How Does Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Hold Up in 2020

[@ruesius]

I love how this game made u do things that were unheard at the time, like blowing the candles, talking to the DS, closing the fucking case, it felt innovative and fresh.

[@ruesius]

@@renofheavens8347 What a pretencious take on player experience. You must be fun at parties.

[@HyperImaginative]

Honestly that stuff put a big smile on my face.

[@Mqstodon]

@@renofheavens8347 a recycled mechanic that could only be used on a japanese system, in one game, and in exactly one or two instances. So no, it's an amplified mechanic

[@Rihcterwilker]

@@Mqstodon still a recicled mechanic. And a very gimmicky action that could not be used and the game would be just as good without it.

[@hyperion3145]

@@Mqstodon Tbf, that's how those features are here: you only close the device once and blowing is only in one or two places

[@SaikaraXeno]

The thing I love about the final boss is that you can hear Linebeck’s theme

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Linebeck and his accompanying theme are one of my favorite parts of this game. Though Link doesn't speak in the traditional sense, he has some sass to give to Linebeck in the dialogue options.

[@the_bassiah]

The soundtrack is so good

[@Jack574.]

Welcome to leitmotifs, my guy

[@MSheepdog]

Something you didn't mention was the map. I really loved in DS games being able to draw on a map to take notes and highlight things. Stuff like BOTW stamps works a bit, but freely drawing always felt better.

[@puline397]

i agree. The map was for me one of the most creative things - because your future self's success depends on the notes made by your past self. Many people get annoyed at it because they simply ignore its utility or they fail at making useful notes. :)

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

That was such an awesome feature.

[@ciarangale4738]

@@puline397 honestly without the map i feel like young me would have had no chance. i remember on i think it was whale island? the island where the map doesnt display, i tried to manually chart the whole thing. it was honestly great

[@georgy2596]

That was intended

[@luminary97]

I really hope that "Toon" Link gets another game someday.

[@jacksonweeks11]

Yes my favorite link of all of them!

[@Drummerstik]

It would be really awesome

[@infiniteplanes7]

Yeah I agree. I don't particularly like the newer "adult" link in tbotw

[@Gale_.]

I think he will probably come back someday,

[@SpoonTaco]

Same he's in wind waker, spirit tracks, phantom hourglass, four swords, minish cap, and tri force hero's if u wanna play another toon link game :')

[@dagmare940]

Lots of people judge this game so hard, but it really is just an ambitious and charming game targeted towards kids. I got this game as a kid and replayed it multiple times in my 20s still, I enjoyed your positive take on it 😊

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I know - I've always tried to be an apologist for this game. I don't think any Zelda game deserves tons of hate. When you compare the series to other franchises, it's incredible just how high quality they are.

[@idk_n_idc0_0]

Right? Like Phantom Hour Glass is suuuuch an underrated game that I would play again any day of the week

[@dagmare940]

@@idk_n_idc0_0 Ocean king temple? Fuck me up. Ambush by jolene? Any day

[@rmp.attackerfake9446]

I almost cried at the ending. One of the best TLOZ ever made surely.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I really agree with the ending. To 10 year old me, the Bellum boss fight was one of the greatest things I'd ever seen in games. And I agree - I love the DS games more than Link to the Past and Link's Awakening. I think it's great that other people love those, and they're great games, but the DS games are my favorite 2D Zeldas too.

[@ocarinalover1214]

i was stuck on that one puzzle where you had to close the ds lol

[@maidenreligion12]

I was stuck on it forever, too. Got frustrated and decided to close my DS and get back to it when I had finished eating or something. Came back to open my DS only to see it solved and felt pretty stupid that I didn't think of that sooner.

[@loreleihillard5078]

I used my 2ds and it kinda broke the immersion when I realised the solution lol

[@ocarinalover1214]

@@loreleihillard5078 man how do you solve it then? do you just flip the ds over

[@pikariocraftf2802]

@Aaron - oh yeah, I also remember, though personally I never got to play Phantom Houglass as a kid, I remember loving Spirit tracks though, I recently actually played Phantom Hourglass... and to be completely honest, it felt a little underwhelming compared to the incredible joy childhood me experienced riding a train... Well uuh, back on track, Layton, hell yeah.

