The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

 DS
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 626 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 446 out of 626
  2. Mixed: 129 out of 626
  3. Negative: 51 out of 626
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. RoyD.
    Oct 27, 2007
    10
    The best game on the DS. The use of sylus and mic are refresing. Sometimes frustrating. (Ocean's King Temple) Very innovative.
  2. Brevitythat'sright
    Oct 4, 2007
    10
    2 hours in, twice I've though the game was broken - but it was just me not thinking laterally enough. I love it. Good, solid adventure. Will keep you entertained throughout.
  3. JohnnyK.
    Oct 5, 2007
    10
    Awesome zelda game, sweet graphics and control. Defenitely a must-buy
  4. HenryL.
    Nov 8, 2007
    10
    Very well implemented use of the touch controls, the timed sections are a minor flaw, but not enough to damper my enjoyment with this fantastic game.
  5. FOJAKV
    Oct 2, 2007
    10
    Great, Great Great!! An old franchise with a new air and tons of control innovations, really a 9.5 score. One of the best adventure / rpg of al times stil captivating and going a step farther..good job Nintendo. Buy It !!
  6. S.K.
    Oct 4, 2007
    10
    The 10 is for this game's innovation. I can't believe Nintendo underhyped yet another instant classic (the other being Metroid Prime 3). JC A.: stop being such a Zelda hater. Obviously, you have never played a Zelda game in your life, because the character you control is called Link, not Zelda. Worship whatever game you like, but don't be unfair. Jared C.: I have seen quite The 10 is for this game's innovation. I can't believe Nintendo underhyped yet another instant classic (the other being Metroid Prime 3). JC A.: stop being such a Zelda hater. Obviously, you have never played a Zelda game in your life, because the character you control is called Link, not Zelda. Worship whatever game you like, but don't be unfair. Jared C.: I have seen quite a few of your comments, and you are simply being a Nintendo hater; don't be.… Expand
  7. RobertP.
    Oct 5, 2007
    10
    One of the best handhelds Zelda games ever. The Stylus controls feel like a breeze and the graphics and sound are superb.
  8. KeithR.
    Oct 8, 2007
    10
    Awesome game, had to play till end. One of the first games played for DS that I couldn't put down.
  9. uwepoll
    Aug 15, 2007
    10
    [Rating based on Japanese import] Phantom Hourglass is not only the best handheld Zelda ever, it's the best Zelda game, full stop. It controls perfectly with the stylus and oozes the same undeniable charm and character as The Wind Waker, and it delivers the same wonderful sensation that anything could happen when you set off on your ship to a new island. Fortunately, sailing is[Rating based on Japanese import] Phantom Hourglass is not only the best handheld Zelda ever, it's the best Zelda game, full stop. It controls perfectly with the stylus and oozes the same undeniable charm and character as The Wind Waker, and it delivers the same wonderful sensation that anything could happen when you set off on your ship to a new island. Fortunately, sailing is automatic after plotting your course and the sea is never as endless and empty as was the case in the Wind Waker. The game also feels much better paced than any of its predecessors with barely any dull, longwinded tasks or pointless collectibles. It feels like they pitched everything right and delivered, for once, a fairly short, but nearly perfectly formed Zelda game. Phantom Hourglass is bound to enthrall all with its myriad of imaginative puzzles and battles that utilize the DS better than any game on the system before it.… Expand
  10. ChristopherP.
    Jan 5, 2008
    10
    I really loved this game... Link comes back once again in a brand new adventure which mixes mechanics of old with a revolutionary new combat system, and entertaining new characters! Easily accessible, it could very much be your first game in the series and you'd love it just as much.
  11. Skidmarks
    Mar 20, 2008
    10
    Great game. First Zelda I've bothered to finish in a while. Loved the controls. Perhaps a little easy, but fun through-out and I got many hours out of it.
  12. AndrewM.
    Nov 8, 2007
    10
    Reverting back to hand held from the PC with this game is the best thing I've done. Refreshing, quirky, addictive fun...
  13. Proggy
    Oct 2, 2007
    10
    Don´t bother to read de cheap reviews of new gamers (Jc, Jared, Markus / maybe PSP fans ), it´s fun, great and with innovations for the franchise. Buy it and enjoy it. The Best Handheld game to date and of course for the DS...Good Job Nintendo !!!
  14. MikeD.
    Oct 3, 2007
    10
    A great game, innovative in so many ways, and worth of the Zelda name.
  15. SeanP.
    Oct 3, 2007
    10
    You are all weird. What were you expecting? A freaking 360 game. Its beautiful, fun and engaging. Sure dungeons may seem a little linear but that is probably because they give you a really good map system. Its awesome fun and very gorgeous. Also if you didn't like it fine but it doesn't deserve those low scores. Most likely it's the same whiny person. The lowest it should You are all weird. What were you expecting? A freaking 360 game. Its beautiful, fun and engaging. Sure dungeons may seem a little linear but that is probably because they give you a really good map system. Its awesome fun and very gorgeous. Also if you didn't like it fine but it doesn't deserve those low scores. Most likely it's the same whiny person. The lowest it should get is like a 7 because you just can't deny quality.… Expand
  16. Phu
    Sep 17, 2007
    10
    The game makes complete use of the DS hardware capabilities and is in itself a full Zelda experience.
  17. SandraB.
    Jan 16, 2008
    10
    A wonderful mix of old and new stuff from the Zelda series. Surpassed my expectations!
  18. Matt
    Jan 18, 2008
    10
    By and large one of the most accessible Zelda games. In what was mostly a dismal year for the DS, Zelda stands out as one of the must-own titles in the DS library.
  19. 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 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 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
  20. 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 platform right now.
  21. JoshG.
    Oct 11, 2007
    10
    Something new and fun, even if I would've liked to be able to move using the D-pad.
  22. Dr.Dog
    Nov 25, 2007
    10
    I CANNOT BELIEVE some of the critiscisms people have of this game namely: 1) The sailing is boring 2) The Ocean King's Temple is repetative. In my mind you have to be quite creatively depressing to bring those things to light. First of all, needless sailing around can be skipped with the golden frog warp which you do quite early on. For me, this kind of aimless wandering is I CANNOT BELIEVE some of the critiscisms people have of this game namely: 1) The sailing is boring 2) The Ocean King's Temple is repetative. In my mind you have to be quite creatively depressing to bring those things to light. First of all, needless sailing around can be skipped with the golden frog warp which you do quite early on. For me, this kind of aimless wandering is indicitive of this whole genre. For example, think how much time you waste just holding down the A button when playing RPG/Final Fantasy games to build up your stats. For me, the comparatively short time you have to spend sailing about is NO PROBLEM! Secondly, I actually liked trying to do the Temple and cut my time down and finding secret treasure chests. Thought it was very clever how someone sat down and designed a single dungeon that can only be slowly opened up as you discover new items. Maybe it's just me??? As far as the control mechanism is concered I loved how they stuck to their guns using only the stylus. There's actually one skeleton in the Temple who makes a reference to all those people who moaned about there being no d-pad controls - nice tongue in cheek swipe at you miserable sods!!! This game was OUTSTANDING from start to finish! Thank you to anyone in the development team at Nintendo!!!… Expand
  23. 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
  24. LinkRocks
    Feb 22, 2008
    10
    Now this is an impressive game! I'm so glad to see yet another Zelda game turn out to be such a masterpiece. This is certainly one of my favorite game in the Zelda franchise and I will tell you exactly why. While the graphics may not be amazing, they are still quite beautiful. Just because they do not look extremely realistic doesn't mean they are bad. The controls are possibly Now this is an impressive game! I'm so glad to see yet another Zelda game turn out to be such a masterpiece. This is certainly one of my favorite game in the Zelda franchise and I will tell you exactly why. While the graphics may not be amazing, they are still quite beautiful. Just because they do not look extremely realistic doesn't mean they are bad. The controls are possibly one of the most incredible things about Phantom Hourglass. The stylus based controls are very, very fun to use. I can easily see why Nintendo Power gave this the handheld Game of the Year award. All DS owners must own this game. This is probably the best game that is and will ever be released on the DS.… Expand
  25. Seananonymous
    Sep 11, 2008
    10
    Game made me a fan of the series. The only word i can use to describe the game is amazing.
  26. danielneves
    Jan 28, 2011
    10
    The first Zelda game I' ve ever finished and I feel so great doing it. The audio, characters, story, the puzzles... everything is so well done and they are so perfectly together!!!

