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Conjecture Countdown: One more day!

by Alisha Karabinus { Jul 10th 2007 at 10:40AM }

With only one more day of waiting before the debut of the diminished E3, we've decided to get serious and offer up some real predictions about what we will -- and won't -- see at the show. Check after the jump for the breakdown, by writer, of the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of our E3 hopes and fears.

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Possible English-language Phantom Hourglass box

by Alisha Karabinus { Jul 6th 2007 at 3:40PM }

It's considerably less blue than than the Japanese box art, but word around the campfire is that this may be the box we're all going to be opening in October for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. While it seems a little less playful than the Japanese counterpart, the brown background seems very much in keeping with the series. And we just love Link's expression!

[Via Digg]

Stream Phantom Hourglass' music

by Eric Caoili { Jun 24th 2007 at 7:45PM }

It could be months before The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass makes it to America, but you can count on us to bring you everything we find pertaining to the Japanese game -- commercials, video of its first six minutes, and now, its soundtrack. It's as close as you can get to playing the game without actually having to import it! Sort of.

The Hylia has ripped over 75 tracks directly from Phantom Hourglass, posting them all for you to listen to. Aren't you glad that you have friends like us to tell you about the awesome going-ons of the internet?

Famitsu loves Zelda, gives Phantom Hourglass near-perfect score

by Ross Miller { Jun 20th 2007 at 7:50PM }

Respected Japanese gaming publication Famitsu has reportedly given Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass a near-perfect 39 out of 40 score, according to CVG. That number is based on four reviewers -- three giving the DS adventure a perfect 10, and one dissenter only awarding 9 points.

Phantom Hourglass is the 17th game to earn a near-perfect score of 39 (A Link to the Past was the first). Two Zelda titles to have earned perfect scores are Wind Waker, which was the sixth game ever to earn a perfect score from the publication, and Ocarina of Time, which was the very first. [Source] So yeah, Famitsu really loves Legend of Zelda. They want to marry Legend of Zelda and then get divorced and cite "irreconcilable differences." It's hard to understand, we'll explain it when you're older.

Blogging through every Legend of Zelda

by Ross Miller { Jun 19th 2007 at 4:15AM }

Ever wanted to read a novelization of the Legend of Zelda series? No? Well, we've got one for you, anyways.

A blogger known as Grownup Gamer has begun a project where he will be writing extensively about every game in the Legend of Zelda series in chronological order. We can't emphasize the word "extensive" enough -- each entry is extremely detailed, but Blogging Zelda fortunately is well-written enough to be an interesting read.

Grownup Gamer has actually been blogging since the end of May, spending just under two weeks to complete the first and second quests in the original NES Zelda. He is currently mowing through Zelda II: The Adventures of Link. Fifteen titles in all have been planned for completion, including the yet-to-be-released Phantom Hourglass.

See Also:
The Shields of Zelda

[Via 4cr; image source]

DS releases for the week of June 18th

by Alisha Karabinus { Jun 18th 2007 at 12:00PM }

Welcome to an incredible week for Nintendo fans! This week, the DS (and the Wii as well!) will see some highly anticipated titles make their debut, and a late addition to last week's releases is now available as well -- the budget Brain Buster Puzzle Pak shipped after last week's announcements. Not that we need anything extra after looking at this line-up:

Brothers in Arms DS
Full Metal Alchemist Trading Card Game
Sim City DS
Time Ace
Transformers: Autobots
Transformers: Deceptacons
Zendoku

While you agonize over your choices this week, let's check out the releases for the rest of the world. It's a big week for Japan -- Phantom Hourglass hits shelves there this week!

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More Phantom Hourglass commercials for Japan, nothing for us

by Eric Caoili { Jun 14th 2007 at 11:00AM }

Whether it's shields or mini-sites, we can't seem to stop torturing ourselves with Phantom Hourglass news. We're actually physically pained by the fact that Japan will be receiving the game as early as next week; meanwhile, we're still waiting for a US release date to be announced, wallowing in self-pity with nothing but Destination Software's Chicken Shoot to look forward to. We want to chase chickens into corners, carry them over our heads, or even slash at them with a sword until a flood of poultry pour into our screens to defend their friend -- not shoot at them! We cry fowl at Chicken Shoot!

Nintendo's latest commercial for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass depicts a young girl finding clues, taking notes, and counting Link's steps to unlock one of the game's many secrets. As you'll see past the post break, no chickens were harmed in the making of the video.

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Today's most stylistic video: DS Zelda controls

by Zack Stern { Jun 14th 2007 at 12:00AM }

With Zelda: Phantom Hourglass nearly released--well, for Japanese gamers, that is--GameTrailers has posted a few brief gameplay clips that show the touchscreen controls. Gamers outside of Japan will have to wait until later this year to play the DS RPG/adventure. (Make the wait even longer by watching Japanese commercials for the game.)

