Gaming The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

[Charles]

Here it is, a look at the first Zelda title created specifically for the Nintendo DS.
This will be an original Zelda title developed by the Windwaker team. The graphics look very similar to said title, only the presentation is from a traditional top-down perspective. Here is the first trailer:

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrxgKbgFOyI[/url]

In case you don't like youtube, here are two more links to the trailer:

[URL=http://www.g-freaks.de/Downloads/ZELDADS_640.wmv]hi-res trailer[/URL]

[URL=http://www.g-freaks.de/Downloads/ZELDADS_320.wmv]low res trailer[/URL]

Here are some screenies as well:

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads7.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.planetds.de/images/news/03-2006/zeldads/zeldads8.jpg[/IMG]

I figured this forum could use a break from the Kingdom Hearts crap and we could actually discuss a quality title. I'm really impressed with the 3D the DS has been doing. As if Mario Kart wasn't impressive enough, Metroid and now Zelda have blown the doors off what the Nintendo 64 could do. Touch screen capabilities are confirmed and it will be released this year. Looks like a good year for Zelda fans.

[XeEmO]

I saw the trailer earlier today, and I must say I'm quite impressed. I've been waiting for a DS Zelda game since the release of the DS, and here it is.

I can't say I enjoyed the whole sailing aspect of the wind waker. Hopefully you wont have to travel by boat as much in this new one. Other than that I don't have too many worries.

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]What surprises me most about this game is how intuitive and interesting the touch screen control appears to be, at least from the video.

When I heard about a "touch screen Zelda" I wondered how it would work...but it looks like there's plenty of variety here to keep people interested. I'm actually pretty excited to see how this title works out.[/font]

[Goodbye, Face]

[font=trebuchet ms]The way the stylus is used reminds me of Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. It looks like it's to solve puzzles and have a weapon (like the boomerang) based around it. I wonder how much of the buttons will be used and how hard it'll be to switch back and forth.

Then again, I'm still new to the DS, I've had it since Christmas and haven't played too many games on it.[/font]

[Shinmaru]

[quote name='Charles']I figured this forum could use a break from the Kingdom Hearts crap and we could actually discuss a quality title.[/quote]

You're a good man, Charles.

Anyway, this game looks very cool. I'm incredibly interested in the more complex puzzles that are certain to come about due to the touch screen. Also, I get the impression from the trailer that sailing is automatic once you've set a course with the stylus, so I guess that will make sailing slightly less annoying than it was in Wind Waker... especially if you're able to fight monsters without having to worry about where the hell the boat is going.

[Tatsubei Yagyu]

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Comic Sans MS][quote name='Charles']I figured this forum could use a break from the Kingdom Hearts crap and we could actually discuss a quality title.[/quote]

I like the Kingdom Hearts Forum... :animedepr

Well well, seems as though the DS is proving how power it can be. The thing I'm most excited about is the Bommerang for some reason. That just looked to cool, the writing the route the 'rang goes on... :D

[quote name='Shinmaru'] Also, I get the impression from the trailer that sailing is automatic once you've set a course with the stylus, so I guess that will make sailing slightly less annoying than it was in Wind Waker... especially if you're able to fight monsters without having to worry about where the hell the boat is going.[/quote]

I liked the sailing in Wind Waker... :animedepr
But I argeed., it was annoying getting knocked off your boat, then it getting launched in from of you, and having to swim to it while getting eaten. :mad: [/FONT][/COLOR]

[_Kenshin_]

Finally, I've been hoping to find one reach its way to the Ds, do you know if they'll be having wi-fi connection of it so we can kill each other like in four swords?
Or even go on the story mode type of dungeon to unlock secret things.
Ooooh the possibilitys are wandering through my mind.

[Desbreko]

[quote name='Charles']I figured this forum could use a break from the Kingdom Hearts crap and we could actually discuss a quality title.[/quote][color=#4B0082]Charles, you're my hero.

N-Sider also posted a news article about this with a link to a video, so I saw this a bit ago. You know what my first reaction was? "Holy crap yes! The Dark World theme is back!" . . . Okay, I'm lame, I know. But the actual gameplay also had me drooling.

