The Official Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Thread

[ThirdMarioBro]

Talk about the game here rather than the Nintendo thread, and please use spoiler tags. Europeans still have to wait three weeks for the game.

[The Terror of Death]

What should I do, get it this Friday with my own money or get it as a Christmas present?

[Peanut]

How about make up your own mind? We don't know your monetary situation.

[The Terror of Death]

I am in no financial crisis so it doesnt really matter. I just wanted to know if this game is that good of a DS game.

[Peanut]

Might want to wait until it comes out to ask us that question, as none of us have played it. In the meantime, there are plenty of reviews popping up on various game sites, so you could always check those.

[愛]

I'm picking this up tomorrow after school. I'm excited for it. WW was a really great game.

[ThirdMarioBro]

As a Zelda fundamentalist I have concerns, but on the DS scale it will probably be the best on the system.

[愛]

Yeah, so I forgot Nintendo releases their stuff the day AFTER the announced release date, so I went to Gamestop like an idiot and didn't get it. I did put all my money down on it, though, so I'll get it tomorrow when I have my 3 HOUR break between classes. It's a subway ride, though, so maybe I'll wait. Who knows. Either way, I wanna play it badly.

[Brodie]

Master Chief is teabagging this thread.

So hard.

[Mr. Snackpants]

Hahahaha.

So true. I won't be picking this up for awhile. Not until I'm sick of H3...maybe by Christmas break.

[Peanut]

I'll pick it up, because that's the way I am, but I don't know how quickly I'll beat it. I certainly don't think it will be as quick as I beat OoT, tWW and TP. That's for sure.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Loser. I thought you were a Wind Waker whore.

[tinlunlau]

I've been playing this for a month already.
Thank god for Chinese fan-translated patches.

[Peanut]

Loser. I thought you were a Wind Waker whore.

I am, but I've just got too much on my plate right now. I'll probably end up playing it at night before bed, which will no doubt make me stay up until all hours of the morning. We shall see!

[愛]

I just started the game up. I just wanted to check the boards before disappearing into this game for a while. I like how the game is played, with the stylus. Well, I'll be back later with an update.

[愛]

Okay, well, the game is very good so far. It has that Wind Waker simplicity, yet fun atmosphere that I was looking for, but....

I just got the Phantom Hourglass, and it basically gives dungeons time limits. At least that's what I've noticed upon getting it. I hate being timed. A lot. In any game. So this is a big negative point on the game...

But so far? Enjoying it a lot. So...did anyone even buy this, or am I alone? TMB? I know you wouldn't turn down a Zelda game. You made the damn thread.

[愛]

Guess no one cares but me.

This game is getting really lame. Really fast. That's all I can say.

[The Terror of Death]

Please elaborate. Yeah, I know you said "That's all I can say" but I must know!

[愛]

Well, since no one f'n bought it, I'm going to leave it out of the spoilers.

The phantom hourglass puts a timer on the "big" dungeon of the game. You return to it many times. There's puzzles you have to do, and the hourglass makes it timed. So if you can't finish in time, you lose. And if the puzzles take a while, it gets ANNOYING if you have to do it more than once. I really hate pressure like that. Especially for a game that's on a portable system.

[Peanut]

My mom actually just brought this home for me. I'm gonna start playing now!

[Peanut]

Really really enjoying it so far. The controls are tight and it just feels so much like The Wind Waker to me. Pretty much kicking TP's ass FIERCELY right now. This is what Zelda is all about.

P.S. tWW Link is the best Link. FACT!

[愛]

DAMN RIGHT! I'm really enjoying it. I retract my "lame" statement. Once you get past that timed stuff, it's a SOLID game. Controls are great, music and sound effects are soothing, and it's an all-out fun game that you don't want to stop playing.

WIND WAKER LINK FTW

[Peanut]

The only complaint I can lodge against the game is no heart pieces. Seriously, WTF were they thinking? I never feel like exploring beyond areas I need to because there will never be that reward there. What am I gonna get? Rupees? WHOOPIE! No thanks.

[Barkworm]

Don't you get full heart containers for some side quests?

[ThirdMarioBro]

The only complaint I can lodge against the game is no heart pieces. Seriously, WTF were they thinking? I never feel like exploring beyond areas I need to because there will never be that reward there. What am I gonna get? Rupees? WHOOPIE! No thanks.

