Lost Wing is an interesting game. A mix of autorunner, rhythm game and shoot em up, I was not sure what to expect when I first played the game, and to be honest I am still not sure what to think. The game sees you moving forward constantly and with increasing speed, and you must avoid obstacles. In addition, you can also jump into the air and roll off the walls and attack to destroy some obstacles. The most interesting part though is how you can slow down time for a while. in order to both get a sense of your surroundings and make your move without as much risk .
The game has a twist though that will ensure you do not abuse the ability to slow down time. When you use the slow down ability, you will drain your charge meter, which is also needed to fire your weapons at obstacles. To regain your charge, you must accelerate through the various tunnels and collect items to increase your meter. The game thus involves a lot of strategy in order to get further, and going in guns blazing will only result in a quick death for yourself. You need to plan your moves carefully and use your resources well, or you will find yourself on the losing end over and over again.
As you get further and further along, the more skilled you will get and eventually you will come across boss fights. These can be challenging but a big part of the challenge is making sure you maintained everything properly and have a good grasp of your meter. Something else to keep in mind though is that the game throws what they call anomalies at you. This will cause effects like flipping the screen and must always be prepared for, since in some ways Lost Wing is simply not playing fair. I did not encounter an anomaly in a boss fight but it did throw off my planning and strategy for the fight immensely.
The game is gorgeous with both minimalist and fully realized stages, and the graphics show off both beautifully. The game runs well and I encountered no real issues in the technical department, it was just that the game made some very odd choices that threw me off. This is not to say that Lost Wing is bad, but you need to realize what the game is when you start playing or you will have a hard time at the beginning. Things become more clear in how they work as the game goes on, but there is a learning curve present.
Overall, I cautiously recommend Lost Wing, as it is not a bad game but takes some getting used to.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Reviewed on NIntendo Switch. The game is also available on PS4, Xbox, PC and Mac
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