Pilotwings Resort

Pilotwings Resort was among the launch titles for Nintendo 3DS, and its main job was to show off what the console's new stereoscopic screen could do. The game takes place on Wuhu Island, familiar to players from Wii Sports Resort, and offers a series of short missions with a small plane, a glider or a rocket belt - the goal is to fly through rings, collect points for landing accuracy, or discover hidden areas of the island. The controls use both the gyroscope and the analog stick, so tilting the console during turns gives the flight a pleasantly physical feel. The player's own Mii character is cast as the pilot, which together with unlockable badges for completed challenges gives the individual missions at least a small sense of progression. Each of the three types of aircraft has a different control scheme and a different style of challenge, so the player gradually learns to handle the tilting of the small plane, the slow gliding of the glider, and the precise maneuvering of the rocket belt above the water's surface.

Visually, it's one of the most convincing demonstrations of the 3D effect from the console's early era - the view of the island from above, with pronounced depth between foreground and background, was at the time among the best the hardware could offer. Calming, ambient music nicely complements the unhurried pace of play, which relies more on relaxed exploration than on challenge or competitiveness. The missions are short and suited to playing in small chunks, matching the era's conception of launch titles as technology showcases. The game also supported StreetPass, letting players compare their best results with each other even without a direct online connection.

Reviews were mixed - many players praised the visual side and the relaxed atmosphere, but also criticized the relatively small amount of content and the low difficulty for more experienced players. The game never aimed for the depth of a sports simulation, but rather for short-term fun and a hardware demonstration. Today it can be seen as a pleasant, undemanding reminder of a time when the 3D effect was still a novelty that needed to be shown off.