“Airships had been a dream of many people…After the realization of the dream, came greed and ambition.”
-Final Fantasy IV

Of all vehicles (fictional or otherwise) portrayed in video games, certainly there is none as proper or as majestic as the airship. Whether serving as a means of transportation, an effective tool of war, or a grandiose flying-fortress, the airship has maintained its significance and effectiveness through the years. Though modern society seems to have all but abandoned this timeless, romantic bastion of freedom and grandeur, the airship shall live on, enshrined in many a game.

But which games have the best airship(s)? After extensive research and deliberation, we finally have the answer. Strap on your flying goggles and read on to find out!

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BATEN KAITOS

fig. A

Evaluation: Though at a first glance there would seem to be a dearth of original design here (fig. A), the striking design and organic nature of the following two ships (fig. B, fig. C) somewhat erases lingering doubts of creativity.

fig. B

fig. C

Rank:

3 airships out of 5

CRIMSON SKIES

fig. A

Evaluation: Though a traditional zeppelin is always tasteful, and the white-stripes-on-blue style (fig. B) adds some panache, the overall design is perhaps a bit too tame to warrant a higher score.

fig. B

Rank:

2 airships out of 5

FINAL FANTASY (series)

fig. A

Evaluation: Ranking each FF game individually on its airships would be ludicrous, so we’re focusing only on the absolute best crafts from the series.

fig. B

Amongst the selected we have the Lindblum from Final Fantasy XII (fig. A), the Ifrit from FF XII (fig. B), the Highwind from FF VII (fig. C), the Ragnarok from FF VIII (fig. D), and an unnamed beauty from FF XI (fig. E).

fig. C

fig. D

fig. E

Truly quite a bit of diversity in this particular group; styles range from futuristic and awe-inspiring (XIII and XII), to sharp and intimidating (VIII), to conventional and classy (VII and XI). As a pioneer and ongoing practitioner of the airship, the Final Fantasy series continues to innovate and redefine the term.

Rank:

4.5 airships out of 5

GRIM FANDANGO

fig. A

Hanging low over Rubacava, a port town on the road to the Ninth Underworld, this blimp’s strengths are in its subtle details. Notice the compact, almost stocky shape, the plated underbelly, and the barely-visible upper fin. Now imagine it backed by this wonderfully smokey tune:

Rank:

3 airships out of 5

GUNS OF ICARUS

fig. A

Evaluation: Though the game itself is unfortunately mundane, Guns of Icarus does feature a fairly decent airship. Manned solely by the playable protagonist (fig. B), the design skews towards a simplistic, isolated form that is both very conventional, yet somewhat refreshing (fig. C).

fig. B

fig. C

Rank:

1.5 airships out of 5

HENRY HATSWORTH in the PUZZLING ADVENTURE

fig. A

Evaluation: Don’t let the conventional, swashbuckling nature of fig. A fool you, there’s an incredible amount of creativity and wackiness in this game as far as airships are concerned. Slowly feast your eyes upon this mind-blowing piece of concept art (fig. B).

fig. B

The mind simply boggles at the absurdity and variety of these vessels. Steamboats, cars, whales, squid, teapots; nothing is too unconventional to be converted into an airship.

Rank:

5 airships out of 5

IRON GRIP: THE OPRESSION

fig. A

Evaluation: Iron Grip is a Half-Life 2 mod that combines first-person shooting and real-time strategy in a steampunk setting. The concept art for the game depicts both its imperialistic (fig. B) and fantasy (fig. C) characteristics while also showcasing a multitude of gargantuan, intimidating airships.

fig. B

fig. C

Rank:

4 airships out of 5

MARIO AND LUIGI: SUPERSTAR SAGA

fig. A

Evaluation: Introduced at an early junction in game, Bowser’s Koopa Cruiser (fig. B) is narcissistic yet charmingly cartoony. Though the visible deck would have you believe that quarters are cramped aboard the reptilian craft, the interior is deceptively spacious.

fig. B

Rank:

3.5 airships out of 5

MEGA MAN LEGENDS

fig. A

Evaluation: An oddball of sorts in the Mega Man family, Legends deviated from the traditional style of gameplay, opting instead for an action-RPG influence. This unconventional 3D foray included a cute little airship, the Flutter (fig. A).

fig. B

Despite its petite physique, this ship appears to be quite spry (fig. B), and the fact that it even exists in a Mega Man universe is surprising in itself.

Rank:

3 airships out of 5

PANZER DRAGOON (series)

fig. A

Evaluation: Airships are a fine fit for this series built around dragon-based combat. The above example (fig. A), from Panzer Dragoon Saga, has a unique, almost insect-like structure, complete with several pairs of what are surely deceptively strong wings.

fig. B

By contrast, from Panzer Dragoon Orta, we see a bulkier, more industrial design (fig. B), and from Panzer Dragoon II, an even more fascinating, conceptual mix of the two (fig. C).

fig. C

Rank:

3.5 airships out of 5

PATCHWORK HEROES

fig. A

Evaluation: This underrated gem is centered around strategic dismemberment of the airships invading a small town(fig. A). These brutes come in all manner of confounding designs which, despite being woefully displeasing aesthetically (fig. B), provide for a variety of challenges.

fig. B

Rank:

3 airships out of 5

ROCKET KNIGHT ADVENTURES

fig. A

Evaluation: Piloted by protagonist Sparkster’s malevolent nemesis, Axel, this pink-hued, pig-like craft (fig. A) seems to be subject to some precarious construction (easily penetrated outer hull, poorly attached front “snout”). Also of note: undoubtedly superfluous propellers (fig. B).

fig. B

Rank:

2.5 airships out of 5

SCRIBBLENAUTS

fig. A

Evaluation: Though delightfully cartoony (fig. A) and certainly useful in its own right, only one such craft appears in the game; entering zeppelin, airship or blimp will all result in the same object. With luck, though, future ships will be saved from such monotony by the inclusion of adjectives in Super Scribblenauts.

