LostWinds
Genre: Platform/Adventure
Review by: Pikaboo
WiiWare is the new service that Nintendo has given us to download new games that use the Wii's motion controls. Because of this, WiiWare differs from the Virtual Console. When WiiWare launched, it had six launch titles. One of these titles is LostWinds for 1,000 Wii Points. When I finally got some extra Wii Points, I immediately searched through the shop channel and downloaded it. Lost Winds is a basic Sidescroller with not-so-difficult puzzles and an unoriginal story. But does it disappoint?
The game starts with a basic tale told in a storybook-esque fashion. It tells that there were 12 Elemental Spirits and that one of the spirits, named Balasar, thought himself superior than the other Elemental Spirits. Balasar planned a way to rule Mistralis (the world of LostWinds) and be worshipped as a god. When the other spirits found out they forged a Spirit Stone to seal Balasar within it. When Balasar fought back, the brave Enril sacrificed herself to seal him, however Enril ends up getting sealed along with Balasar. Balasar soon discovers a way to escape the stone and claws his way out until the stone explodes in 7 pieces. It is by chance a young boy named Toku finds a shard of Enril and learns from her the peril awaiting Mistralis. They set out together on a journey to awaken Enril's fellow Elemental Spirits, restore her full powers, and so return the LostWinds to Mistralis.
LostWinds is very unique in itself. If you've played Kirby's Canvas Curse, the gameplay resembles that except with motion controls instead of drawing with the stylus. As Toku, you'll be adventuring caves, mines and temples. Toku himself doesn't seem very useful except for walking and picking up items. The most fun lies with Enril, the Wind Spirit. Using the motion controls, you can control the wind itself at your fingertips-- or your Wiimote. With the wind, you can blow Toku from platform to platform and reach higher places. You can also move around objects such as boulders and fruit, as well as make a path for fire (or water) to cross. Using the wind plays with most of the puzzles in this game. As mentioned above, the puzzles aren't very difficult, however it can be a blast to play them. Controlling the wind may take patience and practice to learn, but once you have that down this game flies by. Figuring out where you have to go can be a journey by itself. Since you have no map to help you out, you'll have to memorize where to go or just roam around until you get to where you need to go.
Since this game is a launch game for WiiWare, the visuals don't seem to compare to such games as Mario Kart Wii and Mario Party 8. LostWinds features nice looking scenery, as you would and should expect from a fiction and fairy tale game like LostWinds. Interestingly, LostWinds uses an odd look. The game looks cel-shaded and realistic at the same time. Almost like something out of a Pixar film, such as Toy Story. Artistically, the graphics are beautiful but does not look so good compared to other games. For a launch title, the visuals are good, but as a Wii game... well, not so much.
Unfortunately, the music and soundtrack do not necessarily fit in with the game in general. The music is soothing in the town, caves, mines, and temples, which should not be the case. In the dungeons, the music should be a little bit more upbeat, and go together with it's setting. Another thing about the music is that it can get annoying. One occurrence of this case is when an enemy is sighted. The song suddenly becomes darker and a lot more energetic. Now this may sound good, however, this is whenever an enemy is sighted, which can happen very often. You'll start walking, wit the music being peaceful and relaxing, then out of nowhere the music suddenly starts picking up its pace which can surprise you-- Well, I got surprised anyways. The only good thing about that happening is that you'll know when an enemy is near so that you can get ready to attack.
LostWinds provides a unique control scheme. You only have one option of control, The Wiimote and Nunchuk. You use the analog stick on the nunchuk to move Toku. You use the Wii Pointer functionality to control Enril, the Wind Spirit. To actually activate the wind, you hold down the A or B button depending on what you want to do witht he wind. If you want to propel Toku upwards you will use the A button. But if you wanted to create a path for fire you would use the B button. The controls may seem uncomfortable and awkward at first, but once you get familiarized with the controls, you'll be fine.
LostWinds is overall a very entertaining game, however, there is one big fault with it. The game is very short. Very short. The game will take approximately 2-5 hours to complete depending on your skill level. Because of its length, you may want to play through this game again, if you feel that it was too pricey for only 3 hours of play time. You may also come back to this game to collect all the statues, but since there are only about 27 (not sure of the exact number) of them, it should not take too long. Overall, LostWinds is a fun, quirky game with easy, yet enjoyable puzzles that is a good experience. For only 1000 Points ($10US) that's a bargain.
