Nintendo has updated the Nintendo Switch Online app with a brand-new classic gem, Pilotwings 64.
It’s the second-entry in the Pilotwings series and the very first to be in 3D. That said, the new (at the time) 3D tech provided a big shake-up to the series’ formula, all thanks to having an entirely new axis.
The various flying activities featured in the game were expanded upon greatly in terms of scope and complexity, offering a more “realistic”, but still very cartoony take on flight mechanics. Pilotwings 64 offers players the chance to strap into harnesses of three different kinds of aircraft (Hang Glider, Rocket Belt, and Gyrocopter), all in an effort to pass each test with flying colors (pun intended).
There are various different pilots to choose from, each with different stats that affect the gameplay. Each challenge will test your flight abilities, from trying to beat the clock, to passing through rings, to landing precisely on a bullseye.
But, despite its emphasis on precision and realism, Pilotwings 64 is by no means anywhere on the same level as something like Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its zany trailer shows off the absurdity of its design, from the wacky visuals to very odd tasks.
As this is a Nintendo 64 title, this will require you to have the slightly more expensive Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership tier, rather than just a regular NSO membership. The Expansion Pack offers additional perks like access to Nintendo 64 titles, among various others.
Keep in mind that access to the Expansion Pack will run you $49.99 USD for one-year access. It’s not available in monthly bundles like the regular membership.
That said, games like Pilotwings 64 do offer hours of enjoyment, and thanks to the save state feature of the NSO emulator, you’ll be able to more easily retry events and have a little less frustration compared to the original version of the game.
Pilotwings 64 joins another obscure title from Nintendo’s history as part of the current Nintendo Switch Online lineup. That title is none other than Wave Race 64, which sailed its way onto the service back in August. These titles were fairly popular back in the day, but they’re only “obscure” now since Nintendo hasn’t done much with either of them in quite some time. Each of these series have only one post-N64 entry. Wave Race: Blue Storm came to the Gamecube in 2001, and Pilotwings Resort came to the Nintendo 3DS as a launch title for the handheld ten years later in 2011.
Both of these follow-ups released to moderate fanfare, being seen as great entries. Yet, neither apparently seemed well enough for Nintendo seriously keep considering running with either series. Thus, it’s nice that, like Wave Race, Pilotwings is getting some love in the modern day.
There’s absolutely no telling if Nintendo has plans to seriously revisit this as a fully modern new entry on Switch, but at least its favored classic iteration can potentially create some newer, younger fans.
