RETURN OF THE AERO FIGHTERS
For In-depth Analysis of gameplay, graphics and sound please check the review for Aero Fighters.
Slammin' the base.
Sturmvogel Prime wrote:It is also a flicker of hope, 'cos maybe, sooner or later we would end up receiving the rest of Video System's catalogue. Yeah, that could mean Turbo Force and Aero Fighters could be in the Arcade Archives series someday, completing the "Trilogy" that was continued in ACA Neogeo. Can't wait for Hamster to announce those two.
Just as I predicted on both Arcade Archives reviews of Rabio Lepus and Turbo Force. It finally happened. Aero Fighters is now on the Arcade Archives library.Sturmvogel Prime wrote:Now we only need Aero Fighters so we can have the complete library of Video System shmups by now, and I say "by now" since it might take a little more time for Aero Fighters Special/Sonic Wings Limited to reach the Arcade Archives library...
After learning from their mistakes with Turbo Force, Video System decided to give another shot on the shmup genre, and the modern military shooter Sonic Wings was born with smashing results becoming an arcade hit.
Unlike Rabio Lepus which was distributed by Bally-Midway (along with Sente), Sonic Wings was localized by Mc'O River, Video System's "American arm" under the name Aero Fighters, which was how Video System named and released the localized Neo-Geo sequels. Unlike Turbo Force who didn't had a port, Aero Fighters got a home port on the Super Nintendo (1993 in Japan/1994 in the USA), which like I said on the original review, it was a close recreation in gameplay and graphics, but the sounds went a bit off with that "Capcom guitaring" making it sound like Megaman X or something. But aside from that, it improved a little further on gameplay by including an extra difficulty level and even the ability of play with Rabio and Lepus through a secret code. Then, the PlayStation 2 got the first "Arcade Perfect" port as part of Oretachi Gesen Zoku in 2005. 16 Years later, Hamster re-released it as part of Sega Toys' Astro City Mini V which was a portable arcade cabinet which included other shmups like Raiden. 2 Years later, Aero Fighters is re-released again, this time on the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStations 4 and 5 as part of Arcade Archives. Yep, we can finally retire the Aero Fighters cartridge from our SNES and PS2 libraries. Like in Arcade Archives: Thunder Dragon 2, we can switch between Player 1 or 2, so we don't need a second controller to control the F-14 and F-15, and that's good since those two are the best jets of the game. While lacking of all the wonders of the Oretachi port, Hamster included scanned arcade flyers, but only for Sonic Wings. Along with the option of playing the Japanese or American versions, we have the Hi-Score Mode which is the No-continues Survival Mode and the Caravan Mode where we have to reach the highest score possible before the 5 minutes ran out in pure Star Soldier style. Like very few Arcade Archives titles, the Caravan Mode of Aero Fighters allows players to choose if they want to start from level 1 or level 6, I guess if they're looking for a higher difficulty time-attack mode, that's a good option.
TRIVIO FIGHTERS / CURIOSONIC WINGS
Your former shmup waifu is back.
And this time, she's here to stay!
- The Arcade Archives release is the third overall console port of the game.
- It is also the second arcade perfect port.
- Aero Fighters is also the fourth Video System title in the Arcade Archives main library, and 7th entry if we add the ACA Neogeo titles of the company.
- Second home port of Aero Fighters in both Sony and Nintendo consoles.
- The re-release of Aero Fighters in Arcade Archives completes the former Oretachi Gesen Zoku lineup.
Glad to see the Aero Fighters back.
Hamster really surprised us this time, and what a surprise turned out to be. Aero Fighters is a classic of shooting, but also it closes the main trilogy that started in the ACA Neogeo line. It took a long way and wait to have this game again.
With the main three titles up, there's one little question left: ¿Will Aero Fighters Special/Sonic Wings Limited be included? I'm sure Hamster will bring it as Arcade Archives makes steps forward into the 90's as the 70-80's titles are running out. Even with Namco on its way, the "Sonic Fighters" are back and they're going to stay no matter what.
The Eda Scale reaches new heights thanks to the Aero Fighters.