Like Sand though the Hourglass, these are the days of our....

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS had stirred up a bit of insecurity among fans when it was first announced. Questions were asked. Questions like, ''Touch screen only? How will the graphics look? Is is a sequel to Wind Waker, or is it stand alone? Mom, can we go home now?'' Well. I shall answer those questions, and provide some insight on this fantastic package. Yes, the game is essentially a touch screen only game. But don't cry, the controls, from my experience, work pretty well, and if you hold the screen properly like you're supposed to, you will find that it is comforting. The graphics are cel shaded, and are pretty good for a DS title. There are cut scenes that show off a little more of the world around you, and there are little details that make the game look really polished and pretty. The sound is what you'd expect from a Zelda game: great. But, like most DS games, I highly suggest using a pair of good headphones to listen in while playing to fully experience the great, lavish music, especially when sailing. Sailing in this game has been changed from Wind Waker, to be a little less tedious. You basically just draw the destination out on your map, and the ship moves automatically. There are some clever puzzles in the game-the concept of drawing notes is emphasized and is well implemented- and the combat stays true to the Zelda formula. The items and enemies you face fit the game, and there are dungeons with cool bosses to defeat. Mini games are scattered all around the place, and collecting treasure is back as well. The game isn't all that long, but hey, a fantastic game like this needs to be played more than once, amirite? Anyway, there is single card and wireless multiplayer which is fun while it lasts, but definitely not a reason why you would by this game. Speaking of buying this game...................go buy this game.