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Top 100 games sold in the last year
Perhaps we're just cynics, but we're not at all surprised that this list of the 100 top-selling games in the U.S. and Europe isn't filled with more good games. We understand that not everyone has the tastes of the DS Fanboy staff (as much as we try to ram it down your throat), but some of these are just crazy.Of course, some easy picks like Pokemon Diamond & Pearl and Brain Age 2 populate the list, but where is the love for some other great DS games? Phantom Hourglass at the 23rd spot? For shame. 1.2 million copies of High School Musical: Makin' the Cut sold and Drawn to Life only selling 820,000 copies? For shame.In all, it's an interesting list that you should take a look at.[Via Joystiq]
DS Daily: The next great Nintendo franchise
So the DS has been on the receiving end of some great games from Nintendo's most popular franchises. We had the excellent Phantom Hourglass, the million-billion-selling New Super Mario Bros. and some solid installments in the Animal Crossing and StarFox franchises. But what's next?Which one of Nintendo's franchises do you want to see hit the DS next? A new Punch-Out!!! game? Or what about the next installment in the Pikmin franchise? What would you like to see from Nintendo?
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.
Phantom Hourglass gashapon does not help our financial situation
You'll have to forgive us me for making two Phantom Hourglass-related posts in the same day (it's like Zelda week all over again), but these capsule toys are irresistibly cute -- yes, possibly even cuter than this. Unfortunately, at just $3 a piece from Play-Asia, they also happen to be irresistibly cheap, a combination that does not mix well when you're a financially impoverished blogger, already reduced to a scurvy-inducing diet of noodles and water for the rest of December.Which gashapon you receive is entirely random, though as they're all pretty fantastic (and did we mention cheap?), we can't see a lot of people complaining. Not when we'll happily take any like-for-likes you receive off your hands. We're kind like that, you see.[Via BGB]
Live in the UK? Still waiting to pick up Phantom Hourglass?
If you answered both of those questions with "Yes, oh god, YES!!" then we have just two things to say to you: Calm down, dear, it's only a game, albeit a very fine one. As part of its January sales, Amazon is currently offering Brits The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass for the wallet-pleasing price of £19.99. Admittedly, this post is addressed to a fairly small portion of the DS Fanboy audience -- UK residents who have yet to pick up Link's excellent DS debut -- but we've learned that such good value shouldn't be ignored when it does pop up. And don't forget that that's not the only place us British folk can find bargains right now. Get spending that Christmas money, folks!
WRUP: Too many to choose from edition
There's, like, a whopping one new game available this week. So, unless you're down to play the puzzle game on your DS (or happen to live outside of the U.S.), you've got nothing new to play. What a shame.But, you've got to play something (don't even try to tell us you aren't playing anything, 'cause that's bull). Maybe you're just getting around to playing Phantom Hourglass? Maybe you're finally seeing what all of the fuss is about in Puzzle Quest? What are you playing?
Phantom Hourglass ranks at 7 on Time's top 10 games of 2007 list
Frankly, we're shocked. Number 7 is a very respectable spot for any game, considering we're talking about the 10 best games of the year, but come on. This is The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass we're talking about here, folks. It's an amazing title and arguable the best in what has been an amazing year full of quality titles on the DS. Heck, this time of year, we can't think of a better gift than a Phantom Hourglass bundle.Besides Phantom Hourglass, what would you consider to be the best of the best on the DS this year?
Nintendo confirms new bundles for the holidays
Nintendo dished out a press release this morning, declaring that the previous rumor of two new DS Lite bundles hitting in time for Black Friday is, in fact, a reality. These two new bundles (other pictured past the break) will greet eager shoppers looking for the perfect gaming gift. No word on how long they'll be around, but the press release did state that they're limited-edition units, so we wouldn't expect them to be around forever.So, who's getting one of these new bundles?
