Windjammers Reviews

Windjammers is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Essential
Aug 31, 2017

A 90s arcade masterpiece gets the home port it deserves.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2017

If you can get friends interested, though, Windjammers makes for an almost no-brainer local purchase. The intensity of the gameplay and sheer attitude the game exhibits is truly a joy. I do wish the Vita version had ad-hoc multiplayer, but since this is a cross-buy title, you'll have access to the better realized PS4 version regardless of which console you buy this on.

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TheSixthAxis
TSA Staff
Top Critic
9 / 10
Oct 23, 2018

We often forget the fun that can be had when you sit down with your friends and battle it out over a few games. Windjammers serves as a reminder you don't have to make games with super flashy graphics or complex gameplay in order to stand out and be fun. At its core, Windjammers is a very basic game, but that's likely part of why it has captured a cult following over the past 20 years. Now it finds a home on the Nintendo Switch, and I couldn't think of a better place for it. Time to dust off those discs and prepare for glory.

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70 / 100
Sep 1, 2017

Faithful conversion of a game that hasn't old one bit. There's not much new to see and we've had some problems with the online mode, but it's so freaking fun that it's impossible not to recommend Windjammers to anyone who just want to have a good time.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Aug 30, 2017

As fun an adictive as it was 24 years ago, but its online component is not working properly, so that makes this remake a failed attempt to improve the original formula.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 3, 2017

Stylish, simplistic and a whole load of fun, get some mates round and have a tournament, you'll thank me later.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 12, 2018

Windjammers was a lot of fun on Neo Geo and it's still fun now on the Nintendo Switch.  While I had some minor problems at first using the Joy-cons to make precise curve shots, it's not to hard to adapt and soon you'll be throwing the disc every which way on demand.  Once you've mastered the controls and have gone through Arcade Mode over and over again, grab some friends and have them join in on the fun.

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71 / 100
Nov 9, 2018

A lack of characters, stages, or much else to do is a big setback given the demand of games today, however being a port of the original game from ‘94 awards it a little more leeway in our expectations. Here’s hoping the sequel due out next year will give us the modern Windjammers title we need.

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7.8 / 10.0
Sep 18, 2017

The PS4 version of Windjammers is a perfect replica of the legendary Neo Geo game, with the added bonus of the online multiplayer. It still stands the test of time, but it's best played with some friends over a couple of drinks.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Justin Celani
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2017

It might be a relic of old arcade fun, but there must be a reason so many people love it, and it seems truly good gameplay mechanics don't age if Windjammers is anything to go by.

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72 / 100
Sep 5, 2017

It misses the thrill of slamming a quarter down on a cabinet in some dimly lit arcade and throttling some jerk who thinks they're a pretty radical Windjammer.

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9 / 10
Sep 1, 2017

An arcade masterpiece that's been lovingly revived for the PlayStation family, Windjammers is absolutely essential. A hoot both online and offline, hoofing Frisbees across sunbaked beaches is still fun 20 years removed from the title's original release, so here's to another two decades of top tossing.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 1, 2017

Windjammers offers up a healthy dose of what made great arcade games great: tight controls, fast pace, and room to grow.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 2, 2018

Windjammers is a fun and fantastic multiplayer arcade game and the Nintendo Switch version takes advantage of that strength. The classic Neo Geo game passes that aforementioned 10-second rule while still giving the player more to learn after they know the basics. However, if I didn't have anyone to play with, I don't know if I would want to play at all. This is meant to be played with others, in the same room, playing on a couch screaming at the TV after a long and intense volley. If you know some people interested in that type of experience, purchasing Windjammers is a no-brainer.

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8 / 10
Oct 23, 2018

Over the years, Windjammers has slowly achieved cult status due to its simple pick-up-and-play controls that hide complex mechanics that only become apparent the more you play against human opponents. Data East's extreme sports versus title has now arrived on the ultimate multiplayer-friendly console, once again brandishing the same fast and addictive gameplay that had us hooked in 1994. Despite the passing of the decades the core gameplay still manages to entertain, and the 2D visuals have likewise stood the test of time rather well. The bone of contention remains the single-player side of things; if you're playing alone, you'll get bored relatively quickly. However, with online play and easy-to-configure local multiplayer, there's plenty of scope to embrace the game's true USP: two-player action.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 22, 2018

The aesthetics in Windjammers make it look and feels like an arcade game old enough to run for Congress, because it is almost exactly that. (It's 24 years old, so ineligible for this year's midterms, but Windjammers 2020 is perfectly viable.) However, this game has my vote because it is just really, really fun. As one of the better head-to-head titles on Switch, it is perfect for some quick rounds when you and a friend have a few minutes to spare. It's also deep enough for longer, more intense sessions. Windjammers is a surprisingly simple yet deliciously fun game, and if it's multiplayer you're looking for, this title belongs in your collection.

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7 / 10
Sep 4, 2017

Windjammers is identical to the game released 23 years ago, with one difference: it contains an online mode that gives it a new life. We would have liked a better network code and more flexibility in defining the match options, but for the rest everything is there. It's fast, nervous and extremely demanding in terms of reflexes. Those who have known it at the time will find back their sensations after only a few minutes of play. As for the solo mode, however, this version is so faithful to the original that it maintains its main flaw: except a short competition and a versus mode, there's nothing else.

Review in French | Read full review

EGM
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Sep 1, 2017

Windjammers is really fun while it lasts. But how long it lasts depends on how long you're willing to play the same mode. Its tight, responsive, strategic gameplay doesn't quite hide the fact that it's lacking in areas that contemporary multiplayer games almost instinctively include at this point, such as character and match customization.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 29, 2017

Over 20 years since it initially released,Windjammers is finally getting its chance to shine as a competitive game. It's got the accessibility and depth to deliver memorable play sessions, and while the online play can sometimes be disappointing, I'm largely left impressed. Few multiplayer games have made me scream (and make some strange primal noises during the heat of the action) like Windjammers, and it's simply a blast when played with friends.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 7, 2017

Windjammers is a solid game that is dumb arcade fun from the 90s. While it certainly has some arcade charm to it through its intense gameplay, it isn't meant for long periods of play, which might be a turn-off for some gamers.

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