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Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, The

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8.3 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 57 critic reviews
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Based on 151 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: October 1, 2007

Summary

[Metacritic's 2007 DS Game of the Year] Many months have passed since the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Link, Tetra and Tetra’s band of pirates have set sail in search of new lands. They come across a patch of ocean covered in a dense fog, in which they discover an abandoned ship. Tetra falls into danger when she explores the ship alone, and Link falls into the ocean when he attempts to rescue her. When he washes up unconscious on the shores of a mysterious island, he is awakened by the sound of a fairy’s voice. With the aid of this fairy, he sets off to find Tetra – and his way back to the seas he once knew. The stylus makes controlling Link easier than ever. Tap on the screen to make Link move, or sweep the stylus around him to swing the sword. Players can even draw a path for his boomerang and send it flying into hard-to-reach targets. Players can stash the map on the top screen for quick reference or drop it to the touch screen to make notes, study enemies, or chart a path for their boat to follow while they man the cannons. Compete with a friend over a local wireless connection: Guide Link through special dungeons to capture the Triforce or command the forces that oppose him. [Nintendo]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Legend Of Zelda: A Link to the Past Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website Predict this Metascore

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Computer and Video Games

There are many excellent games on the DS but few masterpieces. This one, though, is a masterpiece. And worth every penny you'll pay for it. [JPN Import]

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100

GameSpy

Easy and approachable enough for the DS' vast install base of casual users but rewarding and challenging enough to satisfy the hardest of the hardcore Zelda fans. Somehow, magically, it succeeds on both counts. Phantom Hourglass isn't perfect, but it's one of the best experiences, casual or hardcore, available in gaming today.

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100

The Onion (A.V. Club)

If there's an imaginative and genuinely fun way to use the touch-screen this game finds it and exploits it to the fullest.

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100

GameShark

It’s not often that a game comes about to justify the purchase, or even the existence of a particular console, but with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Nintendo has delivered a game that every DS owner should experience.

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100

Pocket Gamer UK

Nintendo again shows that it's the master of its own hardware with another sublime entry in the Zelda lineage. If you own a DS then this is an utterly essential purchase - it really is that simple.

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100

Nintendojo

It is groundbreaking in every sense of the word, and successfully bridges that gap between the hardcore and the casual. A feat that is in no way easy.

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Cheat Code Central

For many gamers, this is the Zelda title they've been waiting for on the DS. Even amidst high expectations, Phantom Hourglass passes with flying colors.

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GamePro

All in all, Phantom Hourglass is a successful sequel that improves on everything that its predecessor did right. [Nov 2007, p.92]

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Nintendo Power

Just know that it's the same Zelda you've always known and loved, and that's a good thing. [Nov 2007, p.98]

NGamer UK

20 of the finest gaming hours of the year. [Dec 2007, p.42]

Game Informer

It may not live up to the lofty standards recently displayed in "Twilight Princess", but this adventure is worthy of Zelda canon, and still has enough great stuff going for it to be considered one of the year's best adventures. [Oct 2007, p.126]

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Deeko

Phantom Hourglass is still a solid title that fans have expected for a long time, and it does a great job to not only please the fans, but welcome newcomers who want to immerse themselves in this great adventure.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

The best and most complete portable adventure ever. Even if you’re not a fan of the series, you should feel compelled to play it and recognize it as a masterpiece. [Nov 2007]

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

Everything you could ever want from a Zelda game and more. [Nov 2007, p.80]

PTGamers

We stand before one of the best games for Nintendo DS, evidence that this isn’t just a platform for mini-games.

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Worth Playing

It's not just the best DS game I've ever played, but it's also one of the best games I've ever played, period.

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Extreme Gamer

Phantom Hourglass is the perfect adventure, accessible to all ages from the novice adventure to the hardcore Zelda fan.

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Gamers' Temple

Much like Gears and Halo for the 360, or Metroid Prime 3 and Twilight Princess for the Wii, Phantom Hourglass should be "the" game every DS owner has in their collection.

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Games Master UK

It's a game that should be seen from start to finish, if only to witness some of the finest level and puzzle concoctions ever to grace a Zelda game and, without question, the finest single-player experience to grace the DS. [JPN Import; Sept 2007, p.68] Hourglass drips quality and innovation, no DS owner should be without it. [Dec 2007, p.62]

Gamer 2.0

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass pushes the envelope when it comes to taking advantage of every feature on the DS, and while many thought it would just turn out to be just another gimmick, Nintendo has once again proved them wrong and at the same time seems to have expanded the audience.

