Pilot Wings for the SNES and N64 was a classic franchise that is still yet to be re-made for the current crop of Nintendo consoles. Well while we wait for that day to come. GameResort LLC may have the answer with their newly released game ‘Biplane‘: wings of Raccoon.
You play as Caption Raccoon in his little red Biplane patrolling the skies of Victory Island from pirates. There are two modes availble from the main menu, Arcade and Race. In Arcade mode you must survive wave after wave of pirates as they attack your beloved island retreat. Destroy the enemy vessels with your nose mounted machine gun and pick up and drop off their cargo for bonus points. In race mode it really feels like pilot wings, you must complete 9 race tracks requiring you to pass through ring checkpoints along the route as quickly as possible.
We’ve has sometime with the game and it’s a fun little game. The graphics are less detailed than some might expect from the iPhone, but it runs smoothly which is important in a flying game. Coupled with the feel good music and it plays just like a Nintendo game from the N64 era, which in this case is a good thing.
Controls are tilt based for flight, with just two buttons for firing the gun and giving you a speed boost. The throttle is automatic. The Biplane controls nicely and is pretty forgiving, there is a large turning circle though, so if you miss a checkpoint or an item to pick up, you can’t flick the plane round quickly like a modern fighter. Instead having to fly off a little way first and then turn back. It’s not a high octane action and speed fest, it’s more of a relaxing flight and and is perfect for casual gamers out there.
So far we’ve only played a few of the tracks, but it seems that there is only one environment to play in and that;s Victory Island. I’d like to see a more fleshed out story mode with more environments and missions.
Look for a full review soon, in the meantime check out the video below…
