Kaze no NOTAM

Kaze no Notam
Developer(s)	Artdink
Publisher(s)	Artdink
Director(s)
Producer(s)
Designer(s)
Programmer(s)
Artist(s)
Writer(s)
Composer(s)
Series
Engine
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Release	JP: September 11, 1997
Genre(s)	Flight simulator
Mode(s)	Single-player
Cabinet
Arcade system
CPU
Sound
Display

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Kaze no Notam (風のノータム, Kaze no Nōtamu, lit. "Notice of the Wind") is a hot air balloon simulation video game developed and published by Artdink for the PlayStation. It was released exclusively in Japan on September 11, 1997. Known for its deeply relaxing atmosphere, minimalist presentation, and unique control scheme, the game tasks players with navigating various environments using only the natural wind currents.

The game is notable for its distinct cover art illustrated by Hiroshi Nagai, a prominent artist famous for his city pop album covers and 1980s retro-tropical aesthetics.

Gameplay

Kaze no Notam subverts traditional flight simulator mechanics by removing direct steering controls. Instead of moving a joystick to go forward, left, or right, players only have direct control over the balloon's burner (which generates heat to increase altitude) and its vent (which releases heat to lower altitude).

Movement is entirely dependent on the wind. On the right side of the screen, a user interface displays five directional arrows, representing wind currents at different elevations. As the weather and time change, these wind patterns shift dynamically. To travel to a specific destination, players must monitor the on-screen wind indicators and carefully ascend or descend into the altitude layer where the wind is blowing in their desired direction.

The game offers three distinct fantasy-inspired environments that players can explore under various times of day and weather conditions (offering up to 36 variations). The gameplay is split into two primary modes:

• Task/Mission Mode: Players participate in hot-air ballooning challenges, such as dropping markers onto specific ground targets or reaching exact destinations. Because the wind changes dynamically, completing these tasks requires patience and strategic altitude management.
• Free Flight Mode: A sandbox mode where players are free to drift through the environments, discover secrets (such as cities floating in the sky or ancient ruins), and enjoy the game's tranquil scenery without objectives or time limits.

Development and release

The game was developed by Artdink, a Japanese studio famous for creating highly experimental and unorthodox simulation games during the PS1 era, including Aquanaut's Holiday, Tail of the Sun, and the A-Train series. The development team's primary goal was to create a relaxing experience centered around the concept of "luxuriating in the wind". The game's minimalist menu interface, slow-paced jazz and electronic soundtrack, and placid skies were all engineered to evoke a stress-free environment.

The title features the word "NOTAM", which is an international aviation acronym for "Notice to Airmen", an official bulletin issued to pilots regarding flight conditions.

Kaze no Notam was released on September 11, 1997, in Japan. It remained a Japan-exclusive title for the duration of the PlayStation's lifespan. However, it was later made available digitally on the Japanese PlayStation Network as a "PSOne Classic" on November 22, 2017.

Reception and legacy

Upon release, Kaze no Notam received a lukewarm and somewhat confused reception from mainstream gaming audiences due to its lack of action, challenging indirect control scheme, and overall "hands-off" nature. Some players criticized the gameplay loop, noting that if the wind refused to blow in the necessary direction to complete a mission, players were left completely stranded in the sky with no recourse. Because of this, it is sometimes affectionately classified in Japan as a minor kusoge (a "crappy game" that nonetheless possesses unique charm).

In modern retrospective reviews, the game has gained a cult following. Critics have praised Artdink for their avant-garde approach to game design, noting that Kaze no Notam was ahead of its time as a "zen" or "walking simulator"-style game. Its vaporwave-adjacent aesthetics, soothing soundtrack, and Hiroshi Nagai box art have also made it a popular curio among retro game collectors and fans of early 3D experimental media.

External links

• Kaze no Notam at MobyGames

This article "Kaze no NOTAM" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Kaze no NOTAM. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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