LostWinds Review

By Kristan Reed Published 13 May, 2008

Breath of fresh air.

Version tested: Wii

Considered by many to be the premier WiiWare launch title, it's not difficult to see why Frontier's LostWinds has garnered such an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response during recent sneak previews. Knocked up in little over three months, it's a reminder of the kind of offbeat creativity UK development talent is capable of when given an outlet, and when publishers don't interfere. Combining elements of Klonoa and Okami, it's a disarming British love letter to Japanese game development which embarrasses most Wii titles at a stroke. Or waggle.

Before we got down to playing the finished article, Frontier founder and chairman David Braben told us that the decision to self-publish the game via WiiWare rather than the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live Arcade was a decision borne out of the lead designer being a "massive Nintendo fanboy". It also gave the Cambridge-based company a rare chance to cut loose and come up with the kind of quirky game concept that many publishers would have considered too big a risk to put out as a boxed product.

Frontier describes LostWinds as "an enchanting adventure bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the innovative controller of the Wii". You could even say that the way the game gives the player control over the wind breathes new life into 2D platform-puzzling, although I wouldn't recommend that because you'll make people cringe. Instead, perhaps you'll say that Frontier has come up with a unique wind-assisted control system that encompasses platforming, combat and puzzling without ever feeling cumbersome or confusing, and with its own visual style that steers comfortably away from anime cliché.

LostWinds concerns saving the beautiful land of Mistralis from the wrongdoings of an evil spirit named Balasar. Tasked with finding four chests hidden away throughout the land, you must guide spiky-haired pocket-rocket Toku with the assistance of 'wind spirit' Enril and negotiate a series of beautifully rendered environments, gaining new skills along the way.

'LostWinds' Screenshot 1

Static shots fail to do justice to how LostWinds looks in motion.

Perhaps the most interesting facet of LostWinds control system is how quickly it becomes second nature to pull off complex-sounding actions. With basic left-right movement assigned to the nunchuk, and an auto jump system whenever you reach the edge of a platform, the more complex manouevres are given over to the remote. Rather like Okami, you must physically draw actions on the screen - in this case controlling gusts of wind by holding down the A button and drawing the wind you want to create.

In a basic sense, drawing a vertical line through Toku makes him jump up, and a diagonal line in the required direction to make him leap left or right. Initially, you'll find yourself wandering around, chatting to locals and heading off to shrines to augment your abilities. Along the way, you'll realise that the ability to create a gust of wind isn't purely a cunning jump mechanic, but a puzzle-solving tool which can help whip boulders up onto pressure pads, or direct flames onto wooden doors. Even in combat, gusting becomes useful too, allowing you to smack the little Squawks or Glorbs against the scenery (or drag flames onto them if you're feeling especially evil). Crucially, all of it feels instantly intuitive, and adding extra abilities does little to derail your progress.

Once you're familiar with gust, the addition of the hugely useful Slipstream lets you draw wind around corners, making it simple to, for example, guide flames around to nearby torches, or send a trail of water to a patch of ground to grow a Poyok plant. These, in turn, might help propel you upwards to a previously inaccessible area - possibly to activate a switch or grab a seed you need to reach somewhere else. Later on, the power of wind Vortex allows you to draw a circle around an object, suspend it in mid-air and then gust it towards a barrier to smash your way through, while the final ability, the Jumbrella Cape, allows you to draw a path and seamlessly glide around the game world. Within the space of a few hours, LostWinds demonstrates one of the most brilliantly realised control systems ever seen in a 2D platform game. As with the very best Wii games to date, it utilises the control system in a manner that's incredibly accessible but extremely clever at the same time.

But while it's easy to wax on about the superbly logical puzzles and the excellent control system, just as impressive are the visuals. While downloadable titles on other platforms have a tendency to 'go retro', LostWinds surpasses all expectations by somehow managing to be one of the most delightful-looking games around - not just in terms of the Wii, but full stop. With a continually shifting camera perspective giving you an ever-changing view of the action, and the action moving at a rock-solid 60 frames per second throughout, it's a style many will instantly fall in love with.

