Play Sonic Wings (Japan) Online

Game Overview

Okay, so Sonic Wings—Japan’s version of Aero Fighters—is basically what happens when you take a classic arcade shooter, crank the chaos to 11, and throw in a panda as a playable pilot. Because sure, why not? The first time I booted it up, I picked the tiny bear (obviously) and immediately got wrecked by a swarm of enemy planes. Lesson learned: dodging bullets is harder when you’re laughing at the absurdity of it all.

The game’s got that perfect SNES-era intensity—bright, chunky explosions, enemies diving at you from all angles, and a soundtrack that somehow makes flying a jet feel even cooler. You’ve got your usual spread shots and screen-nuking bombs, but the real fun comes from the weird little details, like how each pilot’s plane handles slightly differently. The panda’s got this floaty, unpredictable movement, while the human pilots are more precise. It’s the kind of game where you’ll fail miserably at first, then suddenly hit a groove and feel like an ace for about 30 seconds before the next boss melts your face off.

If you’ve ever wasted quarters on 1942 or Raiden, this one’s right up your alley—just with more pandas, dolphins, and absolute mayhem. Grab a friend for co-op if you can; everything’s better when you’re both screaming at the screen.