Wingmen

Game: Aegis Wing
System: Xbox 360
Release date: May 16, 2007
Developed by: Carbonated Games
Published by: Microsoft Game Studios

In an economy where the newest console games cost between $59.99 and $79.99, a free game seems like something of a miracle. But that's exactly what Aegis Wing is -- free -- and always has been on Xbox Live Arcade.

Aegis Wing is a horizontal shooter, cosmetically similar to classics like Gradius and R-Type. In fact, Aegis Wing is very much a blast from the past, playing a lot like arcade and console shooters from the 80s and 90s.

One very important aspect of the game which separates it from the large flock of space shooters is its cooperative mode, which can be played both offline or online with friends from all over the world. Up to four players can fly together, three of whom can attach their ships to the leader's ship and become 360-degree gun turrets. This option adds elements of strategy and cooperation that make Aegis Wing much more than a forgettable Gradius clone.


Apart from exercising the option to join ships together, gameplay consists largely of avoiding gunfire and shooting down enemy ships. Players can also pick up one of four "super weapons" to augment their standard blasters. These include the Hades Beam (a concentrated blast of energy), the Gordan Burst (an electromagnetic pulse which disables nearby enemy ships), the Arcus Missile (heat-seeking missiles) and the Lambda Shield (a protective bubble which deflects enemy bullets).

Three Microsoft interns, Scott Brodie, Danny Dyer and Matt Monson, created Aegis Wing in the summer of 2006.

Score: 80/100

Note: Thanks to Jason C. for helping me stop the Araxian menace.