Sonic Wings Special SS/PS appreciation thread

[D]

Sonic Wings Special SS/PS appreciation thread
The reason for this appreciation thread is that I feel more people could enjoy this gem and since it is cheap everybody should be able to.

No other tate shmup has:
-Only non arcade console game with tate.
-26 completely different fighter jets to play with. Completely different fire, different amount of bombs.
Different time for automatic power down. Some have a hold fire attack. One helicopter plays exactly like under defeat. there are planes with auto aim. If you keep fire pressed it will fire forward, but with automatic it becomes auto aim, there are lots of nice differences between fighters.
-Different paths. A total of 4 different paths can be selected.
-Different stage layouts for the extra planes. The first level is VERY different.
-The ability to save progress. You can save progress, for let's say the last level, so that that last level can be practiced more. It's like a save state, but only between levels!

Other notable features that do exist onther tate games, but are still good.
-Ability to maximize credits in options, so you can never be enticed to credit feed! After your credit is gone, it's game over. This feature is practically non-existent in other shmups. Some do have it, butI rarely see this feature.
-Boss rush mode
-lots of different levels, some long, some very short
-A lot of work went into this game.
-Shmup wise there is no bigger bang for buck shmup out there

I recently noticed an annoyance in the ps version (I can't verify in the saturn version, I don't have it anymore)
When there's lots of sound effects and explosions some music channels become silent. I guess some channels are used for the sound effects.
This is annoying, but it is done in a reasonably subbtle manner. I wonder if somebody can verify on the Saturn version.
As stated the ps has better sound effects and the music quality is a bit better, but different, the Saturn version is a bot harsher, but perhaps I like it better that, judging way in retrospect.
This is basically Striker 1945 Zero.

Pros:
-cheap, too cheap. If this was a rare game and it would be expensive it would be totally worth it's expense
-lots of stuff in every aspect
-nice old school feel, but certainly not too old school

cons
-nice old school feel, might be bad for some! check the vid, if you like it, you like it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AD4Oeo1SwU
-the levels are a bit unbalanced, sometimes the next level is easier than the previous one, but oh well, that's not the end of the world is it?

Check out the great faq here. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/saturn/ ... 7641/27202
I can't imagine somebody watching the vid and reading the faq and not be enticed to play it!
So fellas, let me know what you think about this.

[shoe-sama]

OMG

TELL ME MORE

[Kaiser]

I 1cc'd psx version on another world route but no shit, i didn't know this game had SECRET PLANES

[D]

Are you guys flaming me? Is this thread already on the close thread nomination list?

[shoe-sama]

you just jinxed yourself lol

[Herr Schatten]

Are you guys flaming me?

I sure hope not.

Is this thread already on the close thread nomination list?

Not on mine.


Honestly, I also think the game should be appreciated more. For me it's clearly the best of all the Sonic Wings games and I think everyone who likes early Psikyo should at least try it, especially since the game can be had for cheap.

[Rob]

"completely different"

[Ceph]

If this was a rare game and it would be expensive it would be totally worth it's expense

Actually, the original Japanese PS1 release (not the reprint) is pretty rare.

[D]

Looky her, a multi assault tank.
http://cgi.ebay.nl/SONIC-WINGS-SPECIAL- ... dZViewItem

[Fighter17]

It's average.

[I'm Alec]

voted gem. but i really like sonic wings.

[shoe-sama]

hey where's the part where you talk about dolphins?

tell everyone about them dolphins man

[Ceph]

Looky her, a multi assault tank.
http://cgi.ebay.nl/SONIC-WINGS-SPECIAL- ... 0144008481

Yes, that's the version that is hard to find. Not expensive but hardly ever on ebay. Note that the one you linked to doesn't have the oh so valuable spine card.

[Dave_K.]

-Only non arcade console game with tate.

Non-arcade?

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9630
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... &start=250

[professor ganson]

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9630
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... &start=250

I wonder how rare the PCB is.

I'm a fan of SWS, though I sold it recently and got an Aerofighters PCB.

[Damocles]

-Only non arcade console game with tate.

Non-arcade?

Yep. Limited Arcade is different from Special console, and Special Arcade is apparently just English Limited Arcade.

That being said, both arcade and console games are ace. More people should participate in the SWS thread...and someone needs to start a thread for SWL...

[unsane]

and someone needs to start a thread for SWL...

I was surprised to see there's no score thread for the original game...

Also, for some reason SW3 doesn't appear in my games list in MAME. I have the right neogeo.zip too.

[Koa Zo]

Are you guys flaming me? Is this thread already on the close thread nomination list?

lol!

I'd say average, but after reading some of your highlights I'll have to give it another day in court.
I had been a huge fan of Aero Fighters in the US (mainly because the arcades didn't have any other shmups), but once I got Sonic Wings Special on Saturn it just didn't feel right, and I was so disappointed that after credit feeding it to the end once, I never played it again.

[Baby Bonnie Hood]

Special Arcade is apparently just English Limited Arcade.

I still wanna play it again. I only played it once a long time ago (and didn't even finish the gaming session), and I was called crazy for claiming it existed... :S