Airport Hero Osaka-KIX

The game's cover

      "i am an air traffic controller: Airport Hero Osaka-KIX (also known as Airport Hero Kansai and known in Japan as Airport Hero Kankuu SKY-STORY)" is the third game in the Airport Hero series.

## Game Information

The game is based in Kansai International Airport, located in the Osaka Bay in Japan. It is one of the few airports in the world to be on an artificial island. The game has three modes, including the new Story Mode. It featured 9 new airlines and a few new destinations. It is the only AH game on the 3DS to not have a demo version. An All-Stars version was made for this Airport.

New additions for the game include:

* Improved detail on plane models, such as:
	+ Better engine detail
	+ Improved landing gear animation
	+ Aircraft light glitch fixed
	+ Smaller details included
	+ Airplane window detail

* Story Mode
* Emergency Flights
* 9 new airlines, plus previous ones
* Better aircraft control
* Specific terminals for each airline/s
* Aircraft ascend/descend options
* New camera views

More info below

The airport design itself has also improved. There is more detail in the buildings. Buses, cars, and airport vehicles can also be seen along the outside roads. There is a pair of red trains that transport travelers from the ends of the airport

## Game Description

(From the official Nintendo page)

KIX is one of the world's very few airports on the ocean, built on an artificial island!

KIX, with two runways, is a busy airport that operates 24 hours a day, full of international airplanes in the day, and as an airline hub for international cargo flights at night.

Your skills are challenged to operate smooth air traffic control at KIX packed with many airplanes!

Challenge air traffic control with 2 game modes!

Challenge air traffic control while enjoying dramatic story in "Story Mode" or score the target point to clear the stage in simple "Operation Mode"!

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## Kansai Int'l Airport

 The main terminal at Kansai

 ### Location

 Osaka Bay, Kansai Region, Japan

 ### Number of Runways

 4

 ### Airport Code

 KIX

 ### Opened

 1994

 ### Game hub for

 Japan Lines

```

## Airport Information

Kansai was built to relieve overcrowding at Osaka Airport, which now only handles domestic traffic. Kansai opened on 4 September 1994 to relieve overcrowding at the original Osaka International Airport, referred to as ***Itami Airport***, The airport serves as an international hub for All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines, and also serves as a hub for Peach, the first international low-cost carrier in Japan. In 2016, 25.2 million passengers used the airport making it the 30th busiest airport in Asia and 3rd busiest in Japan. Freight volume was at 802,162 tonnes total, of which 757,414 tons were international (18th in the world), and 44,748 tons were domestic. Kansai was named Best Airport Staff in Asia, World’s Best Airport Staff and World’s Best Airport for Baggage Delivery in 2020.

Click here to learn more about Kansai Airport

The game version of Kansai Airport has two passenger terminals, two cargo terminals, and two aircraft hangars, one for air services and one for the JCG.

### Terminals

* Domestic Terminal
* North Int'l Terminal
* South Int'l Terminal
* Terminal 2 (Regional Terminal)
* Cargo Terminal
* PHC Terminal (part of Cargo Terminal)
* JCG Hangar
* Air service hangar

### Runways

* 06R/24L
* 06L/24R

### Airlines

At Kansai, you will see the following airlines

* Japan Lines
* All Japan Airways
* Japan Sky
* Azix Airlines
* Starpole Airlines
* Unicorn Airlines
* Wing China
* Sky German
* Air Taiwan
* Air Euro
* Japan Coast Guard
* Japan Cargo
* Asia Express (Camera Stage only)
* Air Phoenix Cargo

## Features

The release of the game came with many new features, many of which received positive reactions.

### Hero Coins

(Main Article: Hero Coins)

This feature was carried down from the Narita game. Hero Coins are earned by completing stages. You earn more depending on your rank for the stage. Unlike in Narita, where the coins are used to buy additional stages, the coins are used in Kansai to buy additional views and slots for Camera stages. However, after all the slots have been purchased, the coins become redundant.

### Story Mode

The new story mode feature replaces the tutorial mode. The player will work with two other ATC recruits under their supervisor through the story. The stages in story mode are the same as the ones in operation mode, however, in story mode, the recruits are there to assist you throughout the stages.

### Camera Views

In previous games, players could toggle views from the aircraft view, airport (aerial) view, and the tower view. Osaka-KIX introduces several new views available for purchase with Hero Coins, the most notable being the airplane window view, allowing players to look out the side of a flight's window as if they were a passenger. Fans have also requested a cockpit view, it is very likely that we will see this in future games.

Some other views include at ends of the runway, where players can watch flights as they touch down. There are also views for certain locations, such as the cargo, JCG, and LCC (low-cost carrier) terminals to get a better view of the airport.

During heavy weather, there may be a power failure and cause the player to lose access to some of the main views, usually the aircraft and tower views, forcing the player to rely on other views.

### Weather

This game comes with more diverse weather patterns than the previous games, along with the usual: sun, clouds, and rain.

#### Fog

AH Narita also featured fog, but it now has varying degrees of thickness in Kansai. Fog severely reduces visibility and also renders some views unusable. It will be very difficult for the player to use tower, airport, and terminal views, so they will need to rely on the aircraft view as well as the lights of nearby airplanes.

#### Storm

    This is not to be confused with rain. A heavy storm is a very difficult situation that combines low visibility, rain, and power failures. Aircraft views may go out, and rain and clouds will make using the tower and terminal views hard, but possible. Aerial views will also be unusable due to clouds.

When creating a Camera Stage, if the weather box appears with a "?", it means the player will be facing a fierce storm.