Rank:

2 airships out of 5

SKIES OF ARCADIA

fig. A

Evaluation: This sky-pirate epic features a bevy of airships; from the traditional (fig. A), to more imposing imperial units (fig. B), to a whole bunch of what have you (fig. C).

fig. B

fig. C

Colorful and vibrant, with a discernible anime flair, this group succeeds in capturing the pure wonder and essence of what a flying ship should be.

Rank:

4.5 airships out of 5

SUPER MARIO 64

fig. A

Evaluation: Appearing in the last main level of the game, Rainbow Ride, this rainbow Cruiser is one half pirate ship, one half Viking longboat. Despite the incessant flapping of the angelic wings protruding from from its hull (fig. B), the ship never manages to make any forward progress, a fact that unfortunately taints its final score.

fig. B

Rank:

1.5 airships out of 5

Super Smash Bros. (series)

fig. A

Evaluation: This Nintendo-star-studded fighting series actually features a couple of airships, and puts them to excellent use as grounds for battle. The first, as you’ll quickly recognize, is indeed the rainbow Cruiser from Super Mario 64, though now sporting an aesthetically pleasing redesign (fig. B). The dull wood of yore has been supplanted by a more vibrant, cleaner finish, complete with swirling gold trim. Finally, note the improved mast and fine new rear propulsion system.

fig. B

We also have the impressive Halberd, fortress and airship of Meta-Knight (fig. A, fig. C). Though it bears the mysterious face of its owner, this craft’s most unique trait is undoubtedly the immense pair of wings it uses for flight in addition to powerful rear thrusters. Outfitted with a powerful laser, a grappling arm, and all manner of other guns, the Halberd certainly a force to be reckoned with.

fig. C

Rank:

4 airships out of 5

SUPER MARIO BROS. 3

fig. A

Evaluation: Airships have made appearances in other Mario games, but the one we see here is perhaps the most well-known. Though the game art seen here (fig. A) is a decent representation of the ship in question, it does contain some structural inaccuracies. The ship in the game does not, in fact, have several towering pinwheels, nor is it as compact as the picture would have you believe (fig. B).

fig. B

Though this airship is outfitted with what could almost be described as ‘too many’ cannons, it is not as secure as one would think. Time and again Mario is able to easily make his way onto the ship via the ever-exposed anchor (fig. C), a serious design flaw that unfortunately undermines much of this airship’s credibility.

fig. C

Rank:

2.5 airships out of 5

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2

fig. A

Evaluation: Like the Zone that bears its name, Dr. Robotnik’s Wing Fortress airship (fig. A) is the penultimate level of Sonic 2. This monstrosity of a craft is fitted with a variety of death traps  intended to decimate Sonic, including precarious platforms (fig. B), an egg shooting badnik known as a Clucker (fig.C), and the always looming possibility of a fatal drop.

fig. B

fig. C

Rank:

3 airships out of 5

STEEL EMPIRE

fig. A

Evaluation:  In their struggle against the ruthless Motorhead Empire, the Republic of Silverhead relies on their Z-01 Zeppelin, a seemingly outmatched (fig. B)combat ship.

fig. B

Though this meager airship lacks the iron-clad savagery of a Motorhead warship, it more than makes up for it with its ability to shoot from both the front and the rear. This skill, combined with the always useful Lightning Bomb, makes the Z-01 deceptively effective during battle.

Rank:

3.5 airships out of 5

THE SABOTEUR

fig. A

Evaluation: Some airships, regardless of size or beauty, simply must be destroyed, as is the case in The Saboteur. These particular vessels have been tainted with Nazi symbols and intentions, and the only cure comes via a rocket launcher (fig. A).

Even if they weren’t Nazi-possessed, these airships really would offer little in terms of originality; even their death sequence is a little too ‘Hindenburg’.

Rank:

1.5 airships out of 5

WORLD OF WARCRAFT

fig. A

Evaluation: These two gunships, the Skybreaker (fig. B) and Orgrim’s Hammer (fig. A) act as quest hubs for the Alliance and the Horde, respectively.

fig. B

Both bear imposing animal heads on their bows and sport a similar array of weapon, including bombs and cannons. The twin balloons holding Orgrim’s Hammer aloft are visually more impressive than the numerous propeller engines of the Skybreaker, but otherwise there’s quite a lot of aesthetic parity between the two.

Rank:

3.5 airships out of 5

ZEPPELIN: GIANTS OF THE SKY

Evaluation: Released in 1993 for the PC and Amiga, Zeppelin: Giants of the Sky is, if nothing else, the purest airship experience one could hope to find in a video game. At its core, the game is a zeppelin-management simulation, and a deep one to boot. After choosing choosing a captain from among these dapper chaps (fig. A), your ship and its business are yours to command.

fig. A

Controlling the finances, production, upkeep (fig. C), and travel schedule (fig. B) of your aircraft can seem overwhelming at first, but the sepia-toned visuals and adventurous music quickly instill a sense of nostalgia for this era you never knew you had.

fig. B

fig. C

Rank:

5 Golden Airships