Start forming opinions on the controls. After the break, watch demos of movement, swordplay, and curved boomerang throws, all handled with the stylus.

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Phantom Hourglass site opens with new videos

by Eric Caoili { Jun 13th 2007 at 11:00AM }

With less than two weeks to go before The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass' June 23rd release in Japan, Nintendo has launched an official site for the ARPG with several new videos. The clips mimic the commercials that've been advertising the handheld adventure in Japan, showing off Link's new touchscreen movement and controls. We know that you hate to pay long-distance fees for visiting sites outside of the country, so we went ahead and embedded the movies after the post break. Really, there's no need to thank us -- let's just say you owe us one.

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Japan's Zelda: Phantom Hourglass commercials

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 8th 2007 at 5:32PM }

Ready for the return of Celda? As the Japanese enjoy Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the rest of us wait until the nebulous "Holiday 2007" release. Well, you can check out these two new commercials for the game above and after the break. For those not fluent in Japanese, allow us to translate: "You want Nintendo stock to triple by 2008. Zelda is cash cow, drink milk." Yeah, the Hitler translation still wins hands down.

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The Shields of Zelda

by Eric Caoili { Jun 8th 2007 at 2:00PM }

If you paid close attention to yesterday's Phantom Hourglass commercials, you might've spotted the lobster design (or is it a crayfish?) on Link's shield. What do you think of the new look? Wind Waker fans should recognize the crustacean shape, as it originally showed up on our hero's pajamas in the GameCube game.

Link's shield has been as much a staple of the Zelda series as the adventurer's green cap, deflecting octorok attacks and pushing away charging enemies. Over the past two decades, the defensive device's design has evolved much from its original cross emblem to incorporate Triforces, various winged figures, and decorative accents.

We've collected over a dozen of the different layouts that we spotted at The Hylia, leaving out mirror shields and other deviations (e.g. Ordon shield), and have lined them up for you to compare and constrast after the post break. Enjoy!

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DS Daily: Is Phantom Hourglass still your most wanted?

by Alisha Karabinus { Jun 1st 2007 at 9:00AM }

Way back in January, we asked you what game you wanted most this year, and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass won by a ridiculous margin. Since then, we've learned more about the game, and seen more of how it looks. We also know that there are other goodies to anticipate this year. So now that we're approaching the halfway point of 2007, we thought we'd ask -- is Phantom Hourglass still your top choice, particularly now that Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are out?

First Nintendo Short Cuts entry: it's all about the guy in green

by Alisha Karabinus { May 24th 2007 at 5:15PM }

BigZeldaFan14: omg omg
BIGGESTZeldaFan14: omg wut?
BigZeldaFan14: check it out theres a contest 4 nintendo movies http://nintendo.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/your-elite-beat-agents-screenplay-a-video-camera-an-easy-10/
BIGGESTZeldaFan14: 4realz ?
BigZeldaFan14: yah click teh link
BIGGESTZeldaFan14: omg i have 2 make sumthin about link he's soooooo kewl
BigZeldaFan14: lol have u ever made movie b4?
BIGGESTZeldaFan14: no but i look @ utube everyday XD XD XD and i have mac
BigZeldaFan14: o ok

The above is a re-creation of (our assumption of) the circumstances behind the creation of the very first entry in Nintendo's Short Cuts Showcase. Let us warn you: if you weren't convinced before that Link is the #1 coolest game character EVAR ... well, you'll probably be exactly the same after watching this video. But you'll have laughed, at least. It may not be the best video we'll see in this contest, but its heart is in the right place.

We here at DS Fanboy would like to encourage everyone to enter the contest, if only so we can watch your videos. But if one of you guys wins after seeing it here, you so owe us a dollar. Remember, we're here writing because we fail at making movies. Let us live vicariously through you!

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Super Smash Bros. Brawl still on for 2007

by Ludwig Kietzmann { May 23rd 2007 at 5:55PM }

It's tough going to the party without a date. Earlier this week, Nintendo laid out its release plans up until September 2007, notably leaving a still dateless Super Smash Bros. Brawl out of the whole affair, forcing it to watch as Metroid Prime 3 marched to the ball with an alluring 20th of August on its cannon arm. With no solid release window in sight, the Wii's frantic fighter must have considered going on a lonely drinking binge and slipping into a coma until 2008.

That is, until Reggie Fils-Aime administered an unforgiving slap to the face and instilled hope once more. Speaking at the recent Nintendo Summit in Seattle, the Nintendo of America president confirmed that the musically rich Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy would both be out before your Official Iwata Swimsuit 2007 calendar becomes worthless. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for DS was given similar assurances and will likely join the anticipated Wii duo in this holiday season's battle for shoppers. You'd best start stocking up on that financial ammunition.