Zero Punctuation hates on Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
This week on Zero Punctuation, the ornery Yahtzee puts into video form (after the break) the same basic ideas discussed on the last Joystiq podcast regarding Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Luckily for Yahtzee, he's embedded in Uluru and need not fear reprisals like most members of the gaming press do when speaking ill of Zelda. Everything he says about the Zelda franchise and Nintendo has pretty much been said before, just not in a sexy, angry, British accent using a grab-bag of verbs and adjectives. The real kudos (you know, for people who don't fear for their life) come at the end of the piece when he implies that the next time Nintendo wants to make another Zelda... they should just make Okami.[Thanks Sam]
DS Fanboy Review: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
For a franchise as lengthy and storied as that of The Legend of Zelda, we're honestly surprised that Nintendo has managed to keep things fresh and engaging throughout each of the titles. Take Wind Waker, for example, which was quickly met with cries of "Cel-da!" and "This looks like utter crap!" by many internet-faring folks following its unveiling, but managed to be one of the best entries to date (it was our favorite before Twilight Princess hit the scene, to be honest). But, for as much as Nintendo has tried to keep the franchise alive and well, The Legend of Zelda games have always maintained a set of core features and values, becoming a bit formulaic lately. Hey, don't get us wrong, we love the games, but you have to admit that it's becoming old hat in the way that they are doing things, always sidetracking you with another task when all you want is entry into one area of the game (see: where you need to go). This "gopher" way of doing things (go for this, then you can go for this) is kind of becoming a problem with the franchise.One of the ways Wind Waker was better than its predecessors and tried to nip this in the bud a bit was the inclusion of its open seas, allowing the player to go wherever they wanted from the get-go. Sure, the fields and other locales that made up Hyrule proper in these titles (even in Twilight Princess, which released several years after Wind Waker) were accessible and presented an illusion of a game world that was freely navigable from the outset. The reality was, in fact, different.So, what does this have to do with Phantom Hourglass? Everything.%Gallery-4748%
Two new DS Lite models, both branded & bundled
Nintendo's making a final push to indoctrinate the rest of the world's pet-deprived tweens and twenty-something geeks, according to a new Sears ad. Come "Black Friday," two more DS Lite models will hit retail ($150 ea.), each branded and bundled with a corresponding game.There's the metallic pink Pound Puppies Nintendogs case, complete with (bloody?) paw print and game -- which reminds us, our lil' pixelated Shih Tzu hasn't been fed in about two years ... Anyways, moving on: there's also the gold-sprayed Zelda unit, (spotted a few weeks ago and) bundled with Phantom Hourglass, featuring the Triforce logo for those of us not quite ready for the more-permanent expression of our faith.[Via DS Fanboy]
Cosplaying Brit reviews Phantom Hourglass
As we've proven many times over, what with our posts on cowboy pigs and mutant cats, we have a penchant for the non traditional. Take Play Digital's Phantom Hourglass review, for example -- it completely reinvents the standard video review conducted by some dude, updating the formula with a video review conducted by some, uh, dudette. Alright, so female gamers are nothing new (we happen to have a couple of them on our staff, so I'm told), but the video still stands out for its success at appealing to people with two different, specialized fetishes: girls with British accents and girls who cosplay as Link. Even without those selling points, the review and its cutaway clips are entertaining enough to warrant watching.Katharine, Play Digital's English critic, has put together about a dozen of these videos, her other pieces covering titles like Jam Sessions, Naruto Ninja Council 3, and Sonic Rush Adventure. Before you run to see what furry outfit Katharine suited herself in for that last one, keep in mind that she doesn't usually dress up for these reviews; you'll have to yiff elsewhere.[Via Penny Arcade Forums]
DS Fanboy presents: Game Night 10/25/07 aftermath [update]
Personally, we had a blast playing The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass last night. Many of you were late in arriving to the chat, throwing down in some Metroid Prime Hunters, Overall, it was a pretty good night, but we're sure that most of you regulars could've managed to make it. We understand things come up, but you better be there next week.Oh, you better ... or else.Update: Due to popular demand, we've added Worms: Open Warfare 2 to the poll. If you want other games added in the future (or ... right now), let us know in the comments here or feel free to email me at david at dsfanboy dawt com.%Poll-4779%
Captain Linebeck, as played by Al Pacino
"I know it was you, Link. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!"Like everyone else, we imagined Linebeck, Phantom Hourglass' cowardly sailor seaman, as the Jack Sparrow character he was more than likely modeled after. We never really connected him with Al Pacino, but artist Margeaux McClelland insists that the two are one and the same, reading the mariner's lines with the Scarface star's raspy voice.Margeaux went so far as to paint Pacino's likeness in Linebeck's threads, complete with his flamboyant red scarf. We still don't see the resemblance, but it's a great piece, nonetheless! (We won't ever take sides with anyone against the family.)