[@ShadowDragon12341]

I didn't even know you could close the DS and put it in standby like that, I always just turned it off when I was done so I had to ask some other kid how to do it. Good memories...

[@jaredparks4713]

I LOVE the design of the Temple of the Ocean King. I know it doesn't do anything but finishing it with a full 25:00 left in the Phantom Hourglass was so much fun. The final boss theme is also one of my favorites in the series, possibly even my absolute favorite.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

A lot of people hate this game, but it was my introduction to Zelda. I loved it, I loved the controls, and didn't have a problem with it at all. It wasn't until I got into the online Zelda community that I found out everyone hated the DS games. 😞 I loved the stylus controls because I'd been playing crappy platforming games on the GBA which needed pixel perfect jumps. PH felt a lot more chill. I also liked the temple of the ocean king more than the tower of spirits in Spirit Tracks, because it was really fun to figure out the secret passages to get to the bottom more quickly. I really agree with most of what Linkus says - so much of this game is really unique, as well as its sequel. Sadly, these were Toon Link's last real game. I fear that Toon Zelda is a dying Nintendo franchise...

[@ninjacell2999]

He's in smash so hes some what safe

[@icecoldnut5152]

I honestly came to this game after playing a few in the series and was kinda surprised when people complained about the temple of the ocean king, glad to see I'm not the only one. I mean you get a warp point halfway through so you only repeat the first and 3rd section 1 time which is half of the dungeon. Not to mention on top of the extra treasure and tools allowing you to get shortcuts, you kinda need to find the shortcuts because you're still timed for both sections. I always felt like it did a good job getting dungeon fundamentals down where the item you got recontextualizes everything, but its with the items you got from other dungeons.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

@@ninjacell2999 I hope so... but Nintendo is forgetting about him. And judging by the way people react when I pick him in Smash, other people are forgetting about him too...

[@CryoticMienshao]

i dont see what is wrong with the 2 DS games, i thought they were pretty fun. phantom hour glass was easy, but i havent been able to beat spirit tracks yet.

[@kocant1274]

@@ninjacell2999 toon link is my favorite character in ssbu

[@SolMasterzzz]

Thank you for showing some love for the Temple of the Ocean King! It's criminally underrated, in my opinion. It was basically baby's first speedrun for me, and I had a lot of fun trying to find better routes with new items and improving my time.

[@m4gmu5hell]

PH was actualy my first Zelda xD

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Mine too. It's the reason I got into games really, and now I'm pursuing a game design career.

[@m4gmu5hell]

@@armchairrocketscientist4934 Wow, that's amazing! It's realy fascinating, how games were designed back then in comparisson to nowadays. I thought I'd make games all day long but then electronics got me xD

[@Nitram4392]

Same.

[@kikithatoneanimator9134]

Same 🤣 my childhood

[@ahi.ro0987]

Same here! My dad bought it for me when i was around 6-7 years old It holds a really special place in my heart because at that time my parents were divorced and i was living with my mom, it had been more than a year since i last saw my dad but he sometimes sent me gifts and this was one of them I really admired Link, although he was a kid he saved his friend and helped the Ocean King and Ciela in the way and me as a young kid wanted to be like him, he is so cool And although i didn’t finished it at first and it took me a while, it really made me feel better and i still have it there with the rest of my zelda games 🥺

[@ZachHixsonTutorials]

9:22 I never knew you could do that! Such a time saver!

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

😄 I know, I saw that, and I was like.... "I thought I knew this game...."

[@Hectorlph]

So glad you found the Temple of the Ocean King enjoyable. I totally agree that most people overlook the shortcuts when they complain about it being repetitive. It's such a brilliantly put together dungeon due to having early and late game content. As a kid I literally would beat all the floors from start to finish just for fun. Plus you get those bonus ship parts at the end.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Yeah, I loved the challenge of getting to the bottom of the temple. That final door seemed so ominous the first time I saw it...

[@Link-ho8yq]

It's not repetitive during the quest. It's repetitive when you have to do it every day for the ship parts.

[@darkmonger6244]

@@Link-ho8yq You don't HAVE to do it every day, so that's not a valid excuse.

