After skipping a month, Nintendo is back with their monthly drop of a Nintendo 64 game for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers. This month we're getting Pilotwings 64, which is also known as the other N64 launch game. It's definitely cool that we have both launch games on the Switch, but is Pilotwings 64 worth playing in 2022? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, Computer & Video Games and more classic magazines to see what critics said back when Pilotwings 64 first came out. Grab your favorite parachute, because this is another high-flying episode of the Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


I think it's fair to say that when the Nintendo 64 launched in the United States in 1996, most of the hype was centered around Super Mario 64, one of the best-reviewed and most iconic launch games of all time. A game that Next Generation promptly called the greatest video game ever made . Of course, in Mario's shadow was another launch game – Pilotwings 64. Much like the Super NES original, this aerial mini-game collection was seen as an elaborate tech demo that helped to show off the cool 3D tricks the hot new 64-bit hardware was capable of. But is it a fun game? Let's turn to the classic reviews to find out.

Giving it an 8.4 out of 10, Electronic Gaming Monthly scored it a bit higher than the 16-bit original (which averaged a 7.75), but it's clear that not everybody agreed that it was the superior game. Dan notes that Pilotwings 64 does a good job of giving you the sensation of flight, “but for me, it didn't have the same magic that the original had. Don't get me wrong, the graphics were tremendous, and the smoothness of flight was unparalleled. All I see here, however, is a visual updated version of the old Pilotwings. That's great, but I've already played it a while ago on the Super NES.” Crispin liked it more than Dan, but still had a small gripe: “I loved Pilotwings 64 95% of the time, but for that other 5%, I swore at it and tossed my controller down in frustration. This game gets difficult in the later stages.” He would go on to explain that Pilotwings 64 is “every bit as fun as the Super NES original, only with graphics that are above and eyond anything the other next-gen consoles can pump out.” This seems to be the general consensus at Electronic Gaming Monthly, with most recommending it as a solid second choice to Super Mario.

And it wasn't just EGM, because you also saw Nintendo Power giving Pilotwings 64 a 4 out of 5, and even GamePro (which gave the original a perfect score) gave the sequel a 4.5 out of 5. And then there's Computer & Video Games, which initially gave the game a 5 out of 5 in issue 178, only to revise their score down to a 4 out of 5 in issue 184, when Pilotwings 64 finally launched in the UK. Paul Davies explained that “I love the high speed thrills of Rage Racer on the PlayStation, but I'm equally awestruck by many of the situations in Pilotwings 64. The sheer scale of the mountains, snow-covered or shrouded in mist, create an awesome atmosphere as your little craft struggles against powerful winds to clear the round. Sometimes the visual look close to photo realistic. Not the kind of thing to keep you glued to the N64 for hours on end, but a very special kind of experience when it's up and running.”

For what it's worth, you did see magazines raving about this game. In their very first issue, 64 Extreme gave Pilotwings 64 a 90%. You also saw the editors of Die Hard Game Fan gush over the graphics and gameplay, giving it an average score of 95%. And then there's Next Generation, who ended up giving the game a perfect 5 out of 5 in the very same issue that saw them crown Super Mario 64 the “greatest game of all time.” “Pilotwings 64 is classic Nintendo: A simple, addictive game embellished with extraordinary detail and graphic finesse. This is easily the most impressive 3D ever seen on a console, and it's been pressed into the service of a totally charming, diverse and enjoyable game. It may be the there is no other video game developer in the world that could visualize and execute a game like this. Sega, Sony, you can start worrying now.” With no negative reviews and mostly high praise, I think it's safe to call Pilotwings 64 a hit with the critics. Maybe not the award-winning powerhouse of Super Mario 64, but let's be honest, that's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of game. Give Pilotwings 64 a download on Switch and see if it still holds up.