As I'm sure you are well aware by now, the first six Wiiware titles were released yesterday. As soon as I got home from work I immediately hopped onto the Shop Channel and bought me some Wiiware goodness. One of which was Lost Winds.

Having only played the game for about an hour, I can tell that this is one of the funnest platformers I've played in a long while. The visuals are cute and fun but surprisingly detailed and the simple story is east to follow but doesn't get in the way of the platforming aspect, which is the heart of this game.

The thing that makes this game stand out really is the amazing attention to detail. When you wave the Wiimote around the screen you can watch the leaves and the flowers and even other people in the background wave in the wind. The whole atmosphere of the game is really amazing and pulls you in from the get-go. Anyone who's played Okami will really feel at home. The vibrant colors, the soft, almost hypnotic, oriental music is expertly pulled off.

But not only is the atmosphere well done, but the gameplay itself is really quite fun. You control the silent hero, Loku, with the Nunchuk and use the Wiimote to control the wind. The puzzles are intriguing and well thought out without getting overly complicated. There were times when it has a very Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon feel to it with the huge, flowing jumps and slow descents. It's really a lot of fun to just explore the world presented and just jump around for awhile.

Overall, Lost Winds is the best $10 game I've ever purchased, bar none. It's intuitive, unique controls really use the Wiimote well and don't feel tacked on. Pair this with the absolutely beautiful visuals and you've got a diamond in the rough when it comes to Wii titles. A must buy.



Roll for Perception!