Nintendo has built themselves a new bit of 3D tech and in keeping with tradition, that means we get another entry in the Pilotwings franchise to help us test it out. Originally debuting on the SNES, the first Pilotwings was largely a showcase for the system's Mode 7 effects, returning years later as one of the sparse launch titles for the N64 to teach us how to use the analog stick. Nintendo's latest offering in the series, Pilotwings Resort once again gives us a set of airborne ring courses to help us get used to Nintendo's latest innovation; stereoscopic 3D.
I've been a little surprised with the reviews I've read of this game to be perfectly honest. They largely complain about the game's rather short length and tendency to require you to perform absolutely flawlessly to get a perfect score. In short, they largely describe Pilotwings. It has always been a series that demands a certain amount of perfection, though if all you wish to do is clear every test once, the game is far more lenient. While I have yet to completely finish the game, perhaps the one feature I miss from its predecessor is the human cannonball challenge. Nevertheless, this game is still Pilotwings at its core, with several fun, inventive challenges to help you put your new system through the paces. You'll get a chance to pilot planes, hang gliders, and the every popular rocket pack, though every once in a while they throw you a bit of a curve via a more specialized vehicle.
Unfortunately, as a test of the system's 3D capabilities, I find it rather distracting and discouraging. One of the tricks to the 3DS is that you have to find the sweet spot to properly see the 3D effects. There are several good screens in the game with solid, colorful objects to help you adjust, but the game doesn't allow you to hold this calibration into gameplay. Before starting a challenge, you'll have to select a test from the bottom screen and when you look back up, you'll find an odd, transparent text box that makes it extremely difficult to tell if you're still in the sweet spot. Hopefully as the system matures, developers can find ways to help players find the proper viewing angle, but sadly, I'm finding I'm enjoying the game more with the 3D switched off.
That said, the game is doing a great job letting me toy with the system's analog pad. As a game built upon small, steady movements, it really lets you see how wonderfully the analog works. After years of disappointment with the PSP nub and the attempts at virtual analog on the DS and iPhone, playing a portable with nearly flawless analog controls is simply wonderful. Nintendo has certainly set the bar for portable controls as far as I'm concerned, and Pilotwings Resort is a terrific means of trying them out.
Overall, Pilotwings Resort shares much in common with its fore bearers. It's a bit of a tech demo among a rather anemic launch lineup. It's probably not enough to keep you busy until the next wave of games hits the system, but its a lot of fun while it lasts. Players looking to kick the tires of their new system can certainly do worse than spending a few hours soaring leisurely above Wuhu Island, while those looking for more of a challenge can spend hours going for a perfect run. While it may not be the killer app for the 3DS, it's certainly a solid game, well worth using to break in Nintendo's shiny new handheld.
No comments:
Post a Comment