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Metareview: Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
So, were you camping out in front of your local retail spot, waiting for their doors to open so you could push that first employee aside and make a mad dash for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass? Is today the kind of day you stay home sick from school, work or whatever other responsibilities you might have had waiting? Are you already knee-deep in the title and haven't had time to read your favorite blog today?If you've had some time with the game, be sure to let us know what you think so far. But, first, let us see what the critics had to say, shall we? Game Informer (95/100) thinks it isn't as good as Twilight Princess, but is still a damn fine game: "It may not live up to the lofty standards recently displayed in "Twilight Princess", but this adventure is worthy of Zelda canon, and still has enough great stuff going for it to be considered one of the year's best adventures." [Oct 2007, p.126] GamePro (95/100) finds it to be one great sequel: "All in all, Phantom Hourglass is a successful sequel that improves on everything that its predecessor did right." [Nov 2007, p.92] Nintendo Power (95/100) says it's tried-and-true Zelda: "Just know that it's the same Zelda you've always known and loved, and that's a good thing." [Nov 2007, p.98] IGN (90/100) thinks the game is too casual: "When looking at specific aspects of Nintendo's latest Zelda offering it's easy to write this one off as too different, too kiddy, or too easy. Nintendo went for a more casual approach this time around, keeping the amount of hardcore dungeon-crawling to a minimum, and shedding the traditional control scheme for a more casual-friendly approach. But with that being said, Phantom Hourglass is still an extremely ambitious, entertaining, and innovative product." GameSpot (90/100) sees the new control scheme as something that gives new life to the series: "Ultimately, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a superb effort and pretty much what you would want from a first entry in the series on the DS. It's got a few pacing problems, and those who demand traditional control schemes will probably be turned off by this game's control methodology. But really, even if you're convinced you hate the notion of touch-screen controls, you owe it to yourself to give this game a try." GameDaily (80/100) says it's the same Zelda game you've played plenty of times, but it's still a great game: "Phantom Hourglass' controls, combined with the boat segments, make it a quality adventure worth everyone's time. You'll admire the graphics and bury yourself in the numerous side missions."
DS Daily: Why do you (or don't you) play Zelda?
For many of us, the Zelda franchise represents the pinnacle of gaming. Several entries in the series stand out as true classics, games that can be replayed again and again, and little things like graphics don't even enter in to the equation. However, we also know that for every Zelda fan out there, there's a gamer who just isn't into the series, or who has lost interest over the years. If this is you, we want to know why ... and if Phantom Hourglass has happened to tickle your fancy regardless.If, like us, you're still neck deep in the Zelda franchise, what keeps you coming back?
DS releases for the week of October 1st
Hmm ... isn't there something spectacular hitting this week? Maybe we're thinking of another week ... no, it must be Holly Hobbie & Friends, right? You know you want it!Seriously, folks, DS fans have loads to be pleased about this week. Not only are we getting what may end up being our game of the year, but there are tons of other options if you happen to not be a Zelda fan (gasp!) or if you want to pick up a second or third title. What's on your shopping list? Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol Crash of the Titans Holly Hobbie & Friends Kurupoto Cool Cool Stars The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Master Jin Jin's IQ Challenge Spider-Man: Friend or Foe For the releases in other major markets, sail past the break. Importers especially take note: Mistwalker's Archaic Sealed Heat debuts this week in Japan.
New games this week: Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass edition
After what was arguably the biggest week of the the year for most 360 owners, we have what is almost absolutely the week that most DS owners have been looking forward to with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. It's not a bad week all around though, with Project Gotham Racing 4 on the 360 (or Geometry Wars: Waves depending on your perspective), a whole lotta basketball on the PS3 and on Wii ... umm ... Ninja Bread Man. Check the full list after the break.%Gallery-2856%
DS Daily: Kicking off Zelda week!
It's here at last -- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass! Like the Nintendo World Store, we know how to celebrate, though with considerably fewer prizes, unfortunately. That doesn't mean we aren't hyped, though; in fact, we'll be spending time focusing on all things Zelda for the entire week. Anyone headed to the event in New York? We'd love to hear about it if you're going (or if you already have). If, like the rest of us, you're not close enough to join in on the fun, share your excitement with us here. We've been waiting for this one for a long time ....
