LostWinds is a unique 2D platforming adventure game available on the WiiWare platform (the Wii’s downloadable service), developed by Frontier Developments and released in 2008.

Players control Toku, a young boy who stumbles upon a piece of the Win Spirit, Enril. The two of them decide to work together to defeat the Sun and Moon God Balsaar, an evil being that wants to rule over the world of Mistralis, where the story takes place.

Players can use the control stick to move Toku left or right, but the bulk of player interaction is through the Wii remote’s pointing abilities. Players draw lines on the screen to create gusts of wind. This basic mechanic opens up a whole new realm of gameplay possibilities. Players will blow Toku across gaps and over cliffs, draw fire and water from one point to another and manipulate enemies and objects freely.

LostWinds’ biggest strength is in developer creativity. The wind-drawing mechanic is a totally original approach to the Wii’s unique controls, and it does wonders in a 2D game like this one. Manipulating Toku into the air can be a little frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it it’s nothing short of delightful. The world of Mistralis stands out graphically, too: it’s is a very simple place, filled mostly with green fields, stone caverns and beautiful trees, and this style gives LostWinds a friendly, charming feel. The game also is impressive in terms of problem solving. The challenges it provides don’t tend to be somewhat elementary, but at the same time that are a joy to figure out. Most puzzles involve lighting torches and pressing down switches – standard videogame fare, really – but doing so by manipulating the wind makes everything seem fresh and satisfying.

LostWinds is light on classroom facts. A few basic concepts are presented that could offer something particularly to younger players – players must plant seeds in soft ground and then water them in order to make them grow, for example – but there’s really only a small amount of information here.

By the Gamer:

LostWinds features a world that is wide-open, if a little bit small. It doesn’t take too long to collect every ability that the game is going to give you, and from then on players can explore any part of the world freely. It’s around this point that players are charged with their main tasks – finding a small set of treasure chests hidden throughout the area – and while they can choose to carry out these missions in any order, their small number keeps the game mostly linear. In a game where the player’s only freedom is really how they choose to move around, such a small world ends up feeling just a bit constricting.

By the Developer:

LostWinds is an immediately striking videogame. The first image the player is presented with is one of a small boy sleeping under a deliciously rendered tree sporting hundreds of pink leaves against a blue sky, and as the player aims the Wii remote at the screen the grass and leaves begin to rustle gently. The game’s aesthetic feels more like a fairytale than anything else. Using the remote to draw lines of wind – LostWinds’ primary mechanic – is one of those clever things that makes you wonder why nobody else has come up with it yet. As short as the game is, its gorgeous visuals and really refreshing mechanics make it a truly worthwhile experience. It’s just all very nice.

LostWinds does not feature business skills.

Toku encounters a handful of villagers on his adventure, and many of them will interact with him in one way or another. This is a very small portion of the game, though, and the player has no control over this portion at all.

LostWinds offers a cooperative mode that allows a second player to use a second remote to aid the player in creating wind. This feature lends itself fantastically to children that need help or simply want to play with their parents – or vice versa!

Problems in LostWinds involve using the wind to manipulate various objects to solve puzzles. Early on the only challenges involve blowing Toku into the air, onto platforms or over gaps. Eventually things get more complicated, but never out of hand. Players will learn to use the wind to manipulate flames or bounce boulders up onto switches. The sections near the end of the game involve getting these golden spheres over to certain doors in order to unlock them. Players will have maneuver Toku and these spheres through various challenges before reaching their goals. These challenges get more clever as the game goes on, but will remain relatively easy to seasoned players throughout.

LostWinds’ level of difficulty ensures that it is a child-friendly game, while its sheer originality will make it an enjoyable experience for more experienced players.

LostWinds is not a simulation game.

LostWinds has been received favorably since its release, receiving much praise for its innovative control style and visual charm alongside a few criticisms for its low level of challenge and short length.

LostWinds offers a cooperative mode that allows a second player to use a second remote to aid the player in creating wind. This feature lends itself fantastically to children that need help or simply want to play with their parents – or vice versa!

LostWinds received an E from the ESRB with a descriptor for Mild Fantasy Violence.