Game Review #2: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)

This game is in typical Zelda fashion where our hero Link has to go out and save the princess Zelda from gruesome danger. The game features heavy use of the touchscreen to figure puzzles out.

Gameplay: 7
Don't get me wrong, I think that the gameplay is awesome for this game. I could have probably spent more hours than I did on the game if it was possible. The big problem here is that the game is way too short. I got to the end and I was wondering.. that's it? Really? I mean sure there are things that you can do after you finish, but I mean for the most part, it's just kind of sad that it stops so soon.

Innovation: 10
I really like the use of the touchscreen for this game. I think that in itself brought a lot more challenges as well as making use of both screens for boss battles. It really impressed me in some of the things they thought up and the sailing on a pirate ship thing was pretty cool.

Music: 8
To be honest, I think that the music could have been a lot better. I mean it was pretty good but to compare it to other Zelda soundtracks, it was a bit sub par. I can't say it was terrible though.

Replay Value: 8
You have the motivation to go back and find a lot of things, collect treasures, etc. But as I said before, I think that the game is too short and even with the added extras, I don't think there's a lot of replay value.

Overall: 8.25
Although this latest edition of Zelda impressed me on certain levels, I think overall it falls short of greatness when compared to other titles in the Zelda series. Even some of the GBA versions seemed longer and better than this one.

Time spent on game: 12 hours

Game Review #1: The World Ends With You

So I've decided to start reviewing games and movies on this blog just for fun and to see what other people's opinions are. They are meant to be a guide on whether you might want to check it out or not. Of course you are free to agree or not agree with me. With that being said I will start off with the game I am currently playing...


The World Ends With You (DS)

This game is a pretty innovative and thoughtful RPG that is set in the streets of a Tokyo city. Instead of the usual heroic RPG figure, the main character in the story seems to be a modern teenager that deals with the angst and rebellion that normal teenagers experience on a daily basis. However, when we first meet the main character, he has forgotten his memories. He is thrown into a game of sorts in an "underground" version of the real world where he has to survive 7 days to win the game and get a chance to get back to the real world. This sets up a very interesting and engaging storyline.

Gameplay: 9
I must say that I am pretty impressed with the gameplay. There is a lot of depth to the story and the plot twists are very interesting. Gameplay is smooth for the most part, though the battling takes a bit of getting used to fully enjoy. Sometimes I find that a few of the pins I use in battle don't work like I want them to. Other than that, this game is full of impressive gameplay.

Innovation: 10
This game is the epitome of innovation. I've never seen such a game before that was set in modern times and has modern themes. Couple that with a very interesting dual screen battle system along with many, many pins to collect, upgrade and evolve and you have a very unique game that no other game has yet to show.

Music: 9
The music is pretty good though sometimes it can get repetitive. At least when you walk through the different sections of Shibuya, there are a lot of different tracks that play throughout. Some of the chat sounds are funny and sound effects are good as well.

Replay Value: 9
Just for the sheer number of pins you can collect and the ability to chain battles together, strangely keeps you coming back for more. I haven't finished the game in its entirety and I want to go back so that I can do things that I missed from each game.

Overall: 9.25
This is easily one of the most innovative modern RPG's out there. This game packs a lot of creativity and keeps you coming back for more.