phantom-hourglass
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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?
Conjecture Countdown: One more day!
With only one more day of waiting before the debut of the diminished E3, we've decided to get serious and offer up some real predictions about what we will -- and won't -- see at the show. Check after the jump for the breakdown, by writer, of the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of our E3 hopes and fears.
Possible English-language Phantom Hourglass box
It's considerably less blue than than the Japanese box art, but word around the campfire is that this may be the box we're all going to be opening in October for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. While it seems a little less playful than the Japanese counterpart, the brown background seems very much in keeping with the series. And we just love Link's expression! [Via Digg]%Gallery-3279%
Stream Phantom Hourglass' music
It could be months before The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass makes it to America, but you can count on us to bring you everything we find pertaining to the Japanese game -- commercials, video of its first six minutes, and now, its soundtrack. It's as close as you can get to playing the game without actually having to import it! Sort of.The Hylia has ripped over 75 tracks directly from Phantom Hourglass, posting them all for you to listen to. Aren't you glad that you have friends like us to tell you about the awesome going-ons of the internet?
Famitsu loves Zelda, gives Phantom Hourglass near-perfect score
Respected Japanese gaming publication Famitsu has reportedly given Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass a near-perfect 39 out of 40 score, according to CVG. That number is based on four reviewers -- three giving the DS adventure a perfect 10, and one dissenter only awarding 9 points.Phantom Hourglass is the 17th game to earn a near-perfect score of 39 (A Link to the Past was the first). Two Zelda titles to have earned perfect scores are Wind Waker, which was the sixth game ever to earn a perfect score from the publication, and Ocarina of Time, which was the very first. [Source] So yeah, Famitsu really loves Legend of Zelda. They want to marry Legend of Zelda and then get divorced and cite "irreconcilable differences." It's hard to understand, we'll explain it when you're older.
Blogging through every Legend of Zelda
Ever wanted to read a novelization of the Legend of Zelda series? No? Well, we've got one for you, anyways.A blogger known as Grownup Gamer has begun a project where he will be writing extensively about every game in the Legend of Zelda series in chronological order. We can't emphasize the word "extensive" enough -- each entry is extremely detailed, but Blogging Zelda fortunately is well-written enough to be an interesting read. Grownup Gamer has actually been blogging since the end of May, spending just under two weeks to complete the first and second quests in the original NES Zelda. He is currently mowing through Zelda II: The Adventures of Link. Fifteen titles in all have been planned for completion, including the yet-to-be-released Phantom Hourglass.See Also:The Shields of Zelda[Via 4cr; image source]
DS releases for the week of June 18th
Welcome to an incredible week for Nintendo fans! This week, the DS (and the Wii as well!) will see some highly anticipated titles make their debut, and a late addition to last week's releases is now available as well -- the budget Brain Buster Puzzle Pak shipped after last week's announcements. Not that we need anything extra after looking at this line-up: Brothers in Arms DS Full Metal Alchemist Trading Card Game Sim City DS Time Ace Transformers: Autobots Transformers: Deceptacons Zendoku While you agonize over your choices this week, let's check out the releases for the rest of the world. It's a big week for Japan -- Phantom Hourglass hits shelves there this week!
More Phantom Hourglass commercials for Japan, nothing for us
Whether it's shields or mini-sites, we can't seem to stop torturing ourselves with Phantom Hourglass news. We're actually physically pained by the fact that Japan will be receiving the game as early as next week; meanwhile, we're still waiting for a US release date to be announced, wallowing in self-pity with nothing but Destination Software's Chicken Shoot to look forward to. We want to chase chickens into corners, carry them over our heads, or even slash at them with a sword until a flood of poultry pour into our screens to defend their friend -- not shoot at them! We cry fowl at Chicken Shoot!Nintendo's latest commercial for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass depicts a young girl finding clues, taking notes, and counting Link's steps to unlock one of the game's many secrets. As you'll see past the post break, no chickens were harmed in the making of the video.%Gallery-3279%
Today's most stylistic video: DS Zelda controls
With Zelda: Phantom Hourglass nearly released--well, for Japanese gamers, that is--GameTrailers has posted a few brief gameplay clips that show the touchscreen controls. Gamers outside of Japan will have to wait until later this year to play the DS RPG/adventure. (Make the wait even longer by watching Japanese commercials for the game.)Start forming opinions on the controls. After the break, watch demos of movement, swordplay, and curved boomerang throws, all handled with the stylus.