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GameZone

It’s a spectacular blend of touch-screen combat, brilliant puzzles, and Wind Waker beauty. A can’t-miss adventure – one of Nintendo’s finest, and one of the year’s best.

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GamingExcellence

Another satisfying title, The Phantom Hourglass is sure to please anyone who enjoys a Zelda adventure.

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RPG Fan

Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was a fun game. On top of that, it was creative and used the DS in ways that really showed off the potential of the system.

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Play.tm

Not only does it raise the stature of the handheld console in the eyes of many gamers, but it also brings Link and his related protagonists back to a much wider audience. It brings together Nintendo's two great successes of recent decades: compelling hardcore gaming and casual play on the go.

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Game Revolution

A great-looking game, it uses the DS better than any other title I’ve ever seen, and most importantly, it’s fun to play.

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Da Gameboyz

Nintendo has once again done this series justice and it should make any level of gamer, from casual players to veterans of the series, satisfied that they purchased this title.

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AceGamez

Arguably the DS' greatest title so far.

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VideoGamer

I can't see how you won't be wholly satisfied by PH, whether you're a hardened Zelda fan or a newcomer to the series, or even games in general. Yes it's a tad short, and yes it's full of recognisable Zelda moments, but that doesn't stop it from being a fun, refined gem of an adventure game.

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Thunderbolt

An invigorating blend of old and new, classic puzzle-based adventuring spliced with a user-friendly, touch-screen interface, and finally, a sparkling re-invention to a formula that has been mostly untouched ever since Shigeru Miyamoto’s original recipe came to light twenty long years ago.

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GameSpot

Phantom Hourglass wraps the standard Zelda formula in an innovative and fun control scheme that gives new life to several of the series' age-old concepts.

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Edge Magazine

It is an instinctive, ingenious joy to play for every minute, and it sets a new gold standard for game interface design on any platform. [Sept 2007, p.86]

games(TM)

Phantom Hourglass launches from into the DS’s feature list like the past is over and out, moving from one new technology-application marriage to another. [Sept 2007, p.106]

Eurogamer

Simply one of the DS' best.

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IGN

While it may be more casual than we'd like, it's captivating, entertaining, and a true adventure worthy of the Zelda name. It's different, but it's still the real deal.

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Gaming Target

As with many Zelda titles, the game isn't to replayable and sadly Phantom Hourglass is a fairly short adventure. That being said, it is a fantastic example of classic 2D Zelda gameplay placed in a 3D world.

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Armchair Empire

Phantom Hourglass won't disappoint fans. It has all of the core elements that has made the Zelda series so popular, while also breathing new life into it by introducing intuitive touch screen controls.

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Zentendo

It's just nearly-perfected Zelda gameplay. If you're looking for something more than just a new way to play Zelda, as in, something different in terms of how Zelda plays, then you're barking up the wrong tree.

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Game Positive

The game is well-suited for casual gamers, but is definitely reminiscent of the classic Zeldas of old.

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PALGN

One of the finest portable adventures ever created, and yet another high point for one of gaming's greatest franchises.

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Total Video Games

Bringing the classic Zelda experience to the DS with a range of creative touches, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an overwhelming success for the format. It may not have the sheer weight of the likes of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess, but it is nonetheless geared suitably for a stylish and entertaining handheld experience.

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Game Almighty

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a phenomenal Zelda game, pure and simple. The creative minds at Nintendo have managed to take classic gameplay and infuse it with all of the Nintendo DS’ unique capabilities to create an adventure for Link unlike any before.

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Pelit (Finland)

A great example of how to use the special abilities of the DS cleverly and how to make a familiar series feel fresh. The only gripe in the game is the backtracking that is required quite often. [Nov 2007]

AtomicGamer

Overall, Phantom Hourglass is a pretty good game. While the controls do prove to be an issue, it succeeds in other areas, and does so with flair.

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GameTrailers

The quickie dungeons and throttled exploration are outright disappointing, but when held up against the rest of the DS library, it’s an impressive game. But it’s just a good Zelda.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

By all rights, a "Zelda" game controlled entirely by stylus should be a disaster, but somehow Nintendo has performed a miracle. [Nov 2007, p.114]

ZTGameDomain

Phantom Hourglass not only capitalizes on the potential of a Zelda game, it taps into the oft neglected talents of the DS, from great graphics, to touch controls, to the casual appeal of the handheld.

