Game review: Stunt Flyer (Switch)
Usually, when a game is remade or remastered, it's a game that is locked onto an old console, but it's a classic. For example, famous games that have had remakes include Final Fantasy VII, the first Halo, Gears of War, and many more.
It's kind of rare you see a remake for an obscure game, but here we are. Stunt Flyer: Hero of the Skies is a little known Nintendo Wii video game released back in 2011, and it's aimed for young kids. Now in 2025, the game has been ported to the Nintendo Switch and it's been renamed just Stunt Flyer for short.
The first thing returning fans will notice about Stunt Flyer is the fact that the Switch version looks much better than the original. The Wii was already an aging console because it only output games at a standard definition resolution of 480p. Stunt Flyer on the Switch has a higher resolution and the graphics look smoother than ever before.
That being said, Stunt Flyer is still a game released by small developer so don't expect it to look as good as Nintendo's first-party efforts. Stunt Flyer has basic-looking textures and resembles more like a high resolution PS2 game. The graphics are outdated, so don't expect to see anything too fancy.
Aside from the graphics, some other new features have also been added to this version of the game. Since many players (including myself) weren't fans of the Wii remote, the controls for Stunt Flyer on the Nintendo Switch have been vastly improved.
Players can push down on the left stick to let the biplane gain altitude. Pushing up on the analogue stick will cause the plane to descend. You can also press down on the shoulder buttons to perform a barrel roll, and pressing Y allows you to shoot water bombs and use other gadgets.
The controls are surprisingly easy-to-follow and young kids or beginners shouldn't have a hard time piloting the small plane. This isn't a simulation-style game like Flight Simulator so you don't have to worry about any "realism" in Stunt Flyer.
Lastly, this new version of the game offers 2 player split-screen co-op action so you can try and complete the 40 missions together with a friend. There is no online connectivity in this game though so you cannot play with a buddy from around the world.
As for the game itself, Stunt Flyer has 40 missions, but there are only three small islands. The island locations are Gloster Island, Captain's Cove, and Nimbus. My favourite island of the three is Captain's Cove mainly because there is a huge volcano erupting in the middle.
Even though I mentioned before this game has 40 missions, the mission types are sadly very limited. The mission types are repeated over and over again, but they are located in different areas or islands.
The first mission type you will encounter is a time trial where you have to fly through rings in a short amount of time. This is similar to the infamous gameplay you may have seen from Superman 64!
Another mission type is where you have to shoot water at vegetables in order to help them grow. My favourite mission though is target practice where you have to shoot the targets as fast as possible.
There are two types of camera missions too. One mission type is where you have to fly around taking photos of famous locations and objects. The other mission type is where you have to film a specific object for a certain amount of time.
There is also mission type is when the player has to follow a drone around the island. Lastly, there are some races too. I was hoping there would be more variety in mission types, but sadly they get repetitive after a while.
Not to mention the game is really short because there are only three levels in total. If you are good enough, most people could finish this game in a couple of hours. The only replay value on offer here is if you want to improve your times in each mission.
While Stunt Flyer is a good game for young kids, it isn't what I call a must-have. The graphics are basic, and the missions get repetitive. I'd only recommend this game if you are looking for a bargain for the kids.
Verdict: 6.5/10