    I am anxious to play Spirit Tracks and I started playing Twilight Princess because of this great game.
  27. BlogDog123
    May 27, 2011
    10
    I found this game when I was browsing Target for a game I could play with my stylus since my D-Pad was broken. I picked up and bought this, and it was a BLAST to play. Slashing with Link's trusty sword felt smoother then ever with the stylus, and impressive graphics touch this game off nicely.
  28. assasinatorking
    Jun 16, 2014
    10
    wen i in da field of africa and i travel 2 da america i wish i can se dah zeldo. wen i travel 2 da america i ask for da zeldo and dey giv me dis. now i vary hapy an i bring dis gam bac 2 africa. it was best gam of mah life oder than rhino hunting. but soon giraffe eat it now i sad
  29. blitzkreiig
    Nov 23, 2014
    10
    Awesome game.... My first Zelda game. What a way to get introduced to the series. Controls for the ds are superb. Easy to get into for ask first timers.
  30. fcbass
    Jun 5, 2021
    10
    เกมส์โคตรสนุก การใช้ปากกาในการควมคุม มันส้รางสรรค์มากๆ วิธีหาทางไปต่อ Puzzle ต่างๆ ไอเดียบรรเจิดมากๆ
prev
Page:

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic 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]
    Read full review
  2. Nintendo Gamer
    95
    20 of the finest gaming hours of the year. [Dec 2007, p.42]
  3. Games Master UK
    94
    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]
See all critic reviews »