Let's face it, the Wii has already had its fair share of below-average platformers, so it comes as no surprise that, despite the enormous amount of hype surrounding Frontier Development's LostWinds title, Wii owners have approached the game with a certain..
LostWinds
LostWinds (WiiWare)
LostWinds is a fresh, enchanting adventure that lets you wield the awesome powers of Enril the wind spirit - from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze – to guide and protect Toku, a young boy who is the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the world of Mistralis and its people by evil Balasar.
Mistralis is a stunningly presented, magical land full of wonder and intrigue that bursts to life with your every action and exploration. LostWinds’s novel, playful controls let you use Enril’s elemental powers to jump and glide Toku through Mistralis’s different regions, buffet and smash enemies and solve puzzles on the journey to a dramatic showdown. Bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the Wii Remote’s unique abilities, LostWinds puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand.
What We Think
![]()
Review
Wed, 14 May 2008 by Corbie Dillard
Is LostWinds the innovative platformer Wii fans were hoping for, or just a lot of hot air?








Report
1. Pocketim
20 Feb 2008, 15:29 GMT
Looks like Kirby's Canvas Curse
Report
2. wii-c-kid
20 Feb 2008, 15:37 GMT
You can see some more screenshots of LostWinds here guys:
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=93023
and here:
http://gonintendo.com/?p=36083#more-36083
Report
3. Serpent
20 Feb 2008, 15:58 GMT
I like the art style, I’m really interested to see how this plays.
Report
4. Atlantis1982
20 Feb 2008, 17:10 GMT
No doubt, will be my first WiiWare title. Looking forward to May.
Report
5. Rapadash6
20 Feb 2008, 17:59 GMT
This game looks great in an old school innovative kind of way... if that makes any sense. ^^'
Report
6. Boredom v2.2
20 Feb 2008, 18:27 GMT
The artwork looks so familiar. One of the screenshots reminds me of a N64 game i once played. I think it's called Tonic Trouble or something like that. Good game to me but it got bad reviews.
Report
7. Herandar
20 Feb 2008, 19:32 GMT
The one screen on gonintendo shows two separate contrails. Dual-wielding Wiimotes?? One can only hope.
Report
8. Jupiter Adept
20 Feb 2008, 20:49 GMT
That's another Wiiware game I'll get.
Report
9. ATRUEZELDAFAN
22 Feb 2008, 15:21 GMT
This game looks like it's going to be awsome. I am not crazy about the way the main character looks though. oh well thats not important if its a good game. I hope Nintendo fixes the memory problem so i can buy this game when it comes out.
Report
10. Jonno
23 Feb 2008, 05:57 GMT
This looks reeeeeeaaaaaalllllllllllll nice. I'll make sure to buy it.
Of course, I pick Brawl (2 weeks and 4 days) over it, and probably won't be buying any games for a while, except for, maybe, Mario Kart Wii.
Report
11. Demonic S+33V
14 Mar 2008, 21:54 GMT
Quotes....
A friend of mine from Yorkshire - "Man, I am SO glad I let you talk me in to getting a Wii, best console I've ever owned and I can't wait for Wiiware! Feel kinda bad for my poor XBox though.... All it does is gather dust now" (I suggested he use it for a door-stop)
Me, talking to my wife - "When Wiiware goes live here, you know I'll snag every game that even remotely looks cool until our Wii is out of storage space... Then transfer stuff to an SD card and buy m0r3 stuff!"
Yeah, I'll be getting this game.
Report
12. motang
17 Mar 2008, 18:43 GMT
Looks like a fun game, now all I have to do is wait for it come out.
Report
13. GameGod3008
24 Mar 2008, 22:02 GMT
I'd buy this for a reasonable price
Report
14. Jupiter Adept
15 Apr 2008, 12:29 GMT
IGN did a hands-on. Apparently, it should be less than 1000 points, and it'll take about three hours to beat. http://wii.ign.com/articles/866/866531p1.html
Report
15. Olimar_91
15 Apr 2008, 15:17 GMT
Three hours to beat it? Thats not very long... Yet I still am definetly planning on a download for this.
Report
16. sparrow-1993
15 Apr 2008, 16:07 GMT
Looks good but does it realy take three hours to beat it?
Report
17. Jupiter Adept
15 Apr 2008, 20:28 GMT
I hope not... Maybe some DLC levels, perhaps? Also, IGN has some LostWinds videos that are probably on youtbe, they should be on this page.
