Pilotwings

"A dream game for a kid who wishes to be a pilot when he's older"

Pilotwings was a launch title along with Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System released back in 1991. The game is obviously a flight simulator. It's the dream game for me. I'm 14-years-old and I want to be a pilot when I'm older. It's just fun for people who are into Aviation, however, I'm sure there's other kinds of people who are into it too.

The game uses Mode 7 effects. Mode 7 can make a lot of things possible on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It can make the 2-D sprites look somewhat 3-D, lessening the quality of the graphics, however. The graphics really are nothing to complain about, the images and surroundings look more than decent.

You are at the control of a student pilot(with no name), and you have a set of flight instructors and areas to train to be certified as a pilot. The further you get in the game, the better the pilots liscense you get. You start off flying a biplane. Your job is to land it. It's not that hard with some practice, you just gotta get a good angle and land it accurately. Once it touches down, you will get a points grade. You need a certain amount of points to advance and get the liscense of the flight area.

Then there's skydiving. This is a little harder. Usually you are required to go through a set of rings and then land it in the correct area. There's bonus stages for landing it somewhere specific. Next is the rocketbelt. This is my personal favorite. You get a jet-pack and have to go through some rings, and then land. Not that hard.

Now comes the hang glider. This is my least favorite. You have to follow a thermal current, complete a task(usually involving a ring), and then land, which can be tricky. You'll have to practice. Afterwards, your flight instructors gets kidnapped, and you have to use a rescue military helicopter to rescue them. The stage is no cakewalk.

And then you go into expert mode, which is harder versions of your previous flight areas, with harsh weather. Complete them and you have to play another helicopter mission. Practice and you'll beat the game and get your final pilots liscense!

As for the music and catch effects, they're catchy. Replay value might now be that high because of new pilotwings games, such as the N64 sequel(which isn't as good). Nintendo did a good job with this one, and they should make one on the Wii.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/30/09

Game Release: Pilotwings (US, 08/13/91)