DS impressions: Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

by Blake Snow { May 11th 2006 at 3:30PM }

After sitting down with Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for a few minutes, we feel the verdict is still out. Granted, we didn't get to sail Wind Waker style with the stylus, and were kicked off early, so take criticism with a grain of salt. The game feels like a traditional top-down Zelda title only you direct Link with a stylus rather than a directional pad. We cruised around a mini dungeon for a bit and could see right away that the game has potential with touch controls.

1-on-1 Battle Mode versus another E3 attendee was a good time. One player guides Link to collect and safely return Triforces to base, while the other controls three "baddies" that try to stop Link from doing so. Though it felt like a rehash from gaming's past, it was fun to play. More to come.

Tags: e32006, phantomhourglass, Zelda

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

iceatcs @ May 11th 2006 3:49PM

It is one I'm really looking for the DS world.

Sound cool about 1-on-1 Battle Mode.
My brother and I will going to start use it rather Scissor, Stone & Paper game

Efren @ May 11th 2006 4:03PM

For the love of god.. give us regular control and stop shoving this touch screen CRAP down our throats.

pete @ May 11th 2006 4:14PM

For the record - it's the jury that's still out - not the verdict.

OTAM @ May 11th 2006 4:22PM

More DS first party games with the same reoccuring characters which will also most likely flood the Wii just like the last generations....

When people wonder why I bought a DS,I wonder why sometimes too.

metaly @ May 11th 2006 4:34PM

Please tell me there's an option to control Link with the d-pad instead. (I'm afraid of change.)

WarlordMan @ May 11th 2006 5:05PM

its seems like listening to a broken record with these various accounts of games....whatever.

Kevin B @ May 11th 2006 5:05PM

I really hope, perrsonally that this is the first-party, touch sensitive exclusive game, that roxors yor soxors. I can't wait. I was expecting a Metroid adventure, Mario Paint DS, or Smash Brothers: Dual Smash...or something.

As long as everything is appropriated to each hand it'll work.

Freezair @ May 11th 2006 5:33PM

At first, thouch-screen control weirded me out at first, but now, in games where it's available (such as Animal Crossing WW), I always use it because it feels much more precise to me. So I'm pro-touch, as it were.

bsides @ May 11th 2006 6:07PM

Same here... touching is more for usability as well. The concepts for Wii were taken from it, that's for sure. The only thing cons it is that I can't play these kind of games taking the bus, for example, because I need to concentrate the pen exactly. But I don't see this as a problem...