Who needs dpad controls anyway? The stylus controls are awesome (although rolling can be kind of hit or miss). I kind of like being able to set the DS down on a table and just play the game like that anyway.

I really like the way the game incorporates all the little features possible only with a DS. It's probably the best demonstration of what the DS is possible of.

I was wrong, here.

Nintendo | The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Stylus control only? Nintendo is ruining another Zelda game with fucked up gimmicky controls? It was bad enough in Twilight Princess. The touch-screen business should be supplementing the gameplay, not replacing it entirely.

With the exception of the somersaults, the controls work fine. While a choice would have been preferable, it's hardly "fucked up" with the "gimmicky controls". I'd go so far as to say the special items (boomerang, bombs, etc) all work BETTER with a touch screen, and combat and movement don't really suffer either way from the transitition.

Let him bitch.

And wow, that quill looks... fragile.

EDIT: Did the survey and requested the stylus. Hopefully I'll get it in a few weeks.

As for the game itself, it really did take a while for me to get used to the stylus controls. But now that I am used to it, the gameplay is just smooth. Captain Linebeck is also a great character.

With Animal Crossing, you can use either the stylus or the traditional button control setup. I tried the stylus in that game and I've never went back. I'm looking forward to Phantom Hourglass and I'll pick it up when GST checks come in.

Twilight Princess is awesome whichever way I look at it. Don't know why so many others find the Wii-remote controls to be a problem. Phantom Hourglass could have benefitted from d-pad combination use, I too agree, but at the expense of shortcuts to inventory and such? Hmm, I dunno.

So, I've been playing this.

I absolutely love it. They thought out the puzzles really well and, with the exception of somersaulting, the control scheme is nearly perfect. There really is almost nothing gimmicky about the controls, because as you play, you think, "This is much better than pressing buttons."

Highly, highly recommended.

This game is absolutely great. I think the use of the stylus only is marvelous. The controls seem very smooth and accurate (with the exception of the somersault). So far this game is utilizing everthing that the DS has to offer. I was especially blown away by one part in the game where you have to stamp something onto your map and to do so you actually close the DS and reopen it to see that the stamp has been transferred from the map on the top screen to your map on the bottom. This alone made me stop playing for like 5 minutes b/c I found that to be so innovative that I was literally amazed. It just goes to show you of what the DS has to offer compared to other systems and what it is capable of.

Both Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk: Room 215 pulled that trick/puzzle prior to Phantom Hourglass. ;) I agree, the game plays great and the stylus controls really help. They set out to make a game you couldn't replicate on any other console, and they succeeded, without a doubt. If this much ingenuity and creative talent is used for the Wii Zelda (and, I'm sure it will, it's Nintendo EAD), I fully expect to be blown away.

Did anybody catch that one NPC (I think it was in the temple of the ocean king) who said something like "my biggest regret in life was wishing I could play with buttons", or something like that?

Nintendo going "forget you, look how awesome stylus controls are" to the naysayers. :D

It is true too, there is (relatively) more fun to be had when you can use the stylus to perform actions instead of just using the control pad and buttons.

Plus the way some of the game's areas are designed I couldn't imagine you being able to do it with a d-pad with the same reaction time or speed as simply tapping on it with a stylus. It would have lessened the experience in my opinion if the game was designed around the control pad scheme.

Anyone have any tips for that damn rat at the beginning of the game with the key? I don't know if I just suck at rolling (this may be it, if this is the case, I'm fucked) or there's something that I missed, but I can't get anywhere near this thing.

Been trying for half and hour now, by the way.

Edit: Never mind, I got it. Loving the game so far, the stylus only controls rock and aside from my trouble rolling it's been smooth sailing.

i finihsed the game tonihgt an dit thougght it was gvery godo
it almsot amse,s me wante to play the wind sakwer aaagain

Yeah, Zelda is boring as fuck unless you're drunk. <3

It seems everyone pretty much agrees that doing a somersault is pretty crap. So: is there any reason why you'd ever need to actually do that?

I know if you roll into a tree it drops stuff (sometimes), but is that it? Is the move useful at all in avoiding monsters?

The only thing I've ever used it for is rolling into trees. <3

Though, I'm curious now to see if it makes you jump farther like in previous titles?

So far, pretty good. This is the first game where I have just HAVE to use the stylius. hence, it is making it take a while for me to roll, attack, and the like. I still don't have the feeling of total control of my character, but I don't blame that on the game but rather me still getting use to it all.

Just thought I'd like to mentioned that while I did preorder the game, I have to wait a bit until I can pick it up =\

I have to say the boomerang controls are amazing. Never before have it been this much fun to use the boomerang :tpg:

Let's hope the bow (when I get it) is just as fun!

You can use the grappling hook to create a slingshot between two posts so you can either jump farther or bounce your arrows off of it. How awesome!

Just got the Spirit of Courage and now I'm supposed to go find the Ghost Ship. Too busy making money, though.

My one complaint is the uselessness of ship parts. I thought they'd have various attributes but, on their own, they're purely cosmetic. I think the game said there might be a bonus for using an entire set, but other than that...

Still, a fantastic game. Probably my favorite Zelda in a very long time.

You get more stamina (total amount of hearts for your ship) if you use more parts from the same set. I don't know if there's a big bonus for completing a set (still missing the right cannon) but extra hitpoints sure are nice.

Keeps things fresh anyway.

Just finished it a few hours ago