Recently bought this game and so far I'm enjoying it, though there are things they could have easily improved to make it better.
The controls are generally great and the use of items is easier and more efficient than in past Zelda games. The only slight against the controls I have so far is the decision to have to draw little circles at the edge of the screen in order to roll, they should have thought of a more intuitive motion. Also, while it might have been hard to do, they should have added the ability to control this game with the D-pad (I think the lack of this may have caused some people not to buy it, not everyone is on the touch bandwagon yet).
The sound is fairly standard Zelda fair with a few new tunes thrown in for good measure, overall the effects (from the boat sailing to using the items) are good, though not great. It still seems like they are not using mp3 or similar audio format to record the music as it still feels like they are using MIDI.
The graphics are excellent, especially for a DS game and the game itself really captures the feel and style of Windwaker for the Gamecube. The smoke effects (from the ship's exhaust to the bombs' smoke) is overall excellent and the sense of scale (especially when on the sea) is great. The only problem I have is that Links face seems to be the part of the game that was given the least treatment, as it seems a bit pixelated compared to the rest of the game.
The enemies (at least the ones I have encountered so far) are also standard Zelda fair and the bosses (I've encountered so far) are adequate, though I think they could have made them a bit harder and added more attack routines or patterns. Overall the game seems rather easy, most of the puzzles are simple and strait forward, though the use of the microphone is good to see, it is nothing special and is probably not needed (though some will feel it adds to the immersion, it would do more so if it allowed you to blow at things at any time).
Overall this is a good game, I would not put it at Link to the Past, Oracle of Seasons or Ocarina of Time level yet, but I think it is a good addition to the Zelda universe and hopefully if they make another Zelda game for the DS they can polish up various things to make it a much better and engaging experience.
" ... I almost forgot myself, but luckily Nintendo had my number, thanks to the Zelda Contest I told you about last month." ... "Funny thing...I don't remember authorizing text messages when I sent in my contest entry (just to see how the contest worked mind you), and the rules for said contest don't mention anything about them contacting me outside of letting me know if I won.."
I wasn't assuming anything. I made an earlier comment on the metacritic future that we shouldn't judge this game until some reviews were done off of english language copies. Now that we actually have a few, I'm acknowledging that those reviews are not any better.
We can't make those assumptions as we don't know what 'weight' each review has...remember that the MC score is a weighted average not a mathematical one.
Play magazine has just had their review added to the mix: Phantom Hourglass is absolutely worth playing and is certainly one of the better games in the DS library, but its quest is one of the less memorable entries in the Zelda cannon. [Oct 2007, p.96]
Score 80/100 Current Metacritic score with 8 reviews: 91
@csinning, Metacritic Futures are settled against the Metacritic score, so if you buy above 100% and hold onto the contract, you are guaranteed to lose. I don't know why anyone would buy the contract above 100 to sell higher because I can't see anyone wanting to buy the contract from you...unless that player doesn't pay attention to the selling price.
4
The controls are generally great and the use of items is easier and more efficient than in past Zelda games. The only slight against the controls I have so far is the decision to have to draw little circles at the edge of the screen in order to roll, they should have thought of a more intuitive motion. Also, while it might have been hard to do, they should have added the ability to control this game with the D-pad (I think the lack of this may have caused some people not to buy it, not everyone is on the touch bandwagon yet).
The sound is fairly standard Zelda fair with a few new tunes thrown in for good measure, overall the effects (from the boat sailing to using the items) are good, though not great. It still seems like they are not using mp3 or similar audio format to record the music as it still feels like they are using MIDI.
The graphics are excellent, especially for a DS game and the game itself really captures the feel and style of Windwaker for the Gamecube. The smoke effects (from the ship's exhaust to the bombs' smoke) is overall excellent and the sense of scale (especially when on the sea) is great. The only problem I have is that Links face seems to be the part of the game that was given the least treatment, as it seems a bit pixelated compared to the rest of the game.
The enemies (at least the ones I have encountered so far) are also standard Zelda fair and the bosses (I've encountered so far) are adequate, though I think they could have made them a bit harder and added more attack routines or patterns. Overall the game seems rather easy, most of the puzzles are simple and strait forward, though the use of the microphone is good to see, it is nothing special and is probably not needed (though some will feel it adds to the immersion, it would do more so if it allowed you to blow at things at any time).
Overall this is a good game, I would not put it at Link to the Past, Oracle of Seasons or Ocarina of Time level yet, but I think it is a good addition to the Zelda universe and hopefully if they make another Zelda game for the DS they can polish up various things to make it a much better and engaging experience.