Aero the Acro-Bat: Difference between revisions

| developer = [[Iguana Entertainment|Iguana]]{{efn|Game <small>([[SegaBoy Genesis|GEN]],Advance [[SNES]])</small><brport developed by />[[Atomic Planet Entertainment|Atomic Planet]] <small>([[Game Boy Advance|GBA]])</small>.}}

| publisher = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Sunsoft]]}}|'''Game <small>(GEN,Boy SNES)</small><br />Advance'''|{{vgrelease|NA|[[Metro 3D]]/|EU|[[Zoo Digital Publishing|Zoo Digital]]}}'''NS, PS, XB'''{{vgrelease|WW|Ratalaika <small>(GBA)</small>Games}}}}

| producer = David Siller <br /> [[Jeff Spangenberg]] <br /> Jay Moon

| designer = David Siller <br /> Nigel Cook <br /> Team Aero

| programmer = Richard Cowie <br /> Carl Wade <br /> Jeff Spangenberg <br /> Darrin Stubbington <br /> David Brevik <br /> David Crummack

| engine =

| released = {{collapsible list|title=August 1,{{nobold|October 1993}}|'''Genesis'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|AugustOctober 1,1993<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bieniek|first=Chris|title=Video Game Previews|url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_57_Oct_1993/page/n37/mode/1up|magazine=VideoGames: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|page=34|date=October 1993}}</ref>|EU|1993}}'''Super NES'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|October 12, 1993<ref name="Aero-RGM">{{cite webmagazine |last=Bieniek|first=Chris|title=Video Game Previews|url=httphttps://retrogamingmagazinearchive.comorg/2013details/10Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_57_Oct_1993/page/12n37/today-in-gaming-history-aero-the-bat-flies-onto-snes-genesis mode/1up|titlemagazine=AeroVideoGames: theThe Acro-BatUltimate flies onto SNES and GenesisGaming Magazine|datepage=12 October 2013 34|access-date=AprilOctober 11, 20181993}}</ref>|UK|December 1993<ref name="Aero-SP13">{{cite magazine|title=Aero the Acro-Bat - UK Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/Superplay_Issue_13_1993-11_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n47 |magazine=Super Play 13 |issue=13 |publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] |date=November 1993 |page=48}}</ref>|PAL|November 1993<ref name="Aero-VGMT">{{cite magazine|title=Zum Schonsten fest, Die Tollsten Spiele|url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_1993-12_Markt_Technik_DE/Video_Games_1993-12_Markt__Technik_DE#page/n77|date=December 1993|page=81}}</ref>}}'''Game Boy Advance'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|June 2521, 2002<ref>{{Cite nameweb |last="Harris |first=Craig |date=June 21, 2002 |title=''Aero'' Swings to Shelves |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/21/aero-3DMetro"swings-to-shelves |access-date=April 17, 2024 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref>|JP|December 20, 2002|PAL|April 2002<ref name="Aero-Play5">{{cite magazine|last=Halverson |first=Dave |title=Aero the Acro-Bat - Advance Notice |url=https://archive.org/stream/Play_005_May_2002#page/n71 |magazine=[[Play (UK magazine)|Play]] |issue=5 |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |date=May 2002 |page=71 |quote="One of the very best 16-bit platformers has made its way to the GBA".}}</ref>}}'''VirtualSwitch, Console<brPS4, />(SNESPS5, version)Xbox One, Series X/S'''<br />{{vgrelease|NAWW|JulyAugust 262, 20102024 (Super NES version)}}{{vgrelease|PALWW|JulyNovember 231, 20102024 (Game Boy Advance version)}}}}

| platforms = [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], <br> [[Super NES]], <br> [[Game Boy Advance]] <br> [[Nintendo Switch]] <br> [[PlayStation 4]] <br> [[PlayStation 5]] <br> [[Xbox One]] <br> [[Xbox Series X/S]]

