Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

[Gold Jinjo]

YAY! :D

Oh wow... y'know, what with Metroid Prime: Hunters and the New Super Mario Bros, the idea of Zelda on the DS, surprisingly, never crossed my mind. But now that it's out there, I'm excited about this. More so than Twilight Princess for some reason... o-O

The trailer (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146526.html) is absolutely fantastic. Go check it out if you haven't already :)

I love how you control the boomerang's path. Absolute genius design... and how you can write on the map! Feck, that's awesome :D I think that's why I'm more excited about it. Twilight Princess is a little more of the same thing, whereas Phantom Hourglass makes use of the DS's innovations.

Hee hee!

[s.w.a.t]

It really looks great, but I have one problem-does this mean the end of 2D Zelda games? I have the same worry with Metroid. I really like 2D Zelda games, and all 2D games. What will happen to them?

[Gold Jinjo]

It really looks great, but I have one problem-does this mean the end of 2D Zelda games? I have the same worry with Metroid. I really like 2D Zelda games, and all 2D games. What will happen to them?

Well, even though the rendering engine is 3D, the game is presented in the traditional top-down perspective. It'll probably feel the same as the 2D games. I think it's a nice new direction. The games have either been in 2D or 3D... so a mix of both is kind of refreshing. We'll have the best of both worlds :)

[Grey Jinjo]

I'm not very fond of Zelda games personally, and I think this has some good qualities behind it. Could be just the edge I need to get in to the series.

[Gruntling]

Of course I was excited when Twilight Princess was announced, but there was apart of me that thought the Wind Waker's style would not live on. Glad to know that's not the case! This new DS game invigorates my Zelda interests yet again! I really like in particular how the game utilizes the touchscreen.

[Ice Lightning]

It looks really good. I see it's used the Wind Waker style Graphics and it looks alright this time round.

I really like how they've thought of ideas for the touchscreen as well. Now just wait for the release date and then the delay after. That aside it really does looks great.

[R Hunter]

*drools and mutters an awe struck "Oooooooooh..." for several hours*

Very nice. It's times like this I hate the fact that i'll probably have to choose between it and something else depending on the time it's supposed to be released... (delays to be expected) Still though, if I can pick it up, I will. Zelda fanboy since the first game and still goin. ^_^

[Fenikku]

I just saw the trailer yesterday, and it will be expected of me to get it almost as soon as it comes out.

That's just plain awesome. No other words can describe it.

[Tanjo]

I think its extremeley stupid and that nintedo has to open their eyes and realize that the ds is capable of 3-D GAMES! Im sick of all these 2D puzzle or rpg games. Think of the remakes they could be doing right now! The phantom hourglass shouldve been 3D, just like orcana (or whatver) of time and majoras mask. The least they can do is port it. And all this stylus crap, its stupid. Its only good for first person games. I want to play a game, not mess around with a small stick. Allthough i like the ds, i hate how they arent putting much effort into their games.

[Gold Jinjo]

...Phantom Hourglass is in 3D. It's just using a fixed perspective.

Besides, nobody's making you buy it. So quit whining ;)

[Hi. I'm Controversy.]

Good job Nintendo. Go back to the only version of the Zelda franchise globally hated for its oblique stupidity.

[Tanjo]

zelda is one franchise

[s.w.a.t]

Good job Nintendo. Go back to the only version of the Zelda franchise globally hated for its oblique stupidity.
How can you call the original Zelda games stupid? Too hard?

[Soulreaper41392]

I personally didnt like Zelda 2, I dont think really that many people did, but the original Zelda was great. so stop yer bitchin' Contro, just because you a child of the NEW generation that is stupid enough NOT to like older games for trivial reasons such as "I dont like the old ones cause they are old I only like NEW stuff". I hate it when people do that.

[s.w.a.t]

Just because a game is in 3D doesn't mean it's better than a 2D game. In some aspects, @D is better.

[bertin]

Hey Zelda 2 was awesome it had level ups on it and the game. Also, the people in towns turned into bats! Anyways I think both the old and new games own...!

[Benjo-Kazooie]

This will be one of the best Zelda games, Zelda is my favorite seres next to Banjo Kazooie.:p

[DemyGod]

This game will be awesome. And does anyone know what song that is in the trailer. I know it's in a Zelda game, but which one? Da da dun da dadada duuun.

[ChillyDark]

Two Zelda games to add to my unlimited collection.
TP and PH.
Zelda really rocks

[BoltDragoon]

Oh god...what's with Nintendo's desire to continue with the Celda-style Link?

[s.w.a.t]

It's not THAT bad.

