The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Discussion
 

This is the first I've heard about it. This is taken from the keynotes Iwata presented today:

http://revolution.ign.com/articles/697/697882p1.html

Videos: http://ds.ign.com/articles/697/697930p1.html

Well, I think this is going to finally validate my purchase of the DS, I never wanted one until I saw this game. It looks like this game is going to be a sort of Sequel to the Wind Waker on the Gamecube.

After checking a couple times I finally noticed the fairy saying "Look" a couple times...

-_-

It IS coming out this year (2 games in 1 year... hopefully!), the NEW Mario Brothers, Hunters... to add to my collection of DS games, my DS is finally getting a ton of action.

Is it just me, or does it look like a dungeon crawler even more so than usual?.

Nice move. :) I like the Cel-Shading style being used for portable titles and the more real graphics engine on home consoles.
Maybe it'll continue the story of Wind Waker's Link. At least I hope so.

Fucking awesome. I'm so glad they aren't totally ditching the cel-shaded Zelda.

Pumped beyond WORDS!!!

As long as this game sticks with sequelizing the FIRST half of Wind Waker, and not the second, we're in for a good show.
When I first bought the DS, I was wondering if it would really take off or just how innovative things would get for it.
Now I'm with you guys!! PUMPED!!

Ohh, a new Zelda game. I've never completed a Zelda game, and I'm hoping this will be my first, >_>

I -was- excited...until I read this!!! Navi is one of the worst video game characters in history *sigh*

Anyway, aside from that, I'm pleased that Nintendo is choosing to continue with the artistic style of Wind Waker. One reason why WW is my second favourite LoZ game is because the cartoon style enabled the characters to actually have bloody emotions. Watching Link's reaction to everything was awesome.

Now if only they made a new cel-shaded Zelda game for consoles...unfortunately, due to the horrible reception WW (and quite undeserving, I might add) received with the general public, I doubt one will ever see the light of day :(

i guess its DS' turn to shit on the psp . As for this game. im obviously going to buy it. That makes two zelda games this year. i feel more excited for the summer thats coming.

Uhhh... CD-i? Those 3 were the worst, fortunately, they're not considered official due to dropped development. I wish WW didn't have 3-4 hours of sailing at the end and little fighting.

LTTP remake would kick some serious ass.

I'm very agreeing today.

Oracle of Seasons. Bleh. Sucked. WW was good!

Woot, I can hardly wait for this game. A lot of ppl hated it but it had it's own kind of magic in my opinion. I see there's lot's of sea travelling involved... hope it's challenging this time. I'm also pretty interested at how it's going to connect to Wind Waker if it's really going to be a sequel.

Confession: never played the Oracle series... it just never pulled me in enough.

I never thought about it, but they originally talked about a WW sequel a while back and the idea seemed to disappear... looks like this is it!

I wasn't very fond of the Oracle series either, especially Ages. That's the one with more puzzles, right? I liked Link's Awakening more.

I really hated OoT though, but I'm like in the extreme minority. MM is the only Zelda game I haven't played, and no, those CD-I ones don't count.

I just watched the gameplay videos and it looks like it makes good use of the stylus. The whole 'let's label the map so I will remember what's in all these rooms!' is a great idea in my opinion. I wish it was like that in all the Zelda games. If the game is anything like WW, or LttP but cel-shaded, I'd be pleased.

Amen. Those games should just be stricken from the record.
I decree it so!

Wow.. I can't wait until I get my hand on that game... I will carry that thing around with me like a bible.

This game looks fucking awesome, I just hope it has some multiplayer in it as well. Four Swords with these graphics? Hell, Four Swords online? How fucking sweet would that be?

I saw some videos of the gameplay and the cutscenes and....that was quite shocking indeed. I was bloody traumatized by the most hideous animation I've ever seen in a game or movie/TV, not to mention the hideous voice acting and such uber cheesy dialogue like, "I'm so hungry, I could eat an Octorok!" Why does everyone keep moving their arms in every direction while talking? Would Link actually be quite rude to the King of Hyrule?