Built using Frontier's existing in-house 3D engine, it brings to life the delightfully rich art-style, and frames the action perfectly at all times. We've been saying it for the best part of the last ten years, but this '2.5D' compromise between the precision of 2D with scalable 3D is definitely a technique more developers should explore. As is the case here, it's an absolute dream when it comes off. A special mention for the cut-scenes and often hilarious sound effects too - there's barely a single element of the game with which you won't be thoroughly enamoured. Even the decision to shy away from voice-overs seems like a sensible idea once you play it.

'LostWinds' Screenshot 2

In a parallel universe where the Amiga still reigns supreme, LostWinds is top of the charts.

The other thing to mention is the price of LostWinds. At 1000 Wii Points, it absolutely shames most full-price releases, and, weighing in at just 37MB, it won't hog the limited storage space on the Wii, either, or take forever to download. True, the gameplay length at 3 to 4 hours (on your first play-through) isn't that big, but for the price you can have no complaints whatsoever. If more games of this quality emerged at this sort of price point, I doubt too many of us would mind - in fact we'd doubtlessly play more of them rather than get bogged down in epics. You're left wanting more, but in a good way.

LostWinds is a great example of what can be achieved on WiiWare. By combining a few simple gesture-based controls within a tightly focused platform-puzzling framework, Frontier has created a mini-masterpiece at the first attempt. From here, we can fully expect to see a lot more of Toku and Enril, and hopefully a slew of similarly innovative and fresh new ideas on Nintendo's proving ground from other like-minded developers ready to break free from the shackles of modern development cycles.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (70) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • caligari #1 4 years ago

    Wii fights back!

    edit: not that it was actually losing in the first place.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/08 @ 13:53

  • Ignatius_Cheese #2 4 years ago

    Definite download on Day One. Everything about this title oozes charm. Flagship WiiWare title indeed :oD

  • morriss #3 4 years ago

    brilliant.

  • bitesize #4 4 years ago


    sold! sounds great.

  • spookyzombie #5 4 years ago

    Just looked at the video of this on EG. I'd like to know how this manages to look better than 80% of full price Wii release games. It's only a 37mb download. It looks beautiful.

  • Psychotext #6 4 years ago

    Interesting looking game.

  • stampax #7 4 years ago

    wow, expected all the wi iware games to be rubbish mini party games! What a great start!

  • gingerlink #8 4 years ago

    Was wondering where all of the expectation surrounding this title had come from (I've kinda been in the dark about this one somehow) but it just sounds fantastic from this!

    Definately something else to use those wii points on!

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #9 4 years ago

    Gimmick!

    What with downloadable crap like this, shallow titles like Mario Galaxy and Zelda, crap 3rd party titles like Zack & Wiki and PES, games that only appeal to the casuals like No More Heroes and Okami and poor sales the Wii really is doomed.

  • speedjack #10 4 years ago

    Looks lovely.

    Can anyone tell me how many blocks 35mb is ?

    Also, can Wii Ware titles be saved to an SD card ?

  • Muddtallica #11 4 years ago

    Nice score! For the price, I'll definitely be downloading this one next week. :)

    Wii's on a bit of a roll for good scores, lately, which is great news. Let's hope the trend continues!

  • OrgasmicMutton #12 4 years ago

    I was already sold and this just confirms I'm buying it as soon as I can.

    @ Pac-man ate my wife

    GG

  • CallousB #13 4 years ago

    "I'd like to know how this manages to look better than 80% of full price Wii release games"

    A small amount of effort. Something that most 3rd parties aren't bothering with in regards to Wii games.
    Lost Winds and World of Goo shame most of the bigger companies in terms of both art and creativity.

  • knocker #14 4 years ago

    Well there goes my stubborn insistence not to download anything because of memory constraints.

    @Pac-Man Ate My Wife
    Spelling and grammar far too good. Could do better.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/08 @ 15:21

  • Killerbee #15 4 years ago

    Okay, that decides it. I'm getting this the day it's released.

    Sounds brilliant, and after the joy of just sitting down with Portal for an evening and getting through to the end in one sitting, I'm really looking forward to the fact this isn't going to take me 30+ hours to play through.