[Soulreaper41392]

The 'celda' look isn't as bad as you all make it out to be. I actually liked it, especially how it made The Minish Cap look. You can't keep whining about it just because you don't like how it looks. It's here to stay. For a while.

[Gold Jinjo]

And does anyone know what song that is in the trailer. I know it's in a Zelda game, but which one? Da da dun da dadada duuun.

It's the Dark World music from Link to the Past. Good tune, I like it too ;)

Oh god...what's with Nintendo's desire to continue with the Celda-style Link?

That's you're problem, then ;)

There are tons of people who love it. In fact, I think it works better with the pseudo-2D style of the game, since Link to the Past wasn't exactly "realistic".

I think getting worked up over the graphical presentation of a game is a bit pretentious. Personally I thought Twilight Princess was enough to shut up those kind of people, but I guess there's no satisfying gamers these days if it's not the gameplay they're into.

[s.w.a.t]

Why do you think that the PSP sold so well, even though the games aren't that good? It's because of the graphics.

[Gold Jinjo]

Why do you think that the PSP sold so well, even though the games aren't that good? It's because of the graphics.

Why do you think the Nintendo DS is still outselling the PSP? It's because of games like Nintendogs and Animal Crossing ;)

We could do this all day :p

There are too many different groups of gamers in this industry. The gamers who are into games, the gamers who are into graphics, the gamers who are into whatever the majority of gamers are into just to be cool and fit in, etc., and discussing these views to ascertain a legitimate final answer is pointless because none of us will ever be right.

[BoltDragoon]

It's not the graphics alone, but rather the presentation. The whole cartoony/cute thing just doesn't scream "ZELDA!" to me.

[Gold Jinjo]

Yeah, I can understand that. The style itself has only been around for three years whereas the series itself is 20. It's kind of like this whole Wii thing where it needs time to grow, more so for some than others.

Nintendo definitely has a knack for disrupting :)

[DemyGod]

I love the cel-shading look. At first, it was new so I wasn't exicted about it but I'm glad Nintendo went back to the old look for TP. Zelda is awesome no matter what! : )

[Soulreaper41392]

Well I can see some people think that PH really can be bad.
But I've played WW and liked it, then MC and I liked it.
So please don't bash Zelda or Nintendo for doing this.
Although everyone has their own opinions.

Well said, Chilly, well said.

[LaorBR]

My only complain about PH is that it is being made by Capcom.
Not that Minish Cap or the Oracle series were bad, actually gameplay wise it was pretty good. But the game lacks that Myamoto feeling of "let's make something new".
I mean, the first Legend of Zelda was like a big boom, mixing the arcade action of Gauntlet + exploration of a virtual world, puzzle solving, inventory-based item collecting, the feeling that you are getting more powerful as you constantly moves forward, (you are no longer that unprotected yellow circle running away from ghosts in a dark maze, now you are a real warrior) etc.
How many NES games can you list that have these gameplay features?

Then it came LttP, it had the same features from the original, but the game was HUGE, with two big distinct worlds to explore. Brand-new puzzles, (and I don't mean oldskool crate-moving style puzzles, but creative ones.) bigger bosses and dungeons, and some neat concepts, like using the mirror to warp between worlds, turn into the infamous pink rabbit, a desert that is a swamp in the other world, etc.

And then came OoT, that whole game was revolutionary, with Z-Targetting, cinematic cutscenes, (were'nt much used back then) a new weapon to beat every new boss, etc, etc.

That's what I like when playing Zelda, when I see a big rock blocking my path in a Zelda game, I wonder what can be behind it, could be a village, a cave, a desert, an acient temple...
When I play any Zelda made by Capcom, it's like I'm just exploring a familiar world, over and over. They made a good job with the dungeon designs, but everything besides that feels like lacking creativity. No new races, tombs, temples, crazy geometry and weird monsters... Plus they make really uninspired plots. :( (omg Zelda was petrified! Go find the stones or whatever to cure her, ktanxbye.)

I'm not that excited about PH. I know it's going to be a great game, but it won't make me lose any nights of sleep or anything. Also, "phantom hourglass" sound weird. I have saw fanfics with better names.

EDIT: LoL that post turned out bigger than I though, sorry :p

[s.w.a.t]

Your ONLY complaint?

[LaorBR]

Yup, my only :p
Because Capcom seems to be afraid of trying anything new.
They'll just always follow the same Zelda formula of:
Small quest to reach the Dungeon -> Beat the Dungeon -> Collect the Weapon -> Beat the boss at the end -> repeat until the end of the game.

Not that those Zelda(s) are bad, they just feel like a fangame to me.
Also, that cap looked like a Navi ripoff to me. And turning small in isn't that much amazing when in other Zelda games you could travel in time, dimensions, turn into a werewolf (twilight princess), and so on.

