The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an action/adventure game in the Zelda series and functions as a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
Easy to Play
Great Characters
Great Story
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Story & Themes
Resuming where Wind Waker left off, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass finds Link and Tetra (the pirate persona of Zelda) sailing the seas. They encounter a mysterious vessel known as the Ghost Ship which Tetra boards, but when Link attempts to follow after her he falls into the ocean. Link wakes up on the shores of Mercay Island where a fairy, Ciela, offers her help and brings Link to her friend, Oshus. Link also discovers the Phantom Hourglass while exploring the island, and with Oshus' assistance he makes the acquaintance of a man called Captain Linebeck. Linebeck has his own ship which he agrees to let Link use in hopes that the two of them will find treasure somewhere along the journey.
Link's first stop is the Temple of the Ocean King, a location that he will return to in between dungeons in order to gather Sea Charts. Link's main goal in this first section of the game is to collect the spirits of Wisdom, Power, and Courage, the latter of which is revealed to be Ciela. With the three spirits, Link is finally able to board the Ghost Ship where he finds a petrified Tetra. Oshus explains that her fate is a result of the villainous Bellum's nefarious plans, and that in order to save Tetra, Link must first defeat Bellum. Oshus also reveals his true identity as that of the Ocean King, a fact he'd been concealing so that he could hide from Bellum.
At this point, Link embarks on the final stage of his quest which is to forge the Phantom Sword from three special metals. A master blacksmith named Zauz crafts the sword after Link obtains the materials, and upon its completion Link returns to the Temple of the Ocean King one last time to face Bellum. After Bellum's defeat, Link and Tetra find themselves back aboard Tetra's ship, and her crew claims they've only been gone ten minutes. However, Link discovers that he still has the Phantom Hourglass, suggesting the game's events were more than just a dream.
Save Points
Phantom Hourglass can be saved virtually anytime through the start menu, but quitting the game in the middle of a dungeon will transport you to the start of that dungeon the next time the game is resumed.
Difficulty
Phantom Hourglass has been considered easier than past games in the Zelda series by some, but it's not completely bereft of a challenge. Younger kids and adults alike will find it accessible and enjoyable.
Heads Up!
Violence The game features mild fantasy violence devoid of both blood and gore that is not likely to offend.
Discrimination Tetra, who plays a much more prominent and active role in Wind Waker, has been reduced to a damsel in need of rescuing in Phantom Hourglass.
Online Community
In an optional multiplayer mode, players can compete against each other online through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. However, the multiplayer mode can also be accessed locally.
Conversation Starters
- What do you think about Tetra's role in the game? How does it compare to that of Wind Waker?
- What did you make of the game's ending? Was Link's adventure real?
- Why do you think the Zelda series is so popular and long-lasting? What makes the games different and special?
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