Thought I’d start a topic on this since I’ve almost beaten it. It’s my sister’s game, so I’m just borrowing it for the time being, but it’s pretty fun. A bit easier than older Zelda’s, but that’s sort of been the trend recently. The only thing I don’t like doing is the interactive stuff with the mic (sorry, but I really don’t like blowing into it, or blowing into it to pretend I’m shouting either >.o), but it’s not too terrible. Aside from that, I think it’s pretty fun and entertaining. When I first started, I found it frustrating to use the stylus instead of the d-pad, but I’ve gotten used to it now and it really doesn’t bother me anymore.

I dunno. Anybody have thoughts they want to share on the game, or has anyone else played it?

Passed the game ages ago, and absolutely loved it. I found the new touch-pad take on the weapons to be very refreshing. and it made for interesting new puzzles. thought that the touch pad movement was very easy once you got into the game.
but like dragon brigade wasn't dramatically impressed by voice stuff, (i actually didn't know the microphone existed as i only bought a ds for zelda. And i had to look up how to pass the candles bit).
And story wise i loved it too, i looooove pirates and so pirate zelda is a dream come true. unfortunately there isn't enough sea battles and such for my tastes, but oh well. Brilliant game overall and one of my favourite zeldas even if it essentially wasn't a bigger or better game in the series.

I love it too. Do you get online and play in the wifi mode?

I seriously considered buying this, but I just didn't know ifI was going to enjoy the control system, I'd like to give it a go before purchase. Damn the lack of demos on handhelds >_<

@ Beanie: No, I haven’t done the online Wi-Fi. I still have yet to get one of the USB things that will let me do so.

@Mushroom: It’s not too bad. It took a little while for me to get used to moving Link everywhere with the stylus, but it’s really not that bad. You just tap on monsters (or make lines on them) and he’ll use his sword to slash ‘em. For the weapons (ie: boomerang, etc.), you tap on the icon on the top left corner of the touch screen and then you have it in your hand (though I think the short cut is better, where you hold down R2 and then you can do whatever. Saves time in “crucial” moments, I’ve found), then all you have to do is draw the path for the boomerang/touch where you want the bomb, etc.

I dunno. Controls are relatively easy (to use *and* get the hang of, in my opinion), so I guess the question is mostly if you’d want to play the game totally with the touch pad, haha (the maps are kept on the top screen, so to write on them you switch them to the lower screen). I admit it’s not the best Zelda, but I found it at least enjoyable.

Haha, thanks for the info ^^ I'd really jsut like to play because I loved the windwaker, and I want to see young Link some more. But your right, the questino really is if i want to play a game all touchpad, and I don't even want to play the wii's interactive cotnrols all that much haha. Touchpad is different though, and if its responsive, I would like to try it out. I'll probably jsut wait to see it for a good price and buy it ^^

That game is actually the first Zelda I've enjoyed. I've tried playing other Zelda titels, but I never got into it. But this one is great fun and I love the controls. They're very intuitive and easy to learn.

My best-friend is a huge Zelda fan and I was thinking of picking this game up for his birthday. I bought him Twilight Princess for the Gamecube last year, so I'd figure I would stick with the Zelda theme. Also, he loves his DS and plays it all the time, so I think it would be perfect.

For some odd reason, this game didn't get as much press as other Zelda games. I heard it was simply fantastic and the stylus controls were top notch. It just seems a bit weird that the game came and went rather quickly. If I can't find it easily, I'd probably buy something else, but this one is number 1 on my list.

I guess after TP (which some dubbed as awful), Phantom Hourglass (being on the DS) was overlooked simply because it was a handheld Zelda. Considering that The Minish Cap (the last handheld released Zelda before PH on the GBA) was terribly easy and received a lot of complaints as well, I’m sure that, combined with the stuff regarding TP, sent bad karma to PH even before its release. ...if that somewhat makes sense. I actually really didn’t notice a difference in “advertising”, but I suppose since I wasn’t really aware of Zelda when they did for older games, I wouldn’t know the difference. >.o.

I definitely would recommend this game though. It may be easy...but it's still fun, and it's still Zelda. =p.

@Northawke: I’d usually expect people to say they don’t like Phantom Hourglass as much as older ones. That’s usually the way things go, haha...=).

I thought The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hour Glass was an great Zelda game a much better then TP.

It was the first ever DS game that actually worked with the touch screen without feeling gimmicky. Having Link follow your pen was pure Genius and I also like how the boomerang worked and where you could draw its pathway something that could just not be done on other systems and I also liked the Final Dungeon idea on how you progressed little by little and had to use stealth to get past the guards. Even if you had to start from the beginning the new items you got made it a lot easier to get to the level you needed to be but I was relieved when I got to the 2nd part and finally did not have to start from the beginning.

