http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160426

"This week, Japan's Weekly Famitsu reviewed The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and the game garnered a near perfect score: 39 out of 40. Three of the reviewers slapped it with a 10, while the fourth settled on 9.

Famitsu seemed fairly satisfied with the stylus controls. "It is so easy to pick up! There have been many games using the stylus, but this one didn't feel frustrating for the most part," said one. However, another was concerned about "parts where you may mistakenly perform a different move."

The dungeons and puzzles are getting praises, though: "The way it allows players to use the unique features of the DS is quite natural. Particularly puzzles where you draw directly on the map are brilliant. It feels like you really are physically solving the puzzles."

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass arrives this weekend in Japan."

Impressive score from Famitsu.  One of the few games they have ever given a perfect score was Wind Waker, so it's not surprising that they liked this one.  I personally can't wait for it. 

Orcarina of time also got 40/40, not just wind waker

KILL the 4th Guy.

j/k

I know, I just cited Wind Waker because this is it's direct sequel.  Which is a rare thing in the Zelda universe.

lol.

When does this game come out in the states?

>>When does this game come out in the states?

I've read somewhere that it's October. I may be wrong.

Maybe I'm missing something but if "anything than a perfect score is not worth buying", I wonder how you drew your conclusions about recent Zelda titles since you presumably didn't buy them or play them thoroughly.

Also, I'm not sure which part you are calling "flat-out lie" but if you are referring to the famitsu review, I'm quite puzzled why you are saying they are deceitful.  Have you actually played it already? No, you haven't. 

I can understand some long-time gamers like to put earlier titles such as OoT on the pedestal. But I don't think the series is exactly a "downward spiral". At least Nintendo dev team don't think so considering the fact that they said Wii Zelda was one of the best Zeldas they've created.  See the dev interview series, "Iwata Asks" on nintendo site. I've read it in Japanese, although I'm not sure how it was translated in the English website.  I'm pretty sure that a lot of other Zelda fans would not agree that the the Zelda series has lost much of its quality. But everybody can have own opinion, I suppose.

Anyway, I'm going to buy the new DS Zelda, perfect or not.  I'm looking for good entertainment, not perfect score per se.  

You see, I'm not used to the forum culture, i.e. I can't really tell when people are being serious or joking. heh

Personally I'm biased against famitsu review ever since I read the first version in 1985 in Japan. Most Japanese game reviewers in the 1990s were afraid of big game publishers and didn't have guts to tell a game is bad if it's bad. I was fooled by famitsu reviews a couple of times back then and bought shiatty titles. I don't have a strong reason to believe that famitsu is very objective now and can be critical when it's necessary. Maybe it's slightly better these days. I don't know.

http://touch-ds.jp/mfs/zelda_ph/index.html

I've read an interview of Miyamoto here and watched a couple of videos. It looks promising. My gf in Japan already pre-ordered it at amazon.co.jp.

I also thought you were serious to begin with, I didn't know if you meant the last sentense you were on or the one above it! lol.