Wings (1990 video game)

Wings is a World War I video game developed and published by Cinemaware. It was released for the Amiga in 1990. The action sequences are similar in style to those of the 1927 silent film Wings.

Wings
Amiga cover art
Developer(s)Cinemaware
Raylight Games (GBA)
Publisher(s)Cinemaware
Producer(s)Jerry Albright
Designer(s)John Cutter
Programmer(s)Dan Pinal
Tim Hays
Artist(s)Jeffrey Hilbers
Writer(s)Kenneth Goldstein
Composer(s)Greg Haggard
Platform(s)Amiga, Game Boy Advance
ReleaseOctober 1990 (Amiga)
18 October 2002 (GBA)
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up, Air combat simulation
Mode(s)Single player

An enhanced version was released for the Game Boy Advance as Wings Advance in 2002. A remake of the original, Wings! Remastered, was published in 2014 and 2015 for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.

Gameplay

Wings is a classic video game that was first released in 1990, and it has stood the test of time as a beloved classic. The game features an immersive and engaging gameplay experience that puts you in the shoes of a World War I fighter pilot. The game's graphics may seem dated by today's standards, but its gameplay is still just as engaging and challenging as ever.

The game begins with a training mission that teaches you the basics of flight and combat. As you progress through the game, you'll face increasingly challenging missions that will test your skills and abilities as a pilot. From escorting bombers to engaging in dogfights with enemy planes and attacking ground targets, Wings offers a variety of exciting gameplay experiences.

The controls are simple and intuitive, with the arrow keys allowing you to maneuver your plane and the space bar allowing you to fire your machine gun. You can also drop bombs by pressing the "B" key. The game features a variety of planes to choose from, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Some planes are faster but have weaker armor, while others are slower but can withstand more damage.

One of the most impressive features of Wings is the sense of immersion it creates. The game is played from a first-person perspective, and the cockpit view shows your plane's instruments and the surrounding landscape. The sound effects are also incredibly realistic, with the roar of your engine and the rattle of your guns adding to the overall sense of intensity.

As you progress through the game, you'll earn medals for your achievements. These medals are based on real-life honors awarded to pilots during World War I, such as the Victoria Cross and the Croix de Guerre. The medals are a nice touch that adds a sense of realism and accomplishment to the game.

In conclusion, Wings is a classic video game that has stood the test of time. Its engaging and challenging gameplay, immersive first-person perspective, and realistic sound effects make it a game that is still worth playing today. Whether you're a fan of flight simulators or classic video games, Wings is a game that you won't want to miss.

Plot

Reception

Wings for the Amiga was well received by critics. Computer Gaming World called it "a whopping good arcade experience ... exciting, novel, and addicting."[1] In a survey of four World War I flight simulations, the magazine stated that Wings was the best choice for 'arcade' (action) gamers;[2] two surveys of strategy and war games gave it three and a half stars out of five.[3][4] Review scores in other magazines included 78% from Amiga Action, 79% from Amiga Format, 82.5% from Advanced Computer Entertainment, 87% from Zero, 90% from Amiga User International, 91% from The One, 94% from Computer + Video Games, and 94% from CU Amiga.[5]

In 1993, Amiga World ranked Wings third on their list of all-time Amiga game hits.[6] In 1996, Computer Gaming World ranked Wings for the Amiga as the 65th best game of all time for its "masterful combination of arcade action, flight simulation, and cinematic story."[7] Retro Gamer included it on their list of top ten Amiga 500 games, stating: "You couldnt ask for a more varied game than Cinemawares Wings ... that was way ahead of its time. Its hard to believe that the game was made in 1990 as the 3D sections looked absolutely incredible and far in advance of anything that had appeared on consoles, PC or even the arcades at the time," and adding its story "told of the main characters eerily realistic wartime experiences, provoking an emotional response in the player that is all too rare in retro and modern gaming alike."[8] In 1996, GamesMaster ranked the game 68th in their "Top 100 Games of All Time."[9]

Wings Advance was well received too, receiving an averaged Metacritic score of 80.[10] Craig Harris of IGN, who did not play the original Amiga version, gave the game an overall score of 7.5/10, calling it "a cool collection of three different game designs that, while fun in their own right, can't stand on their own because of gameplay limitations."[11]

Legacy

Wings Advance

The Game Boy Advance version, Wings Advance, is roughly the same game as the original, although it has been updated with improved graphics, new features, and increased gameplay options. The main difference is that the player can now opt to fly missions as a German pilot, experiencing the war from the opposite perspective.

Wings! Remastered

A campaign to create a Wings remake was put on Kickstarter at August 10, 2012 by Cinemaware with an intent to recreate the game in HD for mobile and desktop platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS X). It aimed to recreate the original games experience and appeal. It was announced to be developed by Raylight Games, authors of Wings for the GBA, under Cinemaware's production leadership and coordination as Cinemaware first title in development since 2003s Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown. The Kickstarter project was to be funded if at least $350,000 was pledged by September 11, 2012, but was unsuccessful, reaching only $51,740.[12] In November 2013, a second attempt (this time under the title Wings! Remastered) on Kickstarter was successful; earning $91,380 by the end of its 30-day run.

The game was officially released by Kalypso Media for Windows and MacOS on October 27, 2014 and was immediately available for Windows on Steam and GOG, though the MacOS version was only available for the game's Kickstarter backers until it was released on the Mac App Store on May 6, 2015.[13][14][15][16] The game was also released with touch screen controls for Android and iOS in May 2015.[17][18]

See also

References
  1. Greenberg, Allen L. (December 1990). "World War I? Enjoy the Flap from Wings". Computer Gaming World. No. 77. p. 84. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  2. Weksler, Mike (June 1991). "Dogfight at the PC Corral / WWI Air Combat Simulations in Review". Computer Gaming World. p. 31. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  3. Brooks, M. Evan (December 1991). "Computer Strategy and Wargames: The 1900-1950 Epoch / Part II (M-Z) of an Annotated Paiktography". Computer Gaming World. p. 126. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  4. Brooks, M. Evan (October 1993). "Brooks' Book Of Wargames: 1900-1950, R-Z". Computer Gaming World. pp. 144–148. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  5. "Wings review from Amiga Action 13 (Oct 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amr.abime.net. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  6. Amiga World 12/1993.
  7. "150 Best Games of All Time". Computer Gaming World. November 1996. pp. 64–80. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  8. "Top Ten Amiga 500 Games". Retrogamer.net. 2014-08-18. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  9. "Top 100 Games of All Time" (PDF). GamesMaster (44): 76. July 1996.
  10. "Wings for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  11. "Wings - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 10 February 2003. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  12. "Wings: Director's Cut by Cinemaware Kickstarter". Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  13. "Wings! Remastered Edition - General Update". Cinemaware. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  14. "Wings! Remastered Edition". Steam. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  15. "GOG - WINGS!™ REMASTERED EDITION". GOG. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  16. "Wings! Remastered Edition". Apple. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  17. "Wings Remastered". Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  18. "Wings Remastered". Apple. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
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