When I first heard about Nintendo’s
Wii Ware service, I was indeed skeptical. Yeh sure, you could download original
titles off the Wii for $5-10, but the memory limitation (43 Megabytes’s) was
pretty much a joke and guaranteed that the games would look like DS ports. While
I can’t vouch for all the Wii Ware titles to be released, I do know that
LostWinds, from developer Frontier, has shattered any worries that these
downloadables will be flash games. While the game has a few areas that could be
improved in a sequel (and a sequel has already been confirmed to be in the
works) LostWinds puts many Wii games to shame with extraordinary innovation and
polish.
Like its name suggests, the game is
about reclaiming winds that happen to be lost. Of course, that burden falls upon
a boy named Toku from the Japanese village of Mistralis. Using the help of Enril
the wind spirit, Toku must slowly gain back a local villager’s lost memory and
also find power from shrines along the way. Where does the player fit into this
Japanese fable? While you don’t control Toku directly, you instead act as Enril
and guide Toku omnipotently with the Wii-mote curser. Toku, unlike his plump
Italian counterpart, cannot jump and relies upon Enril’s wind to float him up to
ledges.
Using the Wii-Mote players push A to
initiate a gust, which pushes Toku up into the air like the little deadweight he
is. Of course, you use the wind gusts to interact with other things as well,
like fire, boulders, and enemies. As you discover more shrines, Enril will gain
new powers, like Slipstream and Vortex. The mechanics work great on the Wii and
should inspire other developers (not just Wii Ware developers) to put more
effort into their design. There is a gust-limit, however, that is displayed in
the top corner. While I never had a problem running out of gust, you can refill
your meter by shaking nearby bushes and trees with your Wii-Mote to catch little
blue things that fill your meter. It’s just like catching star bits in Mario
Galaxy and, for me, just adds to the magic of the game.
The only criticism I have – and this
is probably more subjective than other complaints – is that Toku feels a little
too heavy and he moves a little too slow. Of course, this adds to the slower
paced nature of the game (which I love). But at times, I found my wrist and
thumb hurting from trying to gust the boy up onto a high ledge. It’s something
to keep in mind for a sequel, but nimble movements would make the game easier to
navigate, and wouldn’t necessarily speed up the pace of the game.
The gameplay and puzzle solving are
a mixture of Zelda and Metroid qualities. The game is played as a 2-D side
scroller, the graphics being of course 3-D, which you will explore and back
track as need be. And as you play, you’ll see other areas that are unreachable,
maybe too high. In Zelda fashion, however, after another discovery or two,
you’ll gain the ability to gust Toku higher into the air. The puzzles are
relatively simple and only occasionally did I find myself stumped or confused.
My favorite part of the game, aside
from the fun gameplay, is the visual style and music. From the moment you turn
on the game, it’s apparent that LostWinds is one of the rare gems of video
gaming. The Wii game has a gorgeous visual style (especially when you realize
that the developers crammed it into the 43 MB memory limit for Wii Ware) and the
game actually looks better than most of the disc-based Wii games that I’ve
reviewed. Everything, including Toku, has an interesting block-shaped design.
And the Zelda-esque visuals will continually surprise as you traverse mountains,
villages and underground mines. Since you can control wind, the Wii-Mote will
blow trees, bushes, and villagers, making the world feel truly interactive.
Likewise, the music is a haunting, Eastern-inspired score that fits in perfectly
with the laid-back nature of the game.
Review Scoring Details for LostWinds |
Gameplay: 8.5
The mechanics are a breeze to get into (pun intended) and are tons of fun to
play with.
Graphics: 9.5
Given the limitations that Nintendo has put on Wii Ware titles, it’s incredible
that Frontier could make this game look this good.
Sound: 9.0
The music is perfect for this type of game and its simple melodies complement
the pared-down mechanics. Also, as you move the cursor across the screen, you
can hear the wind blow through everything in surround sound. A nice touch,
indeed.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 9.0
The gameplay mechanics were extremely clever and the story itself is very good.
Multiplayer: 5.0
The multiplayer is not what this game is about, but it does include a shallow
co-op mode.
Overall: 8.5
Ten bucks for this game is a better deal than most Wii games on the market right
now. It’s too bad that this game only lasts for a 3-hour tour. LostWinds is a
gem that shouldn’t get lost in the current glut of Wii titles.
