phantom-hourglass
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Woman creates massive Lego Zelda mosaic, takes longer to finish than most Zelda games
Alyse isn't just your usual Legend of Zelda fan -- aside from the drawer full of Link-themed clothing and decorative Majora's Mask cup set sitting in her cupboard, she's now also the proud owner of the gigantic Lego mosaic you see above. The product of her brow's sweat and her hand's work, the mosaic was created for Brickcon, an annual event that celebrates adult Lego hobbyists. Head on over to her Flickr account for shots of the impressive feat throughout its development (the above shot is of her husband, Remi, and the Lego computer case he built), something Alyse documented because she "was inspired by many of the stained glass artwork from Wind Waker." If we had enough patience to do something like this, we probably wouldn't have jobs on the internet. [Via The Tanooki]
DS Daily: Favorite Nintendo game?
We all love Nintendo. And they've shown a ton of support for their handheld system, offering up great Nintendo titles for us to play. Whether it's New Super Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, or even Elite Beat Agents, they've provided us with hours of entertainment. Given that, which is your favorite Nintendo game on the platform? Do you absolutely love Electroplankton (we do)? Is Animal Crossing your favorite? Out with it!
E308: Miyamoto explains fusion of Wii and DS Zelda teams
If the DS Zelda team is helping out the Wii Zelda team, it could mean either of two things. One -- the next Wii Zelda is going to be beyond awesome. Two -- will the DS successor to Phantom Hourglass be neglected for longer than desired? It could cause longer development cycles, but the overall product will surely benefit from the extra talent.Mitamoto explained that "the DS team is mixing in with the Wii team and working on the Wii version." Possible theory -- instead of a "realistic" Link for Wii and "cartoon" Link for DS, the two games might just be linked by more than just the name. All speculation, but speculation is fun!
E308: Miyamoto says DS and Wii Zelda teams collaborating
As if the prospect of a new Legend of Zelda game isn't good enough, Miyamoto mentioned to IGN that not only are the regular old Zelda team hard at work on a Wii entry, but that the folks behind the DS title The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass are also pitching in. "The Zelda team in particular always works on Zelda titles. The core members of the Zelda team have for a very long time now been focused on Zelda games, and continue to focus on Zelda games, so they are hard at work and working away," Miyamoto commented to IGN. "And then, of course, we have the DS Zelda team as well, so even there we're having some switching of people in and out where the DS team is mixing in with the Wii team and working on the Wii version."As you can imagine, our mind is racing at the prospect of a new Zelda game. One that combines the best of the console titles and handheld entry, creating a new Zelda that is so appealing that to be without it would surely end in your death.
Amazon's Gold Box is full of DS treasures [update 5]
Hey, guess what? You can buy Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Amazon today (and today only) for $25.99! What a minute -- why are we posting about a Brawl deal on DS Fanboy, of all places? Because, friends, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Amazon is offering up nine Nintendo deals today, which (if our guesses are correct) includes five DS games. Since all of the said games are published by Nintendo you might own most of them already, but if not, they're games that are definitely worth getting for cheap. So, all you stingy folks that are able to order from Amazon.com should check past the break to see what Gold Box sales are in store for you today.
Another exhaustive list of Japan's best-sellers of 2007
Remember that haaauuuuge list of Japan's 500 highest-selling games of 2007? Well, sorry, but you'll have to forget them all. Yep, every last one of 'em. That's because we now have a new list which is also claiming to feature the 500 best-selling games of 2007 in Japan. This one has been compiled by Enterbrain (the original was from rival data-gatherers Media Create), and it's ever so slightly different. The good news is that, despite the origins of each list being different, the overriding message is still the same, and that message is: DS rules all yaaay. Both lists agree that Wii Sports was top dog, but the top DS games have been jumbled about. Now, for example, it is the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers games that are top of the DS pile, while Mario Party DS drops to second. The changes are subtle, but definitely exist. Hit the break to see the top ten DS games!
DS Daily: Good representation
With Nintendo dominating both the console and handheld markets, their key franchises have installments on both platforms. Focusing on the DS, which key franchise do you believe has the best entry? Phantom Hourglass? It would probably be New Super Mario Bros., for us. That game is pure Mario Bros. fun. But, what do you all think? Of all the entries in Nintendo franchises on the DS, which one is your favorite? Pokémon Diamond & Pearl? Let's hear it!
