Expensive at 1000 points for what is a short game -BUT, this is one experience you won't find anywhere else. Refreshing!
If LostWinds is any indication of success on the Wiiware channel, the service is going to flourish. LostWinds is a platforming game that actually does not have a jump button! Taking place in the world of Mistralis, you control Loku with the nunchuk. A wind spirit, named Enril, is controlled by your wii pointer. Right from the title screen, you see Loku fast asleep in a beautiful location decorated with trees, leaves and bushes. With the power of the wind in my grip, i furiously waved the pointer around thrashing the leaves and grass from one side to another; it felt good - it was just refreshingly simple. Waking Loku up, the game then begins and the story is told: The world of Ministralis was created by several spirits including Enril, unfortunately after the betrayal from one spirit, Balasar, an epic struggle ensued. It was only with the sacrifice of Enril did the sirits succeed in trapping Balasar in stone - Enril's sacrifice being trapped also. However, over time, Balasar's anger and hatred grew. Balasar changed, changed into a form that was able to break free from the stone imprisonment. The wind spirit's power unfortunately is still trapped in fragments of the stone and so with the help of the young boy, Toku, the team sets out to restore Enril's power and to save the world from the growing evil power of Balasar.
The game is actually quite pretty for a small game. The outside environments are decorated with swaying bushes and tree leaves and the moderate amount of bloom and blurring is just right in accentuating the freeflowing nature of the game. The same can't be said of the inside environments, which appear rather bland - having said that, the contrast further heightens your desire to get out in the open rather than solving puzzles in the caves. Minimalism - i think this is the keyword here, less is more. The controls have been simplified, the visuals aren't overdone and the variety in music is kept to about 4 tracks only but all are effectively deployed at the right moments. The calm wind instruments for peaceful occasions are perfect, it 'feels' beautiful in a slightly quaint oriental touch. And when the beats and drums kick in, it sets the mood for a little combat.
Because the controls have been made simple, almost anyone could pick this game up and play. Holding down A and moving the pointer allows you to gust winds. You can make Toku jump by gusting him up, float down safely from a height by whirling the wind around him, smash enemies into the wall or floor and even move water and fire for your own gain. Water, fire and sound is used often for puzzle elements in the game and so the game isn't as straightforward as it initially makes out to be. Also, the further you progress the more powerful Enril becomes enhancing your capabilities in dealing with different situations. It's an easy game and yet satisfying, something that Nintendo themselves pride themselves in achieving. It's an enjoyable game from start to finish and will leave a memorable experience - especially with what the game leaves you at the very end.
There are a few little niggles to tarnish this title though. The game is rather short, i completed the game in around 1:30 hours though most people would clock around the 2 hour mark at least. I did encounter a glitch once when i got stuck in a wall or something. And the directions you are supposed to take aren't exactly clear-cut. Yes, the game is quite cheap at 1000 points but considering the amount of time spent on the game, it is not value for money. The enemies you encounter are very similar to one another and after experiencing the end of the game, you'd wish they included more enemies, more variations in the build up towards the end. I could have dragged the game on by collecting every 'hidden' collectible item but found little fun in doing so. And with that, a slight disappointment is felt as i can see such a huge potential for this game to expand beyond what i glimpsed within LostWinds' Entirety. Despite these little things, LostWinds is an excellent game and definitely whets the appetite for more - conveniently in the form of LostWinds 2. Let's hope they pack more content into it AND not charge more than 1000 points.