Sonic Wings Special is the PS1 port of Video System's vertical shmup with multiple selectable pilots and a word bonus system. Demanding vertical arcade shooting gameplay with colorful characters. A pleasant niche shmup title for genre fans on PS1.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter2 players7+
Co-op
Description
Japanese Video System shoot them up, last PlayStation installment of the Sonic Wings/Aero Fighters series. Created by Video System, released in 1996 in Japan, 1997 in Europe under the Sonic Wings Special title. Over eight pilots with distinct aircraft including Mao Mao and Bobby, multi-regional vertically-scrolling levels, two-player cooperative mode and arcade rock soundtrack. Japanese and European edition under the Sonic Wings Special title.
The NTSC-J pressing of Video System's PS1 Aero Fighters port, Sonic Wings Special shipped in Japan six months ahead of Europe, in its original packaging with the obi spine card. It is the more available of the two regions, yet loose copies already trade above the PAL one, a sign of genuine demand from Japanese arcade-shmup fans. Sealed NTSC-J with an intact obi remains the prize.
Is Sonic Wings Special still worth playing in 2026?
A compilation and spin on Video System's Aero Fighters vertical shooter, Sonic Wings Special gathers a colourful cast of pilots with distinct planes and endings, in snappy action full of offbeat humour. The variety of characters, the branching replayability and the arcade pace stay gratifying. The high difficulty and a dated production are worth knowing. A likeable vertical shmup to recommend for fans of arcade shooting, scoring and 90s Japanese whimsy.
