Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo 3DS) Review

Pilotwings Resort feels like it should be part of a larger package, right from the very start. Its name alone infers a link with Wii Sports Resort, and indeed it is closely related in the fact that it shares the same main play area in Wuhu Island, the setting of the MotionPlus Wii sports title, the place that made an appearance in Wii Fit Plus, and the land that Shigeru Miyamoto has stated will become somewhat of a mainstay in future Nintendo releases, becoming almost like an iconic character in itself. Even the graphical style of Pilotwings Resort screams Wii _ range, and is not only reminiscent of the home console best-seller, but almost identical in appearance, right down to the fact that there are no new characters to choose from, with the player controlling their personal Mii throughout.

There are three main forms of aircraft available, a plane, rocket belt and glider, with other variations on the theme opening up as more levels are unlocked, yet they are indeed simply minor modifications on the originals (such as the Pedal Glider with its propellers and energy meter that runs low when pedalling too much, or the rocket-powered Turbo Jet plane). As for modes to keep the entertainment factor high, there is only one primary selection - Mission Mode, where there are five Class levels to choose from, starting with Novice and its six stages, working up to Platinum, which has nine challenges to work through. For each level tackled, players can receive up to three stars for their final rating, all dependent on completing the main objectives (fly through rings, burst balloons, take photographs of certain landmarks - photos that can then be saved to the 3DS hardware), as well as meeting various extra criteria (achieving a smooth landing, finishing within a set time, following the floating guide dots around a stage). Each aspect is handily broken down into separate point totals so players can keep track of where they need to improve.

The missions in Pilotwings Resort are highly enjoyable, yet whilst Monster Games wowed players with its inventive course creations in both Excite Truck and its crazy pseudo-sequel, Excitebots, the small locale of Wuhu Island limits the experience considerably as the whole sense of discovery from the previous two Pilotwings releases is stunted this time round. The island itself also does not seem quite as expansive as in its Wii format due to all events being air-based and preventing some of the scope provided by the land-based tasks of Wii Sports Resort. Another hindrance that prevents this highly polished game from neither living up to its predecessors, nor becoming an essential launch day purchase is the variety of challenges, or more the absence of such.

As mentioned briefly earlier, players are asked to take to the skies and carry out a number of tasks before carefully bringing their craft down onto a landing strip or pad, or to shoot down target boards. Some levels require accurate photographs to be captured whilst flying along a designated path, whilst others ask that floating gold rings are passed through, again as a specific route is navigated. There are a few inventive inclusions, such as using the Rocket Belt to charge your Mii swiftly at large crate-holding balloons to push them in the right direction, or following a car in the bi-plane as it drives along, using crosshairs to aim and shoot the small, different coloured balloons it brandishes as it trundles onwards.

Unfortunately, though, for the most part it is always a case of keeping to a route and landing safely, with the formula growing tiresome after a short time. Thankfully, in this respect, the game is over in barely any time at all, so the repetitiveness does not drag Pilotwings Resort down too much.

It is tough to criticise Pilotwings Resort too much as Monster Games has done a fantastic job of emulating Nintendo’s own style for the Wii _ family of games, and the visuals do really reveal how powerful the Nintendo 3DS hardware is, yet the missions only fleetingly maintain their air of mystery, instead growing repetitive after only a few play-through sessions. Considering how even the more onerous challenges can be overcome with at least a two-star rating in one sitting, and the entire Mission Mode can be completed in a matter of hours, having Pilotwings Resort at full price when launching alongside the 3DS portable console in the US and Europe is disappointing. If priced lower than the rest of the launch line-up, Pilotwings Resort would be far better value for money. However, with some retailers currently selling at the premium rate of £39.99, the three or four hours a player may get in return is a let-down, to say the least.

The opportunity to play in the time-constricted ‘Free Flight’ mode, where stunts can be carried out at numerous locations, key areas of the island can be uncovered and logged, plus large globes must be hit, should not conjure up thoughts of flying around endlessly, soaking up the ambience of Wuhu Island. Why? Well, ‘Free Flight’ actually has a two-minute long timer to prevent players from totally relaxing and absorbing the extent of Wuhu Island. The reason being is that there are 75 ‘Locations’ to tag around the island, as well as 120 silver ‘Balloons’ to pop and 60 ‘Stunt Rings’ to pass through (tilting left and right, as required, or barrel-rolling), and if a time constraint was not in place, the developers only hope of really extending the lifespan of Pilotwings Resort would have gone to waste. Instead players must repeatedly go through the two-minute process if they wish to account for every item around Wuhu Island (the reward for doing so being dioramas of aircraft and island monuments - like the statues in Smash Bros.), something that is not terribly appealing, but also does not take very long to finish off anyway.

Basically, with the dearth of extra content, the nonexistence of online leader boards or multiplayer modes, in addition to the total deficiency in StreetPass or SpotPass-related connectivity, all that owners of Pilotwings Resort can rely on for longevity is the chance to go back and play each of the forty stages (that each last no more than around three or four minutes) over and over until first of all the three-star ratings are obtained, before attempting to then achieve a totally perfect score (the three gold stars will become outlined in red). Either that or take plenty of in-game photographs and share them with friends and family via the SD card.

Monster Games had the same issue with Excite Truck at the launch of the Wii back at the end of 2006, delivering what was essential a ‘Grade A’ product, yet in the end it was stripped of the highest accolades due to the length being unacceptable for the price-point and little-to-no reason for replaying the off-road, motion-controlled racer (there are no motion controls in Pilotwings Resort, for the record). With any luck, the graphical style and way this is being advertised will encourage the ‘casual’ crowd to approach Pilotwings Resort in their droves, giving Nintendo the push it needs to prevent the Pilotwings brand from going back into hibernation until the next system launch.