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LostWinds
Nintendo Network
Incredible But Incomplete
3.5/5 stars
"LostWinds" was one of the inaugural titles for the WiiWare online distribution platform. At 1000 Wii Points, it helped set the standard for pricing in that market.
Presentation
This is a great looking title featuring 3D polygonal graphics but 2D gameplay (commonly known as 2.5D). The stylings, both graphical and musical, draw heavily from Eastern cultures (I was specifically reminded of Mongolian culture), yet "LostWinds" was created by a Western developer.
Story
The story follows the exploits of a young, fat-headed boy named Toku, who meets up with a long-sealed wind spirit named Enril. Since Enril's seal is gone, she knows that the evil spirit she helped seal away must be free as well. Enril therefore enlists Toku's help in reviving all of her powers and sealing away the evil once again.
Gameplay
The gameplay features a connected "Metroid"-style world instead of discreet levels, with a variety of power-ups scattered throughout. Since Toku can't jump or defend himself, he relies on Enril's ability to control the wind to boost him up and defeat enemies.
Overall
Games like this are solid proof that Western devs can emulate the whimsy and fun of Japanese games when they put their minds to it (which involves getting out of the PC mindset and thinking about genres other than FPS and RTS). Unfortunately, "LostWinds" also demonstrates the fallacy of online platforms for distribution. "LostWinds" is not a game; it is a level. The entire experience lasts a scant 2 hours and culminates in the first (and last) boss battle. Since "LostWinds" originally launched, it has been revealed that it will be an episodic title coming in 4 parts, each costing $10. Why Frontier Developments didn't just finish the game and release the whole thing on a disc baffles me.
Presentation: 5/5
Story: 4/5
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Overall (not an average): 3.5/5
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