Then there's the dialogue in the actual game that makes no sense whatsoever. For example, Link talks to a fisherman who says he caught a fish. Talk to him again and the man then gives you a sword just like that. WTF?

I've showed these videos to several people and one of them was so shocked that she quickly stopped the video a minute after it started.

Whoever made these games should be shot repeatedly and dumped in molten lava.

God I love those cutscenes. They're so bad! ='D

They're all on Youtube as well:
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...&search=Search

Oh my holy fuck. That movie on IGN looks amazing. That...I'm playing Metroid Prime: Hunters, waiting for a new side-scrolling Mario game, a great Tetris game, the best Mario Kart yet, a Secret of Mana sequel, a great Castlevania game...and now this? Holy shit.

This looks like the best thing Nintendo's planned for the DS yet. Be still my beating heart and my thinner wallet.

Yeah, pretty soon, the DS is gonna eclipse every system ever in greatness, mark my words (don't forget that according to Europe's Nintendo mag, Metroid 5 is out this year).

As for the trailer, making notes on the map is genious, drawing your boomerang's path was obvious but will be awesome and drawing your ships path rocks. Game looks great, especially since we've only seen a microscopic fraction of the end result.

- WraithTwo -

I didn't see this coming from the Big N. I'm looking forward to this game as well as Twilight Princess. I watched the video of the game in action and it looks pretty neat. I wonder if it's possible to play without using the stylus most of the time.

be still my heart.

I hope it will fair well against the console Zeldas. I've only been a console Zelda man, but now that i'm actually up to date with the handhelds, i might just go for this. What am i saying, of course i'll go for this. Zelda is probably my highest favoured game franchise, rivaled only by Resident Evil.

From my looking at it, I think that more than just a few things are using the touch screen. Notice how Navi is always in the direction Link is walking? I have a guess that players actually move Link with the touch screen as well.

Then notice how the special item equipped is on the corner of the touch screen. I predict that pressing, say, the L or R button uses the sword or whatever is eqipped at the time. *shrug*

The Map idea is really nifty. No longer will we need to make our own map to write on. We can write right onto it. And we can even plan out our own path on the water.

This does look like a full out sequel to WW, and I am quite interested in what Nintendo can pull of with this title.

This is quite awesome.

I expected Nintendo to release a port of OoT for the DS, but this is about a thousand times better.

I'm surprised they didn't have Flagship make this, but perhaps Nintendo has other plans for them...

If you don't have a GBA, a download of VisualBoyAdvance and a ROM of The Minish Cap is highly, highly recommended.

Am I the only one who's noticed how fluid the movement is? Too fluid for the dpad.

Touch controls.

Yeah it's probably touch controls along with L and R.

I hope it's 100% touch screen controls. Touch screen + button games are always too awkward.

um, is there something i don't know about that will prevent it from working on a DS?

Well to be honest with you I didn't really enjoy Animal Crossing Wild World's touchscreen control for movement. I found myself switching between face buttons for movement and touchscreen for fast menu control. I really wish they had allowed an option for hybrid play in animal crossing where you could be in the menu but still walk around on the top screen using the dpad. It would have made planting orchards a hell of a lot easier.

I could see you pressing the small icon for the boomerang to activate it and other similar weapons. But if I have to tap on link to make him use his sword in battle I'm not going to be very happy. I'd rather direct him around with stylus and press L ( or R if you're left-handed) to make him swing his sword. But hey I could be proven wrong. We haven't seen a whole lot yet.

Er, nope, forgot about that way too. Either way you play it, it is a fantastic game.

Good point about ACWW, I use both stlyus and buttons for that with no problem. Though I think the reason why is because it's not an action game so there's no quick changes.

