Sonic Wings Reunion Switch Review

Sonic Wings Reunion Switch Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

I really enjoy a solid shoot ’em up, or “shmup” as they’re known. From more recent standouts like Ikaruga to Capcom classics such as 1944 that defined the genre, there’s no school like the old school when it comes to these kinds of games. So when Sonic Wings Reunion arrived, I was keen to jump back into the cockpit. Known as Aero Fighters here in the West, Reunion marks the first new entry in the series in 27 years. What’s It Like? Choose your fighter, select your wingman, and gird your loins as we review Sonic Wings Reunion for Nintendo Switch.

Sonic Wings Reunion is a top-down shoot ’em up where you pilot a fighter jet and take on wave after wave of enemies. The goal is simple: stay alive, shoot everything that moves, and rack up as many points as possible. You have infinite ammo for your main weapon, but only a limited number of bombs that can clear the screen when things get overwhelming. Power-ups float across the battlefield, letting you upgrade your firepower or replenish bombs, creating that satisfying rhythm of dodging bullets while grabbing the next boost. Each stage follows a familiar pattern.

You face a constant stream of enemies before a large-scale boss fight brings the level to a close, then move straight into the next region. It’s fast, chaotic, and just as tough as fans of the series would expect. There are multiple playable pilots, each with their own aircraft type and special weapons, which helps each run feel distinct. Some ships focus on wide-area attacks while others trade coverage for raw power. The combination you pick also affects which story route you’ll see, giving the game a layer of replay value beyond the high-score chase.

Co-op play is available too, and having a partner beside you captures the classic arcade feel perfectly. It’s simple, frantic fun that rewards quick reflexes and pattern recognition more than anything else.

Sonic Wings Reunion uses a hybrid 2D and 3D engine that looks unapologetically old school. It’s not trying to reinvent the genre, but it stays true to the arcade roots that defined the series. The visuals are simple but effective, with a clean presentation that makes it easy to follow the action even when the screen fills with enemy fire.

There’s plenty happening at once, yet it rarely feels overwhelming. Enemy designs show just enough variety to help you recognise attack patterns, which is vital in a game that can turn chaotic fast. Stages take you across different regions of the world, each with its own backdrop and boss encounter, keeping the pacing lively from start to finish. The pilots themselves are just as over the top as fans might expect, leaning into every anime and action stereotype imaginable.

The game features serviceable sound design that does its job without calling attention to itself. Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly on Nintendo Switch, with no noticeable slowdown even during the busiest moments, ensuring that the gameplay feels responsive and tight. You can unlock more characters by clearing campaigns, and each comes with their own aircraft, ranging from an F/A-18 Super Hornet to an A-10 Thunderbolt.

The aviation nerd in me appreciated the realistic touch at first, though the series’ trademark absurdity quickly takes over. Not knowing the series, I wasn’t sure what to expect going in. I loved the missions with their over-the-top bosses, which gave the game a slightly futuristic feel. That was until the final mission where, spoiler alert, a giant ape with its… appendage hanging out started bouncing around the screen, firing lasers at me. It completely caught me off guard, and was the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in a video game.

Unfortunately, outside of unlocking a couple of new characters, Sonic Wings Reunion falls short on content for its price. The game offers leaderboards for those looking to dominate high scores, but for more casual players, a full run can take less than 15 minutes. At a hefty $45 AUD, it feels like a steep ask for what is, at its core, a fairly barebones package. Given it is a brand-new entry, the pricing might have been better aligned with releases like Hamster’s Arcade Archives, which provide a similar classic arcade experience at a lower cost.

On top of this, the localisation can be frustrating at times. Dialogue between characters is clunky, awkward, and occasionally baffling, making parts of the game feel haphazardly put together. For all the care put into the core gameplay and aircraft variety, these small touches can make the experience feel less polished than it otherwise should.

For my pilots looking into accessibility, there are no options to speak of, so as always, I recommend further research into finding out if Sonic Wings suits your needs. Ultimately, I feel like Sonic Wings Reunion is an okay game with a steep price point. It would be much easier to digest with either more features and levels or a Hamster ACA-style price point. Shmup fans will still have a good time here, enjoying the fast-paced action and over-the-top bosses, but budget-conscious gamers looking for something with a bit more meat on the bones may have to look elsewhere.

So, What’s it Like? Sonic Wings Reunion is like 1944, but with a giant naked ape that catches you off guard.

In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.

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