LostWinds (PC) (2016)

Overview: A casual platformer where the player uses wind (mouse on PC) as an integral part of the platforming and puzzle-solving.

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Use wind to reach higher ground.

20190902:
Looking to break even on my purchase of the Yogscast Jingle Jam 2017 bundle, today I decided to play LostWinds. While I was having fun with the game, I reached a point where the game unexpectedly crashed.

Setup: Keyboard and mouse.

Steam Game Time: 38 minutes

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20190903:
Despite the game crashing yesterday, I loaded it up again today and thankfully there was a save point not too far from where the game crash. Essentially no progress was lost.

Late game ability to soar up into the air.

Gameplay Log:
Trying to find the second chest and was stuck. Didn't seem like it was located in the Old Mines as was told.
I looked up a walkthrough and apparently I missed soil where a seed was supposed to be planted. With that being said, the area in question was not named "Old Mines."
Tip: the glorbs that spawn from a pool, they can be destroyed by using fire on the pool and then pulling out the black stick
I realized the above tip during the final fight against Magmok. Prior to that, I didn't know that those pool glorbs could be destroyed. It made the boss fight frustrating. But I figured since it was the end of the game, I would try to figure it out on my own. Somehow I figured it out.

Steam Game Time: 3.1 hours

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Use wind to guide fire.

Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Soothing music and great sound
+ Game mechanic is unique (e.g., use of wind to jump)
+ Game ensures player knows how to use new abilities; at least most of the time
+ Nice art

Neutral:
~ Limited map
~ Alt-tabbing does not sit well with the game
~ What's Toku's incentive to help Enril?

"Defeated" Magmok.

Minor Con:
- Game crashed on me
- Some of the achievements didn't register.
- The main menu is non-traditional and difficult to use

Con:
- Controls sometimes feel difficult to use; lack finesse; that is, the controls feel clunky
- Not the best puzzle mechanics; sometimes repetitive
- Some areas where the game requires the player to repeat puzzles (upon returning to the area); in most areas the game remembers the area state when the player has left
- A boss fight at the end of the game which was uncharacteristic of the game.

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Toku sleeps until Enril the wind spirit wakes him.

Summary:
Although the game had it's flaws, it was short and good enough that I was able to finish it. While I don't think the game is good enough to outright recommend, I would recommend it to those who own it.

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LostWinds (PC) (2016)

Relevant Links:
LostWinds (Wikipedia.org)
LostWinds (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
LostWinds (Steam Store Page)