Nintendo finally launched its WiiWare download service to some minor heralding. Gamers were unsure what the new cash-gobbler would be providing, and whether it would be worth all those Wii points and interminable downloads (I like watching 8-bit Mario run across my screen as much as the next person, but seriously, it takes me about 23 tries to actually download something).

Well, you can put those fears aside, because no matter what other useless drivel you may find for the Wii, Lost Winds will restore your faith in the tiny white trapezoid.

Lost Winds is a very cute, easily approachable tale about a boy named Toku who, while roaming his homeland of Mistralis, comes across Enril, the trapped wind spirit. She tells him of a great evil that is spreading across the land, and that she needs his help getting rid of said bad dudes. Okay, so you may think it sounds a little Zelda-ish… and you’d be right. But if you’re going to pick a formula to follow for a new IP, might as well make it one of the best, right?

The first thing you’ll notice about the game is its art style. For 1000 Wii Points (that’s $10 for those of you scoring at home), you’re going to get a game that looks light years better than shovelware like Carnival Games and other crap that you’d have to pay $40 (plus gas) for. The game’s action takes place in a traditional 2-D plane, but the 3-dimensional backgrounds are rendered with vivid colors and amazing wind effects that truly make the world seem fully alive.

The gameplay is what truly sets Lost Winds apart from other WiiWare titles – and, in fact, many retail Wii games as well. Using the standard two-handed Wii set-up, the nunchuck’s analog stick controls Toku’s movement to the left or right of the screen, while the remote allows you to harness Enril’s power and swoop Toku up onto ledges or across gaps. As the game progresses you can harness more of Enril’s wind skills, allowing you to reach greater heights and control water and fire against your enemies.

The combat is simplistic, as you highlight tiny black blobs and mash the A button in order to vaporize them, but the story moves with such a dramatic flourish for such a seemingly small game. The emphasis is really on exploration, as the game does not provide you with a map or much direction aside from the occasional “East” or “West” from one of the townsfolk. This does not pose any lingering problems, however, as the world is fairly condensed and easy to remember.

Releasing this game on Day 1 for WiiWare was truly a great move on Nintendo’s part. Lost Winds sets the bar for other downloadable games, with great action and pacing, remarkable graphics, and just enough of a story to keep you wanting more (don’t worry, part 2 has already been announced). Though you’ll be able to finish in about 3 or 4 hours, you’ll be highly satisfied when the end comes. Lost Winds is $10 well spent.

Grade: 9.4/10

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 9:32 pm and is filed under Lemon Drops. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.