PAL Nintendo Channel DS demos are training-tastic
Training, training, training. That's all us Europeans and Aussies want, right? Day in, day out, there we are, blurting "blue" into our handhelds like obedient farmyard animals, and being told that we're doing it wrong and that we're thuddingly simple. We know this happens, because the sales charts tell us so, and now the first DS demos on the local Nintendo Channel (released on all PAL consoles today) reflect the self-improvement obsession that has swept many PAL countries.So, instead of getting demos of totally rad, new games such as Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (which is what the U.S. got), we get four training games (only one of which came out this year) from the seven titles available, and adverts for Nintendogs and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. The only bright spot? A couple of tracks from Mario Kart DS, and a Picross demo, but those are hardly fresh titles.We're not usually the types to look a gift horse in the mouth, but there's a stunning lack of variety on display here, Nintendo. Hit the break for the infuriatingly vanilla list.
DS Daily: Local laughs
It goes without saying that all of the DS Fanboy team are colossally (some would say inexplicably) popular. However, despite the fact that we're swimming in chums, here's something not a lot of us have: DS-owning friends who will play games against us on a regular basis. Like, in the flesh.What about you lot? Do you have a large crowd of friends who are equipped with a DS and regularly indulge in local multiplayer? Or are you like most of us, sadly limited to battling over Force Gems and taking out tank units with strangers from afar?
DS Daily: Playing catch-up
We're convinced that nobody finishes absolutely every game they buy, so which titles in your collection have you not yet completed? Do you have plans to return to them, or is your gaming schedule (or, heavens forbid, life) just too crammed right now?Personally speaking, this blogger must be a good 80% through The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, but I suspect it was another blasted visit to the Ocean King's Temple that finally put me off. I've had my copy for around a year, and now it simply sits on my shelf, sneering at me. For shame.
Miyamoto, DS take home some Famitsu awards
Hey, who doesn't know how awesome Shigeru Miyamoto is? Your grandmother? Shove her to the ground. Seriously, the man is a legend and your grandmother's frail, aged bones need to recognize that.Speaking of recognition, Miyamoto and select titles on the DS recently got themselves some, as Famitsu dished out awards to the gaming icon and some titles available on his company's handheld system. The games that got the nod were Mario Party DS, Phantom Hourglass, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Darkness and Dragon Quest IV. All of these games received an Award for Excellence, where newcomer Professor Layton and the Curious Village got itself a Rookie award. Miyamoto himself received top honors, as he accepted his time in the spotlight and thanked everyone by stating that he was happy to "get an honor like this, it makes me glad to have worked so hard over the past thirty years. This is going to sound a bit like a lie, but it's like a dream. That said, I didn't think five years ago that I'd be making Wii Fit. I thought I'd be making more Mario and Zelda."Well, if there's someone who should be used to accepting awards, it's him.
Phantom Hourglass now under $20 at RadioShack
If you still haven't picked up Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, then what's taken you so long? Actually, never mind that -- we've no time for excuses, and neither have you. RadioShack is selling Link's brilliant, award-winning adventure (and officially Famitsu's game of 2007) for just $19.97, but supplies are limited, and will be gone once the sand runs out soon.Bear in mind that this is an in-store offer only, so you'll have to troop over to your local RadioShack. It's totally worth it though, because aside from some (cough) slight repetition in the use of dungeons, Phantom Hourglass is a fine, fine way to spend 20-odd hours. And hey, if someone here does get a copy, yours truly might actually have an opponent for Game Night!%Gallery-4748%[Via Go Nintendo]
Famitsu piles on the Phantom Hourglass love
Lists: they're freaking well everywhere. Lists of the best games, of the worst games, of the worst boxart, of games to watch, of the best NES games, of the most kid-friendly games, lists of the greatest lists.But what's that? You want more lists? You're insane! But Famitsu hears you! The venerable Japanese publication just published its top games of 2007, based on the magazine's review scores, and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (the game that collects gongs and awards like they're going clean out of fashion) romped to top spot, thanks to its near-perfect 39/40 score.The DS had other representatives in Famitsu's top 25, with Kousoku Card Battle: Card Hero (12th), Itadaki Street (21st), Gyakuten Saiban 4 (24th) and Final Fantasy IV (25th) all making their presence felt. Go past the break for the entire top 25, and join us in marveling at the Xbox 360 doing something right in Japan.%Gallery-4748%
SecondSpin sale offers extra cheap prices for used games
