Phantom Hourglass goes online

Nintendo's Eiji Aonuma has confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will be playable over the Internet via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Speaking at the Game Developers Conference last week - where Phantom Hourglass multiplayer was being shown off again - Aonuma was asked by Game Informer whether you'd be able to battle over WFC. "Yes," he said.

Phantom Hourglass, which will be released in Japan first, is currently in the "fine-tuning and polishing stages" of development, Aonuma added. "When I get home, the first thing I have to do without taking any breaks at all is get into the office and see that it gets done."

Multiplayer in Phantom Hourglass will take the form of a one-on-one battle game, where one player moves Link around a maze and the other, the Stalker, controls three Darknuts trying to stop him. GDC revealed that players would also be able to take advantage of power-ups, with Link able to grab Pegasus boots to increase his speed temporarily and a shield to reflect a single Stalker attack, while the Stalker can use Pegasus boots, tornadoes to block Link's path, and another item that increases attacking power for a short time.

For more on Phantom Hourglass, including trailers, check out the Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass gamepage.