"Coming Next on TrulyDexterousTV...LostWinds!"

Hello and welcome to TrulyDexterousTV. This is our first ever show and have we got a fun-packed review for you! I'm your host, Dixie Normous.

Up today we take an in-depth look at LostWinds. This recent release for the much-anticipated WiiWare format. LostWinds has been developed by UK-based Frontier
Developments, who you may remember them from the smash hit Rollercoaster Tycoon
series. We tried to secure an interview with Executive Producer David Braben, but he said he was washing his poodle, so instead we came up with an artist's impression of what he might say about the game.

Braben: I like don't like wind, it messes up my hair.

I'm not sure that is 100% accurate and rest assured the persons responsible for this scandalous piece of libel will be sacked. Ahem! Let's move on before I can anger the men upstairs any more.

I pass you over to TrulyDexterous who will take you through this review.

TrulyDexterous: Thanks Dixie. Let us take a look at out first category....


Graphics - 8/10

Let us take a moment to admire the serene world that LostWinds takes part in. The rich green grass, the clear blue skies, the multitude of colours. This is definitely a winner. It looks like one of those places you see in shampoo adverts.

Hold this thought for a second. Think back to when WiiWare was first introduced to your tiny little mind. Supposedly, there was to be a 40MB cap on all WiiWare games. This brought of visions of half-assed GBA ports and games that looked about as serene and pleasing as your average stool sample. Well my little munchkins, that said 40MB cap is still in place. Frontier have created this amazing world with less space than you have in your iPod. Bow
to them.

The style of the graphics is somewhat hard to pin down. They have a certain realistic-ness to them, but with a cartoony twist. The people have been characterised well, you won't see the same person ten times wearing different clothes and with a different name. No, each character has their very own personality.

Whilst the graphics are impressive, there is only so many times you can walk past the same rock. The areas get a bit repetitive, particularly there duller cave areas. Whilst you are outside, this can be easily overlooked, but when the screen is shrouded in an endless black/grey this can feel a little boring.


Story - 8/10

This is a different take on the evil-bad-guy-takes-over-the-world cliche. The evil spirit Balasar has broken free from his magical prison. He is now population Mistralis with his minions as his power returns. As Toku, a small Japanese boy, you need to utilise the power of the winds to defeat Balasar and free the Lost Winds. So you have heard all this a hundred times before right? Well yes, but what else were you expecting? This is a story that will be done a million times over, so let's not dismiss this game out of hand.

Where Frontier have excelled is with the promise of an episodic story. There is a sequel already confirmed and possibly more to follow. This is a stroke of genius. Whilst this single game is a relatively short adventure, the story line is prolonged over a number of games. This is actually very clever. Whilst other WiiWare games are cramming everything they can into their 40MB limit, LostWinds can change into an ever evolving story and dare I say it a mainstay in the gaming industry. The next Final Fantasy? Don't bet against it.


Controls - 9/10

The controls are easily accessible. At the beginning of the game, there are very little moves that you can do. As you progress through the opening scenes, new techniques and controls will be introduced via an tutorial screen. This works better for me, rather than a set aside training area. Learning on the job shall we say.

The odd thing about this game is that it is a 2D platformer, but you can't jump. Not properly jump anyway. Toku can perform a sideways jump off of a ledge, similar to Link in the Legend of Zelda. Unfortunately, you need more than this in a platformer. Instead of jumping, Toku is blown into the air by using the Wind Powers of Enril the Wind Spirit. This is performed by holding the A button and directing the wind using the Wiimote. This works
surprisingly well and after a while the controls become very fluid and easy to use.

You may have had enough of developers trying to be "innovative" with the Wiimote. This isn't the case here. Whilst the controls are different, they work well, which is more than can be said for a lot of half-hearted control systems out there. I'm looking at you Mario Party 8.


Sound - 6/10

The background music really matches the environment. It has a soft gently flowing quality which really fits in. Other than this the sound is pretty unnoticeable. The sound effects such as the wind blowing and fire burning are pretty standard stuff.

