Sonic Wings (ソニックウィングス), also known as Aero Fighters, is a vertically scrolling shooter originally released in arcades in 1992 by Video System and ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. It was the first game in the Sonic Wings series.
Overview[]
Sonic Wings's game play consists of a scrolling screen with airplane sprites that shoot at various enemy targets to earn points and avoid being attacked. The artillery power of the player's craft can be increased through power-ups obtained by destroying certain large targets. Each craft also has a different special weapon which can be deployed a limited number of times; extra special weapons can also be obtained from defeating enemies. Finally, extra points are available in the form of "money" left when the player destroys some stationary targets.
The original Sonic Wings is by far the most serious of the six games in the series. Although it does have its light moments, it lacks the wacky characters and silly situations featured in later games, in which the series becomes something of a parody of this first game. Eight pilots, two each from the USA, Japan, Sweden, and England - have the job of stopping the enemy's attacks around the world and beyond. There is a superficial storyline attached to each character, and each has their own reasons for fighting the enemy. Some of the characters appear in later games in the series and/or in other Video System games.
Story[]
translated from the Japanese game manual
The year is 19XX. Now, for some reason, the Earth is on the brink of destruction. Major cities around the world are occupied by someone, and the Earth side is powerless to do anything. However, eight warriors from around the world have risen up!! Each of them, by their own will (though some of them are not...), boards a fighter plane for their own purpose and takes off into the sky. Will they be able to save the Earth? Or what will happen when they achieve their purpose...? Fight with your own feelings in your heart, Sonic Warriors!!
Pilots and Aircraft[]
| Country | Pilot | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Keaton, Blaster | F-18 Hornet |
| Bishop, Keith | F-14 Tomcat | |
| Japan | Hien | FSX |
| Mao Mao | F-15 Eagle | |
| Sweden | Kowful | AJ-37 Viggen |
| Tee-Bee A-10 | JAS-39 Gripen | |
| England | Sid Pride, William | AV-8 Harrier II |
| River-n-White, Lord | IDS | |
| Secret (SNES only) | Rabio | N/A |
| Lepus | N/A |
Stages and Bosses[]
Sonic Wings contains eight stages. The order of the first six stages is random.
| Stage | Location | Boss |
|---|---|---|
| A | New York, USA | New Jersey |
| B | Tokyo, Japan | Super X Kai |
| C | The Alps, Sweden | Holly Mountain |
| D | Dover, England | Avro Vulcan Bomber |
| E | Syrian Desert, Middle East | Vazeel |
| F | Mediterranean Sea | Pomornik |
| 7 | Red Square, Russia | MiG 31 |
| 8 | Outer Space | Station Core Osaru Pandora |
Releases[]
Arcade[]
Sonic Wings was released in arcades in Japan, as well as internationally under the title of Aero Fighters to avoid association with the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Super Famicom/Super Nintendo[]
Sonic Wings's release on the Super Famicom (Japan) and Super Nintendo (US) included some special unlockables (see codes below) and the secret playable characters Rabio and Lepus. The Super Famicom game package included the box, game cartridge, manual, customer survey, and AC adapter instructions.
The Super Nintendo game package included at least the box, game cartridge, and manual. Fewer copies were released than for most SNES games, making it extremely rare.
PlayStation 2[]
Sonic Wings was the sixth entry in the Oretachi Geasen Zoku Sono series, which featured many classic arcade games rereleased for the PlayStation 2, along with soundtracks and other extras. The game package included the case, game disc, manual, "Sonic Wings Official Guidebook Special Edition" brochure, replica of the arcade instruction flyer, trading card, soundtrack CD, and a DVD including a promo video, remix from the soundtrack, and playthrough of the game with Kowful in single-player mode.
Astro City Mini V[]
Sonic Wings was included with 21 other games in the Astro City Mini V mini console developed by Sega and Mikado, released in 2022.
Nintendo Switch & PlayStation 4[]
Aero Fighters was released digitally for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on December 14, 2023, as part of Hamster Corporation's Arcade Archives series.
Soundtracks[]
- Sonic Wings Soundtrack
- Oretachi Geasen Zoku Sono 6: Sonic Wings Soundtrack
- Sonic Wings - Video System Arcade Sound Digital Collection Vol. 1
Secrets[]
Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Unlockables[]
- Playable characters Rabio and Lepus: at the character selection screen, hold down the R button on the second controller, and enter the following code on the first controller: Left, Down, Right, X, Y, A, B, Left, Down, Right, Down, X, Y, A, B. This will allow you to access all four random stages.
- Timed dog fight with bosses: at the character selection screen, hold down the R button on the second controller, and enter the following code on the first controller: A, Left, Y, Right, X, Down, B, Up.
- Super Hard Mode: on the title screen where it says, "1 PLAYER, 2 PLAYERS, OPTION," hold down the R button, and enter the following code on the first or second controller: Up, Left, Down, Right, B, A, X, Y. Go to the option menu, and scroll the difficulty settings. The difficulty mode "SUPER" should appear.
- This mode can also be accessed by finishing the game on "HARD" mode.
- 18 continues (Japanese version only): On the screen where it says "(C) 1993 VIDEO SYSTEM CO., LTD." with the "V" logo, hold down the L button on the second controller, and quickly enter the following code on the first controller: Left, Down, Right, X, Y, A, B, Left, Down, Right, Down, X, Y, A, B. A tone will sound if the code is entered correctly. Go to the options menu and scroll the continue settings to allow up to 18 continues during gameplay.
| Games | |
|---|---|
| Sonic Wings Series | Sonic Wings · Sonic Wings 2 · Sonic Wings 3 · Sonic Wings Special · Sonic Wings Special for Android · Sonic Wings Limited · Sonic Wings Assault · Sonic Wings Reunion |
| Sonic Wings Related | Gapporin · Karate Blazers · Lethal Crash Race · The Mahjong Touhaiden · Ojanko High School · Power Spikes II · Rabio Lepus · Rabio Lepus Special · Spinal Breakers · SukuSuku Inufuku · SukuSuku Inufuku 2 · Tao Taido · Turbo Force |
| Other Video System Games | 3 On 3 Dunk Madness · F-1 Grand Prix · F-1 Grand Prix Part II · F-1 Grand Prix Part III · Hyper V-Ball · Pipe Dream · Power Spikes · Super Volleyball · Tail to Nose: Great Championship |
| Unreleased Games | Droppers · Metal Rabbit |