Cute li'l tech demo. This game is forgotten now, but it must have been impressive in a lot of the same ways as Super Mario 64 on the console's debut. Exploring the 3D landscapes, especially in Birdman mode, must have been something else.

The structure is about right compared to the original Pilotwings, but there are a few superficial decisions that make it glaringly obvious this game was developed by an American studio. Little States is the most obvious, but Crescent Island being the closest thing we've gotten to a StarTropics nod post-NES is another, as are the character designs (Lark is just Nester, Goose is almost certainly a Top Gun nod, Robin as the female heavyweight seems to be a boob joke). None of these are bad things; to the contrary, it gives the game its own personality. Just think it's notable.

It is very weird that there are no airplanes in Pilotwings 64. The gyrocopter basically plays the same as the light plane, so close enough - but still weird.

The mini-games are worth unlocking and playing through, but I'm otherwise content putting the game away with all Silver medals.