LostWinds stands out as one of the best WiiWare launch titles. The game makes excellent use of the Wiimote—you use the pointer and wrist motions to control the wind, your character, and to manipulate elements such as water and fire. Controlling your character is a breeze—you move Toku with the analogue stick, and make him perform techniques by moving the Wiimote to utilize the wind. Your wind powers can be used in clever ways—you can float across seemingly endless chasms, blow fire from a torch onto a wooden doorway, and harness the power of water from a waterfall to produce plants that can launch you into the air towards your objective.
A great thing about LostWinds is that it is a game that will put your mind at ease. There are plenty of puzzles, but none are so difficult that you’ll be banging your head against the wall. The puzzles are initially a bit mundane, but towards the end of the game they become innovative and highly enjoyable. It is exciting to think about what Frontier will do with the sequel. While the puzzles are interesting, I found the combat sorely lacking. There are occasional enemies, but none of them pose a threat to you, and are more of a nuisance than anything. I suppose they do fit with the tranquil vibe of the game though. The peaceful nature of the game can be felt through the music as well. It is reminiscent of traditional Japanese music and is very relaxing. The music suits the lush environments well. The graphics aren’t extremely detailed, but aren’t bad considering the size limit of WiiWare games.
LostWinds is an enjoyable title, but may not be worth it depending on your budget. The game is relatively short—it only took me 2 hours and 27 minutes at a leisurely pace, but the length isn’t bad considering it is an original title for $10. If you find yourself questioning the lack of originality in recent games, check out LostWinds.