From what I've seen, I think I'm really going to like the perspective they're using. It looks to play like a 2D Zelda, but also have stuff such as the sailing which could only be done effectively in 3D. The best of both worlds, pretty much.

I'm not worried about switching from stylus to buttons and back, though. Playing Animal Crossing: Wild World, I got so I could switch back and forth easy enough. I just hold the stylus in the palm of my right hand with my pinky and ring fingers, up against the side of the DS, while I'm using the buttons with my thumb and index finger. Then I can flip it up and hold it like a pencil when I need to do something on the touch screen. It's fast, easy, and comfortable.

But I'm still wondering if there's a Four Swords game in production, or even in planning, for the DS. I'd really love to play FS over wi-fi.[/color]

[_Kenshin_]

[QUOTE=Desbreko][color=#4B0082]
But I'm still wondering if there's a Four Swords game in production, or even in planning, for the DS. I'd really love to play FS over wi-fi.[/color][/QUOTE]
Same type of thing I was wondering about the Ds, I hope they'd do that, but like the GC you can do multiplayer story... how could you do that with other ds players with saving, unless it'd be like a mini dungeon type of thing.

So what's the link to the N-sider forum?

Well all I can really do is hope until we get more info on this game.

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]Phantom Hourglass is finally out and I picked it up today. I haven't gotten very far yet, though I am off the starter island and have tried out the sailing a bit.

My first reaction to the game was laughing at the terrible drawings of Link, Tetra, and the pirates used for illustration during the prologue. I will soon be scouring the net to try and find them so I can make an avatar and banner. But that's not really important.

My second reaction to the game was feeling awkward while using the stylus to run around and do pretty much everything. I'm used to the control cross and buttons, I like the control cross and buttons, and I'm still wishing they had given us the option to use the control cross and buttons. Sadly, they did not, so I'm stuck with stylus control.

But using the stylus does get more intuitive as you play because Nintendo did a really good job with the controls. I don't think it will ever be quite as fast or precise as the control cross and buttons but I can already tell that it will work well enough. I was running around hacking up ChuChus and rats without much trouble as soon as I got the sword, so once I'm used to it I don't think the stylus control will be a hindrence.[/color]

[Rachmaninoff]

I saw this the other day and was thinking what fun it would be to play. Until I realized it was for the DS and I don't have a DS. And naturally I don't have the $130.00 needed to pick one up let alone the $35 for the game. lol Still if anything was to tempt me to finally get a DS it would definitely be a Zelda game. Especially since it looks like its the cell-shading look for the graphics and I love how the Wind Waker looks.

[SunfallE]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Well the stores where I live were pretty much sold out, I didn't seen it anywhere so I ordered this along with the WiFi adapter so I can finally get online and visit other people's towns in Animal Crossing.

Unfortunately, it has not shipped just yet, but I only just put the order in when the stores didn't get anymore in like the said they would. I can't wait until it arrives so I can play it! It looks like a lot of fun and like Rach... I love the cell-shading graphics. :catgirl: At least I won't need a DS in order to be able to play it. Hehe.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]Phantom Hourglass is a direct sequel to TWW and it's pretty amazing how well it replicates the Wind Waker style on the DS. It's not quite as smooth because of the lower resolution and polygon count but other than that PH looks and feels just like TWW.

After playing Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time not long ago, it really hit me how different the cel shaded style is compared to them. Aside from the graphics, the general atmosphere of the world and attitudes of the characters are also completely different. I like both styles but PH made me realize how happy I am to get another cel shaded Zelda.[/color]

[Meggido]

I've still got to wait a week for Phantom Hourglass to be released in australia. I'd be spending my time replaying through Wind Waker if it wasn't for the fact that I was playing so much already. Anyway got my copy pre-ordered at EB which I almost never buy from now as their are cheap places but for pre-ordering I get a nice metallic Zelda DS carry case. As long as it's not made for the slim DS I'm all set. XD

[Aaryanna]

[COLOR="goldenrod"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I want this so bad I can taste it. XP But I still don't have a DS. I suspect that in the end, like I always do, I'll be shamelessly begging Beth to let me play her's when it arrives. I really need a job and my own money!

