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System:
Nintendo 64
Genre:
Flight Simulator
Publisher:
Nintendo
Developer:
Paradigm Entertainment
Players:
1
Release date/year:
08/31/1996
Other systems:
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- Pilot Wings 64
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1996 Paradigm Entertainment - Nintendo - N64
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Pilotwings was one of my favorite games for the Super Nintendo, now we come to the port to the N64. Supposedly this is the next generation of flying games. Personally, I thought this game wasn’t very innovative. Most ideas were taken from the Super Nintendo version. The only thing really different in this, is the graphics, and maybe some added features put in for the advance in RAM on the N64. I liked this game, mostly because I liked the last 16 bit version, but here’s what I thought:
- {~~Main Scores~~}
Breakdown
Gameplay -9
Sound -7
Graphics -9
Originality -6
Control -7
Enjoyability -8
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Gameplay
There is nothing on the market quite like Pilotwings 64. A mix of arcade style and truly exhilarating flight simulation elements makes a fun game in the gameplay department. The game is basically a flying game, but a different kind of flying game. Instead of flying to kill, or escape, you are flying to refine your skills as a pilot. You first impression is of boredom, mostly because the first levels are so easy you could laugh. But they are designed to help you get a handle on all the different parts and features of the game and each of the crafts. But fear not, you can rest assured that after the first levels the missions become a lot more challenging. That is due to the fact that the game, at the core, is a complex flying game. Varying differently between each aircraft and suprisingly difficult in the later levels, at least compared to the first levels. The game has its strange parts, but you are also given a choice of many different pilots, each person has his/her own special characteristics. But even still, when you look past these choices you see a diversity in the game’s deceptively uncomplicated core. And that’s what this game is, a very simple game, hidden under a shell of difficult choices and missions. I thought this game was done well in this department. Score: 9
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Sound
The sound in this game is.. well.. I little off. It sounds like it’s being muffled. Some parts of the sound were pretty enjoyable. For example, the blowing wind as you fly sounded very real, and added to the enjoyment. But then you get the sounds that ruin the game. For example, the engine can sometimes sound like its a wailing dog in great pain, and then, out of nowhere it will roar like a lion, I thought this kind of sudden, extreme change in the sound was a bad idea. The background music was fairly nice. After a while it will become a little annoying though. A high pitched repetitive tune blasting into my head for the whole mission, that is how I would describe the sound. Strange because 10 minutes before that I would describe the sound as a stunning orchestra of musical pieces. That kind of change really ruined me on the sound. I would, unfortunately, have to give this a score of 7.
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Graphics
The graphics in this game were quite stunning. As is the idea of the Pilotwings series, this one pushes the limits of the platform. All three of the flying islands were done differently and done well. All the islands were fully 3D and immersive. They were filled with the greatest of detail, even showing the little cracks in the leaves on trees and the patches of brown in the grass. The planes in this one were done well also, you could see the people flying them and the little details on the frame. I know I rant about detail a lot, but I think it’s one of the most important things in a game’s graphics, and this game had lots. Score: 9
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Originality
This is what I didn’t like about the game, it wasn’t original. Most or all the missions and characters were carried over from the Super Nintendo version. Of course, it was a sequel and not all things were the same. For example there is many new missions, like this enjoyable rocket pack level in which you run into a ring in the air, which splits into more rings and again, and again, until you fly through all the rings, and on top of all that there is a time limit. That’s certainly a new type of level and shows the innovation in this game that kept it from bombing in this department. Score: 6
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Control
This is a category I only put into flying and racing games because of how important it is. The makers of this one realized that is important and did quite a good job on it. The plane flew quite well, but because it was a plane, and they wanted this game to be realistic, the turns aren’t exactly butcher knife sharp. In the name of realism though, I’ll bare with it. The other crafts were pretty much the same way, although the rocket pack wasn’t as bad because you can stop propelling and do a full rotation with ease. Final score: 7
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Enjoyability
Here we come to the section in the review where I comment on how much fun the game was or how much I hated it. Well, In this game’s case, I think I’ll comment on how I loved this one. All the parts of this game came together to make a fun romp of a gaming experience. That is, of course, not factoring in the originality, which, as I said above, I did not enjoy. But even with that this game is still quite enjoyable because the game from which many features were taken was a fantastic game. Score: 8
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{~~Other Important Things~~}
Breakdown
Replay Value -5
Challenge -7
Learning Curve -1 hour
Longevity -1 month at most
Buy or Rent -Preference
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Replay Value
The replay value in this game is not very high at all. By the time you finish this game you will know all the missions well and you probably wont want to play it again. Value: 5
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Challenge
This game may not seem challenging at first. But that is only because the first 4 missions are meant to teach you all the features of each craft. Once you move past them, the game will expect you to know how to fly already and will start to make the missions steadily harder, until the final missions, which are very difficult. Challenge: 7
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Learning Curve
This game wont take you long to learn because, as I’ve said above, the first missions are designed to teach you the game.
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Longevity
You will love this game at first, but soon after that, you wont like it as much. You will want to beat it, so it will last you about 3 weeks, depending on how much you play. But after you beat it, you wont want to play it as much for quite a while. 1 Month tops for this one.
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Buy or Rent?
In this one I can’t gave a definite answer. In the end it’s your preference. If you like flying sims you may want to buy it, if not rent.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable game, for the time it lasted anyway. Whether you buy it or rent it, I suggest you give it a try.
7/10
//Seifer psx
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