That trailer is just fantastic! Two Zelda games at once.... gaming is just getting absolutely INSANE, we are being so spoiled! :D

This looks so freakin' awesome. I love the DS and the games it's seen, but this is far and away the best thing that's happened to it so far. I only wish my hands didn't cramp with extended DS play sessions.

It looks amazing! I never expected the Wind Waker style to appear on the DS. Anyway, in that trailer, Navi seems to be moving quite freely, I'm guessing that she's going to be moved by the stylus, and directing Link's movement. If that didn't make sense, it's because i'm getting a little sleepy. :p

Oh God more sailing. ;_;

I'm also not quite jiving with the look of the "dungeons" very much.

Too bad it's going to be cooler than you'll ever be :D

Seriously though, this game is looking rad. I am going to be broke, broker than broke and that's no joke, by the end of the year.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4809/iwon5ql.jpg
"I WON!"

I was already more than impressed with how well DS handled cel shading with Tony Hawk, but wow, Phantom Hourglass looks incredible. I just hope that if Link's movement is via the touch screen, like Animal Crossing and Another Code, there'll also be the option of using the d-pad. Really diggin' that trailer music, too.

Nope. I get a Solstice/Paradroid/any-old-PC-RPG feeling with the dungeons. Seems like they're connected so you can see into the next room, unlike the seperate rooms in previous 2D games.

It doesn't look half bad. First of all, I'm thrilled that they didn't make a shitty pun based on the letters D and S. Zelda and the Demonic Sword or something.

The puzzle solving and such looks great, although the sailing makes me think meh. This goes double for good old Navi.
"LOOK!"
"what?"
"You can open chests by opening them!"

Spoiler:

Yes, the Navi 'conversation' is stolen from Infernal Monkey. I just thought it was to good to let sink into the mists of the 'net...

Nintendo's forums had 46 pages of the typical meaningless drivel as of this post. It's just scary over there guys . . .:lolsign:

Well, do you really expect anything other than incoherent gushing and the odd anti-Nintendo troll over there? By definition the whole place is populated by fanboys.

Still, to be fair this IS good news. It's very rare that a Zelda game turns out bad. Even the mediocre games like the Oracle series are still good in comparison to most other games. I'm also glad to see more people grown up enough not to get all in a snit over cel-shaded Link. I just wish I had the money to buy a DS. ;_;

The actual gameplay looks good, but the cel shaded animations still look like crap. (God forbid someone who DOESN'T like cel shading)

But I may get a DS Lite for it.

OOOOOOOHHHHH!!! I can't wait for this to come out. This is the smoking gun I've been waiting for so I can put my DS to real good use. Zelda games are some of the best games ever created. Man, by the end of this year I hope that I'm not totally at a loss for money.

"Is it just me, or does it look like a dungeon crawler even more so than usual?"

People said this about Twilight Princess, how it seemed all Lord of the Rings-ish. They just decided to use a good bit of dungeon footage in the trailer, that's all. It's kind of a silly assumption to make, based on one short trailer.
Also, sailing is great (and it looks less like a hassle in this game, for the whiners out there).
And I've never gotten the omnipresent hatred toward Navi. I liked her.

Uhhh, do you know what a dungeon crawler is? Having a lot of dungeons doesn't constitute a dungeon crawler, but a common trait shared by most is that the dungeons generate randomly. From what I saw it was a pretty good assumption, and I hope it isn't true :(

Oh, in that case the assumption is completely ridiculous and shouldn't even be considered.
Shame on you. :P

(Seriously, that would never happen in a Zelda game, and I don't know why anyone would think that looking at the trailer)

Would never? Try has already. Four Swords GBA.

Because Four Swords GBA is a whole game and all.

Anyway, I don't see how this could be randomly generated if they have a well designed and structured map for the dungeon. It's a puzzle solving game, and it seems obvious that those dungeons have been previously laid out.
I haven't played Four Swords GBA (only the Gamecube version), but based on what you say I'd hardly call that a Zelda game. It sounds like they just threw a multiplayer together and realized it was a good idea later.