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Boomtown

Phantom Hourglass absorbed me and ate my time more so than the Wii Zelda has done. Maybe it’s because it can sit in my bag calling to me, tempting me to do just one more thing. More likely, it’s because Phantom Hourglass is uncluttered, pure and wonderful Zelda gaming at its best.

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Play Magazine

Phantom Hourglass is absolutely worth playing and is certainly one of the better games in the DS library, but its quest is one of the less memorable entries in the Zelda cannon. [Oct 2007, p.96]

1UP

The biggest problem, if it can be called one, with Phantom Hourglass is that it's too beholden to what's come before it. Innovation arrives in tiny steps, touch screen controls be damned.

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GameDaily

Sure, it's a rehash of every Zelda game, but similar to all those cookie-cutter James Bond films, we quickly devoured it.

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GameTap

Whether it’s making notes on the map screen using the stylus and yelling into the mic to expose the weakness of a sound-sensitive enemy or drawing symbols on doors, the Phantom Hourglass is a great way to show the kinds of things that the DS can do.

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Yahoo! Games

The real reason to get Phantom Hourglass is for its charming, DS-centric high-seas adventure.

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G4 TV

What makes a Zelda game Zelda? Whatever that might be, this game’s got it. Chalk up another success for a classic franchise, and another must-have for just about anyone that owns a Nintendo DS.

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Gamestyle

It may not have the epic feel of its big console cousins, but the DS manages to create a Zelda experience that is truly unique.

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The New York Times

The dungeons would actually be perfectly fun without the timed gimmick. They’re all fun to go through once, but none of them are fun enough to go through 20 times. Hourglass is so good for the most part that I still enjoyed the game, but the time I spent racing through dungeons removed all thoughts of its being perfect.

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NintendoWorldReport

It becomes difficult to fully enjoy Phantom Hourglass if you are a Zelda vet. The lack of even an option for D-pad control tells me that Nintendo did not have their Zelda fan base in mind when they were creating Phantom Hourglass. And that’s okay, I guess. It’s still a decent game, but it’s also a game apart from the rest of the series. It just feels different, and I think it demonstrates that Nintendo is reluctant to sail into the murky waters beyond Wind Waker.

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Modojo

But Zelda: Phantom Hourglass goes the opposite extreme, and turns sailing into a boring and utterly joyless exercise in line drawing. Basically, instead of controlling the ship directly, you'll merely draw your route on the touchscreen and watch your ship travel to that destination.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 151 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jesse R gave it a9:
When Phantom Hourglass broke onto the scene I was a bit skeptic of how great another ocean-roaming Zelda could be, but after playing through it I really enjoyed it. While it can be a bit simple at times and the array of items isn’t the best in the Zelda series, it still is a perfectly good Zelda game. The challenge of Temple of the Ocean King is quite unique as well- perhaps a bit too unique; it can get old very quickly when you have to run through it upwards of the third time. Phantom Hourglass is also home to one of the series’ best supporting characters out there in the form of the salty sea dog Captain Linebeck, who got more laughs out of me than probably any other Zelda character out there.

Kale K gave it an8:
You see the difference between a nintendo fan and a ps3 or xbox360 fan, is that the true nintendo fan is able to look past great graphics quality. The other fans of different consoles get focused on them. Some people say graphics dont make a game and some do. But what really makes a game is good game play, controls and a challenge. And I say this is what phantom hour-glass provides. However it could be better if it had a journal or something to remember what you last did.

Dave H gave it a4:
Just like the review of NintendoWorldReport, I have to agree that this game is rather for 8 year olds rather than zelda veterans, the poor story, poor overworld, dungeons and characters make it the worst zelda game there is. Its a pity that very few publications have the guts to give a Zelda game a mixed or negative review.

Anonymous gave it a2:
Boring movement throughout the world map, dungeons that a toddler would solve easily, gimmicky control failure, and going through the same dungeon a gazillion times? This the Zelda game you'll wish you DIDN'T buy.

Zven A gave it a3:
Boring + terrible in a game, wish they would have kept it to the old school style.

Tom C gave it a7:
My main problem with this game is the temple of the ocean king, this very boring dungeon was clearly mad so that it made the game seem longer without having to make any more proper dungeons. So yeah The rest was quite enjoyable, so yeah not a bad game but definitely not as amazing as some people make out.

Phil G gave it a0:
The worst LoZ game yet. Awful graphics and art style, terrible controls (the touch screen is mostly useless), lame story and characters...a poor recap of Wind Waker is all that drops you into the action and leaves you there to struggle with the poorly thought out touch screen controls. For further complaints, check out Zero Punctuation's review. Those were my main ones though.

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Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, The

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