Don�t be
a wise guy. Don�t say, �Oh, look at this! More crap for the Wii U.� The thing is this
is actually a good thing for the Wii U. I mean, think about it. People look for games
like this...games about crap they recognize. This stuff sells. So as much as the Wii U
needs good games, it also needs...these games.
Helps when they�re actually kind of decent.
So Disney�s Planes landed on my desk earlier this week. Actually, two of them�both the
Wii U and 3DS versions. It�s also available for the original DS and the Wii, but that�s
it. Planes is exclusive to Nintendo platforms, an interesting trend more licensed games seem
to be following. And again, it�s actually not bad, but...I mean, there are only two
console versions. The Wii and Wii U. So you�d expect this version, the one for the current
platform, to be the version, right? Or at least to get the effort.
Some nice graphics, some interesting GamePad use...then you water it down for the older
system, right? I mean, you don�t just...upscale the Wii version for Wii U, right?
Or maybe you do.
Actually, when the Wii is outselling the Wii U, that�s exactly what you do.
So listen, I�m going to say plenty of nice things about this game, but before we get
to that, it is disappointing to play a game with one HD version�the Wii U version�and
to see that...it didn�t seem to be the focus of development. Remember when the Wii was
getting all those slightly better looking PS2 games? Well, guys, here�s a slightly
upscaled Wii game for your Wii U.
You know, just to make you feel at home.
All that aside, though...Planes is actually a pretty decent movie game. I mean, I�m
always saying that �decent movie game� is a relative term, which is again true. As
a standalone original game, this would be forgettable. As a game based on a film, it�s
really not that bad. You could do a lot worse than Planes on the Wii U...and even without
much specific focus, this is still the better game.
So what is the game? Well, it�s basically Pilotwings for kids. You get to play as several
characters from the movie, and each one has their own set of missions...spread across
ten different locations. And the missions all fall into certain categories. There are
ones where you�re smashing things, like dams or piles of snow. You also have some
straightforward races, with lots of rings and...Pilotwings things.
You even have to take pictures. How Pilotwings is that?
So that�s the so-called story mode, but...there�s also a free flight mode, which is also very
Pilotwings, as well as standalone racing and balloon-popping modes. So there�s actually
a lot of different modes here, but the problem is...they�re all very short, and even more
shallow. So don�t expect anything that�ll hold your interest. These are definitely kid-focused
games, in terms of both their simplicity and depth.
Fortunately, they all play great. That�s the one thing Planes does really well. The
controls are super tight and responsive. You steer with the left stick, and you can do
barrel rolls and things like that with the right. Simple, perfect, really fun to play.
I just wish there were some GamePad use here. I mean, it does support off-TV play, which
is always a useful feature. But beyond that?
Nothing interesting at all, and that�s always a disappointment.
Disney�s Planes sets out to be nothing more than a really solid kids game. And it does
that better than you might expect. Again, it�s like a licensed version of Pilotwings
for the younger pilots, with multiplayer. That�s awesome. But if you expect more from
what is really the only HD version of a game...Planes doesn�t have it.
It�s a good kids game, but nothing more.