LostWinds is an example of what it takes to be successful on the Wii. Hopefully the big developers are taking notes.
Cons --- Once you get down the controls, it's pretty easy. A very slow paced game, for a side scrolling platformer. Even though it's only $10, 2-3 hours just isn't enough time to appreciate everything in the game.
LostWinds, is a very ambitious title, released from Frontier Developments. The WiiWare has been heralded as a means for smaller devs to release their titles, and LostWinds doesn't disappoint. If this is the beginning of what WiiWare has to offer, then we're all in for a bright future indeed.
At its' heart, LostWinds is definitely a 2D-platformer. After about 5-10 minutes of playing LostWinds though, you'll see it's alot different than predecessors of the genre. For the most part, this is one of the biggest strengths of Frontier's Development's title.
You start LostWinds, as Toku, a napping young man, enjoying the breeze of the day at the base of a waterfall. You are then awoken by Enril, a wind spirit, that's in need of help. Of course as in most games of the ilk, Enril needs help banishing an evil spirit. And of course Enril isn't at full power, and needs your help finding her scattered power-ups throughout the world. The villainous spirit is Balasar, the spirit of the sun and moon. Balasar has gotten a little too big headed, thinking he should be god over all of Mistralis, the island setting of LostWinds. It's then put upon Toku, to take the sun and moon god down a peg or two.
The controls of LostWinds will have you hooked from the outset. Moving Toku, is done with the analog stick on the nunchuck. All the other platforming moves, save speaking and eating, is executed using a combination of buttons and a motion of the Wii remote. Your Wii remote represents, Enril, Toku's wind spirit companion. The most simple gesture is the jump maneuver. This can be executed by holding down "A" and moving the Wii remote in the direction you wish to jump. You are then whisked away on the winds of Enril's power. You can make Toku jump completely vertical in the air, or you can use a more horizontal motion to propel him forward. There are three other maneuvers you will learn during your play through, which will be used to get through the game's numerous puzzles. All of the maneuvers are pulled off perfectly, and in my entire play-through, the controls were never un-responsive.
The puzzles of LostWinds have a perfect balance of difficulty. There will be some head scratchers along the way, but nothing so frustrating as to make you break your "walk-through rule". It's definitely a plus that there's this balance, as puzzle solving is the largest portion of the game you'll be platforming through. The wonderful controls are implemented flawlessly into the puzzle execution. Enemies make an appearance, but with the short pause you receive before executing moves, the baddies are a moot point.
The idea of this short pause encompasses one of the biggest problems of LostWinds. The game has this very methodical pacing to it, most demonstrated by Toku's movement speed. Let's just say he doesn't move like someone who needs to banish an evil spirit. There's no "turbo button" either, so you'll have to make due with the pace you're given. The pause I mentioned, really doesn't give the game any sense of urgency when you do come across the goomba-esque bad guys in Mistralis.
If the pacing seems a little slow, at least it gives you time to enjoy the wonderful visuals of LostWinds. Mistralis, is represented with warm and vibrant colors, that really give LostWinds a distinctive style. It might not be the most technically impressive Wii game released, but its' artistic style makes wonderful use of its' engine. What's even more impressive than LostWind's style, is how the world is animated. Enril, when moved around the screen will somehow animate nearly every part of the world. Move Enril around leaves on a tree, and you'll see them rustle as if in a breeze. The animations caused by Enril will also come into play with the puzzle solving aspect, which is all I'll say to keep from spoiling anything.
The sounds and music of LostWinds aren't nearly as impressive as the visuals. You'll nearly hear the same tranquil music while traversing the outside world, and it will change when you are in a fight. There are a couple of other tracks, when you venture into the underground as well. The sound effects of LostWinds are very well done, and one of them is very humourous. When you shoot out of your first plant, it's hard not to let out a chuckle.
Depending on how long it takes for you to figure out the puzzles, and get down the controls, LostWinds lasts anywhere from 2-3 hours. This isn't necessarily a "bad deal" for a game of this type for $10. What is disappointing is that the game ends, just as you feel like it's meeting its' full potential. By the time you receive all of your maneuvers, you only have about 20-30 minutes before it's all over.
If you have 1000 Wii points, then you'll be hard pressed to find a better way to spend it on than LostWinds. While it's short, and takes a patient mind to appreciate, there's just so much fun to be found here. The intuitive controls alone are worth the purchase. Not to mention the amazing artistic style, and amazing puzzle platforming gameplay. It's my hope that games take some kind of inspiration from LostWinds, as this is a game that shows the true spirit of the the Nintendo Wii