Franchise: The Legend of Zelda
Genre: Action-adventure
Release Date: 2007-06-23
Nintendo Systems: Nintendo DS
Copies Sold: 4.76 million
Publisher: Nintendo
Game Length: 20 hours
ESRB Rating: E
Art Style: Cel-shaded
MetaCritic Score: 90
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed game, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Released for the Nintendo DS, it continues the cel-shaded art style and high-seas adventure that made its predecessor so beloved. This guide delves into the rich lore of Phantom Hourglass, exploring its narrative, characters, and the mystical world in which it is set.
The game takes place in the World of the Ocean King, a mysterious realm separate from Hyrule. This world is dominated by vast seas dotted with islands, each with its unique culture and secrets. The Ocean King himself is a deity who maintains the balance and peace of this world. However, the realm has fallen under a curse, brought about by the evil Bellum, a monstrous entity that drains the life force of living beings.
The narrative picks up shortly after The Wind Waker. Link and Tetra, along with her crew of pirates, are exploring the open seas when they encounter a ghost ship. Tetra, ever-curious and brave, boards the ship but disappears. In an attempt to rescue her, Link falls into the ocean and loses consciousness. He awakens on Mercay Island, where his new adventure begins.
Link meets a fairy named Ciela, who has lost her memory, and an old man named Oshus. Oshus reveals the peril threatening the Ocean King's world, and Link learns that to save Tetra, he must defeat Bellum and lift the curse. The journey takes Link across the seas, visiting various islands, each with its own challenges and inhabitants.
Link: The protagonist, a courageous young hero destined to save Tetra and the World of the Ocean King. Armed with his trusty sword and shield, he sets out on his new quest with determination and bravery.
Tetra: The spirited pirate captain and Zelda's alter ego. After boarding the ghost ship, she is captured by Bellum, setting off the events of the game.
Ciela: A fairy who becomes Link's guide and companion. She has lost her memory but gradually recovers it as the story unfolds, revealing her true identity and connection to the Ocean King.
Linebeck: A self-centered yet ultimately good-hearted treasure hunter who aids Link in his quest. He captains the S.S. Linebeck, the ship that ferries Link across the seas. Throughout the adventure, Linebeck undergoes significant character development.
Oshus: A wise old man living on Mercay Island. He serves as a mentor to Link and has a deeper connection to the world's mysteries than initially apparent.
Bellum: The primary antagonist, a dark, malevolent force responsible for the curse plaguing the Ocean King's realm. Bellum drains the life force from the Ocean King and captures Tetra, setting the conflict in motion.
Central to the game’s lore is the titular Phantom Hourglass, a magical artifact that allows Link to safely explore the Temple of the Ocean King. This temple is a critical location, housing the secrets to defeating Bellum. The hourglass has the power to halt the draining effects of the temple, giving Link a limited time to navigate its perilous corridors. Throughout the adventure, Link must collect Sand of Hours to extend the hourglass's duration, enabling deeper exploration into the temple’s secrets.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass explores themes of courage, friendship, and the struggle against overwhelming evil. It emphasizes the importance of companionship, as seen in the dynamic between Link, Ciela, and Linebeck. The game also highlights the cyclical nature of time and fate, with the hourglass serving as a metaphor for the limited time and opportunities we have to make a difference.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass weaves a captivating tale of adventure, mystery, and heroism. It builds upon the rich lore of The Wind Waker, offering players a new perspective on the vast seas and the legends that inhabit them. With its engaging story and memorable characters, the game remains a cherished entry in the Zelda series, continuing the legacy of one of gaming's most storied franchises.
The Legend of Zelda series is renowned not only for its captivating gameplay and storytelling but also for its intricate timeline, which has been the subject of much discussion and theorizing among fans. Released for the Nintendo DS in 2007, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and plays a unique role in the overarching Zelda timeline. Here's a detailed exploration of where Phantom Hourglass fits within the Zelda timeline and its implications on the series' lore.
The Zelda timeline, officially confirmed by Nintendo in the Hyrule Historia, is divided into three main branches, which originate from the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time:
Phantom Hourglass is set in the Adult Timeline, directly following the events of The Wind Waker. In The Wind Waker, Link defeats Ganondorf with the help of Princess Zelda, and the flooded kingdom of Hyrule is left behind as they set sail for new lands. Phantom Hourglass begins with Link and Tetra (Zelda's pirate persona) exploring the Great Sea in search of a new kingdom. This positions Phantom Hourglass as a continuation of the story that explores what happens after the world of Hyrule has been left behind and a new adventure begins.
In Phantom Hourglass, Link and Tetra's adventure leads them to the mysterious World of the Ocean King, a parallel dimension to the Great Sea. The game's narrative does not directly involve the traditional land of Hyrule or the Triforce, which are central to many other Zelda games. Instead, it focuses on new characters and a self-contained story involving the evil Bellum and the titular Phantom Hourglass.
This setting allows Phantom Hourglass to expand upon the lore of the Zelda series by introducing new elements such as the Ocean King, the Linebeck family, and the concept of parallel worlds and realities. These elements suggest that the world of Zelda is vast and filled with undiscovered lands beyond Hyrule, reinforcing the sense of adventure and exploration that is a hallmark of the series.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass plays a significant role in the Zelda timeline as it explores the continuation of the Adult Timeline after the events of The Wind Waker. By introducing new worlds and characters, it broadens the scope of the Zelda universe and provides a fresh narrative that complements the overarching lore. Its placement in the timeline highlights the series' ability to weave complex stories across different eras and dimensions, maintaining the rich tapestry that fans have come to love.
Through games like Phantom Hourglass, the Zelda series continues to captivate players with its timeless stories and interconnected worlds, inviting them to uncover new mysteries and adventures within the ever-expanding Zelda timeline.