[@pyramidensurfer]

This was my first Zelda game and it holds some of my fondest gaming memories from when I was a kid. I remember playing it in the summer holidays of 2009 and taking like 3 weeks to beat it.

[@coyotedomino]

Spirit Tracks was my introduction to Zelda, and other than the overworld travel, I think it really was a good game. The dungeons were fun and definitely not easy, ‘least when I was a kid. The towns were pretty memorable, the stylus interface was certainly weird but worked pretty well. Zelda’s phantom mechanic was unique and entertaining. The music is _fantastic,_ really, I was listening to some of it recently and it’s got some really cool music- like, the Chancellor’s leitmotif, and the opening music? _Excellent_

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I love the music from ST too. "In the fields" is one of my personal favorites. When I found out about ST, I was like - "Zelda AND trains? Two of my favorite things??" It did not disappoint. 😁

[@puline397]

agreed. Goodness, i love Chancellor's theme

[@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149]

The Spirit tracks ost is top notch stuff, although I do have a lot of nostalgia for that game so maybe I'm not the best person to judge that. I wouldn't say the game was awfully easy either, (especially if you were too young to have learnt English yet. The water dungeon took me a _looong_ time). There are other Zelda dungeons in the series that are easier at least.

[@unknownuser494]

My favorite part of st is collecting different type of train part and this games has the best soundtrack and Zelda.

[@PuineaGiggy]

Watching this made me so happy, I never see people truely appreciate the Ocean Temple but you hit the nail on the head. Going back and exploring different ways, finding new shortcuts and going as fast as possible was just so much fun. Absolutely love this Zelda and pretty much agree with everything you said. Now I'm gonna go and replay it again :)

[@HannaLivingston]

I'm so glad to hear you bring up and talk about the TotOK like this. It was one of my favorite things and I like hearing someone appreciate the diverse range of solutions it offers as you progress. Thr touch screen mechanics were also so unique and allowed for awesome puzzles and mechanics you can't get with other traditionally controlled Zelda games. Overall, this is a review I largely agree with on pretty much all fronts.

[@yoshi4ever122]

This game is actually what got me into the Legend of Zelda series. I played it right at the start of 2020, like in January, and I fell in love with the game instantly.

[@arcticdino1650]

One of my favorite things in this game is the developer letter you get if you miss the heart piece from the sisters fight

[@ShadowDragon12341]

I still remember, the first time I ever played a Zelda game, I walked into a GameStop and PH was on a DS for demoing there. I spent the whole time in the store playing it while my brother and mom were looking at other things. A few months later when it was my birthday, I got lucky and got a shiny new DS Lite and this was my first game for it. Simpler times those were...

[@d471d2]

I'm so glad you highlighted the good things over the bad things. So many videos these days talking about old games completely ignore the good things and just criticize everything. It's nice to see someone actually appreciating an old game for what it's worth with the limitations of the time in mind.

[@the_pootisborn]

My only complaint with this game is that drawing the hourglass shape in the final battle was too fiddly. it took to many damn tries to make it work and it was inconsistent af.

[@unknownuser494]

You need to draw 8.

[@floatingshoppinglist5193]

^ it works if you know how to draw an 8

[@T826-r3c]

I spent like over an hour failing to draw the hourglass before finally figuring it out mostly I hated that mechanic

[@AbrahamRodriguez-ws6zp]

As someone who recently just played through Spirit Tracks as well, something you should've talked about is how revolutionary in my opinion taking notes on the map was. I played this and was able to keep track of everything with notes, but then afterwards tried playing twilight princess and it was pretty difficult to remember spots I needed to revisit later on, however I do understand one is 2d and the other is 3d it was just a great mechanic that I hope comes back one day

[@damiendarhk4827]

This was my first Zelda game, and I loved it. The thing that really stuck with me though, was the ending. When you wake up on the ship, wondering if everything was a dream... and then you see Linebeck's ship on the horizon! Probably one of the best endings to a Zelda game ever :)

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I always kind of imagined it as Toon Link's Majora's Mask - there's darker elements, it feels dreamlike... but he and Tetra both know they experienced it. I feel like there's potential to bring Link and Tetra closer... Gosh I want a game about the founding of New Hyrule. Link and Tetra could both be playable. You could give it a mechanic of building up the new kingdom... gosh, I really want Nintendo to make this game.

