Phantom Hourglass sells 350,000 copies in two days

by John Bardinelli { Jun 28th 2007 at 9:31AM }

Released in Japan just a few days ago, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has performed respectably on store shelves so far. And by "respectably" we mean the Japanese have devoured the game as ravenously as we would eat popcorn if forced to watch Uwe Boll's rendition of Alone in the Dark (you know, to distract us from the pain). The DS game sold 350,000 copies in just two days, making it the fastest-selling Zelda game since Ocarina of Time nearly ten years ago. Now if we can just contain our excitement for six more months, we'll get to enjoy the game in English!

Tags: ds, japan, legendofzelda, nintendo, phantomhourglass, sales, zelda

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Supino @ Jun 28th 2007 9:39AM

I hope it is as enjoyable as it is popular.

Konny @ Jun 28th 2007 9:42AM

Does link finally talk in this one.. or is he still autistic?

Matt B @ Jun 28th 2007 9:44AM

Has there ever been talking in a Nintendo game?

Ryan @ Jun 28th 2007 9:44AM

Very glad to see these high sales numbers. Makes me wonder if Twilight Princess didn't do so hot in Japan because of the limited number of Wii units available.

Good to know Zelda is still a name to be reckoned with in Japan! Now bring on the Zelda Wii info!

Martin @ Jun 28th 2007 9:49AM

The controls on this game are surprisingly good. I had my doubts, as I didn't care for the touch screen controls on Animal Crossing. However, this game is so much more responsive (i.e. you can tap a person while being half a screen's length away, and you'll still go over and talk to them).

Kudos to Nintendo for making what appears to be a great game. Now I'll have to wait until it's in a language that I can comprehend to enjoy it fully.

vidGuy @ Jun 28th 2007 9:50AM

I thought the Japanese didn't really dig on Zelda? Maybe the touch-enabled nature of this game has captured their hearts?

And Konny, according to Nintendo, Link "says what the player wants him to say" (I forget where I read that), so he's not "mute". I agree that's kinda stupid. I don't think it changes it P.H.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 9:55AM

I prefer a silent protagonist. I like how in the Suikoden games you chose everything the hero said, even if there was only one option of what to say. I connect to the game more that way. That's just me though.

polly @ Jun 28th 2007 9:59AM

Goddamn, Alone in the Dark might be THE worst movie I have ever seen.

Jerk Face @ Jun 28th 2007 10:02AM

Link is silent but deadly.

Zing!

Intentless @ Jun 28th 2007 10:03AM

Half the country shut down when Ocarina came out... Japan not like Zelda... Where have you been holed up....

Jonathan Tran @ Jun 28th 2007 10:12AM

No Link never talks. He is related to and Gordon Freeman.

This game looks good but honestly now playing Twilight Princess, even though I never played the other Zelda games other than one for game boy, I get the feeling they are all the same game.

Also why don't you check out Episode one of Life in a Game, a soon-to-be hit series about the pitfalls (no pun intended) of living in a video game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyXUVd2c83c

Kye @ Jun 28th 2007 10:26AM

@ Matt B # 3.

"It's-a me, Mario!"

JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 10:27AM

kid radd is the greatest 'life in a game' type thing ever.

hvnlysoldr @ Jun 28th 2007 10:27AM

@3 Do a barrel roll!
Most definitely getting this game... If I can finish SPM. Darn SMB1 still torments me. I must beat it with only small Mario.

LuckyD @ Jun 28th 2007 10:39AM

Has there ever been talking in a Nintendo game?

Posted at 9:44AM on Jun 28th 2007 by Matt

LOL hahaha It prove u never actually play most of the nintendo games!!!

Did u ever heard a certain game called Star Fox 64??
Featuring full voice character? heck it was even released on the VC, check it out, nicely done.

Plus there is also 2nd party game with full voice acting too, Battalion Wars and the upcoming sequel on wii should have it

I havent dig out other game, but they do have voice acting. Plus with Monolith Soft with nintendo now and as seen in their game(xenosaga on ps2 and the baten kaitos on GC), expect full voice acting in their upcoming game.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 10:46AM

link says "come on!" in wind waker.

Jonathan Tran @ Jun 28th 2007 11:01AM

@hvnlysold

Super Paper Mario is easy. Here's what you do:

Mario: go to 3d, scan for 3d things. If none, switch to Peach and use Thoreau
Peach: Pwn everything in sight, if you see a baddie, hold DOWN on dpad to be invincible, the second they stop attacking, kill them.

t_m @ Jun 28th 2007 11:04AM

What people don't get about zelda games is that they are puzzle games.. the story and characters (which are always the same) have always been secondary to the puzzles and dungeons. (which are usually the same, but different. )

hvnlysoldr @ Jun 28th 2007 11:11AM

@17 Jonathan Tran
I know how to play SPM it's just that SMB1 is so addictive that I want to beat the game again except only small this time. I can manage Bowser with Fire Mario just not small.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 11:21AM

I have only finished SMB1 like once or twice. I suck at that game.

SMB3 on the other hand, I am the master of awesomeness.

fawazr @ Jun 28th 2007 11:36AM

"Now if we can just contain our excitement for six more months, we'll get to enjoy the game in English!"

It kinda hurts when you put it like that.

mattydread @ Jun 28th 2007 1:21PM

6 months seems like such a long time. It's so cruel.

Chris @ Jun 28th 2007 2:37PM

Honestly I'd be incredibly skeptical if they tried to throw voices in Zelda. It'd kind of be like adding a voice to Mario. I know he makes grunts, and he says "it's a me, mario" but to have full voice acting, I think, COULD be cheesy. My reason for thinking that: Sonic. Seriously, that voice is just awful.

I'm not saying it can't be done, because they already have the grunts etc for Link, but... I'm kind of a purist, so it'd have to be done perfectly. And we all know shiggy needs to cater to my every whim. ;-)