Phantom Hourglass is unintentional Zelda remake
According to Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, players who delve into the upcoming Phantom Hourglass on DS may find it somewhat familiar. In speaking with MTV Multiplayer, Aonuma said that in his quest to return the series' roots he unintentionally remade the very first version of the game, which just passed 20 years since its NES release here in North America.Honestly, the Zelda series has been so impressive under his leadership, we'd trust the guy if he said Phantom Hourglass was an unintentional remake of Kabuki Quantum Fighter. ... Come to think of it, we'd totally buy that game. But if you're looking for something more traditional, you can get that old Zelda feeling for yourself when the portable Wind Waker sequel drops next week.
We want to see your Zelda gear
Next week we'll be celebrating the release of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass on the DS here in North America, and in honor of the Game of the Year title's debut, we would love to do a special edition of our weekly feature, Show and Tell. We want to see your Zelda-related gear! Anything from t-shirts to tattoos, to statues and standees, if it features Link, we want to help you show it off. We may even break tradition and feature more than one reader. It all depends on what you send us at showmeit [at] dsfanboy [dot] com.
Lots of new Phantom Hourglass screens, some new videos
IGN went crazy on content last night, posting up over 40 new screens, as well as a couple of choice videos for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. With the game arriving next week, you can bet that we're salivating like a dog staring through the window of a butcher's shop. This game is going to be so good.We feel like we're laying in bed on Christmas Eve, wondering what Santa left us under the tree. Only problem is we still have a whole week before we can get the game. Waiting is hard.%Gallery-4748%[Via Go Nintendo]
One way or another, your DS Lite is getting Zelda stuff on it
Even if you don't preorder the game from Wal-Mart (in the U.S.) or EBGames (in Australia), Nintendo-- or whichever unidentified accessory maker this is-- still wants your DS to look all Zelda-y. The latest option for giving your DS an air of high-seas adventure requires no preorder at all, and is (in our opinion) the nicest one yet. The Zelda Phantom Hourglass Kit includes a DS skin, a "modified Zelda pocket" which appears to be a DS case, two silicone game sleeves made to be attached to the system, and three styli.All of this is emblazoned with the vivid, colorful art that so many people hated about Wind Waker, and which we happen to enjoy. The skin has a bit of a black/red scheme going, which would go well with the new DS Lite color scheme. We haven't seen this for sale anywhere but Canadian retailer Future Shop, which is a bit inconvenient for us. Canadian gamers can Link up their DS Lites for CAD$18, while all we can do is dream.[Via GoNintendo]
It pays to be a pre-orderer for once
Now that's a pretty spiffy piece of swag, even if it looks like this case painted gold with a Phantom Hourglass logo on it. And, as the above graphic states, all one needs to do is pre-order the title through EBgames. Sadly, some of us aren't afforded the opportunity to get this sweet carrying case, though. It's only available to those living in Australia.%Gallery-4748%[Via Go Nintendo]
Phantom Hourglass makes with an E-card
With the launch of Phantom Hourglass so close we can taste it, Nintendo saw fit to release a rather nifty e-card upon the intertron-patrolling public. The e-card comes complete with a video of the game in action, which caused us to salivate like rabid dogs. Seriously, is there any other DS game this year that is even worth comparing to this title?Well, maybe one game comes kind of close ...%Gallery-4748%
Wal-Mart packs Phantom Hourglass preorders with skins and styli
Most of the DS Lite skins we've come across in the past made our eyes want to commit suicide -- you could literally see them darting around, panicked, struggling in vain to grow arms and grab anything in reach to stab themselves blind with.These Phantom Hourglass decals, however, won't disfigure your handheld; they could even by considered somewhat appealing. Wal-Mart will include them, as well as a Link-green stylus, with every $34.82 preorder. The only downside we can see in reserving the game through Wal-Mart is that the retail giant won't ship it out until October 5th, four days after Phantom Hourglass' release. Do you think these extras are worth holding off your Zelda playtime?[Via CAG]
Everything you wanted to know about Phantom Hourglass but were afraid to ask
Sure, Phantom Hourglass is probably going to be the hottest game of the year -- or at least one of them, considering the Pokémon invasion we've experienced -- but do you know everything about it? IGN has put together a helpful FAQ for the highly-anticipated DS title that's just chock full of information. Some of it is pretty basic, like "Who developed this one?" (Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development! Interesting tidbit: this is the team's first handheld Zelda), but there are more complicated and subjective questions as well, such as, "I never played Wind Waker, will I be totally lost?" IGN says no, and hopefully relieves some tension for some of you in the process.They also get into the complex matter of the Zelda timeline, and the many delays this latest entry suffered prior to release. It's a nice recap for those of you dying for more scraps about next month's release. We recommend taking it in with a video or two. %Gallery-4748%