  • mkreku #16 4 years ago

    Looks lovely! Reminds me of that Kirby game on the DS where you controlled the wind with the stylus.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #17 4 years ago


    Sounds brilliant, and after the joy of just sitting down with Portal for an evening and getting through to the end in one sitting, I'm really looking forward to the fact this isn't going to take me 30+ hours to play through.

    +1

    As much as I'd love to play all the wonderful games coming out, such as Okami, I know I'll never have the time to play them all so something like this seems perfect for me!

    And yes, my earlier post was my attempt at a joke. Although it's interesting to see we've made it this fair without the brainless trolls (bar mine and Bloodkult's attempts) - Hooray!
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/08 @ 14:39

  • GamesConnoisseur #18 4 years ago

    Sigh... okay I ll move one file over to SD ram, as Lost Winds IS only 37 mb which is fanastic really. Still wondered about the file size of other Wii Ware and the hassles it would cause to shuffle data back and forth?

    I know I m hard on Nintendo about the memory issue, but am not going to allow this to stand in the way of Lost Winds!


    For this time!

  • WillTheSecond #19 4 years ago

    Looks good. I think this will be my WiiWare launch-day purchase, then. I should check how many points I've got on the Wii shop channel come to think of it...

  • Tonka #20 4 years ago

    I have been looking forward to this since I first got wind of it. I'm glad to see it storming the rating charts. Hopefully this is only the first whiff of what's to come. I read some guy who was completely blown away by it.

  • M83J01P97 #21 4 years ago

    Does anyone else think the concept of this game would work better on the DS?

    I suppose it's not fair to comment when I haven't played this... but it just strikes me as something with would be perfect for stylus control.

  • Artemis_Matsas #22 4 years ago

    I really hope that this game will sell well.
    If the developers really know their stuff, then they can produce wonders!

  • Progguitarist #23 4 years ago

    @ M83J01P97

    The review just gave it a 9/10 score. Why would it be any better on the DS?

  • Benno #24 4 years ago

    The Wiis getting some nice games now, I am liking this.

  • M83J01P97 #25 4 years ago

    @Progguitarist

    I'm not saying it's a bad game on the Wii at all... from what I have seen of it, it just seems more like something I would want to sit down and play on my DS with the stylus instead of on the Wii. Thats all.

  • Progguitarist #26 4 years ago

    @ M83J01P97

    Ah I see. Seems like there could be a DS version released.If it does well on Wii anyway.

  • Tonka #27 4 years ago

    ;_; tears of joy. More ike this and I'll never have to swap discs again.

  • NickD7 #28 4 years ago

    rather than get bogged down in epics.

    Strange comment to make, gamers have never had it so good, it's like every game being shown in the last few weeks has been a must buy title. Don't complain about epic games as they are the reason we play games in the first place and they are usually few and far between.

    Maybe you're just spoilt on all the great games you've played recently which is why you want to play budget titles... but without your GTA's and MGS games you would soon by wailing about the lack of big budget titles.

  • Muddtallica #29 4 years ago

    M83J01P97: Because if it was on DS, it would be Kirby: Power Paintbrush. :p

  • dirigiblebill #30 4 years ago

    Re. A potential DS release...

    <a href= "http://www.gamersuniverse.com/en/index 3.php?content=interviews&gameid=1050">"It’s certainly something to consider - once we have got the Wii version released, we’ll see where we go from there."</a>

    Would love to see this on the DS, and given the filesize it's well within the bounds of probability...

  • knocker #31 4 years ago

    "Don't complain about epic games as they are the reason we play games in the first place and they are usually few and far between. "

    Speak for yourself. I played games i the first place because of pong.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #32 4 years ago

    @ NickD7

    Was anyone complaining about epic games? I think the reviewer was just saying that epics are massive timesinks which few of us actually get around to completing, whereas more games of this quality and length would mean gamers experienced a wider variety of games.

  • RandolphScott #33 4 years ago

    Looks like the Wii is coming into it's own.

  • smelly #34 4 years ago

    2 good wii games in 2 days.. ace.

  • Colin8703 #35 4 years ago

    I downloaded it last night and am hooked already (My Wii is american) It's a lovely game and the review just makes me want to play it more.

    Everyone should play this game.