Ask yourself this though. Do you really buy a game for it's soundtrack? Fair enough there have been some all-time greats particularly from Rareware in the "Nintendo years" and this can really add to a game. But when it's missing are you disappointed? There are no garish ear-splitting notes in LostWinds, so I wouldn't say it was a bad soundtrack. Just one that slips into obscurity.


Gameplay - 6/10

This is the part where you can forget everything that I just said. A game can have poor graphics and horrible sound, as long as it has enjoyable gameplay. Though undoubtedly the game is short, it retains the qualities of the 2D platformers of old.

As soon as the game begins you can be taken in by the wonderful landscape. Whilst you progress through the earlier parts of the game, the controls are delivered by tutorial screens, which help you get into the game, but without the hassle of a training mode.

Upgrades to Toku's skills can be found throughout the game, each that will use the power of the wind in a different way. You can create vortexes to smash rocks through barriers, channel fire along slipstreams and take to the air with the Jumberella Cape. This is a standard skill upgrading method, but it ties in well with the style of the game. The way the game plays doesn't lend itself to shops, weapons and stat upgrades. It's success lies in it's
simplicity.


After discovering Enril and ending the quest to the first shrine, the story of the game opens up a little more. You will be introduced to Deo, who is the guardian of Toku. He will be a helpful kind of guy, setting out certain tasks that you need to complete.

After a chat with Deo, you can set out for an richly enjoyable adventure to find the first two Memory Chests. This is easily the strongest part of the game. You will work your way through challenging areas filled with enemies and intelligent puzzles. At this point that game looks to be heading for classic status.

After opening the first two memory chests, you eagerly rush to find the third chest. Unfortunately, all the amazing gameplay which took you to the previous chests has gone. The third chest can be picked up within 10 minutes. That's okay though, you can deal with that.

Let's go and get the final chest....I found it. THE END. What? Yes, the final chest probably won't even take you 10 minutes. Following this, you will have a simple boss battle and the game is finished, leaving you feeling extremely short changed.

The way the game sets out, with entertaining quests is very promising. Just as you are getting into the game, it comes to an abrupt end. It's like Frontier just ran out of time/memory and cut the game short. Very short. Should the task of attaining the final 2 chests be as long and enjoyable as the task of attaining the first to, the game would have had rave reviews. However, it feels like the game has built you up, then in the end it leaves you feeling very flat.

If that weren't enough, there have been endless reports of bugs and glitches. This puts a real dampener on things. If it were a single glitch, then I'm sure people would be less concerned. However when it gets to 6, 7, 8 different bugs things can get a little annoying.

My final gripe is at the Melodia Idols. You spend your time diligently collecting all 24 Idols, then once you have them all, what is your reward? A big fat nothing. Apparently they are included in the game so that you can prove that you have been everywhere within the LostWinds world. Yes, that really is their purpose.

Without being too harsh, the gameplay starts off with so much potential but is really let down by the rush job ending and the numerous bugs.


Replay - 4/10

LostWinds definitely has some replay value. This stems from how short the game is. It is fun to play and you can get through it in a couple of hours easily. I certainly have no qualms about losing 2 hours taking in the atmosphere of this game.

Whilst we are on the theme of time, there is an in-game clock. This means you can have fun trying to beat your friends best speed-runs. You can definitely do this in less than an hour if you put your mind to it.

Finally, if you missed out on collecting all 24 Melodia Idols on your first run, there is plenty of reason to start over and try and grab all 24. True, you won't be rewarded for this, but I find this enough reason just to give it another go.


Overall - 7/10

Pros:

+ Charming graphics and environment
+ Plenty of replay
+ Episodic gameplay will have you coming back for more
+ A stronger storyline than other WiiWare titles
+ Something fresh
+ Fluid, easy to use controls

Cons:

- A very short adventure
- Not one for those expecting an epic story
- Episodic gameplay will infuriate you as you wait for the next
- A rushed ending
- Bugs! Lots of bugs!


LostWinds is a great WiiWare release title. It lives up to the hype (just) so if your looking for a couple of hours amusement, then don't hesitate to download this bargain basement title.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/23/08