Sonic Wings
Sonic Wings | |
---|---|
Promotional Flyer | |
Katakana | ソニックウイングス |
Developer | Video System |
Publisher |
Tecmo (JP) Mc O'River (NA, as Aero Fighters) |
Designer | Shin Nakamura |
Composer | Naoki Itamura |
Series | Sonic Wings |
Release date | 1992 |
Genre | Shooter |
Control | 8-way Joystick, 3 Buttons |
Orientation | Vertical |
CPU | Motorola 68000 @ 10 MHz |
Sound |
Z80 @ 4 MHz YM2610 @ 8 MHz |
Display | 15KHz |
Sonic Wings (ソニックウイングス), known as Aero Fighters outside of Japan, is a shooting game made by Video System and released in 1992. It is the first game in the Sonic Wings series. Sonic Wings is considered the prototype game for Psikyo, as designer Shin Nakamura would go on to found Psikyo shortly after release and most of the creative team that worked on Sonic Wings would follow Nakamura to Psikyo.
Story
"The world's hope hinges on your combat skills and sheer determination as an 'Aero Fighter'. Defend the world from unknown alien forces that are attempting to take over the world. You must extract these unknown forces before they can execute their plot for dominance. After conquering the unknown forces, the battle continues into space where the 'controlling intellect' dictated the take-over attempt. You must seek and destroy this evil force to prevent it from seizing other worlds."[1]
Characters
There are a total of eight selectable characters, however players do not have completely free choice of which characters they may select. The pilots come in teams of two, and in a two-player game, both players must play as that team. Pilots are also locked to the 1P or 2P side.
Nation | Player 1 | Player 2 |
---|---|---|
United States | Blaster Keaton (F/A-18 Hornet) | Keith Bishop (F-14 Tomcat) |
Japan | Hien (FSX] | Mao Mao (F-15 Eagle) |
Sweden | Kohful The Viking (AJ-37) | Tee-Bee 10 (JAS 39 Gripen) |
United Kingdom | Lord River N. White (Tornado IDS) | Villiam Syd Pride (AV-8 Harrier II) |
Gameplay
The first three stages of the game are randomly selected from the countries not of the pilot's origin. After the first three stages have been completed, the game becomes linear with every team completing the same stages in the same order.
The players' normal shot can be upgraded up to four times, however the fourth power level is only granted for a limited time. Players can carry a maximum of four bombs.
The game features a second loop with different endings for each loop.
Sequels
Sonic Wings ostensibly has two sets of sequels; one is the direct line of sequels released by Video System and the second is the Nakamura-released Psikyo spiritual sequels.
References
- ↑ Aero Fighters English SNES manual, as found at Sonic Wings - Sonic Wings Wiki