Aero the Acro-Bat 2

Aero the Acro-Bat 2 is a video game developed by Iguana Entertainment, and published by Sunsoft in 1994. It is the sequel of Aero the Acro-Bat and was released for the Sega Genesis first in April then for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in November. The Super NES version was released on the Wii Virtual Console in the PAL region on August 6, 2010 and in North America on September 20, 2010. David Siller planned to port and remake the game for Game Boy Advance in 2002,[4] but then cancelled it in favor of original titles.[5]

Aero the Acro-Bat 2
Cover art for the Super NES version by Greg Martin
Developer(s)Iguana Entertainment
Publisher(s)Sunsoft
Director(s)Nigel Cook
Carl Wade
Producer(s)David Siller
Jeff Spangenberg
Designer(s)Nigel Cook
Programmer(s)Richard Cowie
Carl Wade
Iguana UK
Composer(s)Rick Fox (as Fox Productions)
Platform(s)Sega Genesis
Super NES
ReleaseSega Genesis
Super NES
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

The game is dedicated to famed Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna, who died in a car crash during a Grand Prix.[6]

Plot

The story starts directly after the events of the original game, where Aero had knocked Edgar Ektor off of the highest tower of his Museum of Horrors. After knocking him off, Aero leaves to explore Ektor's museum, finding a magician's box which brings him to an ancient castle. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Aero, Ektor's henchman Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel manages to save him before he hits the ground, and Ektor tells Zero to prepare a 'Plan B'.

Gameplay

The game is split into 8 worlds, all of them except for the final world with three 'acts' each. The levels are significantly longer than the first game and they are designed in a similar way with many secret areas. There are no objectives, as well as a timer. The goal of each level is to find the exit at the end of every act, defeating enemies and collecting power-ups along the way.

Aero keeps his drill jump from the first game, an ability that can be aimed either diagonally up or down to reach enemies and platforms. New to this game is the ability to aim the drill jump straight down, allowing Aero to attack enemies directly below him. Food can be collected for extra points, and stars can be thrown at enemies to defeat them, much like the original game. There are also four hidden letters in each act that spell the word 'AERO'. Finding all four letters will unlock a cup switching game at the end of the act where an extra life can be earned.

Development

Sunsoft made use of SGI technology to render the backgrounds of the game.[7]

Reception

Critical reception

Reviewing the Genesis version, GamePro raved that "Aero 2 outclasses the original with a new, dark theme that shows off some truly superb graphics, new and improved moves and techniques, and better play control". They also praised the game's huge levels and numerous secrets, and singled out the Drop Drill as the best of the new moves.[15] Electronic Gaming Monthly described it as a solid and satisfying sequel to the original, citing good graphics, numerous techniques, large levels, and ingeniously designed secret areas. They gave it a 7.75 out of 10.[10] Next Generation concurred that the graphics, levels, and techniques all add up to very solid gaming, but criticized both Aero games for being severely lacking in originality.[13]

NintendoLife gave the Virtual Console release of the Super NES version an 8 out of 10, declaring it "a much more varied and playable platforming experience" than the original Aero the Acro-Bat. They specifically noted the improved controls and graphics and the more varied level designs and musical tracks, and added that the game is "every bit as much fun to play now on the Virtual Console service as it was fifteen years ago on the Super Nintendo console."[14]

Promotion

The game was showcased at 1994 Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.[16]

Commercial performance

Sunsoft aided by the Spanish company Spaco released the game in Spain along with Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel and Hebereke's Popoon for Christmas 1994.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Viewpoint". GameFan. Vol. 2 no. 11. October 1994. p. 32.
  2. "Mega Drive Review - Aero the Acrobat 2". Mean Machines. No. 35. EMAP. September 1995. p. 82.
  3. "Primeras Imagenes Aero the Acro-Bat 2 (Sunsoft)". Nintendo Acción. No. 18. May 1994. p. 17.
  4. IGN staff (June 21, 2002). "Aero Swings to Shelves". IGN. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  5. Frank Cifaldi (August 22, 2005). "Playing Catch-Up: David Siller". gamasutra.com. UBM. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  6. "Aero the Acro-Bat 2 - Sega Retro". Retrieved April 16, 2018. In Memory Of: Ayrton Senna
  7. E Storm (September 1994). "Aero the Acro-Bat 2 Preview". GameFan. Vol. 2 no. 10. p. 50.
  8. "Aero the Acro-Bat 2 for Sega Genesis - GameRankings". GameRankings. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  9. "Aero the Acro-Bat 2 for SNES - GameRankings". GameRankings. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  10. "Review Crew: Aero the Acro-Bat 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 66. Sendai Publishing. January 1995. p. 40.
  11. "Viewpoint - Aero 2 - SNES". GameFan. Vol. 2 no. 11. DieHard Gamers Club. November 1994. p. 33.
  12. Lucas M. Thomas (September 21, 2010). "Aero the Acro-Bat 2 Wii Review". IGN. Ziff Davis LLC. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  13. "Aero the Acrobat 2". Next Generation. No. 3. Imagine Media. March 1995. p. 98.
  14. Dillard, Corbie (August 6, 2010). "Aero the Acrobat 2 Review". NintendoLife. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  15. "ProReview: Aero the Acro-Bat 2". GamePro. No. 76. IDG. January 1995. pp. 42–43.
  16. "1994 Summer CES". June 1993. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  17. "Sunsoft y spaco dispuestos a machacar en Navidad". Superjuegos. No. 31. November 1994. p. 9.
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