a90skid.com
  • Shop
  • Reviews
  • Shop
  • Reviews
0
A 90s Kid
  • Shop
  • Reviews

Nostalgia is a huge marketing tool. Hollywood is the worst offender at the moment, but gaming isn’t far behind. Nintendo has cashed in on the same recognizable franchises for decades now, yet ignores Pilotwings.

Kirby, Yoshi and even Bomberman get new games, but a franchise that helped launch both the SNES and N64 has been left behind.

Maybe if Pilotwings had a cute mascot with puppy-dog eyes and a cuddly body it could have stuck around. Pilotwings is missing the iconic personality of a star. Even the gameplay – consisting of multiple mini-games – lacks a singular identity to latch on to. Mario jumps, Kirby sucks, Yoshi swallows, but not even all the Pilots wing.

not as cute as Yoshi

I can justify why Pilotwings hasn’t stuck to the gaming zeitgeist, but there are so many reasons why I wish it would come back.

As much as I hate Wii-motion controls, a Pilotwings collection of games would have been perfect. How about the Wii U tablet as a control panel filled with gauges and fun buttons!

Pilotwings has always been about showcasing game tech. Navigating 16-bit versions of 3D spaces on the SNES felt like a huge leap forward. The N64 version fully realized the 3D dream and felt fantastic. It was important enough to be one of only two launch games for the Ultra 64, alongside plumber boy.

The Music – Please listen to Birdman while reading

Wow, what a track. In an interview with Nintendo Life, Pilotwings 64 composer Dan Hess told the story of creating the smooth funk of ‘Birdman‘.

“I don’t know how many tunes I actually wrote in an attempt to appease Wada-san’s need for a “floaty-fluffy”, but I think 20 would be a conservative estimate.”

“ I would write a few tunes, work them up and present them to Wada-san who would give me some kind of puzzled look, smile and shake his head every time. This grew increasingly frustrating and became my main focus.”

During the crunch period, the team was expanded and moved into lockdown, with full catering to encourage employees to never leave.

Hess moved into the Chief Programmer’s office and often shared ideas.

“One day, I was playing around with various feels and grooves, searching for the Birdman track when a tune began to form in my head and I quickly worked it up…I was slap happy by this time, just creating for the sake of creating. At one point, I threw it up on the speakers for Mike to hear with a smile and we both got a kick out of it. At that very moment, Wada-san happened to be walking down the hall just outside of Mike’s office. He stood in the doorway and listened for a moment, a grin growing on his face and began jumping up and down and flapping his arms!”

Switch please!

Pilotwings Resort was a launch title for the 3DS in 2011, and even re-released as a downloadable eShop item the following year.

I agree it’s an excellent game to have on a handheld system.

Switch

When I buy my Switch for Mario Odyssey, I would really love to grab a new version of Pilotwings alongside it, just like old times.

 

 

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • 3DS
  • n64
  • Nintendo
  • pilotwings
  • retro
  • sne
  • snes
  • Switch
Mathew Falvai

Mathew is a huge fan of Space, Strategy, and Shadowrun (Genesis version is #1). When it comes to games and films, he’d much rather experience a 10/10 classic from yesteryear than a 6/10 modern blandfest. He does feel we’re living in a gaming golden age with the power of indie developers at an all-time high, but wishes AAA publishers would take more risks. Mat believes it’s only a matter of time before the pendulum swings the other way and new ideas take their rightful place above reboots.

You May Also Like
View Post
  • 5 min
  • Opinion
  • PlayStation
  • PlayStation 5
  • Review
  • Xbox Series X

Hogwarts Legacy Review – Wizard’s Creed

  • Matthew Owen
  • March 3, 2023
Scooby Doo Pinball machine flippers
View Post
  • 2 min
  • Industry
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Pinball

First Look at the New Spooky Scooby Doo Pinball Machine

  • Matthew Owen
  • February 10, 2023
SpongeBob Riding a Seahorse
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Opinion
  • PC
  • PlayStation
  • PlayStation 4
  • Review
  • Xbox
  • Xbox One

SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake Review – Back to Bikini Bottom

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 31, 2023
gaming esports
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry
  • Opinion

How competitiveness drives gamers to be better

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
video games VR
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry
  • Opinion

How gamers benefit in various ways from playing video games

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
Video Games
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry
  • Opinion

Why Finding the Right Video Games To Play Is Not Difficult

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
Mario Bros 3 at AGDQ 2023
View Post
  • 4 min
  • AGDQ 2023
  • News
  • Opinion

AGDQ 2023 Speedrun Marathon Ends with $2.6 Million (Day 7 Recap)

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 15, 2023
Kaizo Mario at AGDQ 2023
View Post
  • 4 min
  • AGDQ 2023
  • News
  • Opinion

Metal Gear, Mario Speedruns, and More at AGDQ 2023 (Day 6 Recap)

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 14, 2023
4 comments
  1. Space Janitor says:
    July 18, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    I would love an HD remake of Pilotwings 64 or a true sequel to it. Such a fun fun game to play that I spent countless hours doing. Watching the space shuttle take off and snapping photos in the 64 version was so fun.

    Reply
    1. Mathew Falvai says:
      July 18, 2017 at 11:54 pm

      Agreed, I would be happy with either. A virtual console port is the bottom of the list as the n64 looked a bit blurry but I’d still take it.

      Space shuttle eh? To think I’ve loved the franchise forever but haven’t actually beaten the game and saw that!

      Will have to do a play through on the a90skid YouTube channel

      Reply
  2. Soda Popinski says:
    July 18, 2017 at 11:57 pm

    100% AGREED. Piolotwings DOES NOT get enough love.
    This game was one of the first I got on my SNES back in the day with SMW, Final Fight, and F-Zero. It REALLY showed what the new hardware could do.
    Then again, i also wish they’d give F-Zero the love it deserves….

    Reply
    1. Mathew Falvai says:
      July 19, 2017 at 2:14 am

      Thanks for sharing soda. It was definitely an experience that the 8 bit Era could not produce, a true evolution. Maybe vr is the best place for a true pilotwings sequel that continues the tradition of pushing tech limits

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

A90KID.COM

VIDEO GAMES COMMUNITY & ENTERTAINMENT

A 90s Kid is an active website and media channel, dedicated to providing you information and entertainment related to the video games industry

Navigation
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund and Returns Policy
Recent Articles
  • All about FIFA 2026 – Dates, Hosts, and More March 16, 2023
  • Hogwarts Legacy Review – Wizard’s Creed March 3, 2023
  • First Look at the New Spooky Scooby Doo Pinball Machine February 10, 2023
  • SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake Review – Back to Bikini Bottom January 31, 2023
  • How competitiveness drives gamers to be better January 27, 2023
A 90s Kid
© 2022

Input your search keywords and press Enter.