Back in the days, when the Amiga ruled one software company, it seemed to go that bit further to making your gaming pleasure more complete. Cinemaware released some fine entries into the Amiga software catalogue; It Came From The Desert, Defender Of The Crown and Rocket Ranger. But none surpassed the sheer brilliance that was Wings. Each game was almost a cinematic experience in itself. This was never more evident, than in the opening scenes of wings. A scene depicts the first tentative feet of the Wright Brothers first flight.
A sombre quote appears on the screen (the words of which fail me, but have something to do with inventing the plane to eliminate the prospect of future wars), which then fades out to be replaced by a set of dog fighting planes downing on into a war torn town.
Set in the 2nd World War this 3 part flight game captured your interest from the opening screen to the final roll of the credits. Once you've given yourself a name and set your attributes your personal tastes its into the game. The main bulk of the story is taken up with an excellent flight simulator. Ok, by today’s standards it may look minimalist, but back then, it rocked! With
no radars or targeting aids to guide you to the enemy, it came down to the ingenious use of your pilots head as he turned to where the next enemy was coming from! Missions varied from escorting bombers, destroying enemy bombers and defeating squadrons of enemy fighters. Fighting could become intense as you tried to shake that remaining fighter off your tail, while his bullets ripped through your planes flimsy frame edging ever closer to your fragile position. Much swearing & cursing in my house back then, I can tell you!
Next up is the strafing runs. A diagonally scrolling shooty thing where you have to move your plane back & forth attempting to destroy set targets. While not the strongest section in my opinion, it does hold its own graphically and provides a different slant to what you'd expect from a war flight game.
The third section is the bombing runs and these can be a little tricky at times. Like the strafing runs above these parts do not really work to well on their own but as a slight diversion from the flight portion of the game, can be tolerated. Not as good as the strafing in my opinion.
All of these different sections are tied together nicely in the players diary. This unfolds throughout the length of the game and draws the player into a world, gone by that is so well written you actually find yourself immersed in what is said. A league table of pilots kill totals enables you to watch as you begin to move up the ranks, collecting medals as you go. Again, such is the scope of the game in its execution, that you find yourself caring as much for your fellow pilots as you do for your own skin. I remember some desolate nights where a fellow sky jockey who had come to the war at the same time as me, flown with me, fought with me before getting shot down in front of my very eyes and there was nothing I could do to help. Powerful stuff.
In conclusion then. Stop reading this review, get this game downloaded as soon as you can and experience life in the war according to Cinemaware.
