Developed/Published by Sprakelsoft GmbH
Released for Xbox One (6/25/2019) | Xbox Live Indie Games (8/2/2012)
Also on Android/iOS/PS4/Switch
Pacific Wings is a rather blatant clone of the old Capcom arcade classic 1942. The player flies an American P-38 blasting down waves of Japanese planes, exactly like the old arcade classic. Looking at screenshots or footage of the game shows some promise, with pixel-graphics that invoke a nice retro vibe. Here we'll take a look at the trial for Pacific Wings on the Xbox One and see how it holds up when compared to the original that inspired it or if it's even worth playing at all.
Pacific Wings was an important release for German-based developer Sprakelsoft, as it was their first release when it came out for Android devices back in October 2010. The game would receive a port to iOS devices in July the following year. Pacific Wings would sell quite well for Sprakelsoft, with the developer claiming they'd sold millions of copies not long after it was released. In August 2012, Pacific Wings would receive a port to the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Indie Games (XBLIG) service. For whatever reason, in late June 2019 Sprakelsoft decided to dust off the 9-year old game and port it the Xbox One. The game was released in the Creators Collection marketplace, which is a sure-fire way to make sure you get the fewest eyes possible to view your game.
The version of Pacific Wings available for the Xbox One is only a 2-level trial. The game abruptly ends after completing the second stage, asking you to purchase the full game and promising you 20 "incredible" levels. The biggest thing holding me back from even considering purchasing the full game is the lack of challenge, variety and boss enemies at the end of levels. While the pixel graphics look decent and the shooting works well enough, the challenge of the arcade classic is not represented here at all. I was able to plow right through the two levels offered in the trial version with no deaths. With no bosses at the end of the levels, there's not much sense of progression in moving on to the next screen. It doesn't help that the backdrops are about as generic and bland as they come, with each stage just as forgettable as the last.
Pacific Wings is definitely one of the most simple shoot 'em ups I've played in a while. There's no bomb or secondary fire, just a single button to fire. There's no autofire either, so prepare for lots of button mashing. Even the classic 1942 that inspired this game had a second button that would allow you to loop around to dodge enemy fire. The utter simplicity of the gameplay combined with the lack of challenge really make this a tough one to enjoy and I found myself quickly disinterested. You can definitely see the mobile roots of the game, and while I'm sure it was pretty cool for a shooter on your phone back in 2010, Pacific Wings just doesn't really cut it as a console release when there are so many better shmups worth your time.
The Xbox One release of the game features a heavily-cropped image to simulate a vertical arcade monitor. There's also a filter that adds scan-lines that help give it that retro-feel. It looks nice and the presentation here is easily the game's highlight. The Xbox 360 XBLIG release also featured a cropped screen to simulate a vertical monitor, but it didn't have the snazzy arcade sidebars seen in the Xbox One version. Links to videos of both versions in action can be found below.
At the time of this writing (late July 2019), there was no entry for the Xbox One release for Pacific Wings on either GameFAQs or the Microsoft Store, so this is a bit of a mysterious title as far as those sites are concerned. This is also why I was only able to link to the PC version down below. If interested in checking the Xbox One version of the game out, you'll need to either browse the Creators Collection area in the Games storefront or use the search function.
Final Verdict: Pacific Wings is about as basic as a shmup can get, utilizing only the stick/pad to move and a single button to fire. Though a somewhat competent 1942 clone, the lack of any challenge, gameplay variety or bosses makes this one an easy miss.
Purchase Links:
Buy Pacific Wings - Microsoft Store
Related Links:
Creators Program Games - Xbox Overview
Shmups - Xbox Overview
Sprakelsoft - Xbox Overview
Sprakelsoft - Official Site
Pacific Wings on Xbox 360 - GameFAQs
Pacific Wings Full Playthrough - YouTube
Pacific Wings XBLIG Gameplay - YouTube
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