The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the direct sequel to The Wind Waker, continuing Link’s seafaring adventures across a vibrant, cel-shaded Great Sea on the Nintendo DS. The game is a major milestone for the series, as it was designed entirely around the DS’s innovative touch-screen controls, which lets you control Link’s movement, sword combat, and the path of items like the boomerang with the simple swipe and tap of the stylus. As Link, you must rescue the kidnapped Tetra from a mysterious Ghost Ship, leading you on a quest that introduces the charming and cowardly Captain Linebeck. The game features the recurring, massive dungeon, the Temple of the Ocean King, where Link is constantly racing against a time limit set by the titular Phantom Hourglass, forcing you to utilize stealth and clever shortcuts to progress. This title is a unique, charming, and highly interactive adventure that perfectly adapts the classic Zelda puzzle-solving and exploration formula to a handheld console.