Less pretty Phantom Hourglass special edition bundle appears
While it's not the gorgeous, golden special edition DS Lite of various rumors, what we have above is still a special edition Lite, and that makes it better than nothing. The emblazoned edition popped up on Nindie.com with no price and a placeholder release date of December 31. Could there be two editions this year, or could this one be specific to Europe? We can't wait to see how this plays out -- but if any game deserves numerous special editions, it's Phantom Hourglass.[Via GoNintendo]
Zelda pre-order case available for purchase soon?
Reader Andrew is in love with his new Phantom Hourglass case. You know, the one that Aussie EB Games' were giving to customers who pre-ordered the game? Well, he was kind enough to take some shots of the case for all of us. But, even better, he gave us hope that we may actually be able to purchase it, if we wanted one and live outside of his country.Turns out, Bigben Interactive GmbH manufactures the case out of Germany. In heading to their website, it looks as if the shop area is still under construction, but the case is definitely listed there. So, here's to hoping we can get one ourselves in the future.As for the case, Andrew asked that we host the images since his bandwidth isn't as plentiful as he'd like it to be. So, we made a gallery. Be sure to hit it up below.%Gallery-8485%
Gilded Zelda DS Lite on the horizon?
Apparently, the gold DS Lite you see tucked away in the lower-left hand corner of the picture above could soon be coming to retail stores, which to be honest, wouldn't shock us considering the smorgasbord of colors already out there. Reportedly, the photograph was snapped at the Nintendo World Store as Phantom Hourglass launched, and to make things even more interesting, a certain individual has also claimed that his company has received orders from the Big N to design graphics for a "BOX, SYST GOLD W/ZELDA: HOUR USG." Even if legitimate, it remains to be seen if the elusive new portable will simply be a limited run for contests or if it'll hit shelves en masse, but it's hard to argue how well a gilded Zelda DS Lite bundle would sell this holiday season.[Via DSFanboy]Read - Gold DS & Phantom Hourglass BundleRead - Zelda DS Lite Bundle Coming Soon?
WRUP: Gee, we wonder what you're playing edition
Let's think of a release that most of you are probably knee-deep in? Tough one, right? Well, we're fairly confident that it's none other than ... The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night. Yup, out of the long list of games that released, we're absolutely certain that's the game you're playing. If we had to bet body parts on it, we would be rich in organs.So, tell us of your adventures with Spyro and how much fun you're having with it. Because, you are. That's what you're playing. We know it is.
Nintendo offers bribe for Zelda opinions
Nintendo really wants to know how you feel about The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Or, rather, if this survey is anything like the Brain Age 2 survey, they want to know if there are any non-gamers in the house to whom you can evangelize the game. In any case, they're willing to pay handsomely in single pieces of plastic for the information.Registering your game and filling out the survey will make you eligible for this cute "Feather Pen Stylus." Really, it's a free thing requiring minimal effort, so why not? You can choose whether or not to poke at your DS with it.
DS Daily: At last (maybe)
Are you already neck-deep in Phantom Hourglass, or are you stuck waiting for the weekend -- or even next week! -- like some folks we know? If you're among the lucky folks already playing through Link's latest adventure, how far are you, and what do you think so far? Is it the single greatest thing since sliced bread? We may be a little biased, but we'll lean toward a yes on that one. Of course, if you played an import copy, you're probably long finished, and want the chance to gloat in front of the others. That's just fine, too ... but try to be careful with the spoilers.