Dungeon Crawlers can easily be well-designed depending on how well they have the generations, but looking at that trailer, it is possible that it is. I saw nothing that told me that those dungeon layouts were absolutely set in stone. Stop assuming. Stop saying obviously. These games can have triggers that are in the shape of puzzles. It could be pre-laid out, however, it could still be a crawler.

You don't know, so don't try to pretend you do. I don't want it to be a dungeon crawler, I really don't, but what we've been shown could prove to be one.

Okay, well you can go on being a worry-wart. We'll see who comes out right when the game is released (hint: it'll be me).

I've also been informed that the Four Swords GBA game didn't have randomly generated dungeons. Can't say if that's true, but I trust the opinions of the (two) people who told me above yours. No offense, I just don't know you.

And no, I don't know for sure. But I've played the original Zelda, Zelda II, A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Oracle of Ages, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Four Swords (GC), and the Minish Cap, and NONE of those were dungeon crawlers (excludig, MAYBE, Zelda II, which wasn't all that great anyway), so that may serve as some sort of indication as to what this game might be.

This game could be a kart racer or an FPS too... we just don't know yet. =O

Well you can choose to be misinformed: you have that right. You're right about the other games: they aren't dungeon crawlers (and Zelda 2 wasn't one). I'll still get the game when it comes out, I'm just saying to not assume anything. Another piece of advice: no matter how much you type, you're failing to disprove the point I'm making about assumptions. It may or may not be a dungeon crawler... I don't know, but it certainly CAN BE one.

PS - Zelda 2 kicked, many people were simply terrible at it.

Arn't you assuming yourself? What the fuck is this?

It's called reading: try it.

You're making an arse of yourself.

Okay, kiddies, neither of you have the biggest cock around here (I do, it is large and black), so let's get back on topic, eh?

Topic: Zelda Phantom Hourglass looks awesome and wont feature random dungeons because the very essence of Zelda gameplay revolves around it's well laid out, handcrafted dungeons.

What I think can be safely assumed from the 30 second trailer is that the entire game is randomly generated, the dungeons, the islands, the enemies and weapons. No two games are alike.

The minish cap was a success with not only gameplay and graphics but the music kicked ass. lets hope it does the same for hourglass. question. (i didn't read any posts soo..) Will Ganon be in this game?

This looks pretty cool from that video. Shame it looks like The Wind Waker. That stupid stick best not be in it again. If this gets good reviews i'll probably be forced to buy myself a DS.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm appealed by the cel-shaded look. I think it's a congenially beautiful choice and it provides that fairy-like, adventurous effect that exquisitely suits the mood of the series. It's as tender as evocative, to my eyes.

For what regards the gameplay aspect, I don't know if the "dungeon crawler" can be deducted from the brief video we've been shown. Such a decision would be fine for me, as long as a good balance of challenge is preserved and the archetypes of the series' gameplay are left untouched.

I like the way you speak as if the future was somehow a matter of doubt. As if the possibilty of this game scoring less than 90% was likely. Not counting Four Swords Adventures, when was the last time a Nintendo developed Zelda game received bad reviews?

I never take reviews at face value, since I look extremely deep into games. I, for one, hated Battlefield 2 because it felt so much like the earlier games and felt a lagging engine with updated graphics and resolution, but I very much enjoyed most of Four Swords Adventures.

I won't dwell on the dungeon crawler part, my point was you can't say for sure one way or another, and that is what I meant in the quote RAB made earlier. Dropping that argument, because it ended up getting far bigger than I thought it would, although RAB made a strong point about the series' well-crafter dungeons, and rest assured I am hoping for those to be here as well.

