Aero the Acro-Bat: The Iconic Circus Performer Returns
Indie publisher Ratalaika Games put their efforts into the return of another lost character from the 90s: Aero the Acro-Bat. Launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on August 2, 2024, this iconic title aims to rekindle fond memories of people that adored the little winged hero in the past and create new ones for a whole new generation of gamers. Originally released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo and the Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, Aero the Acro-Bat was known for its challenging gameplay and charming circus theme that felt like a mix between Sonic the hedgehog and Mario games in terms of speed and exploration. Personally I was already exploring these games in the SunSoft collections on Evercade which are just the original games, but to see this new "HD" release on modern console is great news as it opens up the game to a much wider audience. Is this the spectacular return of a videogame B-lister or does the bat crash and burn on re-entry in the retro gaming space?
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Aero the Acro-Bat was a product of its time, emerging during an era when every game studio sought to create their own mascot with attitude, following the immense success of SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Sunsoft developed its own anthropomorphic animal hero to the gaming space with Aero the Acro-Bat. The game did enough to have its own style while still having the charm and appeal of the hits it tried to emulate. Aero stood out with its inventive circus setting, diverse gameplay, and unique character design. The game’s premise centers around Aero, a high-flying trapeze artist bat, who must rescue his friends and girlfriend Ariel from the clutches of the nefarious Edgar Ektor. Ektor, a disgruntled ex-circus performer, seeks revenge by kidnapping the circus staff and spoiling the show.
Gameplay and Features
Aero the Acro-Bat is not quite your typical platformer. Bringing mix of exploration and skill-based platform navigation the player will have to navigate some challenging levels. Each of these levels consist of a specific set of objectives that players must complete to progress further. From finding key items and rescuing Aero’s girlfriend to beating challenging bosses, the game constantly keeps players on their toes with its variety and creativity all while a ticking clock, a staple of mane retro games, keeps the pressure on.
You will travel four areas, each containing five stages. Throughout these stages Aero can use his unique acrobatic skill sets to accomplish his mission. He can jump, dash/summer sault and use various object in the game such as canons to navigate over great distances and reach hard to get to place. There are also various temporary upgrades to find around the levels, such as the ability to float or even fly for a short duration.
Aero the Acro-Bat is renowned for its challenging difficulty, a hallmark of many games from the early 90s. Players must carefully manage Aero’s health bar and lives while navigating hazards such as spikes and lava and more. Collecting items and achieving high scores can grant extra lives, adding a strategic element to the gameplay. Despite its difficulty, the game is at least generous with extra lives and checkpoints, ensuring that players can progress without excessive frustration. luck this release also comes with the added feature of a rewind button to help you quickly undo mistakes. You might see that as cheating, but it helps greatly when learning the games mechanics, goals and level design.
Presentation.
The return of Aero the Acro-Bat is more than just a simple re-release; it’s a celebration of a classic title that has stood the test of time. The game’s whimsical circus environment wacky enemies, and diverse level design. The entire game is colorful and fun to look at as well as play. It has decent music and sound effects, though they can get a little tiring after a while, but in my opinion, Sunsoft always has had a pretty strong record in audio and graphics design for their games. The challenging gameplay is as enjoyable (and at time frustrating) today as they were 30 years ago.
For this release the was not a massive overall in terms of graphics and sounds like we have seen with other retro revivals. However the developers have made some thoughtful enhancements, such as the inclusion of rewind and save states, to make the game more accessible to modern audiences without truly sacrificing its core difficulty. Besides the save states, rewind and turbo modes the game also offers the option for the use of cheatcodes such as infinite lives, energy or just invulnerability.
Presentation wise the game offers the Japanese or English version, a bunch of Screen filters to modify the game’s visuals with retro-style monitor effects, black-and-white etc for that extra nostalgic effect. There is a gallery with a bunch of original game illustrations and box art as well which is always fun to browse through for true fans as well as those curious with the process of game development.
For the low price of just under six bucks that is a lot of fun for any fan of the genre.
Looking Ahead: More bat games, more bat systems.
As we are just covering this release, it was announced that besides this game the entire Aero collection is coming to modern platforms. Following Aero the Acro-Bat’s launch, players can look forward to:
Aero the Acro-Bat 2 (September 6, 2024): Continue Aero’s adventure as he investigates Edgar Ektor’s museum of horror and uncovers new mysteries.
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel (October 4, 2024): Play as Aero’s ally Zero, who must save his forest and girlfriend from new threats.
Aero the Acro-Bat: Rascal Rival Revenge (November 1, 2024): Experience an enhanced version of the original game with improved sprites and animations.
I just hope someone makes the decision to also make a physical bundle that has all these in one collection. Fingers crossed.
Final Thoughts
Aero the Acro-Bat’s return is a joyous occasion for fans of retro gaming and newcomers alike. It might not offer the most spectacular upgrades in the retro revival space, but the game is unique enough to warrant a look by any retro fan. With its charming circus theme, fun main character, diverse gameplay, and challenging difficulty, Aero offers a platforming experience that is both nostalgic and refreshing. The thoughtful enhancements and upcoming releases of more Auro games ensure that this beloved character will continue to entertain and challenge gamers for some time to come Your chance to relive the magic of Aero the Acro-Bat is now.
Release Date: Out now (June 28th, 2024)
