The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

 DS
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Image
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 57 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 626 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 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[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]… Expand
Buy Now
Buy on

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Official Trailer 1

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 57
  3. Negative: 0 out of 57
  1. Computer and Video Games
    100
    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]
  2. Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
    95
    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]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Nintendo Gamer
    95
    20 of the finest gaming hours of the year. [Dec 2007, p.42]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. AceGamez
    90
    Arguably the DS' greatest title so far.
    All this publication's reviews
  5. IGN
    90
    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.
  6. AtomicGamer
    89
    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.
  7. Modojo
    60
    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.

See all 57 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 150
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 150
  3. Negative: 18 out of 150
  1. HouseS.
    Sep 28, 2007
    10
    Wonderful art direction. The touch screen controls work really great. this is the best handheld game since Link's Awakening DX
  2. DillanR.
    May 5, 2008
    10
    The innovation of this game, with its unique stylus dependant controls makes it completely new, and possibly one of the best games on the DS The innovation of this game, with its unique stylus dependant controls makes it completely new, and possibly one of the best games on the DS platform right now.… Expand
  4. Crazyqazqaz
    Oct 27, 2008
    10
    Zelda games are famous for having incredibly long story lines, mind boggling puzzles, scores of mini-quests and the notorious Water Temples Zelda games are famous for having incredibly long story lines, mind boggling puzzles, scores of mini-quests and the notorious Water Temples that consume hours of your life and have even been made into a slang (if a bit underused) term for something incredibly difficult. This, though, is a breath of fresh air. The game is lovingly crafted using bright, welcoming colours and a story line that manages to be genuinely funny while being brilliantly unpredicable. The control scheme is fabulous, I really can't see what people have been complaining about. It isn't overly difficult but not a total breeze either. It will stump you at times, but that is nothing that a little creative thought and a small amount of thinking outside the box won't solve. A brilliant little game, can't praise it enough!… Expand
  5. Ale2P
    Feb 28, 2022
    8
    Empezaré por lo malo:
    La música, ya que en casi todo el juego se repiten los mismos 3 tracks: el de las cuevas, el de los templos y el de    Empezaré por lo malo:
    La música, ya que en casi todo el juego se repiten los mismos 3 tracks: el de las cuevas, el de los templos y el de "isla despoblada" por así decirlo. 3 tracks muy repetitivos y desinspirados, aunque el juego sí que tiene algún tema chulo, como el de Linebeck.
    Los gráficos: no han envejecido muy bien, me parece que si lo hubiesen hecho en 2D sería mucho más agradable a la vista, aunque no me parece del todo mala decisión hacerlos en 3D, ya que el 2D podría dar lugar a confusiones con la profundidad, cosa que he notado recientemente jugando a The Minish Cap y Mario y Luigi: Compañeros en el tiempo, y en 3D se puede seguir más fielmente el estilo artístico de Wind Waker, juego del que este es secuela.
    Mapas del tesoro y piezas del barco: Por el juego hay repartidos varios mapas del tesoro ocultos que te marcan sitios en el mar donde hay tesoros. Esos tesoros suelen ser piezas de barco. El problema es que el contenido del cofre es aleatorio, y te pueden salir piezas repetidas, por lo que se hace muy complicado conseguirlas todas. Creo que había otras formas de conseguir piezas pero también eran aleatorias. Otro problema que tengo con los tesoros es que los minijuegos de la grúa se repiten con mucha frecuencia.
    Texto: En las cajas de texto no se indica qué personaje está hablando. Normalmente la cámara apunta al personaje que habla, pero no siempre es así, lo que hace difícil saber quién dice lo que pone en el texto.
    Ahora diré las cosas buenas:
    Uso de la pantalla táctil: La pantalla táctil se usa para todo en este juego, cosa que a algunas personas no les gusta, pero no es mi caso. Se usa para moverse, atacar, usar objetos, y, lo que más me gusta, dibujar en el mapa. Es una función que se usa en muchos puzles a lo largo del juego y me parece genial. Después de jugar a este juego lo echaba en falta en el resto de juegos, y me decepcionó el poco uso que se hizo de esta función en la secuela, Spirit Tracks.
    Barco: El mar, si bien pequeño, tiene unos cuantos secretos escondidos: islas con minijuegos, barcos en los que encontraremos otros personajes, y, como ya he mencionado, tesoros. Me gusta ese sentimiento de libertad que te da poder ir por donde quieras con el barco, cosa que la secuela no logro conseguir. La única pega que le veo es que tengas que marcar el camino del barco en la pantalla táctil, lo que hace el combate contra enemigos un sufrimiento. Es el único uso de la pantalla táctil en este juego que no me gusta.
    Minijuegos: son entretenidos, divertidos y complicados, y tienen buenas recompensas.

    Es un juego que disfruté mucho, y, aunque esté visto como uno de los peores The Legend of Zelda, es uno de mis favoritos.    … Expand
  6. hector_bcn98
    Nov 7, 2022
    7
    A quien se le ocurrió la idea de hacer la mazmorra del rey del mar una y otra vez en modo cronómetro debió ser despedido de la empresa.
  7. iTrike
    Oct 5, 2007
    7
    I've enjoyed the Zelda franchise for years and, like many, thought it was a perfect fit for the DS. Coupled with pre-release hyperbole, I've enjoyed the Zelda franchise for years and, like many, thought it was a perfect fit for the DS. Coupled with pre-release hyperbole, I was expecting to have the definitive DS experience with this game. Nope. It's a good game, but its simplicity, been-there-done-that familiarity, and the fact that seasoned DS gamers are no longer wowed by stylus-driven gameplay, makes it less than stellar. Ultimately, PH is an enjoyable game that doesn… Expand
  8. JaredC.
    Oct 2, 2007
    0
    Zelda when she is a baby, and weak, and pethetic, this game is just like that. It misses out on the main story and cliches the slackness of Zelda when she is a baby, and weak, and pethetic, this game is just like that. It misses out on the main story and cliches the slackness of undarkening material. it just doesn't work with all the others.… Expand

See all 150 User Reviews

Trailers

Related Articles

  1. Games

    Every Legend of Zelda Game, Ranked

    Every Legend of Zelda Game, Ranked Image
    Published: March 7, 2017
    (Updated May 2023) The new Tears of the Kingdom is great, but how does it compare to past Zelda releases? We rank all 19 Legend of Zelda games from worst to best.
    More »
  2. 6 Picks, Games, TV, Movies, Music

    This Week in Metacritic: Not So Lovely Bones

    This Week in Metacritic: Not So Lovely Bones Image
    Published: December 10, 2009
    Our quick roundup of the newest releases in movies, music, games and TV found at Metacritic.com for the week of 12/7 - 12/11.
    More »

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best DS Game of 2007
1
#1 Most Discussed DS Game of 2007
1
#1 Most Shared DS Game of 2007