TheZeldaPianist's Game Reviews

[TheZeldaPianist275]

XD That's ok.  Feel free to make your own thread if you want.

[Dudeman]

Oh great, now we're gonna have, like, seven review topics. Myself possibly included.

[TheZeldaPianist275]

XD More the merrier, right?  Now nobody will have doubts on what to buy.

[blueflower999]

Also, Dudeman, I'm loving your sig 

[Dudeman]

Also, Dudeman, I'm loving your sig 

That game is so inspirational...*sniff*
[/sarcasm]

[blueflower999]

Come on, TZP, I want another game review! 

[TheZeldaPianist275]

Sorry XD I was going to do it today, but ran out of time.  Expect Pilotwings Resort soon.

[TheZeldaPianist275]

  This took me a while.

Game Review: Pilotwings Resort
System: 3DS
Genre: Simulation
Release Date: 3/27/2011
Developer: Monster Games
Publisher: Nintendo
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone

Pilotwings Resort comes as the third in Nintendo's series of aerial sports, with the prior two being release titles for SNES and N64.  As such, when Resort was released, it had been a solid 15 years before we had seen anything of Pilotwings.  One of Nintendo's sub-sub-series, it's only ever had releases on console launch dates.  This means that expectations are not sky high for Resort.

But I bought it anyway, for 12 bucks off Amazon.  And I got quite a pleasant surprise.

Concepts: 5
Not much to be said here.  Resort is a standard flight-sim game, in which you can either attempt to complete missions with certain objectives, or go out for a spin around Wuhu Island, the game's location.  Hey TZP!  That sounds familiar!  Why yes it does, to anyone who played Wii Sports Resort.  The setting for that game is back, hence the name Pilotwings Resort. Beyond the island, there is the component of different flight styles.  When going out for a spin, you can choose between a plane, rocket belt, or hang glider.  These add a good deal of depth to the game.

Execution: 8
Nintendo has taken some very simple concepts and applied them to one of their launch titles.  One would not expect overly high quality, but it's here.  The designers most definitely hit their mark: everything about this game oozes quality.

Gameplay: 8
Everything you do in Pilotwings Resort, when not navigating a few menus, is taking your preferred flight engine out for a spin around the island.  This in and of itself is fun enough, especially given the different aircraft to choose from (hang glider ftw).  This game really shines, though, in its campaigns.  The missions that it provides you are undeniably well-thought through and creative.  From extinguishing rampant campfires, to having island-wide target practice, to helping make an aerial delivery, to escorting lost UFOs back to their mothership, the missions, which number enough to keep you occupied, are not flawless, but are a wonderful example of a game milked for all it's worth.  Free Flight Mode, while not as excellent as Mission Mode, is still a joy to experience, as you explore the island, sightseeing, grabbing collectables when you see them, and playing absurd little games with yourself, like trying to safely fly through the propellers of a windmill, or perhaps trying clear 200 mph in a hang glider after a huge dive.  In short, Pilotwings is a diverse and enjoyable game as far as the actual play goes.

Controls: 7
You use the circle pad, ABXY buttons, and L and R trigger buttons.  Nothing fancy here, but everything feels natural, and better to keep it simple rather than aim high and miss abysmally.

Physical Difficulty: 7
Here's something you might not expect.  Pilotwings Resort is a genuinely well-rounded, challenging game.  The vehicles, while easy to control, take some time to master, and that's just navigating the island.  The missions are surprisingly difficult, and while unlocking Platinum Class may not take too terribly long, gaining three stars on even the middle-class missions is a trying experience.  If you can get a perfect score on any mission under Gold, let alone Platinum, you are either lying or my hero.

Mental Difficulty: 3
It's a sim game, so there's not a whole lot of strategizing here.  But the game is engaging, at the very least.

Visuals: 6
Not a whole lot stuck out to me.  The graphics, while not weak, are your average release title script.  There are, however, some things that do look quite nice, such as approaching a distant island at sunset, or navigating a dimly lit underwater tunnel.

Music: 5
Each of the aircraft has its own theme, so while the soundtrack numbers under 15 songs, there is regular variation.  Later in the game, you can fly in an altered version of each vehicle: Turbo Jet, Super Rocket Belt, and Pedal Glider.  Each of these takes its original theme and revamps it.  While the music, overall, is no great achievement, I was surprised at how well it worked.  I even caught myself humming some of the tunes, which I NEVER do for any game but Zelda.

Environment: 7
I love everything about Wuhu Island.  It's relaxing in every sense of the term.  You experience most of it through Free Flight Mode, and while in said Mode, you can fly through little "i" rings.  As you approach one, it will display a message about that location.  As a perfectionist, I immediately attempted to find all of them, and that was a blast.  I couldn't believe it when I realized you could actually fly through the caves and tunnels of the island, and not just bounce off an invisible wall Super Mario 64-style.  From the golf course, to the heart of the island's volcano, to the dreaded Sea Serpent's Mouth cave, Wuhu has some legitimately interesting places to explore.

Secrets: 4
Not a whole lot, except for the collectibles available on Free Flight Mode.  But it really is enthralling to explore and find secret passageways, even in a plane.

Multiplayer: 0
There is none.  Sad face.

Plot: 0
There is none.  Sad face.

Depth: 7
Resort has so much depth.  The island just seems alive.  I wish they could have taken it further, like adding more islands for extra replay value, or even adding a more intense campaign mode that involves aerial combat.  But these don't subtract from the game overall.

Replay Value: 7
This is DEFINITELY a title I will be coming back to often, to grab things I missed or just for fun.  Most definitely a world to be drawn back to.

Ultimate Value: 4
Pilotwings Resort doesn't have supreme redeeming value, like some other games I could name, so don't be looking for a life-changing experience here.  But it is definitely time well-spent and an excellent game.

/Objectionable Content

Violence
None.

Sexuality
None.

Profanity
None.

Spirituality
None.

Drug/Alcohol Use
None.

Final Remarks
This game didn't wind up with an extremely high score, so I will just say that while it's not perfect, this is one of my favorite titles on 3DS.  It's better than Star Fox 64 3D.  And oh yeah!  There's a flying squirrel suit!

Conclusion
Don't fool yourself into thinking this is just a simple package Nintendo placed to keep 3DS gamers occupied.  Anyone who does so will be missing out on a genuinely well-balanced and difficult game, one that I would call the gem of the 3DS launch collection.

78/150
52%

[blueflower999]

About time. 

Nice review. I really don't know that much about PilotWings. Maybe for SNES first?

[TheZeldaPianist275]

About time. 

Nice review. I really don't know that much about PilotWings. Maybe for SNES first?

Haven't played it, so I don't know.  But Resort is great.

[blueflower999]

Can I request a review of some Zelda game? I find it odd how you wouldn't start with that!

[TheZeldaPianist275]

XD

Tbh, I was kinda thinking after I finished my playthrough of the series, I'd do a review marathon of all 16 games.  But I just finished the original, so if you want, I'll do that.  Speaking of which, I wanna see a review of Zelda II from you 

[blueflower999]

Why? It's so hard and my save file got deleted... >.>

[TheZeldaPianist275]

Why? It's so hard and my save file got deleted... >.>

I'm starting it.  It IS hard. @___@

[blueflower999]

Don't expect to finish it. I don't want to sound morbid, but this game is rediculous. If you do actually finish it, you'll have to use save states or some other device because the game is unberably difficult.