Name: Airport Mania- First Flight
Price: 1.99
Genre: Puzzle, Simulation
Publisher: Lemon Team
Released: Apr 2011
Review: This is one of those games that looks rather lame based on looking at the images for it- really? Little kiddie bug-eyed planes? I probably wouldn't have looked more at this title unless a friend had told me about it. But wow, is it addictive and fun! This is one of my favorite eShop games!
You are in charge of a little airport, where you direct planes to land, go to gate to unload/load, refuel, repair, and takeoff. This probably still doesn't sound like its a fun game. But the planes are different colors, and you get score multipliers from matching gate colors and landing/taking off in succession. The game is deceptively simple, but can get kinda crazy when you have 5 planes waiting for you to land them! Planes also get impatient if left waiting too long anywhere, particularly larger planes. As you successfully complete levels, you get some money to upgrade your airport- add terminals, runways, and lots more. There are I think 8 levels with like 6 sub-levels each, so there's a good amount of content here.
The tutorial is great, and the controls are easy to use- you're basically tapping on a plane with the stylus, and then where you want it to go. Certain actions you can queue 2 or 3 in advance, and the plane will automatically move when the space is available (so you can do so even if another plane is still there.)
I don't really know how to sell this game better, but if you have any remote liking for puzzle games, just get it. Its probably the best $2 you've spent in a long time.
NOTE: There is another version called Non-Stop Flights. This was a kind of "test the waters" version for the DSi after the original WiiWare's game, and is nothing more than an endless mode of the game with no separate levels or anything (ie very bare bones). First Flight is universally recommended over it, but if you already got FF and are just itching for more it may still be an option for you.
Rating: 5/5 gaia_star gaia_star gaia_star gaia_star gaia_star
Other Reviews: [Nintendo Life] [TQ Cast]