  • Sid-Nice #36 4 years ago

    I've just watched the intro and I have to say "What a beautiful little platform game LostWinds looks" I haven't downloaded any games via the Virtual Console due to the complaints about no 60Hz on PAL VC games. I think the question has already been asked but "Will this game run at 480p?"

  • bigbadbeasty #37 4 years ago

    With all the Wii negativity from the standard gamer since its launch, with rubbish ports and uninspired bolt-on wiimote actions, it has always reminded me of the first year of the DS. I was sure that the tide would turn with the success of the console, and finally we are getting some real gems coming through.

    Nintendo will always release a stash of in-house AAA games, it is good to see others doing the same.

  • pjmaybe #38 4 years ago

    Weird world innit where an item of WiiWare actually looks, plays and feels better than 90% of the machine's full priced catalogue.

    I love it, Braben ftw!

    Now, a Wii version of "A Dogs Life" once you're done with the Lost Winds sequel, Mr Braben sir.

  • Colin8703 #39 4 years ago

    I would think that the Wii ware will run at 60hz as it's a new game and not from the old days.

    Are any of the uk Wii games 50 hz only then? I know the VC console games are.

    As for prog scan, my TV is LCD and it runs through a component cable so i could not honestly comment as LCD de-interlaces the screen anyway. It looks very nice though.

  • RyanT #40 4 years ago

    The game runs in full 480p (and 60hz, why wouldn't it?).

    I thought that was mentioned in the review.

  • OrgasmicMutton #41 4 years ago

    I'm kind of surprised that other folk are surprised that WiiWare is going to end up with some titles better than many full priced releases. In fact I was fully expected top class titles on WiiWare. I guess it's because I've got into the indie PC scene in the last few years and have seen what small dedicated teams with little pressure on them can do. They have the breathing space to do what they want and know they can digitally distribute it without having to worry about getting a publishing deal (well I suppose with the likes of WiiWare, Arcade and PSN they have to go through a few hoops but it's certainly less risky than a boxed release).

    The indie market has long been producing some brilliant games and with the sort of talent that's out there I was fully expecting to see some quality releases taking advantage of the Wii's controls and fully expect to see more in the future.

  • KillerMonkey #42 4 years ago

    ^
    Could you give an example or two of awesome PC indie games? :)

  • monkie_king #43 4 years ago

    Introversion's stuff (Darwinia, Defcon), Peggle, RedLynx Trials 2 ...

  • siro #44 4 years ago

    Who would of thought that WiiWare will bring some real killer apps (aside me;).

  • OrgasmicMutton #45 4 years ago

    Introversion's stuff (Darwinia, Defcon), Peggle, RedLynx Trials 2 ...

    Add to that Aquaria, Noitu Love 2, some of Cactus' stuff, Professor Fizzwizzle, Wik and the Fable of Souls, Bookworm Adventures, Gish and so on.

    Forthcoming WiiWare title World of Goo originates from the game Tower of Goo, part of the experimental gameplay project which also is due to give us Crayon Physics deluxe.

    The advent of indie development on Wii can only be a good thing and will complement the quality first party titles wonderfully.

  • KillerMonkey #46 4 years ago

    Thanks, I'll check 'em all out!

  • Sid-Nice #47 4 years ago

    Jeff Minter; get working on Wii-Ware bonnie lad.

    7 days to wait for LostWinds. :(

  • SirScratchalot #48 4 years ago

    Glee and joy...
    It looked fantastic from day one and I loved the little touches in the vids I've watched.
    Trees swaying in the breeze as the pointer passes, the music. It's all just so soothing.

  • smelly #49 4 years ago

    >>Could you give an example or two of awesome PC indie games? :)
    >Introversion's stuff (Darwinia, Defcon), Peggle, RedLynx Trials 2 ...

    And of course trackmania.. which is FREE btw..

  • smelly #50 4 years ago

    "A small amount of effort. Something that most 3rd parties aren't bothering with in regards to Wii games.
    Lost Winds and World of Goo shame most of the bigger companies in terms of both art and creativity"


    Agreed.. but then if all the good games cost $10 as opposed to $50.. then i'm not gonna complain TOO much :-)

  • Sid-Nice #51 4 years ago

    There's a sequel to LostWinds in the works apparently. I only hope that the retarded casual gamers don't ignore the Wii-Ware games as they have with Boom Blox.

