The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

When The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was announced, fans knew it would immediately become a cornerstone of every DS owners' collection. On October 1st , Nintendo once again delivered a stellar title, but not without certain drawbacks that keep it from being on par with the all-time greats like Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time . Fortunately, the franchise always delivers near-perfection, and this game is no exception.

As the first Zelda installation on the DS, PH has some big shoes to fill. The storyline is a continuation of Windwaker and creates just as immersive of a water-filled world as the Gamecube prequel. The game itself, however, plays more like the more confined 2-D style Zelda games such as Link to the Past or The Four Swords , albeit beautifully rendered in 3-D. The graphics are easily the best since Metroid Prime Hunters hit the handheld in 2006, and the supporting soundtrack is at the top of its class as well.