[@Bladius_]

I played this back when it came out and I loved it. Had great characters, the story was fairly decent and Stylus gameplay was no issue; but I'm a skyward sword apologist, so mileage may vary :P One of the wildest things this game did IMO was an asymmetrical versus multiplayer mode, with online play. One player is link, the other controls the Phantom guardians. It was actually very fun, as I remember it. I played it a TON; had nearly all of the title unlocks and I believe a full golden ship, mainly from wifi battles.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Yeah, my family loved playing the multi-player.

[@babo3324]

That multiplayer online was awesome indeed

[@estellelabelle3882]

The temple of the ocean king is a little bit tedious yet kinda fun. I love the comic relief in this and the story is very good. I wish this game was more popular

[@stewiegriffinfortnight2160]

this is the next zelda game i have to play. ive watched it get shit on for so long, but it looks fun to me.

[@WasatchWind]

It's definitely a fun game. I agree with Linkus, I like it more than Link to the Past.

[@leaderofthepenguins]

@@WasatchWind it's so much fun! I highly recommend it

[@alventuradelacruz522]

The story is fantastic

[@MaximeLafreniere433]

For a small game in which everything is doable with only touch control, they did an impressive job. Like Linkus said, the weakest point is the music, there aren't a lot, but when they slap, they slap. That was my first LOZ, I got it at 7, and even though my first playthrough was a mess (and a whole story), I loved it so much! Temple of the Ocean King, just such a great idea, ST didn't succeed with Tower of Spirits where this game mastered.

[@Surfdog2005]

I actually really enjoyed the warp system as a kid. it made me feel like I jad been taught a magic symbol that I had to use rather than being done by the character

[@Istiden1]

The temple of the ocean king was always my favorite part about this game.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I know - a lot of people hate on it, but I actually enjoyed it way more than the tower of spirits. I loved that feeling of progression, of going deeper into the darkness of the temple, until I reached that final door... The tower of spirits just didn't capture the same feeling...

[@Istiden1]

@@armchairrocketscientist4934 Yeah I agree!

[@puline397]

this is unfortunately such an unpopular opinion, but i so agree with you guys! i'm happy to see like-minded people :)

[@noisepollution4473]

I'm fully with you. Looking at the same dungeon through a new lens every time you visited it and trying to find a new "optimal" path through it was such a cool feature. It's really too bad that people hated on it so much and they didn't expand on the concept in future titles. Spirit Tracks didn't do it for me even though I loved this game.

[@Link-ho8yq]

I didn't mind the Temple of the Ocean King during the main quest. However, where I really grew to hate it was in the postgame, doing it over and over again as a daily quest for new random boat parts. Same with the Lost at Sea Station in Spirit Tracks. On the other hand, I did appreciate visiting it with new items during the main quest, seeing new shortcuts open every time.

[@Atomhaz]

It’s cool how the tower actually has a Metroidvania vibe

[@TheFlinko]

I'm so glad Phantom Hourglass is getting some love, excited for the Spirit Tracks one!

[@aceinsidious564]

Enjoying The Content of Your Videos Keep Up The Good Work

[@YoruEcchi]

Oh buddy, it’s never been forgotten. This has been a staple and piece of my childhood since I was 4.

[@Lockirby2]

Thanks for your comments on the Temple of the Ocean King. You echoed the thoughts I've always had about this dungeon.

[@bradencosier80]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I never got how people disliked it so much. The stylus controls weren't an issue for me and the Temple of the Ocean King was actually something I found incredibly creative and wished for in future games. And I 100% agress about the climax, it has some great bosses that I loved fighting so much that after found out that you can't fight the 1st phase again if you save after it, I went and completed the entire game again just to get a save point in front of it.

[@cactusrosi1409]

I still have both this one and spirit tracks. Both are just so iconic and still fun to play.