Yeah, I'm knocking the game for this too. Heart pieces are one of the old core Zelda elements that give us a reason to actually jump down all those holes we dig up on the overworld. I'm not worried though. Enough people are bitching that I doubt this little omission will stick.

[愛]

I just finished the 6th temple. If this is like the other Zelda games, only two more temples to go. This game like, really lacks a deep story. I don't really care, though. It's a handheld game, and the gameplay makes up for it.

[Peanut]

I just entered the 3rd temple and I'm loving it so far. I really like the puzzles, they seem so fresh thanks to the unique controls. They're not hard or time consuming, but despite that they're still satisfying to solve.

And what's with this baby complaining about the timed stuff? It's so damn easy. I seriously have like 4-6 minutes left in my Hourglass when I finish. Someone just SUCKS.

[愛]

You just wait, homo. Actually, it got really easy when I redid my run and got a lot of sand left.

[The Terror of Death]

What does Link have in place of heart pieces?

[Peanut]

He has Heart Pieces. You just don't collect 4 pieces of heart to gain a new one.

[愛]

As Peanut pointed out to me, people who purchased Phantom Hourglass can register their code on the Nintendo website and receive a free feather stylus. Just complete a little survey, telling them what you think of the game, and you're set.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/free/nintendo-giving-away-phantom-hourglass-feather-styli-307363.php

Just registered for mine. Totally awesome! I love it when they give away free stuff.

[Peanut]

I think we're the only two who bought this game. What losers.

Anyways, yeah. Ice Temple is sh*t. (I don't consider this a spoiler, and if you do you need to be smacked.) Most illogical puzzle design in a Zelda game ever.

[愛]

I agree, you guys suck! The game is the best handheld Zelda ever!

[The Terror of Death]

Is thre online or co-op play? And if so, is it a nice addition?

[ThirdMarioBro]

Seeing as I am so pathetically slow at Zelda games, I will be staying out of this thread for the sake of spoilers.

[愛]

Is thre online or co-op play? And if so, is it a nice addition?

There's an online battle mode, where you can either play with random people, or add friend codes and play with friends. I haven't tried it yet, but I assume it's lame.

I'm on the last dungeon now. I'll probably have it done by tonight. I'll write up a review if I'm not lazy.

[愛]

Zelda is done. Review up later today when I get home.

[Peanut]

Here's my review: After a couple dungeons the magic wears off and thanks to the need to retrace your steps through the same dungeon over and over again, your want to play the game will decrease, and if you have anything else to play Phantom Hourglass will be forgotten.

[Barkworm]

So everyone's favourite series is going down the drain?

[Peanut]

Twilight Princess was the start, Phantom Hourglass LOOKED like it was going to change all of that, but after a couple hours (when you get over the wonderment of playing such a nice looking Zelda on a handheld) it wears so so soooo dreadfully thin.

The sailing is sh*t, because it doesn't feel like you're in this vast ocean where you can explore and find things. It just feels like it's a big open...nothing, where you get attacked randomly by creatures that pose no threat; while you move on to the next completely contained island. The dungeons can be fun, but so often the puzzles just revolve around finding a bunch of rocks that you'll need to read, and then write that information on your map. Not to mention how short they are. You spend most of your f*cking time trying to beat the clock in a retarded dungeon that you have to play through time and time again, involving a lot of "pick up this block and place it in the right hole" puzzles.

The Zelda formula has just worn thin. It hasn't evolved since OoT, and it continues to just stagnate. The Nintendo and Zelda fanboys will continue to disagree with it, but eventually they're just going to have to admit that Zelda isn't what it used to be. At all.

[Mecha Cow]

Peanut, I generally agree with your opinions on Zelda games, and you're scaring me here. You're scaring me. :(

[Peanut]

I really don't know what to tell you, man. The magic just isn't there. Its got that Wind Waker style and flare, but the game just doesn't hold up. I actually prefer TP over this...

[Dr. Doom]

More Twilight Princess for me, I guess.

[Barkworm]

I really don't know what to tell you, man. The magic just isn't there. Its got that Wind Waker style and flare, but the game just doesn't hold up. I actually prefer TP over this...
Does that mean this game is an 8.7??!! :lol:

[gobo]

As much as I love Zelda, I still haven't gotten this title or several others. I'm so behind. >_<

[Dr. Doom]

I kinda wanna play Twilight Princess again now.

