The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass DS Review

The Legend of Zelda:
Phantom Hourglass


Review by: King Zarthius

Year released: 2007| System: Nintendo DS

The first DS adventure of our hero-in-green, Link, came to the portable dual screen console in October of 2007. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the official sequel to the GameCube game, Wind Waker, and has the same visual impact along with a fun and imaginative adventure.


Phantom Hourglass is an action-adventure game which is basically a typical Zelda game, with the damsel in distress and Link providing the dramatic rescue. Its time to save the day again, Link! During your quest you will come across a number of interesting characters in the world that provide robust dialog and plot development. Phantom Hourglass is pure classic storytelling that is interesting and oddly original even though we’ve been through variations of this story before. Link explores the world to find new items, information, and allies to free Tetra and defeat the evil of Bellum.

The gameplay in Phantom Hourglass is based on stylus, stylus, stylus! If you’re thinking using the stylus to play an action adventure might be a little challenging, think again, because Phantom Hourglass has a very easy-to-get-into control scheme. All the tricky bits of the controls become second nature after a short amount of time. Understand before you play the game that you won’t be able to hit a button to attack, or use the D-Pad to move, from the beginning it’s you and the stylus. Jumping is automatic. Link’s roll move, the one used to bash into things, is triggered by drawing small circles on the edges of the screen. This is not as intuitive as the other stylus elements. This is functional and doesn’t take long to master, but you might not want to use it very often. Link moves fast when touching the edge of the screen, regardless of the move you’re trying to perform. If there are enemies, ledges, or any other nearby danger, you run the risk of running into that danger (or off a ledge!) by mistake.

Next comes the trusted boomerang. In past Zelda games, this weapon could be thrown one way. Phantom Hourglass gives you the power to guide the boomerang’s path via stylus. One can throw the boomerang in any direction thinkable, as its not limited to real-physics. It doesn’t go for very long, but its reach is pretty far, and its multiple uses are amazing. You'll never really know how fun, and intuitive the control scheme is until you play the game for yourself.

Real time note taking is an unexpected addition that allows you to write on the in-game map to help you remember whatever you like! You can use this anytime you come across maps, levers, tablets, or other significant features that not so crypitcally point you in the right direction for puzzle solving. Instead of relying on your memory for clues, just simply write them down! This feature is a helping hand that forgetful gamers will openly welcome.

The game also uses the microphone; the most forgotten piece of hardware on the DS, at various points. From blowing out candles, to screaming at NPCs. There’s one part of the game in particular where Link is trying to save a fortune-teller who is trapped in her own storeroom and he has to shout instructions to her. The microphone plays a key and fun part in both solving the puzzle and making gamers look even more like morons.


In regards only to the graphical style, Phantom Hourglass could easily be mistaken as a sequel (although, yes it is an official sequel, but this in the case that we did not know that) or be related in some way with Wind Waker for GameCube. Not only the cel-shaded look, but the fact that the similar-looking sea is of great importance in the game. While on the ocean, one has to chart the path of their ship through the dangerous seas that you must sail. The control scheme of this part of the game was equally entertaining, and allowed me to rotate the camera to completely do away with the enemies. In principle it seems that the focus, is quite different from sailing & navigating in the Wind Waker. The style in Phantom Hourglass can satisfy the users that were not satisfied with the browsing experience of the Wind Waker.

There are some gameplay elements which can be a little annoying as you have to solve unnecessary puzzles, and revisit some areas. Enemies also regenerate so you’ll be spending a lot of time destroying the same type or variant of an enemy over and over. These points are still nothing that effect the overall enjoyment of the game.

Aside from the main adventure, Phantom Hourglass has a number of activities that can keep you busy. This includes the endless number mini-games, side quests, searching out extra treasure, and fishing. Fishing in Phantom Hourglass is available after the Old Wayfarer awards you with the fishing rod for solving his mermaid problems. Fishing is simple and fun as you try and bag six different types of fish including the ultra rare Neptoona. The side quests and mini-games have to be found in island locations around the world. If you favour mini-games try the Cannon game, Archery Shooting or the Goron Roll Game. If pirate booty is what ye seek, you can find goodies hidden throughout the islands which includes finding your way through a giant maze.

If you’ve done everything you possibly can; beat the main storyline, played all the mini-games, found all the treasure, and fought monster hordes till you passed out then you need to look no further than the added multiplayer mode. The multiplayer mode in Phantom Hourglass is a battle arena that places players against each other. In an arena, one player takes on the role of Link, while the other player, on defense, controls three Phantom Guardians. Players of both sides are aided by power-up items that shortly appear on the playing field, such as the Pegasus Shoes, and a power glove. The online mode is complete with stat tracking, and the ability to battle worldwide which is a nice diversion from the main game.

Ultimately, Phantom Hourglass emerges as an interesting game in the saga. It is honestly one of the best games available for the DS. It's ambitious approach keeps aspects of the traditional Zelda franchise and has its own unique elements such as its innovative touch controls and use of the DS’s dual screens. This is another prime example of Nintendo brilliance. Phantom Hourglass is the perfect adventure, accessible to all ages from the novice adventure to the hardcore Zelda fan. A must-have game for all DS owners.

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Pros (+):

• Innovative concepts
• First Zelda to have functioning & fun Multiplayer
• Addictive gameplay
• Decent Longivity/Length
• Easy to control control scheme

Cons (-):

• Sometimes poor camera angles
• Stylus controls CAN be frustrating
• Repetitive temples
• Screen-Size: Difficult to see where Link is headed due to hand covering the DS screen.

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