[@thepotato513]

I remember having a bunch of fun with the final boss after unlocking all of the fairy upgrades and the great spin attack. It really felt like they were actually useful without trivializing everything which tends to be a sweet spot that a lot of Zelda optimal content tends to fail to hit

[@mrtesticlease4638]

you just made my day. its not often i see people saying phantom hourglass is their favorite 2d zelda game. im in the same boat, phantom hourglass is extremely good and has lots of good puzzles and mechanics

[@thelordofpie7157]

I absolutely loved this game when I played it. Spirit tracks too. My sisters and I all played it and shared secrets we found in the game together, and it was fun seeing what each other put on our maps

[@wompastompa3692]

How does that one puzzle that requires you to close the DS in order to stamp your map with the other map work on WiiU?

[@ZipplyZane]

Missed opportunity not to make it based on rotation.

[@JellyMyst]

@@ZipplyZane This is a Virtual Console game, not a remake. From what little I know, that means the Wii U is imitating a DS using software. Because it goes through that imitation DS, the game can't possibly pick up on the gamepad being rotated unless there was some analogue for that on the DS.

[@ZipplyZane]

@Otacon464 I was under the impression the Wii U Gamepad had gyro controls, and thus could detect movement. The rest is just designing the emulator for that one particular game to interpret that as turning sleep mode on and off.

[@ZipplyZane]

@Otacon464 Gyro controls don't tend to fire unnecessarily in other Wii U titles, so why would that be a problem here? Plus, as I said, it would register as a sleep followed by a wakeup--a momentary screen flicker. Plus one of the ideas I had was to turn the screen over, which you wouldn't do otherwise.

[@bigplayszombies436]

I remember being 8 and I couldn't figure out how to beat the final boss and I still don't know how

[@pikminfreak0011]

During the fight you'll eventually be able to stop time (I think it involves drawing a shape with the stylus?) and you have to do that when Bellum's eye is open in order to successfully do damage.

[@readyRick]

I also was very young playing this game and literally struggleing for Hours to kill the Final Boss

[@masonmorris4768]

yeah you gotta like draw a figure 8 or smth

[@captainzane]

you have to draw the hourglass

[@AcidArrestB]

Heh, 8 lol

[@weirdkidatyourschool4370]

This Game is half of my Childhood

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I really want another Toon Link game. Give us a game set at the founding of New Hyrule. Make Link and Tetra playable. I don't need anything on the level of Breath of the Wild; I just want a decent sized game. If Nintendo makes this game, I can die with my Zelda cravings satisfied.

[@Alejandroitier]

That’s what spirit tracks is

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

@@Alejandroitier Spirit Tracks is set a century after New Hyrule is founded. Tetra is not present in the game. And by medium sized, I mean that it's the scope of the original Wind Waker.

[@Shattengarde]

Now that video sent me on a nostalgic trip. Such a fun game that actually uses the DS's possibilities in a really clever way. When I played it for the first time as a kid it took me months to get through the game but I only have good memories to it. Your review just confirmed my memories. Also I agree to the comparison between HG and BotW Endgame. In general this has been a great video and I really look forward to the review of Spirit Tracks :)

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Yeah, I just played BotW for the first time, and it felt kind of anticlimactic compared to PH. In PH, I chiseled slowly away at the challenge of the temple of the ocean king, and then, I finally saw that last door to Bellum. Then, the viewpoint did the dramatic shift to full 3D, and after an ominous climb up the stairs, I saw Bellum in his grotesque fulness. You must realize, Phantom Hourglass, other than Roller Coaster Tycoon, was the first really good game I played. Predictably, Wind Waker dethroned PH as my favorite when I played it, but nothing can replace that initial finale.

[@Shattengarde]

awesome astronaut I love to hear those first experiences, they have a level of magic to it that I feel so barely nowadays. It‘s crazy how the first games can coin a person

[@jeremysumpter3626]

That one lever puzzle tho........... I was stuck for 8 years

[@sheikahblight]

I was legit stuck on that one part where you walk across the invisible floor in the Temple for like 6 years. I was so pissed when I got it on my first try after booting it up after that long

[@RetroYGOJeix]

I loved how you put a spoiler warning right after you showed oshus's identity on screen lol

[@sheikahblight]

Right lmao

[@WannabeMarysue]

I don't know why people dislike these graphics. Retro low-poly 3D is hip right now. While link's model could be better, the graphics are cute and colourful, with wonderfully detailed textures.

