Legend of Zelda Wii U Release Date and News: Phantom Hourglass A New Addition in the Wii U Virtual Console Lineup
A cross-platform digital shake-up is now happening as Nintendo introduces the return of a classic title of the Legend of Zelda series that, until recently, was a game exclusive to the Japanese gaming giant's legacy DS consoles. First released in 2007, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is now available on Wii U's Virtual Console.
Phantom Hourglass is a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, released in 2003, featuring the protagonist Link venturing on a new journey as per Game Informer. Compared to previous titles in the game series, Phantom Hourglass has a touch-driven control system which requires gamers to make use of the DS stylus and the microphone throughout the entire game.
In Phantom Hourglass' Wii U Virtual Console version, the dual-screen game on DS gets a new rendition through the GamePad's touchscreen with a microphone for a fully functional port to preserve the original gameplay mechanics found in the DS game version according to Digital Trends.
Phantom Hourglass on Wii U picks up where Wind Waker on Nintendo DS left off: Link and Tetra sailing together across the vast expanse of the Great Sea after defeating Ganon. In their journey, another threat emerges as Tetra vanishes aboard an unknown Ghost Ship. To rescue her, Link is forced to work with some unlikely allies such as Ciela, his fairy associate and Linebeck, a doubtful and reluctant captain of SS Linebeck.
Like the Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass' gameplay consists of sailing from one island to the next and exploring their hidden dungeons on foot. In order to start sailing, the player draws up a course on the sea chart with the use of a stylus and SS Linebeck just follows it afterward. When walking on foot, the stylus is used for controlling Link's movement including sword attacks on enemies. As several classic Zelda weapons make a comeback in the game, the touch screen controls will make a lot more sense to wield or use them, Nintendo Inquirer reported.
Getting used to the touch controls can be daunting the first time but it should be a rewarding experiencing as soon as the players get a full grasp of the game. The Zelda sequel to the Wind Waker is available for $9.99 in Nintendo eShop.
