AeroWings
{{Short description|1999 video game}}
{{Refimprove|date=March 2010}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = AeroWings
|image = Aerowings.jpg
|developer = CRI Middleware
|publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|CRI Middleware|WW|Crave Entertainment}}
|director = Toru Kujirai
|designer =
|engine =
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|March 4, 1999|NA|September 9, 1999|EU|October 29, 1999}}
|genre = Flight simulator
|modes = Single-player, multiplayer
|platforms = Dreamcast
}}
AeroWings, known in Japan as {{nihongo|Aero Dancing featuring Blue Impulse|エアロダンシング {{ruby|featuring Blue Impulse|フューチャリング ブルーインパルス}}|Earo Danshingu Fyūcharingu Burū Inparusu}}, is a flight simulator for Sega's Dreamcast video game console. The player can train with squads, learn the ropes of handling the aircraft, and doing tricks after mastering the different stunts.
The difference between the Japanese and other versions outside the country was, as the Japanese version was only licensed by Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic display team, it featured liveries that of the team.
Gameplay
AeroWings is focused on the formation flight and aerobatic, and the player is a flight team leader. The game is considered as the first true attempt of combat flight simulation on console. On the contrary of the arcade-oriented Ace Combat, AeroWings series provides fairly accurate flight physics, 3D cockpits views, real weapons loads, possibilities to take off, land on airbase or carrier, refueling and a replay video system which is able to record the entire flight and offering the possibility to create own movie with more than 30 different cameras (including the popular "shaky cam").
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| GR = 72%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/196552-aerowings/index.html |title=AeroWings for Dreamcast |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505064632/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/196552-aerowings/index.html |archive-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2021}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18666&tab=review |title=AeroWings - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114183709/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18666&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2021}}
| CNG = 8/10{{cite web |last=Franklin |first=Eric |date=October 8, 1999 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Aerowings/ |title=AeroWings |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816022153/http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Aerowings/ |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2021}}
| Edge = 4/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/7/73/Edge_UK_071.pdf |title=Aero Dancing |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=71 |date=May 1999 |pages=74–75 |access-date=October 10, 2021 |archive-date=September 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917211838/https://retrocdn.net/images/7/73/Edge_UK_071.pdf |url-status=live }}
| EGM = 5/10{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=AeroWings |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=124 |date=November 1999}}
| Fam = 30/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3198&redirect=no |title=ドリームキャスト - エアロダンシング |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |volume=915 |date=June 30, 2006 |page=49 |access-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009182958/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3198&redirect=no |url-status=live }}
| GI = 7/10{{cite magazine |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4345 |title=AeroWings |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=78 |date=October 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000523032151/http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4345 |archive-date=May 23, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2021}}
| GamePro = (S.L.) {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Scary Larry |date=October 5, 1999 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/2231.shtml |title=Aerowings [sic] Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041110234903/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/2231.shtml |archive-date=November 10, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game three 4/5 scores for graphics, sound, and overall fun factor, and 3.5/5 for control in one review.}}
(T.R.) {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |author=The Rookie |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bb/GamePro_US_133.pdf |title=AeroWings |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |issue=133 |date=October 1999 |page=147 |accessdate=October 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107212837/https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bb/GamePro_US_133.pdf |url-status=live }}{{efn|GamePro gave the game 4.5/5 for graphics, 2.5/5 for sound, 3/5 for control, and 3.5/5 for overall fun factor in another review.}}
| GameRev = B{{cite web |author=SlaiG_i |date=October 1999 |url=http://www.game-revolution.com/games/dreamcast/flight/aerowings.htm |title=Aerowings [sic] |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419112627/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/dreamcast/flight/aerowings.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2021}}
| GSpot = 6.6/10{{cite web |last=Mielke |first=James |date=March 24, 1999 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/aero-wings-review/1900-2540011/ |title=Aero Wings [sic] Review [JP Import] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=October 9, 2021}}
| GSpy = 4/10{{cite web |author=Ares |date=September 21, 1999 |url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/aerowings/ |title=Aerowings [sic] |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124054547/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/aerowings/ |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2021}}
| IGN = 8/10{{cite web |last=Blache III |first=Fabian |date=September 8, 1999 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/09/aerowings |title=AeroWings |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009182959/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/09/aerowings |url-status=live }}
}}
The game received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.
Sequels
=Aero Wings 2: Airstrike / Aero Dancing F=
{{Main|AeroWings 2: Airstrike}}
The second game in the series is AeroWings 2: Airstrike, or AeroWings 2: Strike Force in UK. Unlike its predecessor, it features aerial combat simulation. It was released for the Dreamcast and Windows.
=Aero Dancing I=
The third game, Aero Dancing i, was only released in Japan, for the Dreamcast and Windows. The "i" stands for Internet, as it was the first title of the series with an online mode. It was also the first in the series to offer air-to-ground missions. On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 31 out of 40.ドリームキャスト - エアロダンシングi. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.53. 30 June 2006.
=Aero Elite / Aero Dancing 4=
{{Main|Aero Elite: Combat Academy}}
The fourth game in the series is Aero Elite: Combat Academy. It was only released for the PlayStation 2. The last sequel of the series was also considered the best: quality graphics, very detailed and animated 3D plane models, over 60 planes to fly (including Mig 29, SU27, Mirage2000, Harrier, A10, Tornado, etc.), challenging missions and new original features like the "scramble" mode - a random interception mission where a player must take off, intercept an unknown intruder plane, take pictures to identify it, then return to the base and land to finish the mission.
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061206083032/http://www.aerodancing.jp/ Official Japanese website]
- {{moby game|id=/dreamcast/aerowings}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aerowings}}
Category:Crave Entertainment games
Category:Flight simulation video games
Category:Japan Self-Defense Forces in fiction
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Japan
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