Everything I've seen for this just looks like so much fun! Also, The Wind Waker was my first Zelda game and I adore the cell-shaded look. So I really want to have another Zelda game done in that style. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]I've been playing more and beat the second dungeon today. The stylus control is definitely feeling a lot more natural now. They were smart and included button shortcuts (R or L) for your equipped secondary item which makes it a lot easier than toggling back and forth with the touch screen. It's really cool to be able to hold in L to whip out the boomerang or bombs and then just tap the spot I want to throw it at.

Sailing is okay but simply being able to tap enemies to shoot them with the cannon almost makes it too easy. Plotting your course on the map is cool but there have been a couple times I've wished for manual control when navigating around cyclones. You can stop and go while following the course you have set but it's nearly impossible to do fine maneuvering around things. You basically just have to stop and wait for cyclones to pass by—and hope they don't start heading your way.

The space between each island is not nearly as vast as in TWW, at least so far. And pretty early in the game you get the ability to use cyclone warp points that you've unlocked. It looks like people who were annoyed with all the sailing in TWW don't have anything to worry about there.[/color]

[BlueYoshi]

[color=darkred]Is the treasure hunting aspect present in PH?[/color]

[SunfallE]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='BlueYoshi'][color=darkred]Is the treasure hunting aspect present in PH?[/color][/QUOTE]I'm curious about that too. I certainly hope so. I loved collecting all the maps and finding all the treasure. I even loved pulling up money just by virtue of being over the glowing circles in the water at night. I spent hours and hours doing that kind of stuff in The Wind Waker since it was so much fun. :catgirl:[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]You still find treasure charts, yes, although there doesn't appear to be a day/night cycle. So no random glowing rings at night, but you do get more rupees from killing baddies while sailing; anything they drop is automatically given to you.

You can also fish while sailing if you find a fish shadow on the map, once you get a fishing rod. You use the touch screen to set the hook and pull back on the rod, as well as reeling the fish in. It's kind of like a simplified version of the fishing in the Wii version of Twilight Princess.[/color]

[SunfallE]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Well I finally got mine in the mail! I've gotten far enough to finish the second dungeon and I'm now off to get a [spoiler]cannon for the ship[/spoiler] So far I love the game. It is taking me time to get use to the stylus instead of using the buttons. I keep finding myself trying to use the buttons instead since that's what I'm use to.

Still it is easier to slash, spin, thrust and run than I thought it would be. It helps that simply holding the stylus down with a bit of pressure results in Link running in that direction without the need to move the stylus. And I too like how they've tied your second weapon into the L & R buttons making it very easy to switch between it and your sword.

What I find amusing is how it incorporates the mic into the game. It took me a little bit of time to realize that for one place I had to have Link facing some flames and [spoiler]actually blow into the mic to get him to lean forward and blow the flames out [/spoiler] I thought that was pretty nifty. Just as having him do the same to [spoiler]blow dust off the second map you get was fun too. [/spoiler]

I'm not sure what I think of how the sailing works. But then I loved the sailing aspect of the other game so I feel a little cheated at the moment. Though I suppose with it being on the DS instead of the GameCube it's unavoidable that they scaled that back quite a bit.

Anyway, I also love that you have a [spoiler]fairy again. [/spoiler] I'm extremely curious to see how she ends up being a part of the overall story. And I'm thrilled to have the cell-shaded look again. I kind of missed it actually. :catgirl:[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Meggido]

Got the game 2 days ago. Already got one of the [spoiler]ores you need to craft the phantom sword[/spoiler] and still playing strong. I love the puzzles in this game whether it for bosses, random mobs, or just every day dungeon puzzles. I must say so far I was [spoiler]not expecting the way to do the imprint puzzle. That had me stumped for a good 5-10 mins, same with a friend of mine[/spoiler]. This game just continues to impress me though and I can't wait to see what lies ahead.

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]Whee, posting this from my Wii 'cause my PC is dead.