I also remember the early videos for Twilight Princess, and in particular, the lifeless towns that felt a decade old in style. I'm sure E3 will show us they've fixed that problem. In this video, the big thing I hope the dungeons don't end up being are tight corridors to navigate all the times connecting rooms with puzzles: the entire atmosphere needs to be there, and it is in all Zelda games.

Side note: FSA didn't receive bad reviews, it was still well above average. I just wished it had a real adventure aspect... it was a quest, but a quest that started over too many times.

And in my opinion, I think the cel-shaded Zelda is more suited to portability. Perhaps they should separate the two styles (realistic zelda for consoles and cel shade for portables?)

But man I'm hyped at the prospect of a portable 3d-esque Zelda adventure. Is that a Zelda in your pocket?

Well in reality all these cell shaded ocean based Zelda games should jsut be rebranded into the Star Tropics franchise but Nintendo want sales.

Would reviving the Startropics franchise really be bad for sales? A lot of people still remember the awesome NES games.

Plus they'd have to incorporate aliens somehow.




Ganon does not count.

They could surely figure out a way to make Ganon count.
"He came from... Saturn... yes, Saturn..."

Well while a good game is a good game, let's face it, Wind Waker could be what it was and receive the scores it did because it rode off it's name. If it wasn't branded Zelda would Famitisu given it perfect marks? Probably not.

The Star Tropics games were very similar to and in many regards superior to the Zelda games, just with an emphasis on the seas. If they were to be brought into the current gen, Wind Waker is the kind of game they'd be like. As far as franchise branding goes, Wind Waker would've been more of a Star Tropics game than a Zelda game and there would've have been the backlash from idiots over the cell shading.

But as much as the games should've and could've been Star Tropics, Nintendo only has two bigger franchises than Zelda (Mario and Pokémon) and if they want to ensure profitability while taking a design risk, they're going to spearhead it with their biggest names.

I'm willing to bet at this point people like the Zelda franchise more and it's one the fans want to see more success in. We don't see Link in nearly as many games as Mario, and when we do, we really want them to be good. That's not to say that Zelda is bigger than Mario, because it isn't by a LONG shot, Nintendo's aware how much people like the franchise.

The game looks really poor to me. No antialiasing, empty dungeons and the camera. I just hope they won't mess the gameplay....

You do realize this is probably not final and there will be plenty of improvement. If you view the trailer again you'll notice a lot of white space where they haven't even added texture. Plus there's the fact that it was demo'd in the trailer on the original Nintendo DS instead of the DS lite that gives away that perhaps this trailer was intended to be shown even earlier than GDC but Nintendo decided not to.

Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventures (GCN version) combined the style of Wind Waker and Link to the Past. From the looks of this game so far, it seems to use a similar style.
This style to me is a little inconsistant. It had an snes remake style, but then floated cel-shaded-esque graphics on top of it.
This version mixes full 3D with the more traditional top-down style of the dungeons, so it looks like it'll be even more inconsistant.
Still, the gameplay looks challenging and refreshing. They'll probably pull out all of the DS stops for the dungeon puzzles. Maybe we'll be able to yell at Navi!

They have to really speed up if they want to make it in time ( release date: probably november). There have been many rumors that the PH will be the sequel to the Wind Waker. I wouldn't be surprised.

I hope the game will be playable on Games Convention in Leipzig :)

Like I said. The video they showed was probably not up to date and just something they had lying around in case they needed something to show to bide the time of no news releases. Filler if you will. GDC came up and they figured they'd need more than just Genesis and TG16 on Virtual Console as news so they finally found a place to show it. The current build probably looks much better and I'm sure the final product will look a lot better too. What was important to take out of that video was how the engine will work and it looks like they've got that down. It's going to be a very interesting Zelda game.

Seconded. I'm really looking forward to this game, especially since it's a DS game. I've always wanted a portable Zelda game, and this is the first time one will come out for a system i have, and during a time when i have money.

While i do agree with Django that the video looks like it needs improvment, i'm thinking the same as Acer, in that it's seriously out of date, and probably looks much better already.

