‘The sky of Santiago de Chile might be a foreign sky, but once the air mail was in flight you lived, from end to journey's end, under the same dark vault of heaven.’
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Vol de nuit, 1931 (tr. Stuart Gilbert).
Played during the Backloggd’s Game of the Week (Mar. 21 – Mar. 27, 2023).
On the road from Haskovo to the Greek-Bulgarian border, north of the Studen Kladenets reservoir, there is a relatively steep hill. On its summit are the ruins that bear witness to the ancient human presence in Perperikon. While the medieval site, with its administrative complex at the foot of the hill, is fairly well known, the ancient remains remain a mystery. Artefacts from the Hellenistic period have been found, but it is the archaic remains that are most intriguing. The tombs and the sanctuary-palace suggest that Perperikon was an important centre of power in the Bronze Age. Today, however, it seems unlikely that anything more can be learned about the culture of this period, which is forever petrified in stone and eroded by time.
A nuanced and customisable flying experience
In 2000, Sky Odyssey appeared as an anomaly, with its arcade concept offering a completely pacifist experience. The title is halfway between Pilotwings 64 (1996) and more technically complex titles such as the Landing series (1987-1999) – originally released in arcade before having sequels released on the Playstation. Inspired by the great epics of famous aviators, the title is imbued with an adventurous spirit and a rather unique atmosphere for the genre, which was a first for the development team unused to working on such games. The player assumes the role of an aviator whose goal is to explore an archipelago feared by adventurers and find the famous Tower of Maximum. The difficult weather and topography of the islands make it impractical to approach them by sea, leaving only the skies as a viable route. But even for an experienced aviator, crossing the gorges and mountain passes proves to be an arduous mission. After an optimistic and adventurous opening scene, driven by lyrical choirs, the player is invited to choose the first mission and their aircraft.
The three planes available at the start each have their own characteristics, allowing the player to approach each mission in a different way. A lighter aircraft provides greater manoeuvrability and is useful in confined areas, while a more stable and powerful aircraft can help with the strong winds that often characterise the levels. The ability to change the parts of each aircraft provides the flexibility to suit both the mission and the player's preferred play style. While it is always necessary to have a fairly high top speed to meet the target times – particularly in Mid-Air Rendezvous – emergent approaches are always available to the player.
Sky Odyssey immediately delivers a challenging Adventure mode that does not shy away from testing the player's speed management or aerial manoeuvres: the player will have to manage refuelling, flying through clouds, climbing mountains or going down waterfalls on pantoons. Learning to fly may take some getting used to compared to the much simpler experience of Pilotwings 64 – although it does have some simplified controls similar to the latter – but it is highly addictive. Sky Odyssey also manages to create very organic challenges through its ranking system. While it is possible to complete a mission with minimal complication, the player can also try to pass through all the checkpoints in order to score as many points as possible. Both mark the general route and are placed in locations that are quite difficult to reach, requiring a real mastery of the aircraft. As it is much easier to gain altitude than to descend due to air resistance, a careful route is required to reach some of the more challenging checkpoints.
Crossing all of them during a level guarantees the player an A-rank, provided they have not taken any damage and have landed within the time limit. However, the complexity of the title lies in the A+ rank, which requires the player to accumulate Acrobatic Points by performing rolls and other dangerous manoeuvres – such as flying low to the ground with the plane inverted. Having to divide one's attention between multiple tasks while completing the main objective can be a particularly daunting task, and Sky Odyssey highlights the ceiling of skill the player can achieve. On the shorter maps (Stormy Seas), reaching the 5,000 point mark is a merciless test of the pilot's skills. Yet these elements are entirely optional; it is perfectly possible to enjoy the game for its contemplative atmosphere and forgo the more difficult challenges; some aircraft will not be unlocked, but this does not detract from the quality of the game.
For a poetry of exploration: freedom and wonder
Sky Odyssey really shines with its scenography. From the very first levels, the pilot must infiltrate ravines and tunnels, with rocks crashing down from all sides. The environment is full of motion and nature often dwarfs the player with its ancient majesty. From one level to the next, the player can see stone spires reaching into the sky, torrential rain beating down on the plane's wings, or mysterious forests with towering trees. The title alternates between very natural scenes, traces of recent activity and the dilapidated ruins of an ancient civilisation. This combination creates an astonishing and tenderly human contemplation. The trials of wind and land make the player seem insignificant compared to the breadth of nature. Aeroplanes, however much they enable humankind to fulfil its ancient dream of soaring through the skies, do not alter its place in the universe and the course of time. The pilot seeks to discover Eden, but it is only a quest of exploration. Unlike the traditional pulp adventure, he doesn't steal anything, but merely bears witness to those who have lived before.
