Pilotwings, at first glance, maybe doesn’t look like a very impressive game. After all, it merely consists of three visual elements; the sky, the ground, and the player’s avatar, each being flat. However, it is what the game achieves with these visual elements that matters most. And what it achieves, is a sense of freedom.

The structure of the game involves completing set challenges given to you by one of several instructors, with the successful completion of a challenge being required to progress to the next one. This is not freedom, it is a ruleset. But, that doesn’t matter. In fact, nothing matters, once you’re high in the air, soaring the pixellated skies, almost feeling the wind rushing past you… nothing holding you down. Just you, your hang-glider, and the infinite sea stretching to the horizon…

Occasionally, there are some helicopter combat sections.

In any case, for me, the challenges and “missions” are inconsequential. While my first complete play-through of the game was wrought with frustration, subsequent revisits have proven much more relaxing. The bi-plane, skydiving, and jet pack challenges are a breeze to get through, while the hang-glider challenges do still offer some difficulty. That said, swooping down in a perfectly executed arc, flipping the glider up and landing dead center on the target, once achieved, is a glorious feeling, well worth any aggravation that it took to get there.

But, the completion of a challenge, no matter how successfully, is always bittersweet. What it means is the end of another blissful jaunt through the skies. A return to the cold earth, or in some cases, a splashdown in the water. I feel most at peace in Pilotwings when I’m just moving from place to place, unrestricted by earthly tethers, and cushioned in the air… maybe even soaring on an updraft high into the sky.

I don’t get the same feeling from any of the game’s sequels. The higher fidelity they offer just exposes the limitation of their worlds, the edges that can be clearly discerned. Pilotwings has no edges. It looks almost as if you could just choose a direction, leave your little starting island, and fly out to the ends of the Earth… or to the point where your bi-plane runs out of fuel.

There’s a feeling I get out of this game that isn’t replicated anywhere else. For that reason it’s usually the Super Nintendo game I revisit the most, and stands far ahead of its limited number of sequels. There is just an inexplicable joy in flying through its skies, doing its little challenges, soaking in the sights. Truly a game I can lose myself in.

If you get it, you get it. This is a game that rewards patience, for better or for worse, with an enormous level of mechanical depth on offer, if you're willing to get used to the jank.

Not all builds are created equal, and depending on your play style you can be in for a brutal time. This, I would argue, is somewhat refreshing. There is no wrong way to play the game, but there are easier or more difficult ways. Some people equivocate "easy" with "correct." You can't really have that mindset and enjoy this game.

The atmosphere can be truly crushing at times. Games with this level of horror are few and far between, and the mechanics only amplify your anxiety. There was one point on the first deck, where I was stuck in the dark, surrounded by drones and storage boxes, with nothing but my wrench and a couple bullets left, and the ambient noises of the environment in my ears... the way I felt at that moment is hard to describe. I was absolutely glued to this game. I couldn't even tell you why I was so engrossed. I guess it was just the right thing at the right time.

There is debate on whether to keep the music on. I say, if you want horror, turn it off. If you want more action, leave it on. The choice is yours, after-all. Me, I turned it off for my first playthrough. For first-person games, I tend to prefer my sound to be more diegetic, and System Shock 2 has some of the best sound design I’ve ever experienced.

Not everyone will like this game. The barrier for entry is high. It’s classically unforgiving and truly brutal in certain sections. I’ve died in one hit from the first enemy in the game countless times. The models are old. If limited fidelity bothers you, it will impact your experience. The missions can be confusing. It throws around terms like “Fluidic Tunnels,” “Port Nacelle,” and “Viral Proliferator” at you. Almost all the character models are the same. Enemies respawn, preventing you from ever really clearing a level. Weapons degrade, forcing you to hunt around for new ones, or spend valuable EXP learning to repair/maintain them. I love all of these things.

Is there a secret to enjoying System Shock 2? I’m not sure. If you are receptive, and patient (such as willing to restart if you realize your build has gone totally south), then I would say you have a pretty good chance of enjoying the game. The more immersed you can get, the better it will feel, and hopefully your time aboard the Von Braun will leave a lasting impact on what you thought was possible from gaming as a medium.