XGC ROCK
News Editor
kotaku.com
I got a chance to sit down for a few minutes with Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass DS at the Nintendo booth on the Expo floor on Friday. The only bit they were actually showing was the multiplayer mode, but I swallowed my bitter disappointment at not being able to try out a real level and gave it a try.
The gameplay was pretty simple with one player taking on the role of Link while the other player controlled a trio of Armored Knights. The lower screen is an overhead map of a maze, while the top screen shows the 3rd person view. Link must run through the maze, picking up Tri-Forces and dropping them off at his base area all the while avoiding the Armored Knights who are chasing him. Link can be controlled with the stylus or the d-pad and the knights make their moves by following a trail that the player traces out using the stylus.
There are two sizes of Tri-force, the smaller light weight version and the large heavier version. These Tri-forces will weigh you down and make you run slower, so if you see one of the knights approaching, your best bet is just to drop your prize and make a run for it, you can always come back and pick it up later. Various power-ups are scattered around the level such as super speed to help carry you swiftly away from your imposing enemies. Once one of the knights catches Link, the round is over and the players switch sides, with the former Link now controlling the knights and vice versa.
I had a good time playing it, but honestly, there wasn't a whole lot to keep me intrigued for more than a few minutes. Hopefully next time they display it we'll get a chance to play some real levels. Flynn De Marco
I got a chance to sit down for a few minutes with Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass DS at the Nintendo booth on the Expo floor on Friday. The only bit they were actually showing was the multiplayer mode, but I swallowed my bitter disappointment at not being able to try out a real level and gave it a try.
The gameplay was pretty simple with one player taking on the role of Link while the other player controlled a trio of Armored Knights. The lower screen is an overhead map of a maze, while the top screen shows the 3rd person view. Link must run through the maze, picking up Tri-Forces and dropping them off at his base area all the while avoiding the Armored Knights who are chasing him. Link can be controlled with the stylus or the d-pad and the knights make their moves by following a trail that the player traces out using the stylus.
There are two sizes of Tri-force, the smaller light weight version and the large heavier version. These Tri-forces will weigh you down and make you run slower, so if you see one of the knights approaching, your best bet is just to drop your prize and make a run for it, you can always come back and pick it up later. Various power-ups are scattered around the level such as super speed to help carry you swiftly away from your imposing enemies. Once one of the knights catches Link, the round is over and the players switch sides, with the former Link now controlling the knights and vice versa.
I had a good time playing it, but honestly, there wasn't a whole lot to keep me intrigued for more than a few minutes. Hopefully next time they display it we'll get a chance to play some real levels. Flynn De Marco