Game Review:
Phantom Hourglass
Ben Montgomery
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Life
- Page 1 of 1
Familiarity is probably the Zelda series' greatest strength.
Usually, if a series sticks to a formula as closely as Zelda does, it quickly becomes stale. Somehow, though, Nintendo has consistently made us want and expect that formula for over twenty years.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass throws the first real curveball in this series since it made the jump to 3D: total touch control. It certainly feels strange at first, but after mere minutes you'll be wondering how you ever managed without it.
The new controls revolutionize every aspect of the venerable formula; tools, boat navigation (which, although simpler, still manages to feel tedious). Movement feels freer, but not unwieldy, unless your ham fists are blocking the screen.
Surprisingly, the greatest touch innovation is the ability to make notes on the maps. A large portion of the game's puzzles rely on the mechanic, although sometimes they felt obligatory rather than innovative (Do I really have to circle where the treasure chests are after you just showed me their locations?).
I've always been a fan of the cartoon art style associated with the post-flood-apocalypse Zelda universe. It's a little sad, therefore, to see it hurt by a pulled back camera and low-res graphics usually associated with the DS.
Also, Wind Waker incorporated the cartoon look and feel into its game design, but the artwork in Hourglass feels like it's taken a backseat; Maybe that's because the story also feels like a spin-off rather than a full-fledged sequel.
Spin-off or no, though, the innovations in Phantom Hourglass will excite you. I can't wait to see what they'll do with the Wii's equally unconventional controls.
Usually, if a series sticks to a formula as closely as Zelda does, it quickly becomes stale. Somehow, though, Nintendo has consistently made us want and expect that formula for over twenty years.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass throws the first real curveball in this series since it made the jump to 3D: total touch control. It certainly feels strange at first, but after mere minutes you'll be wondering how you ever managed without it.
The new controls revolutionize every aspect of the venerable formula; tools, boat navigation (which, although simpler, still manages to feel tedious). Movement feels freer, but not unwieldy, unless your ham fists are blocking the screen.
Surprisingly, the greatest touch innovation is the ability to make notes on the maps. A large portion of the game's puzzles rely on the mechanic, although sometimes they felt obligatory rather than innovative (Do I really have to circle where the treasure chests are after you just showed me their locations?).
I've always been a fan of the cartoon art style associated with the post-flood-apocalypse Zelda universe. It's a little sad, therefore, to see it hurt by a pulled back camera and low-res graphics usually associated with the DS.
Also, Wind Waker incorporated the cartoon look and feel into its game design, but the artwork in Hourglass feels like it's taken a backseat; Maybe that's because the story also feels like a spin-off rather than a full-fledged sequel.
Spin-off or no, though, the innovations in Phantom Hourglass will excite you. I can't wait to see what they'll do with the Wii's equally unconventional controls.
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