Ugh, It's about time.

Phantom Hourglass hits shelves Oct. 1

Only over a year in delays. It better be worth it, now.

I've played the game already and it's absolutely fantastic. I'm loving the controls especially, just running around battling enemies is tons of fun. Dungeons are short but exceptionally well designed, puzzles are elaborated and the fact that you can travel between numerous islands is amazing. It's like Wind Waker, but good.

I'm only about an hour in, but I can already tell that this game is beautiful and huge. Phantom Hourglass also offers the best DS graphics ever, hands down. It's just an overall wonderful experience and easily surpasses Twilight Princess in almost every aspect. The DS needs more "full" games like this.

Zelda Phantom Hourglass seems to be kicking some serious Jap butts to get this score out of Famitsu:

(Link - HE COME TO TOWN! COME TO SAVE, US FROM BAD PUNS!)
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160426

And I can verify that Famitsu's score is pretty accurate. The controls are awesome, the graphics are one of the best for the DS and it manages to impress through and through. As with Rock, I'd say Phantom Hourglass beats than Twilight Princess. The package as a whole is very solid and the game takes advantage of all the features available on the DS.

Did I mention Wi-Fi as well?

I'm gonna buy the American version as soon as it comes out. I'm missing out on the story not knowing Japanese -_-'

The Japanese is very import-friendly, though. You can tap Kanji in text boxes to display them in Furigana:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...o/P6210051.jpg

How very convenient. You still require a decent grasp of the language to solve the first puzzle, though.

I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed in the ship traveling part. So far, it seems a bit pointless to me and doesn't really fit in with the rest of the game.

Don't forget to register your copy on MyNintendo to get that free Quill stylus when it comes stateside!

http://kotaku.com/assets/resources/2...over-thumb.jpg

'MATOOUUAAH GOLD' American box art ahoy.

I actually like the US cover a lot better, if only because of the ridiculous amount of water on the Japanese cover. THIS IS NOT PIRATES!!!

Oooh, elaborate on this please? How do I get the Stylus?

If its off topic, please PM me.

There's really not much else to say. I can't find the link now, but if you register your game on MyNintendo, the first like 100,000 or something will get a Quill Stylus.

So, you get a Quill Stylus when the American copy is released, if you register your imported copy? How does that make sense? Maybe I'm misunderstanding something.

Holy crap, this made me realize how behind i am on my to do list. I need to finish my backlog of games (it's a pretty big stack) buy a Wii (along with lots of other titles for the past generation and for the DS) with Zelda Twilight Princess, and get this when it comes out. My lust for Zelda knows almost no bounds. I haven't actually played a Zelda game in like a freaking year.

It looks really good so far, and i'm really excited to finally try it. Hopefully buying it opening day won't be too much of a pipe dream for me.

How is this so complicated?
This is for the American release. You may be able to register your imported copy after the American release and get the same thing, but I doubt it. I think America is finally getting cool swag!

Read it here

Japanese codes don't work for our My Nintendo and vice versa. I tried registering my imported GBA SP. Didn't work.

This deal is for registering the American release at the American My Nintendo.

Wait for it....

SUPER ULTIMATE HOLY CRAP THAT'S A HUGE P... HANTOM HOURGLASS!!!

Where is everyone? Isn't this like the biggest and bestest DS game that isn't turn-based? After finishing this in a day and rescuing you-know-who, my verdict is that this is a must-play that's easily the best 3D game on the DS to date. Go away Final Fantasy with all your remakes; this is the most refreshing Zelda since Majora's Mask.

Oh, OH! GANON?!

I think it's due out here next week. Perhaps I will add it to my shopping basket... but.. games are not sold in Woolworths. Not buying it now. :(

I have mine preordered, but I doubt it'll be here for another ten months for no good reason.

Why is this game ten times more awesome than Twilight Princess?

Oh, probably because Twilight Princess was crap. Right.