Report
18. The shoemaker
03 May 2008, 05:20 GMT
Well if it takes 3 hours to beat, then it's probably a platforming adventure. Something like beat your scores and such. No matter what I'm still getting it though.
Report
19. Jupiter Adept
04 May 2008, 14:12 GMT
Unless this is 800 points, I'll have to decide on this or Do Re Mi Fantasy... :_
Report
20. Fireballmario
04 May 2008, 22:05 GMT
This is a gae that I will definately get, It comes out May 12th, this is gonna be my replacement for Pokemon Ranch because I now dislike Pokemon
Report
21. pdrydia
06 May 2008, 21:45 GMT
3 hours sounds perfect to me. I'm inching my way through console games--no matter how good they are, I have a hard time getting comfortable on the couch in a way that also allows me to effectively play the game. I tend toward the DS, because I can take it with me around the house, place it on my stomach when I'm stretched out sideways along the couch, and continue to play even when the cat decides to lay down across my forearm. But as for 3 hours, I could finish a 3 hour game.
I think.
Report
22. Phantom5800
11 May 2008, 03:26 GMT
only 3 hours? That's disappointing for a 1000 point game imo, but I will still get it, I am craving a decent game that doesn't frustrate me to no end like Mario Kart Wii does right now.
Report
23. Objection_Blaster
11 May 2008, 15:41 GMT
Hmm...I too hope for a longer game or at least DLC levels. But this is still a day 1 game.
Report
24. Terranigma
11 May 2008, 22:34 GMT
I've bought a card for the UK Launch, so either this or Dr Mario as i want a couple of others and i have some spare points
Report
25. Bass X0
12 May 2008, 16:31 GMT
why do people still buy cards? my visa electron works just fine on the wii shop.
Report
26. lavs23
12 May 2008, 16:46 GMT
I've been playing this for the past hour and I've got to say it's a lot of fun. It feels like I could beat this game in about 3 hours although I've already got half of the treasure thingies. The controls work well and are fairly intuitive.
Report
27. rkish
12 May 2008, 19:19 GMT
Would anyone recommend this game over Final Fantasy?
Report
28. ouenben
12 May 2008, 19:52 GMT
Not played Final fantasy but I know Lost winds doesn't try to get more money out of you for extra classes etc.
Love it so far, impressions in the Wiiware subforum on VC forums for those interested
Report
29. x.SuperMario.x
12 May 2008, 22:02 GMT
this game is really really good.
congrats Frontier.
Report
30. Drew
12 May 2008, 23:34 GMT
Very easy, yet charming game.
The control system is fun, works well, and additional skills you pick up as you go along are easy to use.
The visual and audio style are impeccable.
I love this game.
Report
31. Objection_Blaster
12 May 2008, 23:43 GMT
Is it worth 1000 pts/230 blocks considering its 3 hrs? Let me know as the result will either make me buy it tomorrow or not.
Report
32. samus2008
13 May 2008, 00:23 GMT
this game is awesome! lol
Report
33. Phantom5800
13 May 2008, 00:39 GMT
awesome game, too bad I had to delete Super Mario 64 to have enough room for the download shakes fist at Nintendo
Report
34. Jupiter Adept
13 May 2008, 01:08 GMT
It's really good. But I haven't played enough to say it's mega-awesome, or to know if it was worth 1000p.
Report
35. agent_lime 13 May 2008, 06:16 GMT
I cant wait to download it, and there has aleready been a sequel announced!
http://www.frontier.co.uk/games/lostwinds/
Report
36. ballkirby1
13 May 2008, 12:50 GMT
I am not going to get this because I heard it's only 3 hours long and there's nothing to do after you beat it. Also my virtual console games took up so much memory if I bought this I wouldn't have room for Dr.Mario and Toki Tori.
Report
37. Kevin
13 May 2008, 13:21 GMT
@Bass xo I don't have a credit card so that's why I buy the cards. Besides I'm trying to hold off as long as possible on getting one. I'm afraid I might go crazy and buy every game off the shop channel or something like that. Lol, not that I would though.
Report
38. Waxxy
13 May 2008, 15:07 GMT
I put some time in playing this last night. I think it's well worth 1000 points, even if it may be a bit short. I've paid $10 for much shorter experiences...