NOTE: This post sumarizes my first one.

[Gold Jinjo]

Well I don't know how you can gripe at Capcop making Phantom Hourglass "just more of the same" before we know whether or not that's true ;) After all, by the looks of it, it looks like it takes nice advantage of the DS's touch features, like drawing the path of the boomerang. While that's not revolutionary, it's something different. Whether or not that holds up in the long run, we'll see :)

Capcom generally takes care of the low-key Zelda games while Miyamoto and Nintendo focuses on the bigger, more impressionable ones, like Twilight Princess. As Zelda fans, I think we're rather spoiled, to be honest ;)

Metroid doesn't nearly get as much attention, although lately it's been getting better. Then you've got Mario, who gets plugged into generic titles that could work on their own (Mario Golf, Tennis). Original Mario titles are very scarce.

[John]

Wow... Yet another game for me to be psyched for. I wasn't really fond of the Wind Waker's graphical style when it first came out, and I'm still not crazy about it, but it's kind of grown on me. I admit that I'd be a bit upset if they were sticking to the huge eyed style for all future Zelda games since I love the OoT/TP style so much, but since we have Twilight Princess too it's like we're getting the best of both worlds. I Have to say that I think the cel style looks like it works better in this game too. I have no doubt that the games will both be wonderful.

Also, I think Capcom has done a fine job with the Zelda series. Their games tend to feel more like Nintendo's Link's Awakening for the original GameBoy did, and that's not a bad thing at all.

Edit: Where has it been said that Capcom is making Phantom Hourglass anyways? The GameSpot link says that Nintendo is both the publisher and the developer.

Edit 2: I've looked on other sites now, and they all say that it's being developed by Nintendo itself.

[LaorBR]

Well I don't know how you can gripe at Capcom making Phantom Hourglass "just more of the same" before we know whether or not that's true ;) Argh after all the trouble I had to not sound like "omg this game's crap 'cuz it's by capcom lolololololz" people still misunderstood me. :p

Okay, let me rephrase that once again:
PH is going to be a great game, but if it was a 2D Zelda made by Nintendo, I would be really interested in it. But since it's made by Capcom I know it's just going to be yet another generic Zelda title. Good nevertheless, but just another one. The dungeons particularly are going to catch my atention, but everything besides that is forgetable. And even the dungeons aren't THAT much special.
MC felt like a LttP hack to me, or some sort of a 1-Player expansion pack to Four Swords. That was what I meant. Still, that game was very good, specially graphically.

EDIT: But, that's if Capcom continues to use the same formula they are using untill now. And I'm sure they will. I could be wrong tho, but that's unlikely. Since they are getting good sells untill now, why would they change their ways all of a sudden?

EDIT2: I've looked on other sites now, and they all say that it's being developed by Nintendo itself
Err... please forget everything you just heard from me, thank you. :o

[Soulreaper41392]

I thought that both of the Oracles were pretty innovative. I mean, you traveled time, changed the seasons............awesome stuff. As for MC, I never played it, but it did seem a little uninspired to me.

And what's with the recent trend of 4-5 dungeons in a Zelda game? In MM, there were only 4 (or 5, depending on how you look at it), WW there was 5, MC there was 5 (as far as I know there was only 5). I liked the good old LttP and OoT days of dungeons.

[Gold Jinjo]

And what's with the recent trend of 4-5 dungeons in a Zelda game? In MM, there were only 4 (or 5, depending on how you look at it), WW there was 5, MC there was 5 (as far as I know there was only 5). I liked the good old LttP and OoT days of dungeons.

You may get your wish with Twilight Princess if the whole 70+ hours of gameplay is true.

[Thranjo-Kanewie]

70+ Hours!? Holy crap that's more zelda than ever! Haha can't wait for it gonna be good, AND long. Most Zelda games nowadays were awesome but they weren't really very long.

[ChillyDark]

That's even longer than OOT and ALTTP combined, I seriously want that game.
We should make an Official Legend of Zelda Topic in this to avoid many threads about this.

[LaorBR]

Should I remind you guys that when Namco announced Xenosaga episode1: Dre bruch iz on Da table (pardon my poor german, hehe) they said the main quest alone would take at least 80 hours of gameplay, when it actually didn't even take half of that.

Okay, Nintendo usually doesn't lie like this, but you never know. :p

[Thranjo-Kanewie]

Maybe thats just an average, like if you're new or semi-new to zelda and it's puzzle ways.
But for people who have beaten all the games, it would probably be less than that.
It all depends on your level of play.