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Aero the Acro-Bat: playable circus platformer
A review of the new issue of 1991 Sunsoft 16-bit console game Aero the Acro-Bat, now out on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One & Series X/S and Nintendo Switch
Christian Cawley
September 01, 2024
I hate the circus. So when I heard that Sunsoft’s Aero the Acro-Bat was making a return, I was pretty nonplussed. The 1990s SNES and SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis platformer is out no on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One & Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. But what is it actually like to play it on a modern system, 31 years after release?
Well, it’s not too bad. Here’s a quick reminder of the backstory:
It’s up to Aero the Acro-Bat, the circus’s star performer, to rescue his friends and girlfriend Ariel, and put a stop to Edgar Ektor’s mad plans so everyone can enjoy the show again!
The powerful and eccentric industrialist Edgar Ektor has sworn to destroy the world of amusement as revenge for being banished from the circus when he was a kid after one of his pranks went too far and almost killed a circus animal. He started by invading a local circus with his gang of mad clowns and kidnapping all the circus staff to spoil the show.
The game features 4 areas, each with 5 stages including rides and the idea is to use Aero’s acrobatic skills to complete each stage and make it to the next, overcoming wacky enemies along the way.
(Some of them are very wacky…)
Reissue features
Rewind and turbo functions are included in this modern console reissue, along with a save state feature and screen filters. You can even activate cheats to make the game easier, should you wish to.
I tried the game in as close to original mode as possible, with judicious use of rewinds (which I’d forgotten about at first). This is because I found the mechanics of Acro’s attacks a little difficult to get the hang of, if I’m honest, but overall it’s an intriguing game. The multiscreen aspect of the levels makes you consider the overall space and where hazards may come from, although actually completing levels is a bit of a challenge.
The rewind feature of the enhanced version is a useful trainer, but Aero the Acro-Bat is best attempted without the mindset of “I will complete this level in one go” - the design of the levels makes this unlikely without a lot of practice.
Summary
Of all the Sonic-inspired platformers from this era, Aero the Acro-Bat is perhaps closest to Zool. However, while Zool’s storyline is a little weaker, the mechanics work better. But then what do I know - Aero the Acro-Bat had a great reception when it first appeared, and spawned an immediate sequel and a thematic one.
Either way, it’s worth grabbing a copy of Aero the Acro-Bat’s modern reissue.
Check the prices for Aero the Acro-Bat on your system on the Ratalaika Games website.
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