A wingman is important. Just ask Chuck Yeager, that dude at the bar last night, and Nintendo. The House Mario Built loves to, ahem, launch new technology with “Pilotwings” in the cockpit, from the original for the Super Nintendo an astounding 20 years ago, to “Pilotwings 64” as an alternative to winged-hat Mario, to today’s “Pilotwings Resort” on the company’s amazing 3-D-without-glasses 3DS. More than just a revisiting of Nintendo’s eminently accessible flight simulator, “Pilotwings Resort” is an extremely clever choice as a showcase of what the 3DS can do. Re-creating Wuhu Island, the tropical paradise of “Wii Sports Resort,” “Pilotwings Resort” makes you wonder how they fit a Wii inside a hand-held gaming system. And the constantly changing scenery inherent in a flight game is a perfect match for the 3-D effects — it never gets old to soar way above the island, move the 3-D slider to its maximum level, and feel your eyes adjust to looking at something in the far distance.
It also helps that the game is great fun. Letting you pilot a plane, hang glider or jetpack, “Resort” is divided into two main play styles, making it a good choice whether you want your nerves relaxed or racked. Mission mode, in which you’re tasked with things like stunts, shooting balloons and landing smoothly, will push your skills to the limit, while a free-play mode just lets you swoop around the volcanic archipelago (including a distant island with three golf courses) to your heart’s content.
“Resort” packs tons of unlockables, from additional aircraft to a giant — well, you’ll see — so there’s always a clear goal. But the game still feels slightly short. Hard-core completionists could easily spend 30 hours going for perfect scores on all the missions, but average “Resort” players will unlock everything they have a hope of seeing in 10 hours, which is a bit skimpy for 40 bucks. You’re left wanting more, but it’s a testament to the game’s beauty of setting and elegance of play that you’re left wanting more so keenly.
| ‘Pilotwings Resort’ |
| » System: 3DS |
| » Price: $39.99 |
| » Rating: 4 out of 5 stars |
