Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Genre: Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo DS
Release: 2007
Rating: E

- Graphics -

Considering the history of DS graphics, in which the system started with entirely 2D graphics that gradually included various 3D elements, this game is a big step up. The -entire- game is 3D, probably one of the first on the system to be so. I don't even think there were very many, if any at all, 2D objects in the scenery.

Graphics: 9/10


- Story -

Ehhh, minus points for the main bad guy being a cyclops giant squid, but plus double that for the FIRST character in the series with a dynamic character type: Linebeck! Overall, the story was a bit odd, but it worked out aside from the Bellum thing. The amazing plot twist at the final battle (and the battle itself) is worth playing the entire game for, imo!

Story: 7/10


- Gameplay -

Now here is a Zelda game that uses on thing for almost all of the controls; in fact, I don't believe you actually need to press any buttons except the power button to play (though there are some useful shortcuts). While some of the controls, such as rolling, were a bit cumbersome, it was overall well-done in that regards. The clever inclusion of the microphone for some things, such as deafening a Pols Voice (which btw, we haven't seen since Link's Awakening if I'm recalling correctly; might have been the Oracles) was an interesting bonus.

The game often gets a lot of criticism for the Ocean King's temple, a dungeon which is required to be revisited several times, each time requiring the player to revisit the parts s/he has already finished. I, however, thought this was a wonderful idea; The inclusion of shortcuts accessible with later items and regenerating treasure chests made it actually worth doing multiple times,
and the life-threatening atmosphere made for one of the most desperate-feeling dungeons in the series.

The only thing I disliked was the ship control; Once you set a course, the only way to go off-course was to completely redraw it. This could get very annoying when you were trying to destroy the ice barrier on the island with the Anouki (an all-new Zelda race), or a few boss fights at sea.

Gameplay: 9/10


- Music -

I must say, this is probably one of my favorite Zelda soundtracks, along with Wind Waker and Majora's Mask. So many amazing themes, and not nearly enough attention by the community.

Music: 10/10

Total Score: 9/10

Not available for other systems

Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle

Genre: Platformer
Developer: ID Software, Apogee
Platform: DOS
Release: 1991
Rating: N/A

- Graphics -

Dang; for graphics at the time, these were some pretty good ones by PC standards. Quite a lot of effort has been put into textures and movement of monsters and Keen himself; Unlike the first episode, everything is a recognizable object, and they even went so far as to have thrusters on the platforms. I can't tell you how annoyed I get when I see randomly moving platforms that have no propulsion at all xD

Graphics: 8/10


- Story -

Okay, a bit of a 1-up since e1, but not by much. Still definitely 80's writing. Keen is suddenly interrupted in his workshop by some random alien page who wants him to come and save the members of the Oracle. However, it is never explained HOW this page found Keen, nor even what the Oracle exactly is. Perhaps they tied up those loose ends in e5 (which so far I have been unsuccessful in trying to install, unfortunately), though I highly doubt it.

Story: 3/10


- Gameplay -

Yay :D I know, I know, a lot of this is nostalgia, but you gotta admit, a game that requires you to jump down a hole while avoiding arrows from turrets, NOT land in slug poop or on the slug itself, duck to avoid the next arrow, than shoot said slug, grab a key, put key in keyhole, and exit the door, all while still avoiding three arrow turrets, and actually makes this physically possible with only a pogo stick and a stun gun, is pretty darn awesome. Actually, any game where slug poop kills you is downright amazing anyway. (note, the situation I just described is from the secret level of the game; it's also the hardest level)

Oh and Long Live Dopefish! xD

Gameplay: 10/10


- Music -

Eeeehhh... so incredibly repetitive, definitely not Bobby Prince's best work. Maybe it was just the primitive soundcards at the time, who knows?

Music: 2/10

Total Score: 6/10

Not available for other systems.