Oh Snap! Phantom Hourglass is Must Own!

[ATB]

How did that happen? It totally got lost in the crush of great games out lately.

I'm dying for a new game on my DS and even though I've not played a Zelda since II gravely disappointed me, I'm anxious to play this.

What what?

[semiconscious]

totally lost for some of us, maybe - for others of us, it's the main inspiration for trying to finish persona 3 over the next couple weeks (you could always get minish cap to tide you over)...

[Kevin Grey]

Yep, not lost to me.  Can't wait.  Everything I've heard about this one is fabulous.  The only negative I've seen mentioned is that it's probably too easy but that's been a flaw in the series since at least Wind Waker. 

[Ralph-Wiggum]

I'm dying for a new game on my DS and even though I've not played a Zelda since II gravely disappointed me, I'm anxious to play this.

 

You need to go out and get the GBA version of A Link to the Past. It's one of the best (if not the best) Zelda games ever and works perfectly on a handheld.

[CeeKay]

I'm dying for a new game on my DS and even though I've not played a Zelda since II gravely disappointed me, I'm anxious to play this.

 

You need to go out and get the GBA version of A Link to the Past. It's one of the best (if not the best) Zelda games ever and works perfectly on a handheld.

+1.  Its the only Zelda game I've every completed.

[Nth Power]

Wow, I didn't realize it was so soon.  Thanks for the heads up!

[Canuck]

I've got it-it's good except my copy is in Japanese which makes it a little difficult to play

[ATB]

I've got it-it's good except my copy is in Japanese which makes it a little difficult to play

Do you enter all the dialogue into babel fish?

[wonderpug]

Wow, I have to admit I've let this one slip out of my main radar.  Day 1 purchase for sure, can't wait!

[kronovan]

It's definitely on my radar and at least a week 1 purchase for me.

[Purge]

I'd need a DS first.
Tempted... GF is hooked on competitive Tetris.

[Andrew Mallon]

Yep, not lost to me.  Can't wait.  Everything I've heard about this one is fabulous.  The only negative I've seen mentioned is that it's probably too easy but that's been a flaw in the series since at least Wind Waker. 

I don't mind an easy game as long as the mechanics are fresh and interesting. Twilight Princess was dull to me because it was easy and I had already experienced most of the gameplay in previous titles. I'm hoping that the all-stylus controls will make PH feel more innovative.

I'm also amazed at the graphics. The 3D cel-shaded effect looks great on the DS.

[Ridah]

It's hard to follow portable releases when the big boys are doing their holiday thang, thanks for the reminder that there's some handheld goodness to look forward to as well 

[Lee]

It's hard to follow portable releases when the big boys are doing their holiday thang, thanks for the reminder that there's some handheld goodness to look forward to as well 

I thoght you didn't like Nintendo for being too kiddy? You have a DS?

[The Grue]

Thanks for the reminder.  Didn't realize it was so close.  More Zelda goodness.

[ras752000]

Got my copy of Gameinformer in the mail yesterday (don't flame me) . . . they gave it 9.5 and the handheld game of the month award . . . .

[Farscry]

I'm dying for a new game on my DS and even though I've not played a Zelda since II gravely disappointed me, I'm anxious to play this.

 

You need to go out and get the GBA version of A Link to the Past. It's one of the best (if not the best) Zelda games ever and works perfectly on a handheld.

+1.  Its the only Zelda game I've every completed.

+100!

It's one of the few games I've ever finished (and I've finished a lot) that I would grade as a perfect 10.

[ATB]

So I raced out to CC and bought the game with the free stylus, wipey and headphones pack and just fired it up for the first time.

It already has the most beautiful music I've heard on any DS game.  I'm only through the opening sequence and can already tell this is going to be a fun, well directed and all absorbing experience.

Sadly I have to run an errand before I'll  get to try the controls, but so far I'm highly optimistic about this, my first Zelda experience since the original!

[depward]

I'm only through the opening sequence and can already tell this is going to be a fun, well directed and all absorbing experience.

Wait - so you've played 10 minutes or so and you are already labeling this game an "all absorbing experience"?  That makes sense...

[CeeKay]

I'm only through the opening sequence and can already tell this is going to be a fun, well directed and all absorbing experience.

Wait - so you've played 10 minutes or so and you are already labeling this game an "all absorbing experience"?  That makes sense...

it's ATB.

[Devil]

It's Nintendo.

[Kevin Grey]

FWIW, Toys R US is offering the strat guide for free with the purchase of the game.  I don't generally use guides for Zelda games but that's a heckuva deal and too good for me to pass up. 

[JCC]

If this is your first Zelda since the original, you should have picked up A Link to the Past for the GBA. It's an all time classic, and I seriously doubt Phantom Hourglass will better it.

[ATB]

I'm only through the opening sequence and can already tell this is going to be a fun, well directed and all absorbing experience.

Wait - so you've played 10 minutes or so and you are already labeling this game an "all absorbing experience"?  That makes sense...

Have you played the first 10 minutes?  Then shaddup!   

[ATB]

FWIW, Toys R US is offering the strat guide for free with the purchase of the game.  I don't generally use guides for Zelda games but that's a heckuva deal and too good for me to pass up. 

Oh and I didn't know this so I went to TRU and bought it there and will be returning the freebie from CC.

[Poomba]

Looking for more impressions to last me through the workday until I can run out and grab my copy. Unfortunately I'll be using a Best Buy gift card to grab it and they seem to be the only retailer not offering a freebie. I think I'll take the TRU ad in with me and try and talk a manager into gifting me a copy of the strat guide to match TRU's promo.

[Nth Power]

Just picked up a copy from TRU with the free strat guide.  Sweet deal! 