[Mecha Cow]

Just got the game. Enjoying it so far but I really don't like the controls.

[Barkworm]

I'm also having trouble adjusting to the controls. I like the game so far but it's definitely lacking something.

[Peanut]

The control issues will go away, for the most part, you still occasionally find yourself falling off ledges or frantically trying to get the right weapon out, but you'll settle into it for the most part.

However, the thing about the game lacking something will haunt you the whole way through.

[R-iZZy]

Dude, I love this game! I like the new aspects added to this game, and I like the fact that this game brilliantly takes advantage of the the DS' strength, the stylus. It really makes you feel like the DS has a stylus for a reason other than pressing things.

The story is cool. I'm glad it's following to a story (ala Majora's Mask to Ocarina of Time), that's been the direction I've wanted this franchise to take, although I'd rather it all be one Link going on multiple adventures rather than a new generation's Link taking off. But then again, this franchise would be called the Legend of Zelda for nothing.

Just finished capturing the third spirit fairy. I think I'm about ready to board the Ghost Ship and save Tetra. Should be nuts.

[Barkworm]

I still haven't played much of it but the Ocean King dungeon? Completely retarded. What a god awful game to stall the game.

[Mecha Cow]

I have to be a bitch, but I still cannot stand these controls. Technically they work, but they don't work. Why the hell can't I just walk with the D-Pad? Also, they somehow managed to make the sailing a million times more boring than it ever was in Wind Waker.

[Dr. Doom]

I liked sailing in Wind Waker.

[Mecha Cow]

So did I, but it f*cking sucks in this game.

[Peanut]

Did anyone...like...beat this game? I was fixing up my game shelf yesterday afternoon, trying to make a space for Zak & Wiki, when I knocked Phantom Hourglass off my top shelf. Not only had I not even bothered to find a place for it on the shelf, (something I'm extremely anal about) but it also surprised me to realize that the game had completely left my mind all-together. I haven't thought about it since a couple of days after I got it. The desire to play the game is just completely gone. I don't think I'll ever beat it...

[ThirdMarioBro]

I have to be a bitch, but I still cannot stand these controls. Technically they work, but they don't work. Why the hell can't I just walk with the D-Pad?

Because casual gamers don't like D-pads, which means you're just stuck with what they like because Nintendo kisses their ass--not your's.

I haven't finished it either, but its because I drag my ass on all Zelda games. I'll finish it within a month.

[Barkworm]

Did anyone...like...beat this game? I was fixing up my game shelf yesterday afternoon, trying to make a space for Zak & Wiki, when I knocked Phantom Hourglass off my top shelf. Not only had I not even bothered to find a place for it on the shelf, (something I'm extremely anal about) but it also surprised me to realize that the game had completely left my mind all-together. I haven't thought about it since a couple of days after I got it. The desire to play the game is just completely gone. I don't think I'll ever beat it...
I think I'm somewhere near the end but I bought MP3 and the last Castlevania game and my ambition to beat it has completely disappeared. I like the game but it's nothing spectacular.

[Mecha Cow]

Wait, no-one has beaten it yet? Damn.

I'm going slow as hell (I only play like one hour every other day) so I haven't even done the second dungeon yet. I still don't like the controls but I've learned to tolerate them. Like Barkworm said it's not especially great but I'm enjoying it so far.

[愛]

I beat it. I enjoyed the game. I just really hated the dungeon you have to repeat over and over again.

[R-iZZy]

^ Totally agree. The Ocean King dungeon is pretty retarded.

I hope finding the sea chart to the Northeastern part of the seas is the last time I have to go to that dungeon. I got so sick of having to find charts in that dungeon over and over again.

[Peanut]

God, this (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2608-Zero-Punctuation-Zelda-Phantom-Hourglass) guy is good.

[Mecha Cow]

The complaints about the story are pretty stupid, but he's spot on about the Ocean King temple. That sh*t is the opposite of fun. Whoever came up with that needs to be shot.

[Barkworm]

Meh, I don't like that guy. Isn't he the same person who made that pointless Psychonauts review?

[Peanut]

Yeah...but it was true. And he gets paid to do it, so...he's cool by me.