Report
39. dk_xcalibur
13 May 2008, 16:05 GMT
Everyone is saying 3 hours so it would take me around 4 hours since I play games slower then most and that comes out to $2.50 per hour. That's not a bad price. I don't know if I'll download it though. I was mad when I loaded up the shop channel only to find that Dr. Mario was not available yet.
Report
40. Atlantis1982
13 May 2008, 16:35 GMT
And I was right, this IS my first WiiWare title, and one heck of a good purchase.
Report
41. Charco
13 May 2008, 16:41 GMT
This looks very impressive. 3 to 4 hours is a perfect length if you ask me. I get bogged down in 30 hour games most of the time and crave for games like they used to be , quality and not overly long.
Report
42. KnucklesSonic8
13 May 2008, 18:40 GMT
I'm hearing amazing things on this but the fact that it'll only last me 3-4 hours turns me off a bit. I'm big on Replay Value and the alleged "shallow" co-op doesn't bother me.
It looks really great... awesome, even. I hope they increase the longevity with the sequel.
Report
43. Atlantis1982
13 May 2008, 20:08 GMT
Wait, this game has co-op?
Report
44. KnucklesSonic8
13 May 2008, 20:16 GMT
Yeah on the Wii Shop, it indicates that the game is 1-2 Players. Didn't see it?
Anyway, you can have one other person join in and play with you. Basically, think Galaxy "co-op", that's why it's been labelled as "shallow" by IGN but I don't mind. I think it's neat having another person play with you either way.
Report
45. DJ Triforce
13 May 2008, 20:31 GMT
Wow... I didn't notice the co-op feature! I'll have to check it out.
Report
46. KnucklesSonic8
13 May 2008, 20:45 GMT
Oh really?! Heh. I thought it was common knowledge. You must've been so excited to get, you must've missed the "1-2 players" descriptor, plus, it showed two cursors at one point in the Trailer which you may have missed also.
Either way, enjoy. People tend to keep a close-mind with anything similar to Galaxy's "co-op" but hopefully, you can enjoy it. Let me know how it is.
Report
47. Objection_Blaster
13 May 2008, 21:09 GMT
One person plays the Kid,a nd one does th wind spirit, right? THinking about getting this. Pretty, but short. Decent price but there's some tough competition!
Report
48. KnucklesSonic8
13 May 2008, 21:19 GMT
Tough competition indeed! And I'm not sure how the Co-op works. I remember spotting two cursors for the Wind in the Trailer so maybe one person controls and does wind and the secondary person uses Wind to help them also.
Report
49. DJ Triforce
13 May 2008, 21:51 GMT
Well, in the game, you can wave the WiiMote around bushes to collect wind spirits(?). I would assume that the second player would have that ability. Co-op, or not, this game is fun.
On a second note, I enjoyed the co-op option in Super Mario Galaxy. It made the game much easier, and my girlfriend wouldn't complain about wanting to play.
Haha.
Report
50. Clayfrd
13 May 2008, 23:53 GMT
@Bass XO- You have to remember that some people don't have credit cards, like children. Wii Points cards also make it easy for someone to give the gift of Wii Points even if they don't have a Wii.
By the way, I may hold off on this one. I'd prefer Dr. Mario for the points.
Report
51. Dazza
14 May 2008, 09:15 GMT
WiiWare World's LostWinds review is up now!
Report
52. Radretrogamer
14 May 2008, 15:10 GMT
if the 3 hours game length puts you off, let me remind you that most or all metroids can be beaten in 2 hours.
this game is beautifully crafted and worth the 1000 points. it sets the bar high for DL games IMO.
Report
53. DaVeMaN99
14 May 2008, 22:26 GMT
Im not trying to bash the game, but for the metroid games, you have to know where everything is, what to do at every area, and how to beat bosses.
Its not like you can just play any metroid for the first time and beat it in 2 hours.
That been said, i doubt the game is as short as people say, my guess is 4 - 6 hours, and i'l probably play it again.
Report
54. KnucklesSonic8
15 May 2008, 15:06 GMT
It certainly does set the bar high. Tough competition, indeed. And they'll have a lot to live up to for the sequel but I'm not worried. I'm sure they'll rectify the Replay Value.
Report
55. Jona
17 May 2008, 01:52 GMT
this game is sooo fun i skipped school so i cud get this game. its worth the 1000 points but the thing is that it's very very short and very very easy i hope lostwinds 2 will be longer and harder.
Leave A Comment
Please login to post a comment.