28 The Chronicle November 6, 2007
ENTERTAINMENT DS Zelda game forms new legend By Tyler Ohlew Chronicle Staff Th e Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass may not be what many have expected. Luckily for the Nintendo DS title, it provides an experience straight out of left fi eld, but one that will reaffi rm the strength of the series. As a franchise, Zelda has always had its sacred cows; mechanics, scenarios, <strong>and</strong> items that have been synonymous with the series. But in Phantom Hourglass, the traditional ebb <strong>and</strong> fl ow one expects is replaced with something far more streamlined. Th e changes made are both minor (no need to purchase wallets of varying size, from the outset thous<strong>and</strong>s of rupees can be carried) <strong>and</strong> signifi cant (hearts, the game’s measurement of life, are no longer broken up into four fragments <strong>and</strong> scattered about, they are found whole). And while this is far from a traditional Zelda title, many familiar trappings are still there. One will still need to rescue an alarmingly weak princess, the game’s protagonist is the mute but lovable Link, <strong>and</strong> there are enough bombs, boomerangs, <strong>and</strong> breakable jars for even the most weary of fans to feel at home. As a direct sequel to the stunningly gorgeous Legend of Zelda: Th e Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass continues the tale of Link setting sail across the seas in search of new l<strong>and</strong>. A recap is present at the beginning of the game, just to remind veterans <strong>and</strong> inform newcomers of what transpired in Wind Waker. Of course, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Th e best thing Phantom Hour- glass takes from its predecessor is its aesthetic. As a DS title, Phantom Hourglass boasts some of the most charming 3D visuals seen on the system. Th e title even showcases the system’s seldom seen ability to display 3D on both screens. While the game could have been an excellent display of the 2D capabilities of the system, the chosen 3D visuals allow for some great animation. When originally announced, it was the game’s controls that threw many Zelda faithful into a tizzy. Gone was the control system fans had grown accustomed to. Instead, as customary with the DS, touch controls had taken its place. But rest easy, Phantom Hourglass controls like a dream. Upon tapping an enemy, Link will attack. While simple, as the game evolves so do its enemies. A simple tap or stroke on the screen will no longer be enough, items like the boomerang or bow will be necessary. Some enemies can even be felled by the DS’s microphone. But that’s not to say that the control system is fl awless. Summersaults are diffi cult to pull off with each attempt, <strong>and</strong> occasionally tapping an enemy will not result in the anticipated attack. But these are extremely rare cases. Otherwise the touch controls are spot on (in fact, at a later point in the game, a character alludes to the “message board worries” fans had of the controls). Which brings up an interesting point, Phantom Hourglass lets no feature of the DS go unused. In fact, the game liberally borrows from many DS titles that Nintendo had developed. Players can expect to literally shout for items, scribble on their map (which now doesn’t have to be found, it’s instantly pro- <strong>Durham</strong> <strong>College</strong>-<strong>UOIT</strong> Chronicle vided), <strong>and</strong> close the lid of their DS to solve one of the game’s trickier puzzles. Sailing the seas is a vast improvement over what was found in Th e Wind Waker. Travelling between isl<strong>and</strong>s is enjoyable, as many obstacles (both good <strong>and</strong> bad) pop up during the trip. Later on, travelling between the game’s four quadrants of sea becomes a breeze with the help of some Dumbledore’s private life gets too much publicity In front of hundreds of fans in Carnegie Hall, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling brought Hogwarts’ most beloved <strong>and</strong> dedicated headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, out of the closet. Th e reading in Carnegie Hall was the last stop on Rowling’s American tour of the fi nal Harry Potter book, Deathly Hallows. Sixteen hundred lucky New York City public school students <strong>and</strong> their guests attended the event on Oct. 19, when she read from the last few chapters of the book <strong>and</strong> then answered audience questions. When a young fan asked if Dumbledore, who throughout the series emphasizes the power of love, ever fell in love himself, Rowling casually said to a shocked audience that Dumbledore was gay. She later added that he had a tragic infatuation with his equal <strong>and</strong> dark rival Gellert Grindelwald. Th e surprised crowd cheered while Harry Potter haters had yet another reason to complain why the books are inappropriate for children - Rowling has taken heat from religious groups claiming that the books promote witchcraft. To be fair, not everyone has to like Rowling’s work. But what is not fair is that in forums of websites The Chronicle November 6, 2007 29 golden frogs. It sounds odd, but shaving minutes off an extensive journey never hurts. Drawing out your customizable ship’s route is fun, <strong>and</strong> allows for as many or as few detours desired. While the game is far easier than most in the series, it’s no less fun. Th e dungeons grow more clever as the adventure wears on, as do the bosses. While death is rare, your enjoyment won’t be. In Photo by Tyler Ohlew PHANTOM OF THE HOURGLASS: The new Zelda game is one you will never forget. It is action packed with bombs, boomerangs, <strong>and</strong> breakable jars. such as www.ultimateguitar.com <strong>and</strong> www.retrojunk. com, Rowling is accused of outing Dumbledore as a clever marketing scheme when there is no evidence in the books to back it up. Have these people ever read the books? Th ere were little hints throughout the series. Dumbledore has an obscured troubled past <strong>and</strong> despite his old age lacks a female companion. Also, Dumbledore tends to dress very elaborately, for example In Chapter 1 of Th e Philosopher’s Stone, when he is fi rst introduced, he is wearing long purple robes with glittery stars. In the last chapter of Deathly Hallows, Dumbledore tells Harry that Grindelwald’s ideas “infl amed” <strong>and</strong> “captivated” him <strong>and</strong> that the appearance of a charismatic friend lured him into fantastical dreams of power <strong>and</strong> infl uence. “Two clever, arrogant boys with a shared obsession,” he recalls, resulted in “two months of insanity.” Dumbledore’s love for Grindelwald caused him to delay their legendary battle for fi ve years. Harry Potter fan or not, it’s not fair to accuse Rowling of outing Dumbledore for publicity. She is a billionaire – she has had enough publicity for a lifetime. Ingrid Saravia Spice Girls By Jenna-Lee Mainse Chronicle Staff Th e legendary Spice Girls will be making a two-night pit stop in Toronto during their much-anticipated reunion tour. After tickets for their fi rst scheduled appearance at the Air Canada Centre on Feb. 3 sold out in two minutes, the Spice Girls added a Feb. 4 concert as well. Th e concert forum will be fi lled to capacity with 19,800 Spice Girl fanatics. Th e reunion tour was announced by the ‘90s girl group (Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm <strong>and</strong> Victoria Beckham) in June, after being offi cially sepa- particular, the Ice Temple’s boss will bring a smile to even the most prudent of players. Th e graphics, game play, length, <strong>and</strong> controls are all in top form here. Alone, each component can st<strong>and</strong> proudly amongst the h<strong>and</strong>held’s best. But it’s the culmination of these individual aspects that makes Phantom Hourglass such a great game. Th is is one hourglass the s<strong>and</strong>s of time will never forget. concert sells out in two minutes rated since February. 2001. Th e Return of Th e Spice Girls World Tour will kick off in Vancouver on Dec. 24 <strong>and</strong> stop at 17 other cities around the world before the tour ends. Couldn’t get tickets? Not a problem. Fans can look forward to the release of the Spice Girls Greatest Hits album, which features 13 of their chart-topping singles, such as Wannabe <strong>and</strong> Spice Up Your Life. Sporty, Posh, Scary, Baby, <strong>and</strong> Ginger Spice are also releasing two br<strong>and</strong> new comeback singles titled Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) <strong>and</strong> Voodoo, which will be included on the group’s greatest hits album.
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