[@wompastompa3692]

The game actually looks pretty good on the DS Lite's puny screen.

[@TheScienceguy77]

It's not the graphics or the cel shading for me, but the character designs. They all look like bobble heads and it heavily detracts from any seriousness built up in the story. I liked aspects of WW, ST and PH but the artsyle definitely wasn't among them. I'm not particularly fond of BotW's artsyle either, like the Toon Link games it looks like an unfinished side project instead of a Triple-A Zelda game.

[@littlemoth4956]

@@TheScienceguy77 Dude, nobody asked, and nobody cares.

[@dartheleven2108]

Thank you for streaming this game, I love watching people experience it for the first time. It's so cool to see all the people in the comments that had this as their first Zelda game as a kid. For nostalgia alone I will always love Phantom Hourglass to pieces, but as I grew up I realized that's not the only reason. The game is absolutely bursting with charming characters, secrets and adventure despite the limits of the ds. In defense to the warping problems you brought up, I agree the touch screen can be a bit finicky about the symbols, but the great thing about Phantom Hourglass is the overworld's miniature size makes traveling very brief. Everything is close together, and there's plenty to see and do between islands. Aside from that, it's still a lot quicker than playing the wind waker and being forced to listen to the song every time you want to move around. I know the game gets plenty of hate for reasons that aren't entirely false, but the overall game is so wonderful to play that I personally wouldn't change anything significant if there was a remaster. The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass will always hold a special place in my heart as the game that brought into a sprawling series of games about puzzles, adventures, and toon boys in green that never talk.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Eh hem.. The hero of Winds has no DIALOGUE, but that does not necessarily mean he does not TALK. One of my favorite things about Wind Waker and the DS games is Link's dialogue options. In Wind Waker he had lines like "I'm an ally of justice!" In PH he gives Linebeck a lot of sass sometimes 😄 Sorry if I sound SUPER annoying - I just do all I can to set the record straight - Link ain't no mute.

[@xthriteenx]

I really wish I got the Wii U virtual console for ph before the eshop closed, I had no clue this game was on it, I plan on buying a copy for my 2DS soon thought they do be kinda expensive though

[@sagesattva9789]

I got stuck the first time playing this game because I couldn't figure out how to blow out fire to get in the fire temple...

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I remember that too 😄

[@ciarangale4738]

same thing happened to me! half the fun of zelda games was getting stuck and tying to figure out what your missing, something that i feel botw is sorely lacking

[@blakeslone9820]

While the music wasn’t amazing like many zelda games, I love Linebeck’s theme.

[@bridgettehowarth2645]

The tower with invisible spots etc was my favorite part of the game I am crossing my fingers they remaster this game and spirit tracks as well

[@mbSCOTUBE]

I recently found my DS Lite and this is all I've been playing. A Permadeath of this game after a playthrough is really easy

[@16bitHi5]

Its funny that you went thru these games. I literally just played and beat spirit tracks and phantom hour glass back in march for the first time. I loved them too. Probably my favorite thing that still sticks with me after the couple of months that went by is spirit tracks music. The song for taking off in your train is so catchy.

[@vintagelifts]

This is by far the best memory of any games that i ever played as a kid

[@tony_7274]

Can’t wait to see the Spirit Tracks review, one of my favourite games from my childhood , good gameplay for a DS game and brilliant music and final boss

[@sailquaza7069]

I'm so happy you played and liked this game, it's honestly one of my favourite Zelda games of all time, right up there with Wind Waker. It makes me sad that so many people have never played it or even heard of it.

[@cario0236]

I really liked this game, one of my most favourite zelda games, the only problem I had with it was the mechanic that was used for the final boss

[@Ayre223]

i hate the hourglass drawing thing too, i could never beat phase 3(?) of the final boss bc of it

[@AndrewIHanna]

Agreed, i feel like it made the third phase of the boss revolve around an easy gimmick that they throw on you last second when it could have been a fun reaction based segment

[@LordSoulSicarious]

I loved pretty much everything that utilised the ability to draw and take notes. Charting your own map of the whale island, making notes of things you didn't have the required items for in dungeons, the warp symbols in the overworld, noting the optimal paths in the Temple of the Ocean King, etc. I also loved the Temple of the Ocean King itself, just for the core idea of a dungeon you can't beat on your first visit, and just keep revisiting and eking ever further forward as you unlock new equipment. I do wish it had more useful but optional side content within it though, rather than just being a mandatory chore between new dungeons. Exploring old areas in a new context is one of the strengths of the Zelda franchise, and that's what TotOK did.

[@victoriachamberlin3461]

The only things I remembered from PH when I played it at ~10yo (spoilers): puzzles were 3hard5me, I cried when linebeck got possessed, and there was some door i had to open with the stylus with a puzzle and it was sooo simple like connecting the dots with one line, but my small brain self couldn't open that door :(

[@beleva09]

Phantom hourglass was my first Zelda game and it holds a very dear place in my heart. It's such a great game that makes full use of everything the DS had to offer in terms of clever mechanics

[@AlexLorentzenloganjamesalex]

the only part that I needed to search on the internet when I was a kid, was the part where you need to make an impression of a carving onto paper and it wants you to close the lid of your DS. I had never and still have never seen another game actually require you to close you DS for a second in order to progress and I never forgot it either.

[@Doomcraftian]

One point Linkus, the output is scaled to 1080p, but the internal resolution is still low, it looking pixelated has nothing to do with the models being low-poly, it's just outputting low resolution onto high resolution

[@deathonion404]

What's the solution

[@greenshell4082]

Yup, I remember playing this game a lot back then. I even remember watching my dad playing this game and struggling so hard finishing the third dungeon. I really liked the Temple of the Ocean King because of the treasures opening up on each floor when you finally have the phantom sword to defeat phantoms. I did this so many times to get all of the ship parts with rng involved (there were so many duplicates I tell ya). Speedrunning through the entire temple was pretty fun as well, trying to aim that I have a full hourglass at the end. Not entirely sure if there's a point to it, but it was satisfying to me as a kid.

[@stephboyardeee]

This was my favorite game on my ds and one of my favorite games of all time - I’ve replayed it tons of times and it never loses its magic!

[@BenHowe901]

One thing to point out is that the DS games were designed around the touch controls. If you were trying to play a traditional Zelda with these controls, it would likely be a frustrating experience, however PH/ST's level and enemy design was built around this concept, making it much more functional than it may initially appear.

[@Jack.90]

Awesome video! I loved watching the streams, it's made me want to replay the game as well 😋

[@owenwiese4624]

I gave up on spirit tracks because I couldn’t do the flute sections

[@ninjacell2999]

I agree with the point about the stylus and motion controls in SkySw. Many Zelda games have pretty lackluster combat mechanics, but the ones in these games are far more interesting.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

When I went to the old 2D Zeldas, they actually felt super rigid to me after starting with the stylus controls.

[@AmekDzbanek]

Phantom Hourglass was the first Zelda game i've beaten and 100%ed, it holds a very special place in my heart despite it's flaws and i was SO afraid you're going to dislike it or have a lot of complains it actually makes me overjoyed to know you genuinely enjoyed it! Thank you so much for giving this game a chance :)

[@stevenmilt4543]

Allright Linkus. You made me do something I had never expected to do ever in my life again. I'm buying a ds game in 2020.

[@dragon_ninja_2186]

With the Nintendo DS being my first ever game console and this game coming with it, it holds a nostalgic place in my childhood.

[@trkbytzar]

About the stylus movement, there is a D-pad patch for people who can't stand the touch screen, works on console as well, it cuts out 70% of the touch screen usement.

[@moscatogaming9043]

I totally agree on the soundtrack, it could have been drastically improved, although I really don't see a problem in either the graphics nor the teleport system. The latter is quite fun actually, I think it adds on the personality of the game

[@stavenbyrne8010]

ToTOK theme plays in every main dungeon + some caves. Very repetitive

[@littlemoth4956]

You have to unlock it on the 2nd quadrant, it’s hidden, locked behind a puzzle, you have to find the frogs in very specific locations and HIT them, draw the symbol, then do it the right way. It’s just too much.

