Every man knows that women take forever to get ready. So it comes as no surprise that after three long years into the DS's life cycle, trouble-magnet Princess Zelda has only just arrived at the party. But she was definitely worth the wait, as The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is arguably the most imaginative game on the platform's diverse library. Making brilliant use of the system's unique functionality, Nintendo has crafted an exceptionally compelling experience that can be enjoyed by casual DS owners and hardcore Zelda fans alike. As a direct sequel to 2003's Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass revisits its nautical backdrop and delivers with outstanding touch-based gameplay that truly demonstrates the innovative nature of the DS.

Phantom Hourglass picks up right where Wind Waker left off, with Link now serving on Tetra's ship in search of treasures and the unknown. Tetra - who refuses to be called Zelda despite her actual identity - is in search of the surreptitious Ghost Ship that you might have encountered in Wind Waker. She fearlessly boards the foggy vessel upon discovering it, only to be caught and trapped by its spirits, once again requiring the aid of her knight in green armor. Link immediately jumps after her but falls short and soon finds himself washed up along the shores of Mercay Island. With help from Ciela, a fairy-like being that guides Link on his quest, and Linebeck, a Jack Sparrow-esque treasure-monger that provides the comic relief, Link embarks on a new quest to explore the mystery of the Ghost Ship and rescue Princess Zelda… again. She apparently can't stay out of trouble, but the game's undeniable quality makes you appreciate the opportunity to embark on another seafaring journey.

You can draw the boomerang's path to throw it.

This is a grand adventure on a smaller scale, but all of the mainstays of the series are present. It packs all the swordplay, exploration, gadgets, puzzle-solving, and dungeon-crawling you've come to expect from a classic Zelda game. The game is played entirely with touch-screen controls, and it doesn't feel the least bit forced or gimmicky. Movement, combat, puzzle-solving, and all other aspects of gameplay are controlled simply and flawlessly with the stylus. Hourglass doesn't even give you the option to move Link with the directional pad, and it doesn't have to. The touch control is very effective and can become second nature after only a few minutes of playtime. In full 360-degree environments, touching close to Link will make him walk, while touching far will make him run. Combat is equally straightforward; draw a short line near Link and he'll slash in that direction, draw a circle around him and he'll perform a spinning attack. Most of the actions are touch-only, and while the game does have a few moves mapped to face and shoulder buttons, don't be surprised if you prefer touching exclusively.

Along with the sword swinging, all secondary gadgets function with a touch, adding a layer of innovation to otherwise familiar weaponry. Throwing Link's trusty boomerang, for example, is as simple as drawing a path on the touch screen and watching it strike your targets. The majority of the game takes place with the map on the top screen and the action on the bottom, but you can pull the map down anytime to make notes with your stylus. You can scribble puzzle-solving clues, helpful directions or just doodle while you ponder the game's well-thought-out brainteasers. The novel gameplay doesn't end there, as players will also use the oft-ignored DS microphone to blow out fires and even shout at some enemies to intimidate them. Nintendo has really employed every possible feature of the DS hardware to make this a very creative, memorable game.

As the game's geography is comprised of various islands, the unpopular sailing mechanic from Wind Waker returns. However, much like other aspects of Phantom Hourglass, it has been simplified to appease the casual audience. Sailing is as easy as drawing a route on your sea chart and taking in the sights as your ship does the work for you. This leaves you free to spit bombs at enemies or jump any obstacles that may cross your path, preventing the sailing from being too smooth.

Players will have to think outside the box as the game doesn't openly direct you to utilize certain elements of the hardware to solve puzzles, but instead implies the instructions to keep up the immersion. This can be frustrating with some of the game's more ambitious puzzles, where the solutions can be somewhat ambiguous. Another minor issue is the overall lack of challenge from the enemies. Although some battles are more involved, most of the foes in the game can be taken down with a single slash of your sword.

The dungeons in Hourglass are fantastic, each finished off by creative boss fights that encourage the use of the game's various gadgets. However, one dungeon in particular must be traversed several times throughout the course of the game, becoming rather unpleasant in later segments. This particular dungeon presents an additional challenge in that it slowly depletes Link's health as he journeys through it. However, the titular Phantom Hourglass provides Link with the time he needs to get through the dungeon before the life-draining effect takes place. This dungeon also comes packed with near-invincible Phantom guards that roam the halls with the ability to slash time from Link's Hourglass. Venturing through this dungeon several times sounds irritating, but as you progress and find new armaments such as bombs and arrows, you can use them to activate shortcuts to go through the first few levels faster.

This dungeon also serves as the basis for the multiplayer mode in Phantom Hourglass, which can be played over Nintendo's Wi-Fi network or against local players. One player controls Link, while the other draws paths for the Phantom guards. Link must collect three golden triangle pieces of varying size and place them on corresponding mantles, while the Phantom guards try and prevent Link's success. Players alternate between the two roles and tally their scores after all rounds have been completed. This mode is definitely a fun diversion, but won't warrant too many visits in the long run as it ends up being a bit shallow. The more exciting single-player minigames that include shooting galleries, treasure hunting and ship customization, will surely add hours to your total playtime.

The game's visuals are truly outstanding.

Wind Waker fans will certainly appreciate the similarities in Hourglass, with the whimsical nature of the world and characters remaining intact (although Tingle is thankfully absent). Hourglass uses the same love-it-or-hate-it toon-shading look and pulls it off quite nicely. The animations are smooth, the three-dimensional environments and character models are well-designed and the entire game looks remarkably good, even with the a few excusable jaggy lines and blurred textures. The visual style fits perfectly on the DS and is accompanied by music that also invokes Wind Waker, including some identical tunes. As usual, the characters are mute except for the odd grunt or yelp, but the diverse and well-orchestrated music and sound effects more than make up for their silence. All in all, the game's presentation more than satisfies, as Hourglass simply looks and sounds better than the vast majority of games on the DS.

Phantom Hourglass is an excellent showpiece for the Nintendo DS and is sure to be recognized as one of the platform's definitive titles. The game is well-suited for casual gamers, but is definitely reminiscent of the classic Zeldas of old. The fantastic setting, pioneering gameplay mechanics and elevated fun factor contribute to an exceedingly satisfying experience. While the game isn't as challenging as previous Zeldas, seasoned veterans won't be able to run through the dungeons too easily and will certainly want to exercise caution. Phantom Hourglass is an excellent title for introducing casual players to the Zelda universe, but its unique and imaginative gameplay will also attract hardcore fans, making this the quintessential DS game that will appeal to any gamer under the sun.