'''''Aero the Acro-Bat''''' is a 1993 video game developed by [[Iguana Entertainment]]<ref name="IGN Aero Review">{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=24 June 2002 |title=Aero the Acrobat |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/24/aero-the-acrobat |title=IGN's Review of Aero the Acrobat (GBA) |date=24 June 2002 |access-date=2007-06-06 |website=IGN}}</ref> and published by [[Sunsoft]]. It was released for both the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] and [[Sega Genesis]]. Aero the Acro-Bat, a red [[anthropomorphic]] bat, was created by David Siller.<ref name="DavSil-Interview">{{cite web |title=Interview: David Siller (Designer of Aero the Acrobat) |url=http://www.sega-16.com/2007/07/interview-david-siller/ |work=sega-16.com |author=Ken Horowitz |date=July 3, 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> In 2002, [[Metro 3D]] released a version of the game for the [[Game Boy Advance]], with a battery back-up (which the original versions lacked).<ref name="IGN Aero Review"/> The GBA version was titled ''Aero The Acro-Bat - Rascal Rival Revenge'' in Europe and {{nihongo foot|''Acrobat Kid''|アクロバットキッズ|Akurobatto kizzu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} in Japan. The Super NES version of the game was released on the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]] in the PAL region onand North America in July 232010. The Super NES version was re-released in August 2024 for [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox One]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]],<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=11 July 2024 |title=Aero the Acro-Bat coming to PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on August 2 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/07/aero-the-acro-bat-coming-to-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-on-august-2 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Gematsu}}</ref> alongside a new localization in NorthJapanese Americamade by Shinyuden as {{nihongo foot|''Aero: Acrobat Kid''|エアロ アクロバット キッズ|Earo: Akurobatto Kizzu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} for the Nintendo Switch users in Japan,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000082199.html |title=エアロ アクロバット キッズ ダウンロード版 ~ My Nintendo Store（マイニンテンドーストア） |date=11 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-11}}</ref> while the GBA version re-release for the same platforms is scheduled to be released in November of the same year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/07/aero-the-acro-bat-rascal-rival-revenge-coming-to-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-on-november-1|title=Aero the Acro-Bat: Rascal Rival Revenge coming to PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on November 1|website=Gematsu|date=July 2631, 2010.2024|access-date=August 1, 2024}}</ref>

The levels are played in typical 2D platforming style. In order to clear them, the player must accomplish certain tasks so that the exit warp can be revealed. Those tasks include passing through hoops, stepping on platforms until they disappear, riding roller coasters, etc. There are 4four worlds with 5five levels in each one, and the levels are large, many of them containing awkwardly positioned spikes that kill instantly.<ref name="IGN Aero Review"/>

If enough points are collected at the end of a level, a bonus level can be played, in which Aero has to dive into a pool. The bonus level is a vertical platform level in the Genesis version. When Sunsoft converted the game for the Super NES they changed the bonus level to utilise [[Mode 7]] as a straightforward level to maneuver above an overworld map.<ref name="AeroSNES-GPro">{{cite magazine|last=Music |first=Boss |title=ProReview: Aero the Acro-Bat (SNES)|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=51|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=November 1993|page=104}}</ref>

For many years David Siller had ideas for the game's character in his head.<ref name="DavSil-Interview"/> He first sketched the concept of Aero in 1992. Although Aero's early designs resemble a human acrobat, Siller always intended him to be a bat.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} The gameplay mechanics were partly based on [[Namco's]]’s ''[[Mappy]]'' series.<ref name="Aero-GameZone">{{citationcite web |title=Taking Down The Clown: A Look Back At Aero The Acro-Bat |url=https://www.gamezone.com/originals/taking-down-the-clown-a-look-back-at-aero-the-acro-bat/ |work=gamezone.com |author=Kim I needed|date=NovemberMay 4, 2012 |access-date=February 16, 20202023}}</ref> By this time, Siller had agreed to join Sunsoft of America.<ref name="Aero-Memoirs">{{cite book |title=Memoirs of a Virtual Caveman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTvuBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA391 |edition=2nd |last=Strangman |first=Rob |publisher=SCAR Productions |date=August 14, 2014 |isbn=978-1-3121-0483-9 |page=391 |access-date=2018-04-09}}</ref>

