Product Description

The epic story of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker continues as Link finds himself lost and alone in unknown seas in a new adventure. Featuring intuitive touch-screen controls and innovative puzzles, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass offers new challenges for fans of the series and an easy-to-grasp introduction for gamers new to The Legend of Zelda. But time grows short, and only the Phantom Hourglass can buy Link the minutes he?ll need to survive. Many months have passed since the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Link, Tetra and Tetra?s band of pirates have set sail in search of new lands. They come across a patch of ocean covered in a dense fog, in which they discover an abandoned ship. Tetra falls into danger when she explores the ship alone, and Link falls into the ocean when he attempts to rescue her. When he washes up unconscious on the shores of a mysterious island, he is awakened by the sound of a fairy?s voice. With the aid of this fairy, he sets off to find Tetra ? and his way back to the seas he once knew. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is controlled almost entirely by the stylus. Using the touch screen, players direct Link?s movements and attacks: A sweeping motion triggers Link?s spin attack and tapping characters makes Link speak with them. The stylus controls offer a more intuitive means of playing the game and open up new possibilities for puzzle solving. The game action takes place primarily on the touch screen, with a map on the top screen. However, the player can inspect the map on the touch screen and make notes using the stylus. The notes on these maps are saved for review on the top screen during game play. Players use the map to chart courses for their ships, too. Using the stylus to draw a path through the islands, players set their ships? courses. Then, as the ships automatically follow the paths drawn, players can control their ships? cannons to target oncoming enemies. In dun

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Nintendo
• Released on: 2007-10-19
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Platform: Nintendo DS
• Dimensions: 3.00 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Taking the helm, in this direct sequel to the Nintendo GameCube hit, The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass picks up with our legendary hero Link, along with Tetra (also known as Princess Zelda from the fallen kingdom of Hyrule) and her crew of Pirates setting sail in search of new lands. On their journey they encounter a dense area of fog, home to a lone Ghost Ship, which Tetra boards to explore alone. However, evil awaits her and she is kidnapped! As the Ghost Ship and Tetra are whisked away to far off lands, it's down to Link and his fairy companion Ciela to fill the Phantom Hourglass. This ancient artefact can help protect them from cursed dungeons and once again help them to save the day and the princess in this brand new adventure!

Using the stylus, players can move, fight, sail, take notes and interact with other characters all with intuitive taps, lines and sweeping movements with their stylus. When controlling Link on discovered islands, tap the screen in front of him to move forward, similarly use the same motion to communicate and gain information from characters around. Whilst at sea, players will be able to sail with ease as they draw the path for Link's ship and fire the onboard cannon at passing enemies by tapping the screen over them.

Link's iconic sword fighting skills have also received a touch screen makeover as players use the stylus to control our hero in combat, tapping and quickly drawing lines to vanquish enemies encountered. Players can carry out a lock-on attack by tapping on the enemy which will have Link automatically deliver them a blow or you can draw the line to perform a slide slash. Players can also activate a spin attack by drawing a circle around Link using the Stylus, making The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass intuitive and accessible for Zelda fans, old or new. Furthermore, players will find all items, such as Link's bow, boomerang and bombs, are controllable with the stylus, adding a fresh new depth to controls and puzzle solving in the game. To use the boomerang for example, players must draw a path and their weapon will follow it.

For the first time in a Zelda game, players can also flip their map to the bottom of the two screens to make all-important notes on an area or highlight danger areas to look out for. However, the touch screen is not the only Nintendo DS feature used in the game. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass also makes use of the console's microphone.

But the fun doesn't stop once players have completed their adventure to recover Tetra. For the first time in a Legend of Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass features an exciting multiplayer mode which allows two players to take on a battle of their own through either the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or the Nintendo DS's Wireless connection. One player assumes the role of Link, with the aim of gaining as many points as possible by carrying Force Gems back to their base, whilst their opponent controls the Phantoms trying to make Link drop his precious treasure!

With over seven new dungeons to explore and a new and exciting way to control our hero, this latest adventure is for you, whether you are an experienced Zelda fan of old or this is your first adventure!

Customer Reviews

Style with a stylus.
When I realised that this was a stylus only controlled game, I thought it might be a bit gimmicky. But it works really well.

The developers have ensured that the stylus control hasn't just been thrown in, they've re-worked the entire RPG genre to make sure that it feels natural and hasn't been done just for the sake of it. This allows for innovative control methods, such as writing onto maps to make notes, and the use of objects/weapons like the boomerang where you draw the path it will follow.

Mini-games often ruin an RPG as they break the story up and instead of a nice flowing RPG you end up with a series of mini-games which don't feel as though they belong. There are some mini-games in this, but not too many, and you don't have to play them - they are there to gain additional items to help you with your game, or as part of side-quests. Speaking of side-quests, there are plenty here and some of them are pretty big in scale. Again, these aren't essential but I like to do them to really get the most out of the game.

Overall the game feels good, the cutesy look is supported by some brilliant graphics. The 3D Cell Shaded visuals are very impressive and they don't slow the DS down. All movements are natural and you can't help but feel that a lot of work has gone into this. The larger characters, such as the bosses are the best I've seen on a handheld device; the giant robot particularly impressive.

In a nutshell: I can't say that this is the best RPG I've played, it has some weaknesses as it sometimes felt drawn out. It's more of a series of puzzles than an action adventure, but that's always been the main difference between the Zelda series and, for example; Final Fantasy. The unique controls are refreshing and make this game feel like no other RPG.

Go for it
I have tried out a few ds games including animal crossing and nintendogs (which did nothing for me) and I was starting to worry that there were no good ds games out there. Then I took a chance on this one, and I have not regretted it! It's fun, cool and just difficult enough to keep your interest without leaving you feeling disheartened. I have played on it for hours at a time without being able to put it down! Would definitely recommend it for everyone and I hope you buy it and enjoy it as much as I have.

Stunned
Stunned by the sheer scale, colour, game playability,and puzzle solving. The graphics are crystal clear and sailing the ocean is fantastic and vast. There are varying degrees of difficulty involved from easy to fiendish, the side games are tremendous fun, all in all this game is the best £20 I have ever spent. I am now just beginning it for a second time.