With only a month left before The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass sails directly to store shelves, we’re sure you are just as excited as we are over what’s sure to be Nintendo DS’ biggest adventure this year. As a sequel to the best-selling GameCube title –- the Wind Waker –- Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has a lot to prove in the dual-screen world. But here’s the basic list of features we can expect from this soon to be blockbuster title.

Return to the Sea
In Phantom Hourglass, Link takes control once again of the winds and seas as he searches for the “new Hyrule.” However, Tetra -- leader of the pirate gang and the new Princess -- is, once again, missing after a failed Ghost Ship encounter, so it’s up to Link and yourself to find her in this new island of adventure, mystery and excitement.

Navi-gation
Taking a cue from The Wind Waker, you will spend a lot of time on the high seas thanks to the trusty (?) pirate Lineback and his boat. Except there will be no more annoying “change the wind’s course” tune to speed up the travel, because now you can easily draw your own path with the stylus, and then follow Lineback’s boat as he travels through the water and isles around the world.


Zelda is quite a looker!

Ka-boom!
Thanks to the new travel mode, you will be able to focus more on combat, and less on using a baton to change the direction of the wind. What does this mean? More combat, and more fun. When you encounter a sea creature, you can tap with your stylus to throw bombs or any other item in your arsenal. There are even some key events in the storyline that will have a couple of obligatory sea battles. Ka-boom!

Zelda's Mysterious Dungeon
One of the game’s big changes is the fact that there’s one main central dungeon that will have most of its doors locked at the beginning. As you play through the game, you’ll gain access to different places within the dungeon. There has to be a reason why the game is called Phantom Hourglass after all, and this main dungeon is the one you’re looking for. Thanks to the power of the Hourglass, you’ll be able to delve into the dungeon, but for a price: You must do it before the Hourglass is empty.

Race to the End
Based on early reports, Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will be just as huge as the console iterations. It’s sure to have plenty of new races that will complement some of the already well-known races like the Gorons and the Zoras. In addition, Lineback (who, as mentioned earlier, will be traveling with you) will serve as the guide for this game, sharing information and advice… for a price. What is this price?

Stylus Spin
Another big change for the series is how this new adventure will be controlled. Thanks to the touch-screen, Link’s new quest will be entirely controlled with the stylus. Surprised? Shocked? Worried? Don’t be. The new controls are smooth, and most importantly, easy to understand for people who have never tried their hand at a Zelda adventure. And what’s so intimidating about touch-screen controls? You tap, Link uses item. You circle, he spins his sword. It’s pretty basic Zelda stuff.


Sailing is back. You'll like it this time.

Win, Lose, or Draw!
Another welcome addition for this new Zelda quest is the addition of notes, which you can write on your map. See a number that you don’t want to forget? Just get that map out and write whatever you want. Are you done? Just erase it and write or draw something new. It’s a traveler’s dream map.

Tasty Island Colors
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is home to some of the best graphics ever seen on Nintendo DS. The overhead view (which is still done with 3D models) is gorgeous to look at, and the Zelda charm that was present in Wind Waker is back in full force. Some of the particle effects that were famous in the GameCube game are also back, and even though they are scaled down (thanks the DS’s smaller resolution), the game is probably the handheld’s best looker so far. Quite a feat, especially when compared to great games like Metroid Prime: Hunters and Final Fantasy III.

Wi-Fi Adventures
Another welcome addition to the game is the multiplayer/Wi-Fi mode, where you will compete against a friend (via wireless or via the internet) in several arenas, collecting Force Gems and protecting yourself against mean Iron Knuckles. We can’t wait to give it a shot, and we’re sure neither can you.

The Hourglass is Set
With only a month left until Link’s new quest arrives, there’s not much you can do to make the wait any less painful. Luckily for you, we’ll be having more coverage for the game as its release date closes by. Stay tuned for our full review, as we ready our bombs, arrows and sword in preparation for this grandiose adventure that will keep you glued to your Nintendo DS until the end.