Pilotwings (video game)

Template:Current-GCOTW PilotWings is a Nintendo video game for the Super Famicom and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, originally released in 1990, and included with the system in some early packages. A flight simulator game, PilotWings features lessons and goals in light plane, rocketbelt, hang glider, and skydiving, to which are added bonus stages (which like many secrets in 1990s vintage Nintendo titles, change your character's iconic representation to a cute cartoonish animal, in this case a penguin, albatross, and stork) and attack helicopter missions.

The game, along with F-Zero, is well known for extensive use of the Super Nintendo's Mode 7 graphics, which allows rotation, scaling, and various other effects to be used on a flat image, to create a 3d effect. Because the game does not use "true" 3d technology (as opposed to the Super Nintendo game Star Fox), in PilotWings, the buildings, runway, trees, and so on are all "painted" flat on the ground plane, which appear to stick out out of the ground when the player's viewpoint is far above.

Besides the use of this technique, PilotWings is particularly notable for its futuristic rock score by Koji Kondo of Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. fame, with Sting-like reggae and experimental whole-tone scale influences. The score experienced some revival of attention in the international music community when Sir Paul McCartney expressed his admiration for Kondo in an interview, and when studies of several movements were published by Internet commentators and musicians Matthew Dean and Michael Rich.

A sequel, PilotWings 64, was released for the Nintendo 64.