A worthy successor to a time-honored series.
The story picks up where Wind Waker left off. Tetra's gone missing, and this time around, it's the dastardly work of an omniscient ghost ship. Long story short--our hero Link is separated from his pirate friends, meets a memory-lapsed fairy, meets a cocky ship brigadier, and sets off on the dangerous task in finding the elusive Ghost Ship to save his dear friend. This sets off a chain of events that will lead to much bigger things within the story.
The game is pretty much the same formula you've come to expect. You will explore various dungeons, clash with monsters, collect rupies, gather necessary items; all the things that make Zelda what it is. However, you'll be playing this game exclusively in a way that makes the DS what it is as well--the Stylus. Using the Stylus and the touch screen, you'll move Link around in a fully 3D world, and you'll also use it to pick up objects, swing your trusty sword, open doors and interact with people. When you're using certain items like boomerangs, you can even draw the boomerang's path of flight. It might take some getting used to, especially when you're forced to fight, but you'll find it works generally well. And you'd better get used to it because there is no option to switch to the traditional control scheme.
Because this is a direct sequel to Wind Waker, you will be navigating a great ocean world peppered with little islands. Your captain Linebeck commandeers an engine-powered boat that will serve as your mode of transport. And sailing the high seas has never been easier on the DS--you simply draw a path to wherever you want to go on a map, and the boat will take you there--provided you don't run into obstacles or forced to use a cannon against the ocean's ne'r-do-wells.
The game also makes liberal use of a unique note-taking system, allowing you to jot down important clues and stuff on a game map that you call on using either the directional pad or by tapping an icon on your lower screen. This is extremely helpful especially if you don't want to fumble with a separate piece of paper or thumb through a strategy guide. Sometimes the game will indirectly remind you to jot down notes, so keep your eyes open when reading important dialog. All in all, you're almost never alone.
The graphics are brilliant, especially considering the limitations of the DS. The quirky visual style is taken directly from Wind Waker and, for the most part, Link and everybody else look just as good as their GameCube counterparts. Dungeon and world designs are a slight departure from previous Zelda games, but by no means are they less interesting.
Combine all of this with some perplexing challenges, and you have a game totally worthy of the Zelda tradition. If you can deal with only using the stylus to play the game, then you should have no problem breezing all the way through it. If anything, it'll make you appreciate the touch screen a little better than you thought. Overall, Phantom Hourglass is a worthy addition to your DS library, and one I faithfully recommend to you.