Phantom Hourglass site opens with new videos
With less than two weeks to go before The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass' June 23rd release in Japan, Nintendo has launched an official site for the ARPG with several new videos. The clips mimic the commercials that've been advertising the handheld adventure in Japan, showing off Link's new touchscreen movement and controls. We know that you hate to pay long-distance fees for visiting sites outside of the country, so we went ahead and embedded the movies after the post break. Really, there's no need to thank us -- let's just say you owe us one. %Gallery-3279%
Japan's Zelda: Phantom Hourglass commercials
Ready for the return of Celda? As the Japanese enjoy Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the rest of us wait until the nebulous "Holiday 2007" release. Well, you can check out these two new commercials for the game above and after the break. For those not fluent in Japanese, allow us to translate: "You want Nintendo stock to triple by 2008. Zelda is cash cow, drink milk." Yeah, the Hitler translation still wins hands down.
The Shields of Zelda
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/The_Shields_of_Zelda'; If you paid close attention to yesterday's Phantom Hourglass commercials, you might've spotted the lobster design (or is it a crayfish?) on Link's shield. What do you think of the new look? Wind Waker fans should recognize the crustacean shape, as it originally showed up on our hero's pajamas in the GameCube game. Link's shield has been as much a staple of the Zelda series as the adventurer's green cap, deflecting octorok attacks and pushing away charging enemies. Over the past two decades, the defensive device's design has evolved much from its original cross emblem to incorporate Triforces, various winged figures, and decorative accents. We've collected over a dozen of the different layouts that we spotted at The Hylia, leaving out mirror shields and other deviations (e.g. Ordon shield), and have lined them up for you to compare and constrast after the post break. Enjoy!
DS Daily: Is Phantom Hourglass still your most wanted?
Way back in January, we asked you what game you wanted most this year, and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass won by a ridiculous margin. Since then, we've learned more about the game, and seen more of how it looks. We also know that there are other goodies to anticipate this year. So now that we're approaching the halfway point of 2007, we thought we'd ask -- is Phantom Hourglass still your top choice, particularly now that Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are out?%Gallery-3279%
First Nintendo Short Cuts entry: it's all about the guy in green
BigZeldaFan14: omg omgBIGGESTZeldaFan14: omg wut?BigZeldaFan14: check it out theres a contest 4 nintendo movies http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/your-elite-beat-agents-screenplay-a-video-camera-an-easy-10/BIGGESTZeldaFan14: 4realz ?BigZeldaFan14: yah click teh linkBIGGESTZeldaFan14: omg i have 2 make sumthin about link he's soooooo kewlBigZeldaFan14: lol have u ever made movie b4?BIGGESTZeldaFan14: no but i look @ utube everyday XD XD XD and i have macBigZeldaFan14: o okThe above is a re-creation of (our assumption of) the circumstances behind the creation of the very first entry in Nintendo's Short Cuts Showcase. Let us warn you: if you weren't convinced before that Link is the #1 coolest game character EVAR ... well, you'll probably be exactly the same after watching this video. But you'll have laughed, at least. It may not be the best video we'll see in this contest, but its heart is in the right place.We here at DS Fanboy would like to encourage everyone to enter the contest, if only so we can watch your videos. But if one of you guys wins after seeing it here, you so owe us a dollar. Remember, we're here writing because we fail at making movies. Let us live vicariously through you!