Quill stylus? Mother--

I'll pick it up in a few minutes.

Ditto... I am glad NA is getting some junks...about time too.

Playing and leaning how to not suck for the time to come when we DUEEEEEEEL online.

I don't think this is still going.

At least, I don't see it on the page.

This game would've been awesome if it played in the style like the intro.

So, um, who decided to cut out dpad support entirely for this game? :(

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

I started this game a few days ago, been playing it on and off. The touch gameplay is probably the best control scheme I've seen on a DS title thusfar. Just finished the second major dungeon.

And God's balls; this game throws a lot of cash at you.

No bonuses, aside from getting super stamina.

All the sets aside from Linebeck's should put you at 7 stamina, with the final Golden Ship set putting you at 8.

Have any of you guys (and gals) played the battle mode online? That alone makes this a great game. Im trying to win new ship parts via the trading option but it seems like the people i play with never have anything to trade.

I thought so too, until I saw just how much they're charging for several items and then you go from "Woohoo! Loads of cash!" to "Damn, I gotta go cut some grass".

Just finished the Isle of the Dead, and I'm just going around getting the two or three treasure spots I missed. Only thing I can say about the sailing in this game is: J-J-Jolene. I don't even run from her, I just dodge the shots and head toward her ship. Easy to dispatch and be on my way.

No one spoil anything about whatever's going on there.

I've played half a dozen games of it, maybe, and with one exception, everyone's quit out before they lose. It's typical nwifi horsefuck. Maybe we could get some real games going on here though. Is there af riend code page for this game on the wiki?

^That'd be nice.
Oh, and what would a Zelda game be without grass-cutting? Sorry, can't think of anything witty to follow up with right now :P

Oh man, that put a smile on my face. I finally figured out what the hell I was supposed to do with the "Hero's Clothes" that I got from that Thank You-guy. Though it seems like the earliest you could do it would be after getting the last sea chart.

"Hero's Clothes" go to the sword training guy, then he gives you a Telescope (actually a Kaleidoscope, who knew) which belongs to the travelers in the second last sea chart, then the guard notebook goes to the Hero's brother. The last one stumped me for a bit, since it was a wood heart and I tried taking it to the Gorons, but not good. Then I checked the map and there was another Traveler's ship out there.

It was that Wayfarer clown from Banaan island, and there you give him the heart after an amusing talk about his relationship with the "mermaid" and then he tells you to check back at his house for a reward.

Spin-attack, all crazy-like as it was in WW. Definitely amusing and not as boring as the trade quest from WW.

Edit: Oh and I turned into Goro-Sphere yesterday and wound up playing that damn game to the point where I was making way more than I was losing (not to mention another Bombchu bag and some awesome ship parts). Skills, you want to do that Battle thing? I only want to do it so I can get some Big Plays. I heard it unlocks ship parts, so I'm gonna find out for myself.

http://i22.tinypic.com/28we3j6.gif

Heh, you wanna boost for big plays? I suppose we could do that. You can get them fine from friend matches?

PM me your friend code or something.

Does anybody else think that Link's face after he gets an item looks like the Chesire cat?

I got my quill stylus (along with my Wii rubbers, har har) today in the mail. The stylus is in a nice little box. It's a glossy... sort of stretched out matchbox cover that holds another little white box that contains the stylus in some black cushioning stuff. The cover's background is a sea chart with part of a compass rose, and that fairy flying in the foreground.

The stylus looks great. In case you were wondering, it's too big to fit into the DS stylus slot, and too small for the DS Lite's. It'll jiggle around and fall out.

Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Friend Codes - GFWiki

Everyone throw their friend codes in here.

Finally finished this game after putting it off for so long. Not a bad ending and it was satisfying that GANON IS NOT IN THIS GAME AT ALL. If they were to make another DS Zelda game like this I'd most definitely buy it. I wish it was easier to get ship parts though. <3 Beedle forever.