Throughout the levels, the player is treated to scenes that are strongly reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's cinema. This is not surprising given his passion for aviation. The spirit of freedom depicted in Mirai Shōnen Conan (1978), Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) or Porco Rosso (1992) is distinctly apparent, while the landscapes recall of the greasy plains and rugged mountains over which Nausicaä in Kaze no Tani no Naushika (1984). Like Miyazaki, the Sky Odyssey team mixes the poetry of flying with a fascination for the technical aspects of aviation. Just as Sky Odyssey allows the player to modify aircraft parts or choose the Kyushu J7W1, an experimental aircraft that was never built, Miyazaki's mangas are much more concrete and give a glimpse of his love of pure engineering. Hikōtei jidai (1989), published in Model Graphix, an aviation magazine, foreshadowed Porco Rosso and featured the iconic red seaplane in sumptuous watercolours.
This unique atmosphere is enhanced by a surprising soundtrack for an aviation game, composed by Kow Otani. Prior to his work on Shadow of the Colossus (2005), he was already known for his work on numerous anime and films, creating rich and emotionally dense atmospheres. His contributions to Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995) and Outlaw Star (1998), among many others, were inspired by Jerry Goldsmith's modernist score for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). Otani's compositions were symphonic poems, conjuring up the full range of emotions associated with space adventure. The Sky Odyssey soundtrack follows the same approach, but Otani was inspired by traditional Bulgarian songs. He used female choirs, unexpected intervals and complex rhythms to create a strange depth, while writing the lyrics in Japanese; similarly, the ruins of Eden, a city where only marble columns and buildings carved into the cliffs remain, are reminiscent of those of Perperikon and Laputa in Tenkū no Shiro Laputa (1986). This cultural syncretism foreshadowed the contemplative tracks of Shadow of the Colossus and is similar to the mystical work of Keiichi Okabe on Nier (2010).
Sky Odyssey is a nuanced and rich experience always dedicated to the player. The different game modes and difficulty levels, the customisation elements and the unbridled curiosity of the exploration all contribute to making it a truly unique title. The game did not stand out and is largely forgotten in the history of Japanese flight simulators. But Sky Odyssey is brimming with good intentions and memorable scenes. Rejecting violent dogfight action and hyper-realistic simulation, it portrays the thousand-year-old dream of soaring through the heavens. Sguardo verso il ciel saprai – lì a casa il cuore sentirai.
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Vol de nuit, 1931 (tr. Stuart Gilbert).
Played during the Backloggd’s Game of the Week (Mar. 21 – Mar. 27, 2023).
On the road from Haskovo to the Greek-Bulgarian border, north of the Studen Kladenets reservoir, there is a relatively steep hill. On its summit are the ruins that bear witness to the ancient human presence in Perperikon. While the medieval site, with its administrative complex at the foot of the hill, is fairly well known, the ancient remains remain a mystery. Artefacts from the Hellenistic period have been found, but it is the archaic remains that are most intriguing. The tombs and the sanctuary-palace suggest that Perperikon was an important centre of power in the Bronze Age. Today, however, it seems unlikely that anything more can be learned about the culture of this period, which is forever petrified in stone and eroded by time.
A nuanced and customisable flying experience
In 2000, Sky Odyssey appeared as an anomaly, with its arcade concept offering a completely pacifist experience. The title is halfway between Pilotwings 64 (1996) and more technically complex titles such as the Landing series (1987-1999) – originally released in arcade before having sequels released on the Playstation. Inspired by the great epics of famous aviators, the title is imbued with an adventurous spirit and a rather unique atmosphere for the genre, which was a first for the development team unused to working on such games. The player assumes the role of an aviator whose goal is to explore an archipelago feared by adventurers and find the famous Tower of Maximum. The difficult weather and topography of the islands make it impractical to approach them by sea, leaving only the skies as a viable route. But even for an experienced aviator, crossing the gorges and mountain passes proves to be an arduous mission. After an optimistic and adventurous opening scene, driven by lyrical choirs, the player is invited to choose the first mission and their aircraft.
The three planes available at the start each have their own characteristics, allowing the player to approach each mission in a different way. A lighter aircraft provides greater manoeuvrability and is useful in confined areas, while a more stable and powerful aircraft can help with the strong winds that often characterise the levels. The ability to change the parts of each aircraft provides the flexibility to suit both the mission and the player's preferred play style. While it is always necessary to have a fairly high top speed to meet the target times – particularly in Mid-Air Rendezvous – emergent approaches are always available to the player.