Super Smash Bros. Brawl still on for 2007
It's tough going to the party without a date. Earlier this week, Nintendo laid out its release plans up until September 2007, notably leaving a still dateless Super Smash Bros. Brawl out of the whole affair, forcing it to watch as Metroid Prime 3 marched to the ball with an alluring 20th of August on its cannon arm. With no solid release window in sight, the Wii's frantic fighter must have considered going on a lonely drinking binge and slipping into a coma until 2008. That is, until Reggie Fils-Aime administered an unforgiving slap to the face and instilled hope once more. Speaking at the recent Nintendo Summit in Seattle, the Nintendo of America president confirmed that the musically rich Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy would both be out before your Official Iwata Swimsuit 2007 calendar becomes worthless. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for DS was given similar assurances and will likely join the anticipated Wii duo in this holiday season's battle for shoppers. You'd best start stocking up on that financial ammunition.
DS Daily: Legend of Zelda: Item of Great Importance
According to the latest news about The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the eponymous hourglass keeps your hearts from draining while in a cursed underwater shrine. Link must go from island to island to find sand so he can keep the hourglass full. Basically, he is addicted to sand.That sounds like an interesting gameplay mechanic, lending the game a sort of Fushigi no Dungeon-esque resource upkeep element (like keeping the light glowing in The Nightmare of Druaga.) However, that's not the issue for today's discussion. We want to talk about the item as it relates to Zelda's history. In most Zelda games since the N64 one, there has been an item in the title that is central to the game's plot and/or gameplay-- the Ocarina of Time and the very similar Wind Waker, Majora's Mask, Four Swords, the Minish Cap, and now the Phantom Hourglass. Do you think basing the game (and its title) around a single item is a neat storytelling convention, or lazy formulaic design? We are declaring this a Safe Zelda Bashing Zone. Don't be afraid to say something negative about Zelda! Here, we'll start: the first one didn't even have a subtitle, and it's still the best one.[News item via NeoGAF]
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass boxart
The Japanese boxart for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is up on Amazon for all to see. We're hugely excited about the new Zelda, and advise you check here for the screens we showed you last week. It's coming out on Saturday July 23rd, exactly 11 years after the Nintendo 64 hit the shelves. It's highly unusual for a game to come out on a Saturday in Japan, where Thursday is the traditional release day for new titles. Whatever -- we want to get our hands on Phantom Hourglass as soon as possible![Via Nintendo iNSIDE]
New Phantom Hourglass screens make waiting a little easier
Since June is fast approaching, and with it the long-awaited release of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Nintendo is letting us have another little taste of our most-wanted DS game. The holiday season is gonna be a long time coming. Doesn't it feel like we've been waiting forever? Oh well, no time to pout -- there are screens to be ogled! Check 'em out after the jump.
GDC 07: ... and that's a wrap!
Well, now that GDC '07 has come to an end, it's time to look back over the DS Fanboy experience. Here, you'll find all of the GDC news and content in one convenient location. Even without a lot of direct information from Nintendo, it was still a great show for DS fans.News:Classic Suda 51 weirdness hitting the DSThe Ward sneaks into the newsMiyamoto keynote reveals design inspirationThe making of Ouendan and Elite Beat AgentsBarnyard Blast: Swine of the NightMakeup and Japanese housewife simsHousewife Superstar: home-ec minigamesSquare Enix demos game development gameHands-on impressions:Phantom Hourglass impressionsPokemon Pearl impressionsPhantom Hourglass multiplayer mode demoedVideo:Phantom Hourglass footageMiscellaneous:Even Reggie's limo driver is famous!DS Fanboy lands at GDC: what to expect
Friday Video: Phantom Hourglass footage
Our man on the floor at GDC, the illustrious Andrew Yoon, gave you an overview of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass the other day, so it's only fitting that this week we spotlight a video that demonstrates some of what he was talking about -- both the good and the bad. Check it out after the jump.
