Game Review: Phantom Hourglass

Gerard Campbell - The Press

Gaming News And Reviews; the Box : Innovative Controlling

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

From: Nintendo

For: Nintendo DS

Classification: G

Score: * * * *

The Legend of Zelda is probably one of the most recognisable game series from Nintendo and now the pint-sized hero has made a move to the Nintendo DS.

The story in Phantom Hourglass is fairly routine, but it really acts as a sequel to Gamecube game, Wind Walker. Essentially, you have to help Link save a princess after she gets into a spot of trouble, but the control scheme is the talking point here.

Probably the most innovative aspect of Phantom Hourglass is that everything is controlled using the DS's stylus on its touch- sensitive bottom screen: all movement and combat is done by tapping, slashing and dragging across the screen. It's innovative use of the DS's unique capabilities and it's used for talking, picking up objects, drawing a path for your boomerang, and attacking.

Using the touch-sensitive screen you can scribble notes on to the in- game map -- useful when faced with puzzles that you have to pull in the correct sequence.

There were too many sailing sequences, a little too much backtracking to the Temple of the Ocean King, the first temple you come across, and the pacing is a little off from time to time, but there is enough exploration and combat -- and the innovative controls -- to keep both casual gamers and fans of the series busy for some time to come. Probably the best game on the DS at the moment.

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