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The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an action / adventure game released on Nintendo DS on October 19, 2007, developed and published by Nintendo. The game uses the cel-shading graphics of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker released on Gamecube a few years ago. It is the sequel of this opus.

After having defeat Ganondorf, Link joined Tetra and her crew of merry pirates to sail toward new horizons. While they were sailing peacefully on the waves, a thick fog rose. Suddenly a terrifying ghost ship emerged from the mist and carried Tetra with it. The courageous Link tried to rescue her but fell into the water, and later woke up on an unknown island. A small amnesiac fairy called Ciela decided to help him find his friends and Tetra. But to return on the sea Link will have to seek assistance from Linebeck, a greedy and cowardly sailor, who will nevertheless prove to be a big-hearted companion.

After The Wind Waker we return back on the sea with Link, this time on Linebeck?s boat. The entire game is played with the stylus, either while travelling by boat or on foot. The two screens are also used for the maps of the game on which we can annotate things by using the touch screen.

Sailing phases are more dynamic than in The Wind Waker. We trace the route on the map with the stylus and the boat follows automatically the itinerary. Many dangers arise on the sea and the player has to shoot the enemies with the cannon by tapping the touch screen. The Linebeck?s ship can also be customized with different elements found in treasure or purchased in stores.

There are many dungeons filled with puzzles, monsters and traps. We also note the presence of the vast dungeon called the Temple of the Ocean King, in which we have to return often in order to unlock new passages. This cursed temple drains Link?s vitality. He can move freely in the temple only thanks to the time fixed by the phantom hourglass.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a very good game with a great adventure worthy of The Legend of Zelda : the Wind Waker.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass reviews