LostWinds- WiiWare

LostWinds
Review by: King Zarthius

Year released: 2008| System: Nintendo Wii (WiiWare)

Requirements: Wiimote & Nunchuk

Price: 1000 Wii Points (€10/$10)




Nintendo unveiled WiiWare recently; downloadable games exclusively from the Wii Shop channel. They are generally very affordable, and well worth the time. Studies show the idea that almost any developer, however small it may be, can make profitable projects on the Wii, thanks to small-end prices and distribution. Frontier has been one of the first studies to get on the bandwagon, with a side-scrolling adventure, 3D graphics which stand out for their freshness, and gameplay perfectly suited to the Wii remote. LostWinds is the name, the game has already earned the reputation to be one of the most attractive launch titles released on WiiWare.

You play as Toku, a young man living in the land of Mistralis. Although things are not well, because the evil spirit Balasar threatens to unleash his evil. The game is fantasy-based, and feels a little bit like The Legend of Zelda. At the start of the game Toku is joined by Enril, the wind spirit, allowing you to use the Wii Remote to control air. Your adventure requires you to find four chests hidden in the world, and to do so you're going to need to master the way of the wind.



The controls are the key which the gameplay revolves around. Frontier has designed LostWinds with the Wiimote truly in mind. The player in essence controls two characters silmutaniously. The Nunchuk handles the movement of Toku although he can't do much other than climb up onto low ledges. Meanwhile the Wiimote is utilized to control Enril leaving streaks of wind in the air, similar to the brushwork in Okami. With a quick swish of Enril's wind, you help Toku move from place to place!In regards to Enril's control scheme, holding the A buttom slows the game down considerably, allowing you to reposition the pointer in mid air, effectively allowing you to juggle Toku to cross larger gaps. All items on display, including characters, react to small (or big) gusts of wind that you can create freely. Thanks to the power of Enril you can use wind to extend things such as fire to eliminate the enemies, water from a river for plants, or move heavy stones to hold down certain switches. The range of possibilities allows Toku to move easily between platformsat great distances or cushion a fall from great heights. The wind, ultimately, is what gives meaning to the name and game, the way it has been included could not be more sensible and any player can gain control without any problem, even as an assistant, since it allows A second person controls another Wiimote to help Toku.

As the game progresses you'll gain access to new abilities that let you explore the game world more easily and manipulate objects in new ways, all the time making excellent use of the Wii Remote.

Some objects such as stones or strange plants help you to make progress in the adventure, while the powers of the wind are the key to most small puzzles with which you'll cross. The difficulty is divided equally between the jumps tight in some areas and other riddles, but at no time will you be looking to face a big challenge. The goal of this casual game is to enjoy the company of Toku and Enril, of the innocent transpires that created the whole universe, discovering new places and skills.

The music also plays a role in the atmosphere. The melodies we hear at all times have marked a traditional Japanese style, with stringed instruments and rhythms of some substance. Very calm and quiet, accompanying the action smoothly but not without going undetected. In general the quality is high, but unfortunately the variety in the music becomes something short, turning in the long run somewhat repetitive. The sound effects are not as prominent but also integrates perfectly with the other technical sections, without being strident or annoying.

An example of the soothing music found in LostWinds


The biggest, and pretty much the only drawback, which many will agree with me on, is the length of game. The main story lasts about three hours, maybe 4-5 depending on what you stop to enjoy in the environment. The visuals of the game were a well-welcomed and un-expected suprise. Its a wonder how Frontier combined 3D graphics with 2D gameplay in a melting-pot so well.

LostWinds is a clear bet so unconventional, by providing a platform other than what we normally get today in the market. We give away three intense hours in front of the television, for a moment disconnected from the outside world to get into a little universe filled with innocence, so charming and brimming with peace and beauty. The gameplay comes with all these visual sensations, with a control that almost immediately it is intuitive and efficient. The pity is that it is so short, anything that might be overlooked is a real shame. That's the sole reason why LostWinds did not reach higher levels of quality. But being a launch title which captures the essence of full hope in the upcoming WiiWare titles, is a great accomplishment. I hope and eagerly anticipate the arrival of its sequel. And I dearly reccomend you get this game, it is a must have for the Wii.

Thank-You for your time,

King Zarthius
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