LOZ: Phantom Hourglass

Every once in a while, there comes along something we enjoy so much that we just cannot seem to get enough of it. One such thing is a video game from the Legend of Zelda series.

And the particular game in mind is The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hour Glass. I have no doubt been a big Zelda fan since I played the first original NES Legend of Zelda game, Link’s Adventure, so when I saw the ads and read the reviews of the Phantom Hour Glass for the Nintendo DS/DS Lite, my video game fingers and thumb began to have that Zelda-esqe itch.

Enter a world in which touch screen/stylus video gaming technology encounters Link where Legend Of Zelda: The Windwaker (Nintendo Gamecube) left off. And if you have grown accustomed to playing previous Zelda games via the use of a game system’s cross pad, then getting used to the Nintendo DS/DS Lite touch screen stylus effect can take some getting used to.

But once you do get the hang of it, use of the stylus is fun, engaging and addictive. If you want to defeat an on screen enemy, for example, just touch it with the stylus and watch as Link goes Zelda on it with his trusty sword, boomerang, bow and arrow, bombs or which ever weapon you want Link to use.

If you want to pick up an object, or talk to someone, same thing, just touch it, or the character with the stylus. Plus, the game’s graphics and sound effects are so magnificent and clear that you might want to slow down and enjoy parts of this game as opposed to rushing through it.

And even though acquiring the Phantom Hour Glass proves to be a bit of a challenge at first, you will see the significance of the Hour Glass, once you have it in your possession. Also, it took me a while to figure out this part of the game, so for those of you who are suffering some sense of frustration by the time you get to Molida island, here is what you do to gain access to Romanos’ cave.

Follow the Ghost Ship all the way as far as you can go in the Northwestern Sea, until Linebeck says: ‘….maybe someone on an island knows how to get through the fog…’
Even if your ship goes down while trying to make it back to Molida island after the Ghost Ship/Northwestern Sea scene, you will still gain access to Romanos’ cave on Molida island after speaking with Romanos’ son once you have followed the Ghost Ship as far into the Northwestern Sea as you can go.

So set aside some time, pick up your Nintendo DS/DS Lite stylus and go do some exploring of your own, Legend of Zelda style as Zelda: The Phantom Hour Glass gives you and Link one more adventure to go Zelda on.