Phantom Hourglass

[Dark Jaguar]

I has it now. Graphics are fairly nice, but I will add that if you had issues with how Link looked before, it hasn't improved... I've gotten used to Link himself now though, and the rest of the world still looks great.

Story, as you may well know, is a direct continuation from the ending of Wind Waker.

I can't say much more, not very far, but the game is controlled almost exclusively by the stylus. That includes movement. I'm still witholding judgement but yes this does basically mean a Zelda game of all things is using PC RPG style mouse controls to move your character around. I'm still playing to see if it works as well but I have a feeling OB1 will hate it.

As it stands, I have high hopes for this adventure.

[Dark Jaguar]

<img src="http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic50.png">

[Great Rumbler]

I'm still playing to see if it works as well but I have a feeling OB1 will hate it.

OB1 loves the controls actually.

[Dark Jaguar]

So he's changed his mind and thinks PC style RPG controls are great eh? That's good.

[big guy]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say this is the best videogame i've played in like...5 years.

i've been 100% hooked since i turned my DS on yesterday evening and have so far only taken a brief nap (8am to 2pm today) as a break from it's awesome.

i thought the Wind Waker-esque graphics would bother me but they don't. i think they're much more charming than WW. it's like they took that style and perfected it. they do a lot more ridiculous stuff with the cartoon style to make it work a little better.

anyway. the controls are excellent except that i can't get down sword slashes 100%. every now and then i'll try to slash and link will just go running forward to his doom. i think this is probably my own fault more than the game's but i don't know what i'm doing wrong. something to note is that this is only for the sideways slash, not the click-on-a-target jump or stab move. also, as far as i'm concerned tumbling is impossible. every time i try to bash a tree i need to line up and attempt the tumble like 5 or 6 times. luckily you don't need to use this skill very often.

the only other gripe is the salvage mini game. at first i thought it was sweet and at least you're given something to do while you're digging for treasure, but after a few times it grows very time consuming and rather frustrating. i think this mini game would be better (although it would make less sense) if you only needed to navigate the arm down to the treasure, not back up.

other that that i think the game is flawless. and i needed to come on here and rave about it.

[A Black Falcon]

[Geno]

So apparently, for the first time in Zelda history, there's going to be a trilogy. Zelda games usually come in pairs, and rather than make a sequel to Twilight Princess, they seem to be making a third installment to Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass. That may not be the case, but given that the graphical style is the same as that of WW and PH, it seems likely. Anyway, the game is called Spirit Tracks and Link operates a train. Yeah... not sure how to feel about that one. Like Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks is for DS, so it'll likely require stylus movement as well. I'm not sure if there'll be any special features exclusive to gameplay on the DSi.

I was kinda hoping for a Twilight Princess sequel as the series' first Wii-exclusive title, but that may have to wait, assuming it ever happens. Here's hoping that Spirit Tracks is at least fun. I did enjoy Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass in spite of criticisms.