One of the Nintendo Wii’s biggest criticisms (mostly, it has to be said from core gaming circles) is the fact that the machine plays host to a disproportionate number of casual titles, and that there isn’t enough on offer for gaming veterans. That said, the managing director of Frontier, currently working on LostWinds for WiiWare has rallied the cause of core gamers, promising that LostWinds will offer just what they’re after.
Speaking about the creation of LostWinds to Next-Gen, Frontier managing director Dave Walsh explained that his team are aiming to make a game unique to the Nintendo Wii and WiiWare, and that the project isn’t “cheap.”:
“This isn’t a cheap game – we’re putting our heart and soul into it. You can’t do things cheaply, and we want this to be exceptional,” he explained. “Instead, it’s a game specifically made with Wii, and WiiWare, in mind.
He added:
“When Nintendo approached us about WiiWare, its vision seemed to tally with what we wanted to achieve. We’re bursting with ideas, and people that have Wiis just don’t want another party game. This is the sort of game that I bought my Wii to play – it’s playful and engages with some sort of emotion.
Crafted using Frontier Development’s in-house 3D graphics engine, players utilise the power of Enril the wind spirit, who has the power to control the wind (from the gentlest breeze to raging tornadoes). The objective is to guide and protect Toku, a a young boy who is the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the world of Mistralis by evil Balasar.
Gamers will jump, glide and direct Toku through Mistralis’ numerous regions, smashing enemies and solving puzzles on their way to a victorious end.
It’s refreshing to hear of a developer speaking up for the core Wii crowd, especially to reassure those who believe the console is doomed to fail under a blanket of nasty, casual/shovelware releases.