The puzzles really are clever; I've been enjoying them a lot. The use of the mic for various things has been neat. I'm still not used to it, so whenever the game mentions making noise or something I still think of classic Zelda solutions to those kinds of puzzles. And the map imprint also took me a couple minutes to figure out but then when I did it made me smile and go, "duh!" The game really makes you pay attention to the DS's features.

Another thing I thought was really cool was the boss of the third dungeon. [spoiler]Seeing out of the eyes of the boss on the top screen while it ran around invisible was a cool effect, and then having to aim the bow from that point of view was really fun. Seeing myself being charged at and frantically aiming back at where I was looking from was awesome.[/spoiler] I love how each boss has its own little twist like that; it adds some much needed creativity to the stun-and-slash formula they've been using since OoT.[/color]

[James]

[color=#606060]I'm only up to the second dungeon [spoiler](Isle of Gusts)[/spoiler] but I've played enough to form an early opinion.

At this stage I'm finding PH really refreshing. For me, even as a Zelda fan, the franchise was starting to feel tired. Twilight Princess was amazing - definitely better than OoT - but I've really started to have enough of the formula. Perhaps that's why MM is still my favourite 3D Zelda.

Anyway, Phantom Hourglass really shakes things up. Even though you're still progressing from temple to temple, the entire format of the game is quite different. Somehow Phantom Hourglass feels a whole lot more modern than even Wind Waker; from the puzzles to the navigation on the ocean...everything has a feeling of freshness to it.

The new controls are largely to thank for this. Drawing on your map to solve puzzles is a brilliant concept that is actually fundamental to gameplay. Surprisingly it adds quite a lot to the game.

The overall pace of this Zelda is quite a lot faster and tighter than Twilight Princess. I haven't really felt like I've experienced moments where I've been wandering around in search of random items or anything - the overall experience just feels a lot leaner and more varied.

Some may complain that the game ultimately seems shorter or less complex - certainly the story has been, so far, nothing terribly interesting. Having said that, I think the gameplay benefits. Phantom Hourglass is an innovator in many respects and I think it sets several new standards in the Zelda universe.

After playing this, it would be disappointing to play a new Wii Zelda that doesn't make the same kind of clever use of the controller. Phantom Hourglass just shows how elegantly a simplified control system can actually work.

I was skeptical about using the touch screen exclusively but in all honesty, it felt good right from the start. I haven't once found myself wishing to use buttons...I simply haven't needed them.

Also...I haven't noticed any issues with accuracy really. Movement is just as easy with the touch screen as with an analog stick or a d-pad. I haven't experienced any accidental deaths as a result of the touch interface.

So yeah, the new control system breathes much life into an ageing franchise. Combined with much tighter game design and much more focused general progression (as well as some ridiculously cool puzzles and a [i]much[/i] improved sailing system), PH is definitely setting a new standard for Zelda.

I just hope that this is the start of a series of DS-centric Zelda games that continue to push the bold innovations present in Phantom Hourglass.[/color]

[SunfallE]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='Desbreko'][color=#4B0082] And the map imprint also took me a couple minutes to figure out but then when I did it made me smile and go, "duh!" The game really makes you pay attention to the DS's features.[/color][/QUOTE]That took me more than a few minutes. And when I finally did figure it out I was doing more than duh! lol But then it was so different than what I'm use to as far as games go. XP It certainly makes the game interesting though because it's changing how you do things or rather think in terms of solving a puzzle in order to move to the next phase.

I still hate the sailing though. I liked it in The Wind Waker so it still feels like a cheat to me. Hopefully once I can get treasure that will change, but for now? :animesigh[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Heaven's Cloud]

[color=indigo]I purchased this game right before Thanksgiving and played it religiously over the holiday weekend. It was a blast.

Controlling Link with the stylus grows fairly intuitive quickly and the enjoyment of sketching the path for the boomerang and bombchus doesn’t wear thin. I also like how I can mark spots on the map, leaving notes on spots that I need to revisit at a later point.

The puzzles are usually pretty easy, however, imprinting the map was maddening. My only real complaint is that the final boss was too easy to defeat…though that seems pretty typical of Zelda games.
[/color]