The protagonist of LostWinds is a young boy named Toku, and the player assumes control of him as he embarks on a journey to rescue his homeland, Mistralis, from the clutches of an evil spirit named Balasar. Toku needs to track down the various pieces of the benevolent wind spirit Enril to regain her original power level.
The game takes inspiration from traditional platform games in that it has Toku navigating vertical labyrinths while viewing the environment from the side. Toku, on the other hand, is unable to jump. Instead, the player directs Enril’s movements using the Wii remote, nudging Toku in the right direction so that he can traverse an opening or ascend to a higher ledge. It is necessary to combat foes by employing wind, for instance, by directing a brief vertical burst of wind directly on top of them. As the player progresses through the game, they will acquire access to more powerful moves that will assist them in solving the different puzzles scattered over Mistralis. For instance, the player must light torches by blowing a gust of wind across them, which causes the flames to shoot in the direction corresponding to the player’s hand gesture.
When depleted, Toku has a health bar that can be restored by consuming fruits. In LostWinds, the player will occasionally come across a unique stone statue that, when interacted with, will allow them to save their progress.
