Sonic Wings 2 or Sonic Wings 3- which rulez?

[mjclark]

Been playing about with neoDS and couldn't get any sound on Sonic Wings 2 or 3 (and couldn't get any meters or displays on Strikers 1945 Plus either, but Pulstar, Blazing Star, Last Hope and Zed Blade are lovely) so dug out Neo4All on my Dreamcast and got playing them on there but I'm interested in people's opinions cos Sonic Wings never gets a good press.But then neither does Shienryu or Stahlfeder and I love them too

[Limbrooke]

I seem to have preferred Sonic Wings 3 over the rest of the series for a while now. There are issues (300k for the extend, random bosses/scenery, etc..) but pardon Sonic Wings Limited, really shows how far the series came despite being a on a horizontal display.

I enjoy the music in SW3 over the rest of the series and I think it has a good ship selection too. Diabloon is probably the most challenging ship to use and looking over the rest there is a ship for nearly any preference.

What little scoring exists can be interesting with the option for selectable paths in both loops and it makes up for the depth lacking in the overall difficulty of the game. Not only, but it's not too long (11 minutes per loop) making for easier decision to just pick up and play. Perhaps it's a little short but there's lots of variety (even the nearly give-away bonus stages) and for me it's fun.

Comparing this to the last iteration, Limited, SW3 is easier to be sure but the ship selection, item scoring, and level layouts are far more appealing.

But then neither does Shienryu or Stahlfeder and I love them too

I liked Stahlfeder, back when I had only played literally less than a handful of modern shooting games. I don't dislike it now but it's more or less a foot-note of a time long ago, so almost irrelevant discussion wise.

[viniciusvbf]

Sonic Wings 2 is the best game ever

[professor ganson]

I have always been turned off by the horizontal display, and have preferred to play Sonic Wings Special.

[kernow]

2 is definitely more fun and has more charm, one of my fave shooters on the neo, mainly because I don't really rate the others that much as being fun.

[Riot Zone]

First Sonic wings is the best imho. Even the snes version I like.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've got to admit it's quite fun to play both Sonic Wings/Aero Fighters 2 & 3 on the Neo-Geo MVS platform for ol' times sake -- a trip down memory lane when arcade shmups were still being made back in the 1990s. Tis a shame that a proper tate MVS arcade shmup title was never released.

Have got a spare Sonic Wings 2 MVS cart up for sale. Just need to print out a proper SW-2 label for it and you're good to go. Just PM me and we'll go on from there.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[mjclark]

I'm noticing a lot of love for Video System in this forum all of a sudden

[Sturmvogel Prime]

I Prefer Aero Fighters 2, AF3/SW3 change from jets to prop-planes makes it a lame 194X clone, and if i wanna play a prop-plane game i'd play Sky Shark

[No_not_like_Quake]

Been awhile but I remember Sonic Wings 2 being a decent vertizontal. Good even. Last stage was weird though.

Didn't play 3 much. Seemed weird though, graphically.

[spadgy]

My experience of number 3 is far more limited (hence why I'm after buying and MVS cart version), but I do really like 2, not because it's any kind of critical masterpiece, but because it has that crazy Video System vibe going on.

Certainly, as a vertizontal, it's really good fun. I've got the first one on PCB too, but it doesn't quite do it for me as much as 2.

2 was actually the game that got me into shmups on a more dedicated level. I was a reqular at a really crusty club/pub in South East London called the Goldsmiths Tavern (before it became a wine bar), and they had AF2 on a cab there. When I wasn't dancing about like an idiot, I was tearing through credits...

[twalden]

I prefer 2, but the drum and bass soundtrack of 3 is so great.

[Herr Schatten]

I'm noticing a lot of love for Video System in this forum all of a sudden

And rightfully so. Their games are criminally underappreciated, first and foremost Sonic Wings Special.

[spadgy]

I'm noticing a lot of love for Video System in this forum all of a sudden

And rightfully so. Their games are criminally underappreciated

I agree with this. They have this maniacal character which is really distinct. Even the random gameplay elements (most evident in Turbo force) that to a certain extent undermine the scoring mechnics are great, in that they give the games this insane, edgy feel. Truly unhinged and truly wonderful.

In the face of how seriously we (I included) take this genre, and how refined and sincere so much output is at a mechanics and design level, Video System games stand out as a delightfully irreverant and atypical.

If any shmup were to be committed to an asylum, it would be a Video System game, but you'd want to break it out and let it run riot down the street, upsetting the neighbours and dancing naked outside the church of shmup.

[Lavis]

I'm fond of both games; but in terms of soundtrack... I'd choose 3 over 2 any day.

[Alec]

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