[ATB]

I'm to the first temple and so far, with the exception of doing summersaults, the controls are perfect.

Very simple and fitting.

The narrative continues to entertaining and by way of tutorial, conveyance of the controls is very clever.

I almost always read my manuals first, but I think I'll wait until I'm a bit further to check this one's out.

So far, after about 40 mins or so, it's easily a recommend.

[JCC]

Picked it up after work. The game is definitely beautiful, amazing for the DS. It's a little low res (no surprise) but otherwise looks nearly the same as the cube version. The controls work very well. The tapping enemies to slash them is very cool. My hand has some cramping/soreness issues, but this is normal for any stylus controlled game, even the puzzle ones like Picross, Sudoku, etc. It's not anything close to as painful as Metroid Hunters was. My only control gripe is doing the roll. I just can't get that motion down yet, and it is a little frustrating when you're trying to roll into trees to shake them and you try a bunch of times before getting it. I find it hard to write legibly on the map too, but I'll get better. I haven't made it to a proper temple yet, so I need to play more. Early impressions are positive here.

[semiconscious]

So far, after about 40 mins or so, it's easily a recommend.

ya think? ...

i've reached the isle of ember, & am definitely blown away. pretty, polished, great sound, & i'm especially happy to see the real link again (don't know who that guy was in twilight princess, but it definitely wasn't link). liked the 'wind waker' intro, happy to have navi (aka ciela) back ('hey!'), & linebeck's, to my mind, a just about perfect companion character. can't think of a ds game i've played that i'd describe as a mini-masterpiece, but this one, so far, appears to have all the makings of one...

&, yeah, i wasn't doing so well initially with the tumbling, either (helps if you do the swirl bit at the far end of the screen)...

[Lee]

Tell me if you recommend it still after the repeated temple with a time limit. Honestly I would go buy it right now, but that puts me off and I would like to hear impressions up to that point.

[JCC]

Tell me if you recommend it still after the repeated temple with a time limit. Honestly I would go buy it right now, but that puts me off and I would like to hear impressions up to that point.

That is my biggest fear for potential suckage as well. Haven't been through any timed/repeated parts yet though so you'll have to wait!

Oh, and semi, I AM trying the swirl thing at the edge of the screen. I still can't figure out the roll. Sometimes all I do is slide the stylus one way and do one, other times I am "twirling" like all get out and can't get the damn roll to happen. Only bad control mechanic for me so far.

[semiconscious]

Tell me if you recommend it still after the repeated temple with a time limit. Honestly I would go buy it right now, but that puts me off and I would like to hear impressions up to that point.

That is my biggest fear for potential suckage as well. Haven't been through any timed/repeated parts yet though so you'll have to wait!

Oh, and semi, I AM trying the swirl thing at the edge of the screen. I still can't figure out the roll. Sometimes all I do is slide the stylus one way and do one, other times I am "twirling" like all get out and can't get the damn roll to happen. Only bad control mechanic for me so far.

as far as the phantom hourglass dungeon, i just made my first (botched) run. the dungeon has safe spots scattered around that stop the clock, & there are yellow jars which, when you break them, give you some time back. it's definitely a questionable mechanic over-all, but it seems pretty doable, basically just involving some trial & error - kinda like traditional zelda dungeons, only magnified?...

how i finally got the roll to work: don't start near link - touch toward the edge of the screen, get link moving, keep the stylus against the edge (like, banging into it), & spin it (continuing to bang into the edge) as you keep him moving...

[JCC]

Stayed up WAY too late playing this and I am tired but I will add this: Controlling the boomerang with the stylus makes the boomerang more fun than in any other Zelda game. It rules.

This game may cripple my right hand though. It's very fatigued.

[semiconscious]

Controlling the boomerang with the stylus makes the boomerang more fun than in any other Zelda game. It rules.

agreed - awesome!...

This game may cripple my right hand though. It's very fatigued.

no problem for me, so far, except for the boss battle (ouch!) - but my hand has always kinda cramped up on portable zelda boss battles ...

[ATB]

I forgot to save and for some reason thought the game autosaved so I had to start over. I'm just getting back to the first temple...that's what I get for not reading the manual.   

[Lee]

I forgot to save and for some reason thought the game autosaved so I had to start over. I'm just getting back to the first temple...that's what I get for not reading the manual.   

Who reads manuals for DS games?!

Anyway, how big is this timed dungeon? What's the time limit on it?

[JCC]

Anyway, how big is this timed dungeon? What's the time limit on it?

I have only done it once. The time limit was 10 mins. I made it with about 48 secs to spare and didn't go crazy trying to hurry. I believe each time you go back you go farther in and have more time, but I haven't returned yet, so that isn't for sure.

[semiconscious]

Anyway, how big is this timed dungeon? What's the time limit on it?

I have only done it once. The time limit was 10 mins. I made it with about 48 secs to spare and didn't go crazy trying to hurry. I believe each time you go back you go farther in and have more time, but I haven't returned yet, so that isn't for sure.

yeah, from what i've read, that's how it works. when the teleport appeared at the end of the first section, i was hoping maybe you could teleport back to there to start the next go-round, but no, you start at the beginning each time (tho i think there may be tricks/shortcuts eventually available)...

oh, yeah - size-wise, the first section of the ph dungeon was 3 not-so-large levels...

[Caine]

ok, so it's a toss up between cc for $5 off and the misc crap, or full price at tru with a strat guide, right?  i'm a little price sensitive at this point, so i'm favoring cc, but the guide sounds good to have too. 

how big is the strat guide?  does it include info on all the ship parts, and how detailed is it? 

i don't use many guides, even the odd one i buy, but for some games, it really helps to have one occasionally.