It's about time the DS gets a Zelda game. Since Phantom Hourglass was announced at E3 last year we haven't seen a whole lot of excitement for the title. Nintendo hasn't been too keen on spotlighting the title (instead focusing on Wii blockbusters like Metroid and Mario) and US press has had few opportunities to go hands-on with the title. At E3 2007 we got a chance to get a more in-depth look at The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass than we did at GDC, spending some time with a game that's already out in Japan and just awaiting translation for America.

For those with no familiarity with Phantom Hourglass, it's a direct sequel to the Gamecube's Wind Waker. Along with the characters, world, and story, Phantom Hourglass also inherits The Wind Waker's spectacular visual style. For fans like myself who feared that Twilight Princess signaled the end of the cartoon-style Link, Phantom Hourglass is a welcome addition to the Zelda family.

Phantom Hourglass strives to be a complete and unique DS experience, unlike and other Zelda title you've played before. You'll use every feature of the DS, including the touch screen, microphone, and Wi-Fi capabilities along your adventure. Controlling Link is not unlike playing a hack-and-slash RPG on the PC. Link moves to wherever you tap on the screen, and dragging the stylus will cause him to run. Tapping on an enemy will make Link attack him. It doesn't get much simpler than that, does it? The control scheme is easily the biggest departure for Zelda fans and will take some getting used to, but given a short amount of time it'll feel like second nature - sounds a lot like what I said about Twilight Princess.

Just like in The Wind Waker, you'll have to sail between islands in order to progress through the adventure. Sailing was a huge target of criticism for Wind Waker's gameplay, and thankfully those that found it mundane shouldn't have the same problem with Phantom Hourglass. Setting a course is as simple as drawing a path on the screen, and your boat takes care of the rest. In addition to the simplified controls, you'll also have ability to upgrade your boat as the game progresses.

Phantom Hourglass is shaping up to be a fascinatingly unique Zelda experience that retains the series' spectacular polish. Keep an eye on Game Almighty for more details on Phantom Hourglass including its multiplayer features and the elusive release date.