Starting today until March 16th, preowned media retailer SecondSpin is offering customers free shipping and 20% off its used items. Unlike GameStop and Electronics Boutique, SecondSpin sells every game with the manual and box, so you won't have to worry about receiving an incomplete package. All you need to do to take advantage of the deal is use this coupon code: TWENTY314. SecondSpin has too many available Nintendo DS and GBA titles (450+) for us to list, but we've put together a short tally of games that you might want to pick up. Nintendo DS: Custom Robo Arena - $13.79 $11.03 Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney: Justice for All - $12.99 $10.39 Scurge: Hive - $10.39 $8.39 Spectrobes - $14.99 $11.99 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - $26.99 $21.59 True Swing Golf - $9.99 $7.99 GBA deals: Final Fantasy IV Advance and V Advance - $14.99 $11.99 Gunstar Super Heroes - $7.99 $6.39 TMNT - $14.99 $11.99 If you don't see anything you're interested in, SecondSpin updates its inventory every day, so check back again tomorrow! [Via CAG]
GDC08: Another gong for Phantom Hourglass
It only seems like a fortnight ago that we partied long into the night over quietly celebrated The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass scooping an award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Wait -- it was only a fortnight ago! And it already has another award to its name!This time it's a Game Developers Choice Award for Best Handheld Game of the Year, which Zelda clinched over Puzzle Quest: Challenge of The Warlords, Phase, Contra 4, and the iPod version of Peggle. Time to expand that trophy cabinet again, Nintendo!%Gallery-4748%[Via press release]
Super Mario Galaxy receives Interactive Achievement Award
Nintendo's Italian plumber Mario caught the eye of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences at this year's Interactive Achievement Awards, nabbing an award for Adventure Game of the Year. If there was one game that could be classified as an "adventure" back in 2007, we would definitely have to say Super Mario Galaxy.Also, Nintendo ended up walking away with another award. The winner of Handheld Game of the Year was none other than The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. As for the other awards, none were for Nintendo or games on Nintendo platforms. So, you could probably care less.%Gallery-4735%
Phantom Hourglass wins Interactive Achievement Award
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has bestowed the award of "Best Handheld Game" upon our favorite adventure game of 2007 starring a kid in a green tunic with a fairy flying around him, Deal or No Deal The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Congratulations to Nintendo!The DS adventure joins Super Mario Galaxy as the entire Nintendo contingent of this year's Interactive Achievement Award winners, with the rest of the awards, going to, you know, Rock Band and Portal and the other Xbox stuff that got all the other awards last year. We're just glad to see a familiar name or two on the list. As it turns out, good games did come out on the DS in 2007!%Gallery-4748%[Via press release]
More awards, more snubs for the DS
It's something we've talked about a few times but still don't understand -- what does it take for the best-selling game system in the world to get a little attention? Alright, alright, we're over it. And at least the Game Developers Choice awards have a special handheld category, and we're extraordinarily pleased to see Contra 4 glowing brightly on the list. It's probably not going to win, but we're happy to see we're not the only ones who love beefy dudes with weapons. Maybe this time next year, we'll see some DS games breaking out of handheld-only categories, since there is so much complete awesome slated for the system in the coming months. We can't be the only ones who think DS titles can go toe-to-toe with their console brethren. In the meantime, check out the nominees for best handheld game after the break.
Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2007
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii) Though its puzzles may occasionally infuriate, the real source of frustration regarding Zack & Wiki stems from the fact that nobody bought it. Every year has its share of titles that deserve an audience yet never find one, and in this regard, Zack & Wiki is easily one of the most tragic games to put an uncontrollable smile on your face. Relentlessly charming and beautifully presented, the debut of Capcom's choc-chomping pirate and his simian sidekick challenges the mind and warms that cynical, meh-spouting lump in your chest. How refreshing it was to overcome obstacles and bosses by choosing the power of the mind over an impossibly large bazooka.
Best of the Rest: James' Picks of 2007
Pac-Man Championship Edition (XBLA) If not worthy of a Top 10 spot, then certainly Pac-Man deserves Joystiq's 'Comeback Player of the Year' award. I covered Pac-Man CE's overblown launch in early June, but it wasn't until I became a devoted player at home that I realized the sheer genius of the first true Pac-Man sequel since 'the Ms.' hit the maze in '82. Designer Toru Iwatani managed to scrape off a quarter-century of rust and fashion a remarkably relevant game that held me down during an otherwise punishing summer drought. Geometry Wars might be the most celebrated, but Pac-Man CE is Xbox Live Arcade's true star.
