Zelda Phantom Hourglass: Tips & Tricks

Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the most popular DS game at the moment, is a pleasure to play through and a very enjoyable gaming experience. Surprising many with its excellent gameplay and great touch screen controls, the game is attracting a lot of attention from hardcore and casual DS gamers alike. We have compiled a list of tips to help you along the quest, from rolling to sailing and other tricks here and there.

Touch ‘n Roll: As many fans of the franchise know, previous Zelda titles could benefit from Link’s rolling to speed up his walking. Phantom Hourglass, however, doesn’t really need roll after roll to keep the game at a rapid pace; Link’s walking speed is quite fast on its own. Nonetheless, a tree or two could hide hearts or rupees. The game’s explanation to perform a roll is quite misleading. Instead of ‘drawing tiny circles’ on the edge of the screen, try this: as you walk, touch the very edge of the screen, then drag your stylus towards Link and quickly slide back to the screen’s edge. After a few tries, you will surely master this accurate method of rolling.

Staying Alive: Jars are a very reliable source for life-refilling hearts, but there are other efficient methods to keep your energy full. On islands, grass batches can hide a heart or two, but the quickest method to find them is by digging with your shovel. You will quickly replenish your energy, and you will find a whole bunch of blue rupees as well. Also, it is highly recommended to carry two potions with you. A purple potion will automatically refill some of your energy if you happen to die; great for emergencies. A red potion is also suggested, for a quick energy fill on the go.

Treasure Hunting: After your ship is equipped with the Salvage Arm, you can sail to the red X marks on your sea chart and attempt to snag up some treasure. Be very careful with those pesky underwater enemies; if you get hit a lot, your salvage arm will break, and you will have to travel back to Mercay Island and pay a good amount of Rupees to get it fixed. Instead, take your time, avoid enemies, and don’t speed up the process too much. Although most of the underwater treasure is ship parts, you can also find extra sand for your Phantom Hourglass, which is a great help for the Temple of the Ocean King.

Time Attack: The time factor can add quite a deal of challenge to the Temple of the Ocean King. If you find yourself having a hard time with it, you can always dedicate a play-through to investigate the temple’s many floors. You can also write some notes on the map to remind yourself of what to do to move on to the next floor, since you will be going over previous levels a bunch of times. Don’t forget your bow; a good shot to the back will paralyze a Phantom for a short amount of time, perhaps just enough to escape.

Making Money: Always keep an eye out for suspicious-looking digging spots; big Rupees can be hiding underground. Participate in side quests and mini-games for some extra cash, and whenever you see treasure (Zora Scales, Pearl Necklaces, etc.) up for sale at stores, buy it; usually you can sell it for a profit to the treasure collector in Mercay Island.

Multiplayer Master: The Temple of the Ocean King is great practice for the multiplayer Battle Mode, but there’s more to it. Remember; you can snag your opponent’s Force Gems away from their base and either neutralize them or make them your own. Also, familiarize yourself with the stages and their Safe Zones, as well as the best paths to take to travel back and forth from your base. If you are controlling the Phantoms, don’t focus too much on surrounding your opponent’s base; don’t forget to protect your base as well.

We hope these handy tips will help you get the most out of the game. Have fun exploring the great world of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass!