Boomerang

[Mases]

What did you all think of the Boomerang in this title compared to the usual boomerang function in other Zelda titles?

Personally, I absolutely loved the ultimate control you had over your boomerang using the stylus. The boomerang in many 2d Zelda games has basically been the same item since introduced in the original of Legend of Zelda.

The boomerang was all but useless I thought in OOT other than using it in Jabu-Jabu's Belly. You just got it so late during Young Link's quest that it was barely used, and it was kinda limited. Basically if it wasn't Z-targeted it was just too hard to aim correctly.

In the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, it did add more ability being able to target multiple enemies and items. Actually added some new puzzle aspects to the game and it was alright.

They put it all togethor in PH though as the boomerang controls so many puzzles in the game yet still very usefull against enemies.

[Wisey]

I liked all the control in Phantom Hourglass a lot. All the items are used very well with the stylus. I definitely much prefer the touch-screen gameplay to the traditional button-pressing gameplay.

[hardXcoreXrider]

the boomerang is awesome. i loved the free control of drawing your own path that was awesome. i also loved the puzzles that were used by the boomerang.

[RAM1125]

Who wouldn't like creating a path for their boomerang. It made for some nice puzzles to solve.

[linkman8]

I liked the fact that you could hit multiple targets with it in WW, but ultimately, the freedom of drawing the path for the boomerang was much more enjoyable and cool.

[Mases]

I liked how it played a prominant role in terms of the items. In some of the previous Zelda titles, the boomerang has become more and more unimportant. It started in LOZ, but in LTTP it was ALWAYS the weapon I had equipped. Just always loved the range it had in 8directions and full screen with the magic boomerang.

In Link's Awakening it was optional, Ocarina of Time all but useless minus one dungeon, and it doesn't appear at all in Majora's Mask. In some of the other 2d zelda games like the Oracle series and Minish Cap, it plays just a small role.

It was somewhat revived in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, but I love how in Phantom Hourglass it is that item you have equipped often, like how it was int he glory days of Link to the Past.

[Caleb]

and it doesn't appear at all in Majora's Mask.


It does appear in Majora's Mask. While wearing the Zora's Mask, you can charge up your B attack and release your "fins" as two projectile weapons. They're powerful, and they do in fact retrieve items. It's good against enemies, but very awkward to aim and use without Z Targeting, so it isn't used for any puzzles at all...

[Mases]

Ah, yes, now I remember. Ya, I suppose the fins on Zora Link qualify as a type of boomerang. I hated those things because they never went where I wanted them to go unless I z-targeted an enemy.

Phantom Hourglass is the exact opposite of that in the sense that rather than having limited accuracy you have absolute accuracy. It's great in PH since it effects nearly every single enemy that you can use it on. It is also is constantly used for puzzles and for getting distant items. So ya, I'm thinking the boomerang was one of the first things that came to mind when the developers were brainstorming ideas for Phantom Hourglass.

Compared to the other games, I think this is the best incarnation of the boomerang, followed by ALTTP, then TP, then WW, then it was just minor in all the other 2d games. It sucked in OOT and was terrible in the MM form because of the lack of accuracy.

[Linked Blaze12]

this is one of my most favourite wep in phantom hourglass, it gives you this freedom of choosing where it can go, it can confuse enemies and kill some others and it is used in a variety of puzzles.

[Mases]

One thing I've noticed as well, the Boomerang is the showcase item in this game. Like, when I'm "showing off" Phantom Hourglass to my friends that are casual gamers or people that haven't played video games in several years, I always show them the basic gameplay first. Link moving around and swinging his sword all over the place.

However, I always show them the boomerang and always get that "o wow, this is cool" kind of response. I've showed off the game to about 5 of my friends that aren't much of gamers these days and all of them seem to be impressed.

The boomerang, along with the gameplay in general have been making the game gear towards more casual gamers, increasing the fan base of Zelda, which of course is a good thing. :)

[Sarah_Zelda]

Yeah, The boomerang has gone a ways from being pretty akward without z-targeting to having 100% accuracy on any non-moving object. I like drawing circles, and my friends say its so immature to do that, but its funny when I sneak up on them and they are drawing random circles hitting Phantoms in the back with it, and laughing when they look around wildly. ;)

[Alder Dragon]

Yeah, the control in Phantom Hourglass has definitely changed the way I view 2D gaming, at least Zelda. The boomerang as Mases said is the "show-off" item of the game, one of its most unique features, and really gives control to the player like never before.

[mehzpants]

I agree. Same goes for the bombchu.

[Lenora Dragon]

Well personally I enjoy the boomerang. I just enjoy the ability to have it go wherever I aim for it to go (with the exception of a wall or monster being in the way, etc). It's an entertaining weapon, it is quite interactive and helps you figure out quite a few puzzles. I love it.

[BlueLink25]

eh-the boomerang was pretty useful in this game. i liked the way you could grab stuff with it. like hearts on a different platform, or a +30 or 15 for your hourglass in the temple of the ocean king

[Kybyrian]

I liked the Boomerang in Phantom Hourglass more than the other Zelda games, simply because of the complete control over the path it takes.

[Josh]

I liked the Boomerang a lot in PH, it wasn't my favorite one though. It did serve a lot of purpose in PH, which is always good. ;)

[Ganondorf11365]

The Boomerang in PH was a lot of fun using the touch screen with it :) .I enjoyed it a lot when facing Blaaze in the Fire Temple(1st Boss in PH).

[BlueLink57]

I loved the Boomerang in PH. But still, I liked TP's more as it was Gale Boomerang. I also strangely lost my attention for the Boomerang in PH once I got the Grappling Hook, which can only shoot straight instead of anywhere like the Boomerang.

[EponaOwns]

The boomerang is really useful indeed. Making a path for it is fun but I still like those old challenges without a path or z-targeting. The boomerang can be powerful but can't always kill any enemy. If there is an enemy at a not too far distant it would be helpful to use your boomerang or just confuse it. I like how you can hit something (only if it is glowing) and you can still go to another things. Like the two switches in the ocean king temple.

[Mercedes]

At first, I thought that it would make the gameplay a bit more slow, having to draw a course etc. but it didn't in the end. Actually went quite quickly in a fight since you had to.

Lot of fun. It would never work in a 3D Zelda so it looks like this is another thing that the DS excels at. :D

[twili123prince]

Ah yes i love the boomerang control i definitely prefer boomerang controls in PH other then the boomerang controls in other zelda games.

[El Bagu]

It was a nice way to use a Boomerang actually (for a 2D at least) Can I call it 2D? Or is it more 3D? I know many call it 2,5 D.

[Mases]

At first, I thought that it would make the gameplay a bit more slow, having to draw a course etc. but it didn't in the end. Actually went quite quickly in a fight since you had to.

I do agree that it did slow down gameplay just a tad... initially. However, I soon learned that if you have an item equipped you could press L or R to select it. Before I would just tap the icon in the corner and then draw the symbol. It was difficult for me the first few times. Especially in those rooms that you needed the boomerang to defeat the fire keese or fire bubbles. They were constantly floating around and you had to get that boomerang out pretty quickly. Gave me some trouble and slowed down the game. Once I discovered R/L, than it was very smooth and easy.

It was a nice way to use a Boomerang actually (for a 2D at least) Can I call it 2D? Or is it more 3D? I know many call it 2,5 D.

I think the ship sailing parts are clearly 3d. For the island/temple gameplay, I'm not sure, I think 2d is slightly more accurate. It's very limited 3d though. Sorta of like... early Crash Bandicoot titles. Sure, they are 3d titles, but you can't just free lance completely... as you could do in a Mario title or even Twilight Princess or something. It's tough too classify.

One thing is for sure, a lot of what is done on the DS cannot be done on the Wii or typical console. Even in Twilight Princess you had more control of the boomerang. Sure not its entire path, but you could use it on 5 items every time you threw it.

[Glided Sword]

I like the boomerang in PH. It's easier to hit items and enemies around corners but in the middle of battle, it's not the best tool because you have to pause to draw the line.