The Temples themselves were really good actually I liked how the touch screen added a new twist on how you used each weapon and the temples to me were the perfect length and they had some good puzzles to solve. I liked the twist with the boss key in where you had to carry it to the lock to get to the boss room. The bosses were alot of fun and they were alot more challenging then the ones in TP and to find out how to stun them made me actually have to think a little and actually took more effort and were overall more satisfying experience.

I liked how the game took place on the ocean sailing on the ship was alot easier this time around since all you had to was draw the path and it would definetly get to its destination alot more quickly then wind waker even though I actually found the sailing in wind waker relaxing. Having the option of how to make my ship look different was awesome it made the side quests of getting the treasure chests alot more enjoyable since their was a possibility of getting the ship part that I needed to complete my collection.

As for the story: Now I have no problem with "Save the princess storyline" But what I do have an issue with is the fact that the villains barely got any development. The Phantom Sisters were actually really cool and the boss battle was fun but we barely learned anything about them and Bellum well he was kinda just there. The final boss battle was fun though with you having to destroy the phantom ship at the end by shooting those globs of darkness and then having to fight the pirate at the end when he was possessed. The other characters that joined Link on his journey were good. I liked the fairy companion and also liked the famous pirate who got me to laugh out loud at times.

This game brought my faith back in Nintendo after the horrible over hyped Twilight Princess

I definitely have to agree on the uniqueness of the boss battles. For instance, in the Temple of Wisdom, you have to fight that crab thing with a shell? The aspect of seeing through it’s perspective was a nice touch. Most of those types of battles I liked. There was one with two dragons, where you saw their heads in the top screen and you were in the bottom...It really helped to make them seem much more...intimidating, if that makes sense? Because you can visibly see them as much larger. These are just for example. I agree with what Eddie said though, for most of this. I really do think Nintendo used the DS well for this game; it didn’t seem too gimmicky, yet it was still innovative (I still didn’t like the whole microphone bit though, haha...).

Personally I liked the sailing in Wind Waker more...I actually found myself getting bored just waiting for the ship to get where it was supposed to in this game, haha...I would have preferred commandeering the ship myself, instead of just drawing a line to where it’s supposed to go. Not that I had problems with it this way though. I just would have preferred that sort of freedom to roam.

I bought this game,i playd it but didnt get too far , to me it was a real shot down for zelda i tought they would much better, but it least TP was great.

Spoiler:Yeah the crab thing was probably one of my favorite boss battles. I liked how you had to watch from his view and then watch the top screen as you move out of the way it definetly was different. The Twin headed dragon was fun I liked using the rope to send their attacks right back at them and then you had to dodge when the water rose up. But yeah them putting the Boss on the second screen while you were on the first really made the boss seem bigger and they definetly hit you for alot more damage then TP bosses do. Yeah the yelling in the microphone was odd l but when I had to fight those ear things I just yelled softly "ahh" and killed them it was kind of funny lol

I liked both ways of sailing but I'm glad Nintendo decided to listen to the complaints and made the sailing alot easier to do.

When I first heard about using the stylus to move and to control items on the Phantom Hourglass I thought it would suck, but after just finishing the second temple that was not the case, and I find it refreshing and also quite fun. The graphics are very nice for a Zelda handheld too.

The only problem I have with this game is that you can get hit by enemies as you choose items to use, but a potion will solve that problem I guess. I also heard it is quite sort too, which is quite a downer, but other than that I am extremely happy with what I am playing.

Yeah, you have to get used to moving fast to get a new weapon, or just prepare ahead of time (if possible) so that monsters don't become too problematic. There's a shortcut you can use when actually using a weapon ® so that you don't have to press the touch pad with the stylus all the time to get the weapon ready to use. It's not that big of a life-saving shortcut, but it comes in handy so you don't have to do as much hand-work with the stylus.

As for being short, it is. If you want to know how much longer you have, you have four more dungeons + going to do the final boss with the Ocean King Temple before you're going to be done with the game.. I just gave how many temples you have left, not all the extra stuff that pops up along the way. Just added the spoiler tags in case you really didn't want to know and would prefer it to be a surprise. It is a short game though, but I found it entertaining enough.

When you said it was short you were not kidding, but it was still worth the money I paid for it. There were not as many side quests as I would have hoped for, and I found all the temples far too easy, but then again it is a handheld game I have said before and it is still a good game. I look forward to the next one.