Strangely enough, with all the hype of major Q4 titles, a long awaited Zelda title is kind of…well…a bit low profiled. I just remembered yesterday that Phantom Hourglass would be in my eager palms within a week! We’ve waited since GDC 2006 for this game, and we’re almost there. Here’s the details for those who have been living under a rock….

Story

• Link, Tetra and Tetra’s band of pirates have set sail in search of new lands at the end of the Wind Waker adventure. Several months later, they come across a patch of ocean covered in a dense fog, in which they discover a mysterious ghost ship. Tetra falls into danger when she sets out to explore the ship alone, and Link falls into the ocean when he attempts to rescue her. When he washes up unconscious, he is awakened by the sound of a fairy’s voice. With the aid of this fairy and other allies, he sets off to explore waters unknown.

Gameplay

• While working through normal dungeons, you will be slowly making your way through a master dungeon
• Collect “sands” to be used in the Phantom hourglass. The completed hourglass will allow you to overcome the master dungeon.
• Fairy will act as your guide
• Sail the sea via steamboat
• Ship can be upgradeable
• Shoot at various enemies with cannon while your ship trudges onward.
• Many enemies, and characters from Wind Waker return.
• Link’s usual arsenal includes the boomerang, hookshot, bow, and many more new/old items
• Collect sea charts to find treasure and various clues/items that help you on your quest.
• Utilize the duel screens for maps, minigames, and boss battles.
• Some minigames include fishing, and treasure hunting.

Controls

• Game is almost completely run via touch screen
• Move link around with the stylus (very similar to, but smoother than Animal Crossing DS)
• Make a swiping motion on the touch screen to make Link slash his sword.
• Tap an enemy to make Link attack it.
  -Draw a quick circle around Link to make him use hs famous spin-attack.
• Draw and make notes on the map.
• Draw onscreen commands including shapes that will unseal certain doors.
• Draw a set coarse for your boomerang, or draw a line to where you want to shoot your hookshot.
• Move pots, boxes or any objects buy walking up to it and tap to the direction you want it moved.

Multiplayer

• Local wireless connection and Nintendo WiFi connection.
• 2 player
• Basically a combination of cat and mouse/capture the flag. One player is Link, who will try to collect Force gems and deposit them at his own base. The opposing player will have control over 3 Dark Nuts who will try to catch Link
• Many maps
• More strategy than we know about.

Other

• Launches October 1, 2007
• Cel shaded style from Wind Waker.
• Will be a overhead view, but with 3D elements
• Cut scenes are abundant
• King of Red Lions will not make a return

If you don’t already know, I’m a huge Zelda fan. When the toon style was first revealed for Phantom Hourglass, I was relieved that Nintendo did the right thing. Zelda games (or any game for that matter) should never push a realism style on a handheld. The Cel shaded style looks just fine on the DS and I hope more developers take note: You just can’t achieve that realistic, graphics experience on a handheld. Those experiences should be saved for console titles. Those rants aside, be sure to pick up The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass on October 1st.