Geekscape Games Reviews Pilotwings Resort

With so many titles under Nintendo’s huge plumber belt, some of its franchises are bound to get lost in the shuffle. One such title is Pilotwings, a type of flight sim title that debut on the SNES and was one of the first to use the system’s 3D graphic technology. Years later, Pilotwings 64 launched with the Nintendo 64, but was completely overshadowed by some other game… what was it called? Oh yeah, Super Mario 64. So it was a welcomed surprise that Pilotwings Resort would revive the forgotten series while infusing it with the familiar Mii style from the Wii Sports titles as the marquee game for the 3DS, but can it carry the same success?

 

Pilotwings is kind of its own beast. Part flight sim, part arcade style score attack, players can take their created Mii’s and choose between challenges using a sea plane, jet pack or hang glider. Each mission has a set of goals such as taking pictures of landmarks across Wuhu island, (the setting where Wii Sports and Wii Fit takes place,) and shooting down targets in a set amount of time. The aim here is to get the highest score possible, so everything from your landings to your time are judged before you can move on to the higher classes. It’s an addictive cycle that keeps you trying to better your score, which doesn’t take too long since the game isn’t particularly difficult.

 

 

 

 

Now the previous Pilotwings games are somewhat notorious for their brutal difficulty, but Resort seems to borrow from its Mii inspirations. Crashing in the past meant an automatic game over. That’s it, it’s over you’re done, try again. Resort gives you a small point penalty that’s pretty easy to overcome. With the loss of the frustration comes a loss of difficulty, so it’s much easier to breeze through this time. Rewards for achieving perfect scores give incentive to keep trying for that 100%, but the real draw comes from free flight mode.

 

Using any one of the vehicles you unlock in mission mode can be used in free flight mode. Free flight gives you three minutes to explore the island and seek out hidden locations, items and stunt rings. Finding collectables unlocks goodies for the game such as dioramas to admire, so it will at least provide a small distraction in between some of the stricter missions, but it’s nothing too different from the main game. We should have at least be able to shoot a couple of missiles at wherever Wii Music takes place. You know… in case it tries to come back.

 

 

 

 

To its credit, Resort does have more variety in the type of missions for each vehicle than in the past games, but one thing that it does lack in is vehicle types. After so long, I would expect to have new vehicles besides the the three that have already appeared. What’s most disappointing though, is that sky diving is completely absent. Sure, there’s a new squirrel suit that plays in a similar way, but it’s hardly used and is treated as an extension of the jet pack. And no, there aren’t any kind of twists that keep the game going like the island getting taken over by terrorists, (seriously, this happens half way through the first Pilotwings,) once free flight and mission modes are completed, that’s all there is to it.

 

 

 

 

Despite the lack of vehicle variety, Pilotwings Resort excels in nearly every other area. Exploring the island rewards players with a colorful landscape that is enhanced by the 3D visuals, (that are way too strong with the slider turned all the way up. Half intensity is perfect, unless you want to willingly go blind.) The music is catchy and fits the laid back atmosphere of the island. The biggest issue holding the game back is whether or not you’ll stick around to see everything it has to offer. The game play is addicting and is great for a portable where you can pick up and play a few games, but it wears thin if you sit down and dedicate a few hours at a time. Pilotwings is great for the would-be pilot looking for an escape, but if you’re looking for a meaty vacation, you won’t get too much milage out of this resort.