
This is out in October in the US right? also I don't think Nintendo would like to miss the holiday season in Europe.
My bro got a 32" HD telly that does output of 1080p for a whpping Ł400, tahts rite four hundered, he got it off the net, they are out there you just need to look for em!
The DS is clearly an awesome console and it sounds like Ninty have managed to utilise every function teh console has!
I hope Ninty do us proud and get it to the UK before Christmas!! I have quite a few friends who are also waiting for this game so that multiplayer option will be getting quite a hammering!!
PLEASE STOP AUTOMATICLY GIVING ZELDA GAMES 10/10. THEY ARE NOT THAT GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm with you. Seriously, 10/10? It's only Zelda, they really aren't that much better than other games to garner near-perfect scores every time. I enjoyed the two Zelda games I completed... OoT on N64 and Link's Awakening on GBC, but they really are not stand-out games at all in my opinion. Review scores should not be based purely on a series' legacy or the reviewer's fond childhood memories, and I think with Zelda they sometimes are. But that said I believe this will be one of the best DS experiences out there which would of course justify a high mark, though maybe not a 10. No game is perfect.
I want to know what drugs CVG were on then they gave this game a 10? I've got the JPN version also and at best the game is a 7 out of 10.
Who reviews these games, honestly.
if ur gonna say that then do you think you could elaborate a bit then? its s**te doesnt quite do it for me sorry, anyway... teh gayme r0xxz0rz and i cant wait for it xD
Well, I dont understand why they didnt review the american version (Was released on the 1st of October!)?? I have a copy of the americian version and yeh its good.A few hours into it,(just got it a week and a half ago!) but the graphics are cool (shocked actually), by far the best i've play on the ds. (And ive got quite a few ds games!)
I've give it ten too. Maybe 9.8 on a bad day lol, Long live Zelda!
I want to know what drugs CVG were on then they gave this game a 10? I've got the JPN version also and at best the game is a 7 out of 10.
Who reviews these games, honestly.
not u thankfully
Why so? Should this guy not have an opinion or what?
you are correct, he should not have an opinion. But to honest who would listen to a review that had one line "I've got the JPN version also and at best the game is a 7 out of 10." wow, magic review, summed it up perfectly......
PLEASE STOP AUTOMATICLY GIVING ZELDA GAMES 10/10. THEY ARE NOT THAT GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with you too.
As much as i love my Zelda games (& I do love them a lot). I do think they are masively overrated & instantly get greated with stupidly high scores sometimes I feel just because it is Zelda. If it was named anything else it wouldnt have scored so high. The same can be said about Halo.
Actually, i would have given it 11/10, is that ok?
all the people blamming this game, i suggest they play it first. I agree with the guy above this game is absolutely fantastic - the boss fights are amazingly fun. I would probably give this game 9.8 out of 10, there are the slight feelings of dread everytime i have to go through the whole temple of the ocean king....
Now, I'll agree that a game doesn't deserve an instant ten based on its predecessors. HOWEVER, as far as I'm concerned, the Zelda games have actually gotten much better in recent years. I was never much for the NES, SNES or GameBoy versions of this series, and it wasn't until Wind Waker that they finally began to just seem right - certainly not easy, but not ridiculously complicated like OoT turned out to be, and most importantly fun as balls. Since then, we've been blessed twice more, first by Twilight Princess (the perfect console game) and now by Phantom Hourglass (the perfect handheld game). This game is pure, glistening gold in a tiny plastic case. If you haven't played it, play it now.
Honestly. This game deserves a ten not because it has Zelda in the title, but because it's an utter joy to play.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Import Review: Most of you reading this live on an island - one of the persistently rainy British Isles, probably. And your correspondent lives on the Japanese island of Honshu. So we at least have that much in common with Link in Phantom Hourglass. Of course, part of the fun of living on an island is the opportunity to leave and visit another one. On a boat. And that's something else Link gets his kicks from in this magical DS debut, which has just been released here in Japan. All aboard, then, for another classic Zelda adventure!
Innovative and enjoyable controls
! just wow! 
