The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

[Bijo]

http://ds.ign.com/objects/694/694756.html
http://www.gamespot.com/ds/adventure...om%20hourglass
http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2506
http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/n...ZjhEBp2DjZTHS9

Pfff, look at me thinking this game was gonna get out Q1 this year. Seems it might be Q4, but I don't know for sure. Knowing Nintendo, though, I bet some hard-earned cash on it it's gonne be a damn good game.

They'll be applying those celshade-like graphics again, and hopefully some nice good touch screen gameplay (though I'd also prefer conventional controlling for this one). Arrrgh, I can hardly wait!

[doc_bean]

http://ds.ign.com/objects/694/694756.html
http://www.gamespot.com/ds/adventure...om%20hourglass
http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2506
http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/n...ZjhEBp2DjZTHS9

Pfff, look at me thinking this game was gonna get out Q1 this year. Seems it might be Q4, but I don't know for sure. Knowing Nintendo, though, I bet some hard-earned cash on it it's gonne be a damn good game.

They'll be applying those celshade-like graphics again, and hopefully some nice good touch screen gameplay (though I'd also prefer conventional controlling for this one). Arrrgh, I can hardly wait!

It was supposed to come out Q3/Q4 last year I believe, but apparently the controls didn't work as well as they thought they would and they're doing a complete overhaul fo the game's controls. Just rumours I heard of course.

[Azi Tohak]

I'm excited. Except for sailling. I want to know why Aonuma still thinks sailing is a good idea. Wind Waker was great except for wasting hours on a @#$@* boat.

Azi

[Proletariat]

Any release day purchases for this at the Org? Seriously thinking about grabbing a couple copies today so I can play this along with my nephew. All the reviews I've read have been stellar, like most people seem to expect from Zelda titles.

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/adventure...g=review;title

[frogbeastegg]

:raises hand: Release day for the UK is the 19th.

[Proletariat]

I went ahead and pulled the trigger last night and got two copies. I just got access to the boat, and I must say, it's good fun. The graphics on the sea are very impressive. You course your route with the stylus on the sea map, and your ship goes on autopilot while you're able to use the stylus to look in any direction at the different islands and so on you're passing by, even catching glimpse of jumping fish once in awhile. It's a very pretty game, by ds standards.

The controls with the stylus on land can be a little hokey. I can only get Link to do a 'roll' by accident. The game said to scribble small circles at the edge of the screen to get him to somersault, but it hasn't been that easy for me yet. Minor peeve though, combat is very easy and over all moving with the stylus is pretty fun.

More to come later, if there's anything interesting to ad.

[AntiochusIII]

A somewhat related question:

I've never played Zelda before. If I want to start with the franchise, and I only have DS (my little sister's, actually; but I think I can "requisition" it if need be ), a PC, a Gameboy Advance (or whatever that small thing is called) and a PS2, which one should I start with?

[frogbeastegg]

As a Nintendo first party series Zelda is only available on their own platforms.

On the gameboy advance there are two titles: Minish Cap, and Link to the Past. GBA games can be hard to get hold of; new GBA games are a rare sight in shops, and there are lots of pirate copies about. LttP is a classic, often regarded as tied with Ocarina of Time for the best game in the series. Minish Cap received a lot of love too. I'd say if you see them, buy them! LttP is better to play first as it's a port of an old SNES game, and may feel a little old fashioned if you play it hot on the heels of Minish Cap.

The DS only has one Zelda game: Phantom Hourglass. I don't know what it is like as it isn't out in the UK yet. So far the reviews are favourable.

I don't know how things stand in your area, but here you could buy a gamecube for under £30! Do that and you can play three of the 3D games: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask (both on the Zelda's collector's dis) and Wind Waker. The first two are incredible; Ocarina is one of the most highly rated games of all time. Wind Waker is a brilliant game marred by some tedious sailing sections. The advantage to this is that you could play other entries in the 'cube's hall of greatness.

[Xiahou]

I don't know how things stand in your area, but here you could buy a gamecube for under £30! Do that and you can play three of the 3D games: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask (both on the Zelda's collector's dis) and Wind Waker. The first two are incredible; Ocarina is one of the most highly rated games of all time. Wind Waker is a brilliant game marred by some tedious sailing sections. The advantage to this is that you could play other entries in the 'cube's hall of greatness.

Or, you could buy a Wii which plays all Gamecube games and allows you to download earlier games (including the original Legend of Zelda, LoZ II, LttP, and Ocarina) for a fee.

I don't own Phantom Hourglass yet - I keep telling myself that I need to finish Wind Waker first - but I did see a demo in a store the other day, and it is definitely some of the best graphics I have ever seen on the DS.

[doc_bean]

I want it !

But then I also want PW3 which is released around the same time !

And then, I also have dozens of games left to play !

ARGH !

[frogbeastegg]

Or, you could buy a Wii which plays all Gamecube games and allows you to download earlier games (including the original Legend of Zelda, LoZ II, LttP, and Ocarina) for a fee.

That's the best option, however it's a lot more expensive so I didn't feel comfortable recommending it. £180 Vs £30. The attactiveness of this option varies slightly depending on your region. The European virtual console isn't as good as the US version; more expensive, fewer games, limited to 50hz display only regardless of what your TV can do.

I don't own Phantom Hourglass yet - I keep telling myself that I need to finish Wind Waker first

I'm scared that if I don't grab a copy now I'l have difficulty later. I didn't get Minish Cap at release; it took me months to find a legitimate edition and I still had to pay the same price for second hand as I would have for brand new at launch.



Can those who have the game comment on it's difficulty? I watched the video review on gamertrailers.com and they commented more than once about how it's a simplified, easier Zelda game. Dungeons are done within 30 minutes, enemies die in two hits, some traditional Zelda items are missing (compass) or there from the start (map), and so on. They said this made it perfect as a portable game but somewhat disappointing as a Zelda game.

[Fragony]

For sale here just about everywhere, yeah Minish Cap is excellent, can't stop smiling because of how insanily cool it is to have such a complete game on such a tiny little machine.

[AntiochusIII]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll keep an eye out for a good GameCube or Wii deal, then, and will get Ocarina of Time as suggested.

Would it be better if I start with Phantom Hourglass which I already have a console for, though? Would there be something like, story discontinuity or spoilers back to the old games or some such?

[Xiahou]

Would it be better if I start with Phantom Hourglass which I already have a console for, though? Would there be something like, story discontinuity or spoilers back to the old games or some such?

Normally, the games stand on their own plot-wise but the Phantom Hourglass would be an exception. It's billed as a direct sequel to the Wind Waker, so it might be better to play that one first. However, if you find it(probably used), Link to the Past was a solid Zelda game that was released on the GBA- meaning you could play it fine on a DS.

Or you could just buy PH... I'm sure you'd be able to enjoy the game on it's own, but you'd be missing out on the previous storyline from the Wind Waker.

[doc_bean]

Storylines in Zelda games aren't that important anyway.

There's a a princess, she's probably in trouble, go rescue her !