I've had my Nintendo 3DS with Pilotwings Resort for a few weeks, now, so I thought I would finally get around to writing a review of the game. Following the review are a few images from the game. Some of the images contain links to their 3D versions for browsers that support the MPO file format.

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The Pilotwings series has always been a great showcase of capabilities for new Nintendo platforms at their launches. Pilotwings Resort is no exception. It makes heavy use of 3D to produce visuals with depth very far into the screen (the landscapes) and slightly out of the screen (the avatar and the heads-up display), using Wuhu Island from Wii Sports Resort. Some craft additionally allow taking of in-game snapshots to both MPO (3D) and JPEG (2D) images, saved to SD card. The slider pad serves as the analog controls for each aircraft with the D-pad allowing additional camera adjustments. The touchscreen is available for menus and map zooming, but it is not necessary. Graphical quality would be tough to compare to a console due to the lower resolution and the dual screens, but it would probably be on-par with the GameCube and well beyond the PlayStation 2. Pilotwings Resort employs many of the graphical effects built into the hardware of the Nintendo 3DS. I've noticed what appears to be multi-pass texturing, high dynamic range lighting, bloom lighting, and various environmental mapping - although specifics to the graphics chip are unknown. The draw distance is vast for the landscape, which seems to gracefully lessen the detail when needed. Many of the melodies are carried from earlier games in the series. It's sort of jazzy elevator music. There are a few memorable tunes with nothing too overbearing because of the purpose of residing in the background. For that reason, you can turn off the music and not really miss it too much.

As with previous games in the Pilotwings series, the goal is to earn the wings by passing flight tests in the Mission Flight Mode with several aircraft. A few of the aircraft from previous games have been removed and replaced by others. Gone are the parachute and the biplane to be replaced with more water-oriented craft to fit with the island locale. At the start of the game, there are three vehicles: a propeller seaplane, a rocket belt, and a hang glider. Several other aircraft are unlockable soon into play. Missions are grouped into levels that must be completed before moving onward. It takes an average of 2 of 3 stars per missions to do so. For completionists, there are two rankings beyond 3 of 3 stars: perfect and better than perfect, the latter being unlocked with a perfect score for bonus points. Progression of levels steps through Training, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. By earning 3 of 3 stars or a perfect, the titles for each level assume an icon indicating that status.

Pilotwings Resort lacks the helicopter combat bonus levels of the Super NES version, but it does retain the free flight mode of the Nintendo 64. What seems out-of-place at first is the timer that can cut short flights, but collecting items and locating points-of-interest around the island greatly expand the time and also unlock several Dioramas, similar to the trophies in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Overall, Pilotwings Resort is an enjoyable experience, but some levels may get tedious at times in that quest for a perfect score, and the single Wuhu Island location makes the scenery short on content - even though the island is vast. Many of the missions are very similar, so originality runs out fast. Free flight item collecting adds depth to the game, but the points-of-interest (as well as the island itself) come right from Wii Sports Resort. Still, there are several hundred additional items to collect. Spending the money on Pilotwings Resort really comes to preference, as with any game, because some may see it as too short to warrant the costs. Others may see it as justifiable for the sheer enjoyment of flying around a colorful and vast virtual world in glasses-free 3D. whatever the case, this game is a solid launch title for the new Nintendo platform, following in the footsteps of its predecessors.

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3D Version


3D Version