About

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Aero Fighters (known in Japan as <em>Sonic Wings</em>) is a <a href="/vertical-scrolling/3015-1899/" data-ref-id="3015-1899">vertical-scrolling</a> shoot-'em-up developed by <a href="/video-system-co-ltd/3010-1760/" data-ref-id="3010-1760">Video System</a> and released by <a href="/tecmo/3010-7421/" data-ref-id="3010-7421">Tecmo</a> (<a href="/mcoriver/3010-1761/" data-ref-id="3010-1761">McO'River</a> in North America) for <a href="/arcade/3045-84/" data-ref-id="3045-84">arcades</a> in 1992.</p><p>The first in <a href="/aero-fighters/3025-826/" data-ref-id="3025-826">a series of shoot-'em-ups</a> by Video System, and a <a href="/spiritual-successor/3015-425/" data-ref-id="3015-425">spiritual successor</a> to the 1991 game <a href="/turbo-force/3030-86800/" data-ref-id="3030-86800">Turbo Force</a>, Aero Fighters puts players in one of eight real-life military aircraft from four countries (<a href="/the-united-states-of-america/3035-396/" data-ref-id="3035-396">U.S.A.</a>, <a href="/japan/3035-37/" data-ref-id="3035-37">Japan</a>, <a href="/sweden/3035-922/" data-ref-id="3035-922">Sweden</a>, and <a href="/united-kingdom/3035-492/" data-ref-id="3035-492">U.K.</a>), each with their own unique weaponry, as they battle numerous threats throughout the world.</p><p>Along with its multiple aircraft to choose from, the game is known for its various cast of pilots, some of which are <a href="/comic-relief/3015-1125/" data-ref-id="3015-1125">comical</a> (such as a <a href="/viking/3015-1543/" data-ref-id="3015-1543">viking</a> and a <a href="/robot/3015-278/" data-ref-id="3015-278">robot</a>) and their own unique endings and interactions (with special endings and pre-stage dialogue for different multiplayer combinations). It also features a randomized stage loadout, in which the first three stages are randomized based on the nation the players did <em>not</em> choose.</p><p>The game later received a home console port for the <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a>, first released by Video System in Japan (on June 30, 1993), then by McO'River in North America (on November 1994). It changes the game to run on a horizontal resolution (despite its vertical scrolling, a system they used in the game's sequels), replaced the soundtrack, and includes bonus hidden content (including the protagonists from <a href="/rabbit-punch/3030-40407/" data-ref-id="3030-40407">Rabbit Punch</a> as playable characters).</p><p>The development staff of Aero Fighters broke off soon after release to form <a href="/psikyo/3010-4315/" data-ref-id="3010-4315">Psikyo</a>, believed to be due to Video System's plans to start developing on <a href="/neo-geo/3045-25/" data-ref-id="3045-25">Neo Geo</a> hardware (which uses a horizontal resolution, rather than the traditional vertical one). Their first game, <a href="/samurai-aces/3030-30543/" data-ref-id="3030-30543">Samurai Aces</a>, is often seen as a <a href="/spiritual-successor/3015-425/" data-ref-id="3015-425">spiritual successor</a> to Aero Fighters and uses a similar multi-character system.</p><p>The game later received a Japan-exclusive <a href="/playstation-2/3045-19/" data-ref-id="3045-19">PlayStation 2</a> port in 2005 as part of the <a href="/oretachi-game-center-zoku/3025-3563/" data-ref-id="3025-3563">Oretachi Ge-sen Zoku</a> series.</p><h2>Aircraft &amp; Characters</h2><p>The game includes eight different aircraft (with two additional hidden ones in the SNES version), each with their own weaponry and firepower.</p><h3>U.S.A.</h3><ul><li><a href="/f-a-18-hornet/3055-4992/" data-ref-id="3055-4992"><strong>F/A-18 Hornet</strong></a> (P1) - Piloted by the fighter pilot <a href="/blaster-keaton/3005-24840/" data-ref-id="3005-24840">Blaster Keaton</a>.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="/f-14-tomcat/3055-3663/" data-ref-id="3055-3663"><strong>F-14 Tomcat</strong></a> (P2) - Piloted by the fighter pilot <a href="/keith-bishop/3005-24855/" data-ref-id="3005-24855">Keith Bishop</a>.</li></ul><h3>Japan</h3><ul><li><strong>FS-X</strong> (P1) - Piloted by the <a href="/ninja/3015-12/" data-ref-id="3015-12">ninja</a> <a href="/hien/3005-14097/" data-ref-id="3005-14097">Hi-En</a>.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="/f-15-strike-eagle/3055-3662/" data-ref-id="3055-3662"><strong>F-15 Eagle</strong></a> (P2) - Piloted by the idol singer <a href="/mao-mao/3005-14088/" data-ref-id="3005-14088">Mao-Mao</a>.</li></ul><h3>Sweden</h3><ul><li><strong>AJ-37 Viggen</strong> (P1) - Piloted by the <a href="/viking/3015-1543/" data-ref-id="3015-1543">viking</a> <a href="/kowful-the-viking/3005-24856/" data-ref-id="3005-24856">Kohful</a>.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>JAS-39 Gripen</strong> (P2) - Piloted by the <a href="/robot/3015-278/" data-ref-id="3015-278">robot</a> <a href="/tee-bee/3005-24862/" data-ref-id="3005-24862">Tee-Bee 10</a>.</li></ul><h3>U.K.</h3><ul><li><strong>AV-8 Harrier</strong> (P1) - Piloted by the princely <a href="/william-pride/3005-24861/" data-ref-id="3005-24861">Villiam Sid Pride</a>.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Tornado IDS</strong> (P2) - Piloted by the elderly <a href="/river-n-white/3005-24860/" data-ref-id="3005-24860">Lord River N. White</a>.</li></ul><h3>Hidden</h3><p>The SNES version of the game has a hidden squad, which are the playable protagonists from Video System's earlier shoot-'em-up <a href="/rabbit-punch/3030-40407/" data-ref-id="3030-40407">Rabbit Punch</a>. Both of them are rabbit-shaped robots who pilot themselves. Rabio appears in all versions in Mao-Mao's ending.</p><ul><li><a href="/rabio/3005-24859/" data-ref-id="3005-24859"><strong>Rabio</strong></a> (P1)</li></ul><ul><li><a href="/lepus/3005-24858/" data-ref-id="3005-24858"><strong>Lepus</strong></a> (P2)</li></ul>