Nintendo wants to fly you to NYC, give you Zelda
We all know The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a big deal for Nintendo. It's a big deal for us, too. It looks to be one of, if not the, best games on the DS. And, Nintendo is capitalizing on the hype by offering up a prize so good that we can barely stop from shaking as we type this out. To enter, all you have to do is answer three Zelda-related questions.There are two ways to enter: either you can text message (via one of those new-fangled cellular telephones) the word "Zelda" to 20769, or you can head on over to Zelda.com and enter by snail mail (all of the details regarding this can be found over there). The grand prize winner not only gets flown out to New York city to stay at a hotel for two nights, but also gets a closed-door shopping spree at the Nintendo World Store for up to $1,000, $500 in walk-around money, a special-edition DS and a copy of Phantom Hourglass.What would you get from the Nintendo World Store if you won the shopping spree?
Iwata promises Nintendo will continue to print money
Nintendo may be top dog, but if Satoru Iwata has anything to say about it, no one in the company will be wasting time basking in the glow of success. With all their recent success, he told Newsweek's N'Gai Croal way back at E3, the company's biggest challenge right now is pretty basic: don't let it get to them. "I believe my most important role right now is to prevent Nintendo from being in a company where people say, 'Oh, Nintendo is arrogant,' 'Nintendo has let its guard down,' or 'Nintendo has lost its challenging spirit.' We want to avoid all of the pitfalls that can come from losing one's momentum." It's a very sensible goal, and we've seen this sort of determination from Iwata before.Though most of the article is about the new kid on the block, Iwata makes a lot of comparisons to the cycle of the DS, particularly in regard to the increase of third party titles relative to Nintendo's own games. And hey, if you have to follow anyone, the DS has certainly set up an excellent model!One of the more interesting parts of the interview reveals some of the motivation behind a strategy many "hardcore" gamers are decrying: Nintendo's focus on "games for everyone." Iwata believes that part of the reason the recent Zelda title, Twilight Princess, didn't do as well in Japan as he'd hoped was due to a perception that the game was too difficult for many gamers. But Twilight Princess continues to sell there well after release, so obviously the PR machine's more recent focus has helped to change the game's reputation. Iwata also pressed the point about market expansion both here, as it relates to the Wii, gamers of all types, and the untapped hordes waiting to become gamers, but also in light of the DS and Nintendo's success there in bringing gaming to the masses. We can't wait to get our hands on Phantom Hourglass to see all of this put to the test ... and perhaps we'll convince some non-gaming friends to give it a try as well. [Via Joystiq]
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass developer interview
Nintendo Dream magazine interviewed members of the Phantom Hourglass development team, including Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, Phantom Hourglass director Daiki Iwamoto, and assistant director (and former Flagship Zelda team member) Hidemaro Fujibayashi. Judging from the responses of the developers, the brilliance of Zelda may be attributed to tough competition from a game that would have seemed like a non-competitor a few years ago: Brain Age.Originally, Phantom Hourglass was set to be a smaller, quicker game, but Aonuma describes the pressure from the upstart training game:"At first, we had the idea of creating a good game in a short time. We thought Brain Age was our rival. Brain Age's like that smart transfer student. The Zelda Team's not in the top places, but it studies hard. And then comes this transfer student and easily gets the first place without studying. That's very frustrating. After three long years, we finally finished Twilight Princess and the transfer student's the one that's smart and cool and gets the first place? Damn it (laughs)!"This is only the first part of the interview, but it's a nice, long read about the game that's going to bring Zelda back to the masses.[Via NeoGAF]
Zelda site updates with goodies galore
We were just talking about official sites this morning, and look! We've got an example of that very thing right there. The official page for Phantom Hourglass on Nintendo's Zelda site has been updated, and you'll never guess what sort of content is there! Unless, of course, you said "wallpapers, screenshots, and video." However did you guess?Still, it's Zelda, and that makes it special. We could handle a Zelda wallpaper for a while. It's just so blue.
