Captain Silver (シルバー 大尉) is a retired veteran of the United States military who fights to avenge the death of his war comrade and subordinate Randy. He is always accompanied by Randy's parrot, Flint.
Description[]
Silver's friend Randy was killed by Fata Morgana, apparently during the invasion depicted in Sonic Wings. Besides fighting to avenge Randy's death, Silver cares for Flint in his memory. Character notes in Pseudo Sky Rascals reveal that Silver's title in Sonic Wings 2 was meant to be "Colonel" and not "Captain"; however, so many magazines got the title wrong, the designers changed it to "Captain" for Sonic Wings Special.
Silver is normally taciturn, but he also can get emotional, particularly over Rnady. Most of the time, he views Flint as his only friend, and Silver spends his evenings drinking in a bar. He has little patience for some of the more exuberant members of Project Blue like Angela, but he respects the fighting abilities of Hien, Keaton, and the like. Nevertheless, Silver usually resists the attempts of the others to befriend him. His character description also points out that he's a bachelor and that he apparently worked at Cincia's residence for a while.[1]
A point garnering many comments from the other characters is Silver's completely bald head; his nose is on the large side. He is also characterized by his deep blue eyes and brown mustache; in Special/Limited, he has grown a matching goatee. Silver always wears a military green uniform, and in Special/Limited, he and Flint both wear headsets. In some game artwork, Silver is shown holding a set of dogtags, presumably Randy's.
Sonic Wings 2[]
Revenge for a Fallen Fellow
A veteran who wants to avenge the death of his former comrade. The parakeet [sic] with him is a memento of his fallen fellow.
—Aerofighters 2 English game manual
He is 50 years old, a veteran, and single. The parrot on his shoulder, "Flint," is a memento of his comrade Randy. It moves me to tears that he is joining the battle to avenge his comrade (actually, his subordinate) who was killed by a mysterious organization two years ago. Anyway, he is a very austere old man. His bald head and distinctive big nose are very impressive.
—Sonic Wings 3 Strategy Special guidebook
Captain Silver is focused solely on avenging Randy's death, and he seems unhappy even when he succeeds. In his single-player ending, after defeating the final boss, Silver returns to his lonely life with only Flint and a bartender for company.
In two-player mode, Silver can be paired with any of the other pilots:
- Angela: Angela is not overly respectful of Silver, calling him "wacky" and "old man." Silver puts up with it through the battles, but he's finally had enough of Angela after the final boss battle. Silver declares that they've saved the world, but Angela just prances around singing, earning herself a sound kick from Silver. In the Japanese version of the game, Angela interrupts Silver's thoughts of his lost comrade Randy.
- Arthur: Each is amazed at the other's age, and they argue a bit: Silver mocks Arthur's age, and Arthur mocks Silver's baldness. After the final boss battle, Silver's plane catches on fire; surrounded by flames, he declares that he will die a hero, while Flint looks around frantically. Arthur survives, but Silver and Flint seem to perish.
- Cincia and Ellen: Cincia and Ellen are rude to Silver at first, calling him old and bald. Still, they admire his fighting skills, and they agree to rub his head for luck. After the final boss battle, Cincia asks Silver to come to her house. As it turns out, Cincia just wants Flint for her own pet.
- Hien: Hien is at first impatient with Silver and critical of the captain's age. However, he's eventually impressed with Silver's fighting, and the two end up with a mutual respect for each other. After the final boss battle, Hien asks Silver to continue fighting with him, but Silver refuses and goes to the bar instead.
- Mecha-Keaton: Keaton isn't exactly respectful to Silver, calling him "old man" and commenting on his baldness, but Silver doesn't seem to mind too much. After the final boss battle, Keaton loses control of his plane and crashes; his body is destroyed, but Flint saves Keaton's head. Silver brings Keaton to Kowful who complains because Keaton has lost his body again.
- Mao Mao: Mao Mao rudely declares that Silver looks old, but they still get along well enough. After the final boss battle, Silver tells Mao Mao that he'll miss her because his parrot Flint is his only friend; however, she and the other pilots assure him that he isn't alone after all.
- Whity: Silver is amazed at Whity and questions how the dolphin is able to talk. However, Whity is encouraging, and the two get along pretty well. After the final boss battle, Silver and Whity rejoice that they have beaten the enemy, until the defeated boss crashes into their planes.
Sonic Wings 3[]
Silver appears in the game's ending in Whity and Chaika/Pooshika's 2P ending. After the final boss battle, the twins spy on Whity, trying to figure out how he can fly a plane. To their amazement, he takes off his head, revealing himself to be Captain Silver and Flint in a dolphin costume! But when the girls ask, "Really?" the game declares, "Well, no, not exactly" along with the images of two Martians. This enigmatic ending is never explained.
Sonic Wings Special/Sonic Wings Limited[]
For the Sake of His Fallen Comrade!
A veteran who set out to avenge his Vietnam War subordinate and comrade, Randy, who was killed by a mysterious "organization". The parrot Flint that sits on his shoulder is a memento of Randy. He is a stern old man with a bald head and a big nose. He has no wife or children.
—Sonic Wings Special manual
Silver now has a beard to accompany his mustache, and he and Flint wear headsets. In two-player mode, Silver is paired with Blaster Keaton.
One-Player Mode Endings[]
- Fight in Orbit final stage: After defeating the enemy, Silver and Flint go to the bar, where they sit alone save for the bartender.
- Another Dimension final stage: With Flint, Silver visits the grave of his fallen comrade, Randy. However, his visit is interrupted by Randy himself, who isn't dead after all. After their reunion, they live "happily ever after."
- Bermuda or Mars final stage: Silver and Flint are relieved that their mission is over, but then an explosion breaks out in their plane. Surrounded by flames, Silver says that they need to escape, but then the plane blows up. The game states that Silver and Flint were never seen again.
Two-Player Mode Ending - Human Keaton (Special only)[]
- No matter which boss is defeated, the same ending appears. Keaton discovers that some remnants of the enemy remain. Suffering a head wound, he stays behind and tells Silver to "hang in there" and go on ahead. Silver hopes that Keaton will return.
Two-Player Mode Endings - Mecha-Keaton[]
- Fight in Orbit final stage: Keaton and Silver go to William's house for food, where Silver, William, and Arthur watch in amazement as Keaton shovels in an omelet.
- Another Dimension final stage: Keaton's plane goes down again, but Flint rescues his head. Kowful reveals that he's finished "fixing" Keaton's old body, and the game asks if Keaton can return to his old self.
- Bermuda or Mars final stage: Silver and Keaton attempt to land on an aircraft carrier, but Keaton misses and sinks the ship.
Sonic Wings Special for Android[]
Silver and Flint reprise their role from Special, avenging Randy's death.
Inspiration[]
Captain Silver's name is a reference to the famous fictional pirate Long John Silver from Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island. Likewise, Flint is a reference to Long John Silver's parrot, who was named for Silver's former captain.
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