  • ianegg #52 4 years ago

    Finally, something worth spending my stars cum wii points on.

  • smelly #53 4 years ago

    >as they have with Boom Blox.

    WTF Are you talking about now?

  • GingerNathan #54 4 years ago

    "WTF Are you talking about now?
    "
    It debuted at number fifteen in the Wii only chart, with a whole load of dross above it.

  • jebus #55 4 years ago

    @Sid Nice "Jeff Minter; get working on Wii-Ware bonnie lad."

    Oh lord - please don't, I like the Wii.

  • ryohazuki1983 #56 4 years ago

    Cool, glad to know its good :) only wiiware launch title i'll buy, been keeping an eye on this game for ages now.

  • Sid-Nice #57 4 years ago

    WTF Are you talking about now?

    As GingerNathan has already stated "The game only debuted at No 15 in Wii only chart" and there is no sign of it in the Individual Format chart.

    One problem with Wii-Ware is…

    There are quite a high percentage of the casual gaming Wii owners that have their machine flashed and are not concerned with online gaming and downloadable content. They’ll part with £15 for shit like Carnival Games and the like and hand over whatever for a pirated copy of the latest releases. Will they pay £7.50 for a Wii-Ware game?


    Oh lord - please don't, I like the Wii.

    I was hoping for Unity on Wii-Ware but that will be owned by Lionhead Studio.


  • Bidermaier #58 4 years ago

    Wow, first Boom Blox and now this. The wii is on its longer roll ever.

  • secombe #59 4 years ago

    Superb, only problem with owning a Wii is the amount of must have (or borderline) titles...and yes I'm being serious. I wouldn't give a darn if the latest Pro Evo got 10/10 on another system, but when it comes along with an absolute genius control mechanism I just can't resist.

    Still got...

    Super Mario Galaxy
    Mario Kart Wii
    PES 2008
    Wii Fit

    ...to continue with at the moment and am just not finding the time. At least these WiiWare titles can be enjoyed over a single evening, can see me getting quite addicted to them if quality titles like this keep appearing.

    As for the 'high percentage of Wiis flashed' comment...any facts? I know maybe 30 or 40 Wii owners (including about 15 at work, all very 'casual' owners) and not one of them has their Wii flashed or whatever.

  • justMe #60 4 years ago

    I have exactly the same problem, so many good Wii games and so little time! And the "must buy" list keeps growing...

  • 3william56 #61 4 years ago

    "unique wind-assisted control system"
    Wiimote shoved up your ar$e?

  • Loser #62 4 years ago

    "There are quite a high percentage of the casual gaming Wii owners that have their machine flashed and are not concerned with online gaming and downloadable content."

    Based on what exactly?

  • BartonFink #63 4 years ago

    Excellent - now if only Eircom (bastardos) would sort out my broadband I would be picking this up.
    Things looking on the up for Wii, can it keep it up though.

  • Notorious_LRO #64 4 years ago

    I like that WiiWare and the Virtual Console seems less filled with fluff and distractions than PSN and Xbox live.

  • lovely2cu #65 4 years ago

    Looks interesting and fresh. Hmm, fresh winds

  • jimboton #66 4 years ago

    This gets 5.5 from gamespot for unresponsive controls (in a wii game? no way!), unrealised potential, and overly easy puzzles. It's the last bit that bothers me. I'm all for short, intense games, but this seems to be a short, not very intense at all wind control tutorial.

    Edited by 1 at 17/05/08 @ 14:20

  • Dan234 #67 4 years ago

    It seems gamespot's review is the odd one out, the rest give it 8 or above (you can see them on gamespot's own site).

  • pikemon #68 4 years ago

    totally getting this and my life as a king!

  • otto #69 4 years ago

    This is an absolutely delightful game. Real old skool platforming and it's just gorgeous.

  • cckit #70 4 years ago

    Just bought this game, really fun game!

  • robson_wii #71 4 years ago

    Completed last night in just over 3 hours (not continuous) but good fun and value for money. Not hardcore but inventive game mechanics and good gameplay. Anyone know what happens if you get all 24 statues?

    Now back to Metroid, Wii Fit and Smash Brothers Brawl (when it arrives)