In Zelda, even walking can be an adventure
We don't have to tell you that a lot of people weren't exactly fans of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; Nintendo fans who loved it (and even those who didn't) heard the complaints over and over again. That's made a few people a little wary of the upcoming Phantom Hourglass, and we understand. Really, we do, even if we don't necessarily agree. But from every scrap we've seen from the latest handheld entry in the franchise, it's shaping up to be a real adventure -- which is the biggest complaint about the series as time goes on. We've seen it. We've done it. We've been been heroic through the ages, and though we love every moment spent in Hyrule, sometimes, we crave something a little different. From the looks of things, we're about to get just that, and more.Our own JC Fletcher spent some time with Phantom Hourglass recently at PAX, and his report is nothing short of glowing. Everything in the game feels fresh and new, and what's more? It's just plain fun. There are all the elements we need for a Zelda game: familiar enemies and tasks, but the smooth stylus-based controls turn the forests and seas of Hyrule into a whole new world. We've been waiting for this one for a long time, but the closer we get to release, the more it seems that it's all been worth it. We've tucked a video behind the break that offers up a short glimpse of simple navigation that shows off the stylus-based movement, so you can see for yourself. Just watch out for the trees. %Gallery-4748%
Europe gets the good Phantom Hourglass boxart
Perhaps as an apology for decades of delayed releases -- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass included, though only two weeks later (October 19th) than its North American debut -- Nintendo will feature the artwork used on the game's Japanese packaging for its European cover.While its U.S. boxart is mostly brown and has our green-capped hero awkwardly posed, expressionless, Europe's version shows off a smiling Link and a broad range of blue hues. Sure, it's only packaging art, but we're still jealous! You can take a peek at both Phantom Hourglass covers past the post break
PAX 07 hands-on: Zelda PH will make you love Zelda, life again
As a DS fanboy (even before-- well, you know), as soon as I saw The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass at Nintendo's PAX booth, I was there. And I was not at all disappointed. In fact, despite having already read lots of gushing about the game, I found myself completely sucked in by even the most basic tasks. My impressions agree totally with the E3 impressions-- however, these are PAX impressions, which are a completely different thing.The demo starts you out in a port town, unarmed, with a directive from your fairy friend to go talk to your grandpa. After a visit to Grandpa, you head out to a monster-infested area, then your general jaunt around town (Go talk to this character! Go try to cross this bridge! Oh, the bridge has collapsed! We should talk to Grandpa! etc.) The demo spent just enough time not giving you the sword that I was starting to get a little antsy; however, one final visit to Grandpa got me my weapon, and he then went about teaching me how to use it.It's as simple as can be: tap enemies to attack, draw a line to do a sideways slash, draw a circle to do a spin move. With this equipment and knowledge, I was allowed into the northern part of the town to fight some ChuChus as I made my way into a cave and some puzzles. The first puzzle asked me to write on a sign the number of palm trees on the beach (spoiler: 7) before I was allowed access into the next room. The rest of the rooms followed a similar pattern: a few enemies, a few puzzles that involved doing things in the right order, and key-collecting. Very Zelda.But, as standardly Zelda as it sounds, I must stress this fact-- I can't remember the last time I had so much fun just making a character walk in a game. Directing Link around with the stylus is a lot like movement in Animal Crossing, but faster; it turns out, the speed makes all the difference. Simple activities like pushing and pulling blocks and doing basic attacks are not only novel, but are enjoyable independent of their novelty. And while the controls aren't based on simulating real motions as they tend to be in Twilight Princess (because swinging a sword is rarely like drawing a line), they are much more intuitive and much more natural. If you've become tired of the Zelda formula, or if you just like action-adventure games, or games, consider Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. It manages to be instantly familiar as Zelda while being startlingly fresh.
