Pilotwings Resort

Go straight to the game's presentation video.
Already available on the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 (see inset), Pilotwings is now also here on Nintendo 3DS. Pilotwings Resort has been calibrated to highlight 3D effects for quick games on the handheld console.

Content: you quickly exhaust the available missions

At the commands of a plane, a jetpack or a hang glider, Pilotwings Resort presents you with ever more complex missions. Divided across 5 difficulty levels, the 40 or so challenges will occupy you for a few hours.

You have to finish the mission as fast as possible, flying through rings, scoring as many points as possible by bursting balloons, firing on targets or dodging anti-aircraft fire. You also gain points by landing accurately in the centre of a target with the jetpack.


The missions have obviously been calibrated for rapid games, which correspond better to the handheld gaming console. However, you quickly find you've worked your way round in spite of the difficulty of the challenges which require a bit more time. The point of playing is then to get as high a score as possible and collect the 3 stars for the best score at each stage.


To finish things off, a free-flight mode gives you the freedom to work your way round the whole island to uncover all the more or less well hidden bonuses.

Gameplay: who said that flying was complicated?

Perfectly adapted to the new Nintendo 3DS analogue joystick, Pilotwings Resort gives intuitive and very agreeable flight simulation. The sensations you get when controlling the various flying machines are faithful, though of course you can't really say that the game's realistic! But this isn't the aim anyway.


Each vehicle has its particularities and requires its own handling. The plane travels fast, can loop the loop, use a turbo and fire. The glider is lighter and you have to keep it running over a certain speed and at a certain altitude using ascending currents of air. Finally, with the jetpack the main challenge is economising fuel that is only available in limited quantities.

Graphics: successful 3D effect in the Mii universe

Designed to exploit the Nintendo 3DS' 3D capacities, Pilotwings Resort does so very successfully. We found we wanted to reduce the 3D depth a bit - with the regulator on the side of the console - when we had it on exterior view, so as not to have too much of a difference between the action in the foreground and the decor in the background. When on interior view (from the cockpit) however, 3D depth can be increased with no adverse effects.

You then get a better apprehension of distances, which is very useful for landings and bursting balloons when in flight.


When it comes to the graphics, we liked the depth of field view that allows you to see the whole island. Although not extraordinarily beautiful, what you see on screen is pleasant enough and is improved by the 3D effect (without glasses remember!).

You'll also recognise the Mii style universe, indeed you can use your own Mii (introduced on launch of the Wii).

The music fits in well with the game's restful atmosphere. The Nintendo stamp is very much in evidence here.

Pilotwings Resort presentation video