Combining the breezy charm and engaging puzzling/platforming formula of the original with a few game-improving tweaks, LostWinds: Winter of Melodias manages to surpass its predecessor with style to spare.

Loved
Waggle the Wind: As with LostWinds, the core gameplay of the sequel involves controlling Enril the Wind Spirit so young protagonist Toku may succeed on his quest. And, once again, Frontier has managed to do what so many other Wii game developers have failed at: Creating truly intuitive WiiRemote motion controls. Toku is still navigated left and right with the Nunchuck's analog stick, while the WiiRemote handles wind and other weather-based trickery. From conjuring simple gusts to elevate Toku, to combining several gestures for more complicated puzzle-solving moves, you always feel in control of the simple swiping moves. Where other-more expensive games-continue to frustrate, Winter of Melodias puts fun first by making good on the hardware's original promise of allowing us to enjoy games in a whole new, innovative way.

Calming and Charming: Not since the PSN's Flower whisked me into its serene settings have I experienced such stunning, soothing visuals. The original game's sun-soaked settings were similarly serene, but the sequel even tops those by adding beautifully rendered wintry environments and effects. From falling flakes to sparkling icicles, the winter wonderland-like atmosphere matches the lush vegetation and bubbling waterfalls of the summer-set areas. Additional touches, such as Toku being realistically refracted when standing behind ice, will make you forget you're not experiencing a full-on retail release. Modest, yet equally engaging music and audio effects complement the strong visual presentation.

Change of Seasons: The addition of ice and snow to Toku's world offers more than just a pretty new paint job; it's also the source of the game's coolest new play mechanics. Early on, you'll use Enril's mastery over Mother Nature to keep Toku warm by lighting heat sources, and later, you'll be able to conjure cyclones to best baddies, blast blocked passages, and solve puzzles. Coolest of all, though, is the ability to actually switch seasons. Going from winter to summer, and vice versa, proves an endlessly engaging mechanic that's needed to crack some of the more complex parts of Toku's quest. Gusting water from a summer lake into a cloud, then raining that same precipitation into a winter void to create a solid, icy path, is just one example of the season-changing fun.

Retaining the endless charm, stunning beauty, and seamless control of the original-while also mixing in some amazing new abilities-this platforming puzzler sequel not only surpasses the original, but is also superior to many retail releases. In fact, if it weren't for LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias' short length (about 4-6 hours), you'd easily forget this one came from the WiiWare channel, and not your local EB Games.

LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias was developed and published by Frontier Developments for WiiWare on October 19th. Retails for 1000 Wii Points. A copy of the game was purchased using WiiPoints provided by Nintendo of America for reviewing purposes. Completed game.

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When it arrives, Winter of the Melodias will allow you, as the game's protagonist Toku, to change the seasons from summer to winter and back, which will be useful for solving different puzzles. According to the preview, excerpted by N-Europe, Toku has other elemental powers too, including generating cyclones. He can swim as well.

LostWinds, by Frontier Developments, arrived in May 2008 to strong critical acclaim and sales. In it, Toku was controlled like a standard adventurer, but with one addition: the Wiimote could be used to draw a path on the screen to provide wind gusts that aided Toku's jumping and battles against enemies.

Winter of the Melodias will also incorporate an in-game map and a hint system, according to the preview.

LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias Confirmed [N-Europe]

"Square Enix is a very successful, development-led organization with a total commitment to quality," said David Braben, Frontier's Chairman and founder. "Frontier shares those same core ideals and we are very pleased to be doing business together. Square Enix's strength in Japan will give LostWinds the chance to shine there, as it has done elsewhere."

Seems like a smart move on Squeenix's part here. LostWinds' quirky gameplay and lovely art style should be right at home in the Asian market. Good for them!

LostWinds Blows into Japan with Square Enix

Partnership brings Frontier's WiiWare hit to Asia

19th November 2008 - Cambridge, UK - Frontier Developments, one of Europe's leading independent game developers, is delighted to announce a partnership with Square Enix to publish Frontier's critically-acclaimed WiiWareTM title LostWindsTM in Japan and Asia.

"Square Enix is a very successful, development-led organization with a total commitment to quality," said David Braben, Frontier's Chairman and founder. "Frontier shares those same core ideals and we are very pleased to be doing business together. Square Enix's strength in Japan will give LostWinds the chance to shine there, as it has done elsewhere."

LostWinds topped the WiiWare charts in both the US and Europe upon launch of the new distribution system in May 2008. The game also gathered a host of high scoring reviews praising its deep, explorative gameplay and beautiful art style.

LostWinds picked up Develop Magazine's 'Best New IP' award in July 2008, a prestigious accolade voted on by Frontier's games industry peers.

LostWinds is an enchanting adventure bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the innovative controller of the WiiTM - it puts "the power of the wind in the palm of your hand".

For more information about the game visit: http://frontier.co.uk/games/lostwinds/

In my mind's eye, I just see the same old 8-bit wireframes only... better, somehow. A bit less blocky would do. They don't even have to have textures or anything, just as long as the gameplay is up to the original I will be happy. Just slap a bit of anti-aliasing on or something and I am there.

Sadly, the odds of Elite 4 being released for the BBC Model B or Commodore 64 are quite slim, but series co-creator David Braben has popped up to tease us with the idea that Elite 4 will be hitting current-gen consoles.

This sounds great, but surely Elite needs about 500 keys to be playable? Matching the complex controls to a game pad is going to be tricky, clumsy or both.

As to the game itself, Braben is staying tight lipped. “Very, very deep and dark,” is all he could reveal - hopefully referring to the gameplay rather than the remaining project plan.

Elite 4: “We are looking at console,” says Braben [Videogaming 247]

Elite 4 technology almost finished, says Braben [Develop]

Click here to REGISTER FOR ADVANCE INFORMATION on Frontier's forthcoming LostWinds sequel containing amazing new gameplay as Toku and Enril's incredible adventure to save Mistralis continues.

Frontier Developments [via Go Nintendo]

Frontier's 'LostWinds' puts 'The Power of the Wind in the Palm of your hand' on Wii.

Leading independent developers announces innovative title available exclusively via WiiWare.

Cambridge, UK. 20th February 2008. David Braben's Frontier Developments ("FrontierTM"), one of the games industry's leading independent developers, today announced its first title for WiiWareTM - LostWindsTM; a high quality, enchanting adventure bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the innovative controller of the Wii™

Built with Frontier's in-house 3D game-engine technology LostWinds puts "the power of the wind in the palm of your hand" as 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 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. The game's novel, playful control mechanism lets you use Enril's elemental powers to help Toku in your quest to overcome Balasar - powering his jumps and glides through Mistralis' different regions, buffeting and smashing enemies, and solving puzzles.

"LostWinds is an innovative game, and an exciting project for many reasons," commented David Braben. "Not least the fact that it's one of the large number of excellent concepts that have arisen through our long running internal forum discussions on game ideas. Frontier is packed full of talented game enthusiasts, and contributing creative ideas and feedback is actively encouraged. WiiWare offers a perfect extra outlet for that creativity, and I hope that LostWinds is the first of many games that will follow this process."

More details on LostWinds can be found at www.frontier.co.uk/games/lostwinds.