I've spent the last few weeks working through The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass on the Nintendo DS.

As a fan of Zelda games I'm going to be straight with you: this game is all it needs to be and a bit more. I've played many Zelda games in my time and this one brings me back to the retro-style of A Link To The Past with a mix of Wind Waker in a portable hand-held unit.

If you're not a fan of Wind Waker because of the water traveling hold on a second, this isn't Water World by a long shot, the DS title doesn't hold water (pun intended) to the traveling in Wind Waker. Much of the water travel is point-drag-and-click style, you don't control the boat.

The game is a top-down perspective more like that of A Link To The Past with the cel-shading graphics of Wind Waker, something we've not seen in a DS game until now. You'll do all your game movement and navigating with the stylus and minimal use of the buttons (besides the R bumper).

The puzzles are great and take full advantage of the DS system. Fire that must be blown out by blowing on the DS, maps records that must be taken by 'drawing' them on the map yourself with the stylus and other great feature enhancements that separate it from all games, including The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess with its motion sensing.

The game taps into the history of Zelda and offers puzzles like the old days along with the top-down style. The traveling by boat is not as tedious as Wind Waker because you "draw" your routes on the sea map and the boat takes you there. Along your way you'll shoot down enemies and jump obsticals using your boats weapon (once you get one) and the jump arrow on the screen to hop.

I've only barely touched the games potential because it's a longer title that requires more care and attention than I can give a single DS game in a course of two weeks. Unlike the days of my childhood, an action RPG adventure game requires months of play before I'll see the end game. Phantom Hourglass is no different, regardless to its portable nature.

I did find myself hibernating the DS more than usually because I was in the middle of a dungeon or difficult area and I didn't want to save and quit because it brings you back to the last door you entered. I didn't want to re-do the difficult parts again so I simply shut the lid and let it sleep (often for days on the charger).

If you use your DS for "bathroom breaks" or short bursts of play you'll find yourself frustrated with longer levels of varying difficulty. In the end, you'll either shut the lid and continue where you left off later or stop playing because it requires too much time and attention.

If you plan to snuggle bedside and burn the midnight oil, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a perfect partner.

Graphics are okay considering the pint sized punch of the DS, the sound is traditional style Zelda and the storyline is simple yet deep enough to not feel "cheap."

Overall, if you're a Zelda fan this is a no-brainer but if you're a puzzle gamer with very short bursts of game play or attention span you might be overwhelmed with this title.

I, as a huge Zelda fan, cannot do anything but recommend The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.