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Story: [7.5/10]
Graphics: [8/10]
Sound: [6.5/10]
Gameplay: [8.5/10]
Controls: [8/10]
Replay Value: [6/10]
Overall: 7.5
By Pikaboo
Genre: Platform/Adventure
Review by: Pikaboo
WiiWare is the new service that Nintendo has given us to download new games that use the Wii's motion controls. Because of this, WiiWare differs from the Virtual Console. When WiiWare launched, it had six launch titles. One of these titles is LostWinds for 1,000 Wii Points. When I finally got some extra Wii Points, I immediately searched through the shop channel and downloaded it. Lost Winds is a basic Sidescroller with not-so-difficult puzzles and an unoriginal story. But does it disappoint?
The game starts with a basic tale told in a storybook-esque fashion. It tells that there were 12 Elemental Spirits and that one of the spirits, named Balasar, thought himself superior than the other Elemental Spirits. Balasar planned a way to rule Mistralis (the world of LostWinds) and be worshipped as a god. When the other spirits found out they forged a Spirit Stone to seal Balasar within it. When Balasar fought back, the brave Enril sacrificed herself to seal him, however Enril ends up getting sealed along with Balasar. Balasar soon discovers a way to escape the stone and claws his way out until the stone explodes in 7 pieces. It is by chance a young boy named Toku finds a shard of Enril and learns from her the peril awaiting Mistralis. They set out together on a journey to awaken Enril's fellow Elemental Spirits, restore her full powers, and so return the LostWinds to Mistralis.
LostWinds is very unique in itself. If you've played Kirby's Canvas Curse, the gameplay resembles that except with motion controls instead of drawing with the stylus. As Toku, you'll be adventuring caves, mines and temples. Toku himself doesn't seem very useful except for walking and picking up items. The most fun lies with Enril, the Wind Spirit. Using the motion controls, you can control the wind itself at your fingertips-- or your Wiimote. With the wind, you can blow Toku from platform to platform and reach higher places. You can also move around objects such as boulders and fruit, as well as make a path for fire (or water) to cross. Using the wind plays with most of the puzzles in this game. As mentioned above, the puzzles aren't very difficult, however it can be a blast to play them. Controlling the wind may take patience and practice to learn, but once you have that down this game flies by. Figuring out where you have to go can be a journey by itself. Since you have no map to help you out, you'll have to memorize where to go or just roam around until you get to where you need to go.
Since this game is a launch game for WiiWare, the visuals don't seem to compare to such games as Mario Kart Wii and Mario Party 8. LostWinds features nice looking scenery, as you would and should expect from a fiction and fairy tale game like LostWinds. Interestingly, LostWinds uses an odd look. The game looks cel-shaded and realistic at the same time. Almost like something out of a Pixar film, such as Toy Story. Artistically, the graphics are beautiful but does not look so good compared to other games. For a launch title, the visuals are good, but as a Wii game... well, not so much.
Unfortunately, the music and soundtrack do not necessarily fit in with the game in general. The music is soothing in the town, caves, mines, and temples, which should not be the case. In the dungeons, the music should be a little bit more upbeat, and go together with it's setting. Another thing about the music is that it can get annoying. One occurrence of this case is when an enemy is sighted. The song suddenly becomes darker and a lot more energetic. Now this may sound good, however, this is whenever an enemy is sighted, which can happen very often. You'll start walking, wit the music being peaceful and relaxing, then out of nowhere the music suddenly starts picking up its pace which can surprise you-- Well, I got surprised anyways. The only good thing about that happening is that you'll know when an enemy is near so that you can get ready to attack.
LostWinds provides a unique control scheme. You only have one option of control, The Wiimote and Nunchuk. You use the analog stick on the nunchuk to move Toku. You use the Wii Pointer functionality to control Enril, the Wind Spirit. To actually activate the wind, you hold down the A or B button depending on what you want to do witht he wind. If you want to propel Toku upwards you will use the A button. But if you wanted to create a path for fire you would use the B button. The controls may seem uncomfortable and awkward at first, but once you get familiarized with the controls, you'll be fine.
LostWinds is overall a very entertaining game, however, there is one big fault with it. The game is very short. Very short. The game will take approximately 2-5 hours to complete depending on your skill level. Because of its length, you may want to play through this game again, if you feel that it was too pricey for only 3 hours of play time. You may also come back to this game to collect all the statues, but since there are only about 27 (not sure of the exact number) of them, it should not take too long. Overall, LostWinds is a fun, quirky game with easy, yet enjoyable puzzles that is a good experience. For only 1000 Points ($10US) that's a bargain.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Story: [7.5/10]
Graphics: [8/10]
Sound: [6.5/10]
Gameplay: [8.5/10]
Controls: [8/10]
Replay Value: [6/10]
Overall: 7.5
By Pikaboo
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