Sky Odyssey immediately delivers a challenging Adventure mode that does not shy away from testing the player's speed management or aerial manoeuvres: the player will have to manage refuelling, flying through clouds, climbing mountains or going down waterfalls on pantoons. Learning to fly may take some getting used to compared to the much simpler experience of Pilotwings 64 – although it does have some simplified controls similar to the latter – but it is highly addictive. Sky Odyssey also manages to create very organic challenges through its ranking system. While it is possible to complete a mission with minimal complication, the player can also try to pass through all the checkpoints in order to score as many points as possible. Both mark the general route and are placed in locations that are quite difficult to reach, requiring a real mastery of the aircraft. As it is much easier to gain altitude than to descend due to air resistance, a careful route is required to reach some of the more challenging checkpoints.
Crossing all of them during a level guarantees the player an A-rank, provided they have not taken any damage and have landed within the time limit. However, the complexity of the title lies in the A+ rank, which requires the player to accumulate Acrobatic Points by performing rolls and other dangerous manoeuvres – such as flying low to the ground with the plane inverted. Having to divide one's attention between multiple tasks while completing the main objective can be a particularly daunting task, and Sky Odyssey highlights the ceiling of skill the player can achieve. On the shorter maps (Stormy Seas), reaching the 5,000 point mark is a merciless test of the pilot's skills. Yet these elements are entirely optional; it is perfectly possible to enjoy the game for its contemplative atmosphere and forgo the more difficult challenges; some aircraft will not be unlocked, but this does not detract from the quality of the game.
For a poetry of exploration: freedom and wonder
Sky Odyssey really shines with its scenography. From the very first levels, the pilot must infiltrate ravines and tunnels, with rocks crashing down from all sides. The environment is full of motion and nature often dwarfs the player with its ancient majesty. From one level to the next, the player can see stone spires reaching into the sky, torrential rain beating down on the plane's wings, or mysterious forests with towering trees. The title alternates between very natural scenes, traces of recent activity and the dilapidated ruins of an ancient civilisation. This combination creates an astonishing and tenderly human contemplation. The trials of wind and land make the player seem insignificant compared to the breadth of nature. Aeroplanes, however much they enable humankind to fulfil its ancient dream of soaring through the skies, do not alter its place in the universe and the course of time. The pilot seeks to discover Eden, but it is only a quest of exploration. Unlike the traditional pulp adventure, he doesn't steal anything, but merely bears witness to those who have lived before.
Throughout the levels, the player is treated to scenes that are strongly reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's cinema. This is not surprising given his passion for aviation. The spirit of freedom depicted in Mirai Shōnen Conan (1978), Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) or Porco Rosso (1992) is distinctly apparent, while the landscapes recall of the greasy plains and rugged mountains over which Nausicaä in Kaze no Tani no Naushika (1984). Like Miyazaki, the Sky Odyssey team mixes the poetry of flying with a fascination for the technical aspects of aviation. Just as Sky Odyssey allows the player to modify aircraft parts or choose the Kyushu J7W1, an experimental aircraft that was never built, Miyazaki's mangas are much more concrete and give a glimpse of his love of pure engineering. Hikōtei jidai (1989), published in Model Graphix, an aviation magazine, foreshadowed Porco Rosso and featured the iconic red seaplane in sumptuous watercolours.
This unique atmosphere is enhanced by a surprising soundtrack for an aviation game, composed by Kow Otani. Prior to his work on Shadow of the Colossus (2005), he was already known for his work on numerous anime and films, creating rich and emotionally dense atmospheres. His contributions to Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995) and Outlaw Star (1998), among many others, were inspired by Jerry Goldsmith's modernist score for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). Otani's compositions were symphonic poems, conjuring up the full range of emotions associated with space adventure. The Sky Odyssey soundtrack follows the same approach, but Otani was inspired by traditional Bulgarian songs. He used female choirs, unexpected intervals and complex rhythms to create a strange depth, while writing the lyrics in Japanese; similarly, the ruins of Eden, a city where only marble columns and buildings carved into the cliffs remain, are reminiscent of those of Perperikon and Laputa in Tenkū no Shiro Laputa (1986). This cultural syncretism foreshadowed the contemplative tracks of Shadow of the Colossus and is similar to the mystical work of Keiichi Okabe on Nier (2010).
Sky Odyssey is a nuanced and rich experience always dedicated to the player. The different game modes and difficulty levels, the customisation elements and the unbridled curiosity of the exploration all contribute to making it a truly unique title. The game did not stand out and is largely forgotten in the history of Japanese flight simulators. But Sky Odyssey is brimming with good intentions and memorable scenes. Rejecting violent dogfight action and hyper-realistic simulation, it portrays the thousand-year-old dream of soaring through the heavens. Sguardo verso il ciel saprai – lì a casa il cuore sentirai.