[@ff-qf1th]

This was the first game I ever played as a kid. glad to know it's not just rose-tinted glasses that are why I have such fond memories of it :)

[@user-rz6wx8wr9p]

Phantom hourglass was my first zelda game :D

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Ditto

[@MegaTomPL2]

i play it as kid. finished in one week and i dont remember it so well.. U motivated me to play it once again.

[@billyflinn8328]

I love this game and it’s puzzles. Thanks for making a video

[@aruwaurachi9649]

First video game i ever got, it was incredible, and it is still.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

I got a lot of games before this, but this was the first REAL game (other than Roller Coaster Tycoon) I ever played.

[@rhodrigoyamamoto3563]

“You have to write it in the exact way” Japanese people:笑笑 *laughs in kanji*

[@gwenxel4434]

Thanks so much for making this!

[@zebesr338]

Playing this with the dpad patch and circle pad patch on the 3ds is perfection

[@omegasage777]

This game was so important in my childhood ❤ It's a gem & I hope that the new generation of Zelda lovers will give it a try!

[@k.b.7718]

I have just finished PH for the first time (2022) and I agree 100% with you. Spirit Tracks will be next.

[@64-bit63]

Forgotten? Bro this shit was my childhood even if I get severe memory loss I would still remeber this

[@NobleVagabond2552]

Phantom Hourglass > Skyward Sword and I’m not joking. Skyward Sword had some cool dungeons that’s the only credit I can give it, and unfortunately even those were bogged down by the hand holding simulator experience

[@Mark-ph8fi]

My very first zelda game. Brings back a lot of memories.

[@gdeath2447]

I never forgot this game i love it i still got it as a cartridge for my dsi

[@Semelem]

The DS games are fun, I wish they were longer Also 2:40 I’m pained by how you wrote those numbers

[@Preposter]

Phantom hourglass is legit my favourite one as from my childhood.

[@StrangeDuck]

im sad the vod is gone now. wish it was here on youtube

[@garingaming9308]

The forgotten zelda game.....me who loves the game and remembers playing it for hours and hours when I was a kid and still plays it from time to time

[@mullet_muffins]

Glad to see someone else with these opinions on this game.

[@T3RB3R9]

my favorite one. maxed out two saves as a kid

[@puline397]

This video makes me happy :) The fact that you loved this amazing game makes me happy. That i could watch you enjoy it makes me happy. And that others that didn't know this game could learn to enjoy it thanks to your streams also makes me happy. ^^ i could not join in with the chat, but i loved watching your streams, staying up till 2 or 3 am, due to also being in European time zone because i simply couldn't pass this opportunity!^^ (gee, why did you have to play until so late, i was dead the next days!xD) Overall, i'm just so happy to see this game (and ST) get the recognition it deserves! And from one of my favourite streamers as well! Only a shame you didn't enjoy ST as much (it was so difficult to watch you struggle, i'm so sorry for what happened during your playthrough of it!), but hey, at least you learned some new English words?:D (gotta find some positives, right?) And yes, in PH, there are so many brilliant things, the boomerang, the grappling hook, the end game, Linebeck, the TotOK (though you kept calling it 'tower' instead of 'temple' :P), i wholeheartedly agree with you! And a great review at that. Good job beating the game! :) Thank you for playing it and making this review. ^v^ (as for golden frogs, i think they have a specific area in which they spawn, and they respawn after reloading the zone, so you must've missed them by millimeters. But i do like the idea of being able to warp only to the locations you've been to before - i think WW might've been the only one in that regard of being able to warp anywhere just after getting the Ballad of Gales, because in other Zelda games you first have to unlock the warp point:))

[@floatingshoppinglist5193]

I just beat this for the first time on Twilight++ and it was amazing. It has so much style and character. The graphics were very good for being a 2007 ds game and the music was actually really good in my opinion. One of my favorite aspects is how alive the characters are and how silly things can be at times.

[@Waffle_8413]

I’m happy somebody else likes this game it is one of my favorite Zelda games and I could never understand all of the hate it gets

[@synka5922]

This was my very first zelda I finished, man... the nostalgia