The final concept was designed by David's son Justin Siller, who was inspired by mixed themes from the 70s and 80s.<ref name="JusSil-Interview">{{cite web |title=Interview: Justin Siller (Designer of Aero the Acrobat) |url=http://www.sega-16.com/2016/02/interview-justin-siller/ |work=sega-16.com |author=Ken Horowitz |date=February 11, 2016 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> Some of the enemies, items and in-levels that Siller proposed never made it in the finished game. The concept included a mission objective feature, which was not added in the original release., Howeverbut it was implemented and modified in the Game Boy Advance version.<ref name="Aero-Unused">{{cite web |title=Aero The Acro-Bat [SNES GEN MD – Beta / Concept] |url=https://www.unseen64.net/2010/10/11/aero-the-acro-bat-snes-genesis-mega-drive-beta-concept/ |work=unseen64.net |author=Robert Seddon |date=November 10, 2010 |access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref> Originally ''Aero'' was going to be released for the original [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], but by this time 16-bit consoles were on the market, so the NES version was cancelled.<ref name="Aero-NES">{{cite web |title=Sunsoft Famicom and NES |url=https://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=10775.20;wap |work=famicomworld.com |date=June 14, 2014 |access-date=April 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001155/https://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=10775.20;wap |archive-date=2018-04-12 |url-status=live }}</ref> Much of the game's work took place at [[Orange County, California]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-01/business/-fi-19298_1_game19298-publisherstory.html |title=The Game-Making Game Is Big Business |last=Takahasi|first=Dean |date=August 1, 1993 |newspaper=LA Times |access-date=April 9, 2018 |language=en-US }}</ref> Both the Super NES and Genesis versions were being worked on simultaneously, but the Genesis version was released earlier as the Super NES version reached its final stages of development.<ref name="Aero-Mascot">{{cite magazine|title=Aero the Acro-Bat - Sunsoft |url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_49#page/n97 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=49 |volume=6 |publisher=Sendai Publishing |date=August 1993 |page=96}}</ref>

Plans were made by Sunsoft to port the game to [[Atari Jaguar]] sometime in 1994, but this version was never released.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Edge_UK_005#page/n9|title=News - Jaguar bares its claws - Complete Atari Jaguar thirdparty release schedule|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|issue=5|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=February 1994|pages=10–11}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.stformat.com/stf56/pages_nx1500/stf56_048.jpg|title=News - Update - Around the corner... - Expected Release Dates|magazine=[[ST Format]]|issue=56|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=March 1994|page=48|access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.stformat.com/stf57/pages_nx1500/stf57_050.jpg|title=News - Update - New Jaguar Development System Released - Expected Release Dates|magazine=[[ST Format]]|issue=57|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=April 1994|page=50|access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVideoGames_DE_1994-05.pdf&page=75|title=Warpzone - Demnächst für Eure Konsolen|magazine=[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]|issue=30|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=May 1994|page=79|lang=de|access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/hi_res/atari-st-format-issue-059_57.jpg|title=Update Games News - Atari ooze confidence at ECTS - Jaguar Developers|magazine=[[ST Format]]|issue=59|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=June 1994|pages=56–57|access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVideoGames_DE_1994-07.pdf&page=32|title=Warpzone - Jaguar - Angekündigte Jaguar-Spiele|magazine=[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]|issue=32|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=July 1994|page=32|access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/HobbyConsolas041Hitech2/Hobby_Consolas_041_hitech_2#page/n26/mode/1up|title=Jaguar - Una máquina felina para un mercado voraz - Compañías y juegos|magazine=[[Hobby Consolas]]|issue=41 Hi-Tech|publisher=[[Axel Springer SE]]|date=February 1995|pages=26–27|lang=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=bmx|url=http://atariage.com/forums/topic/235352-earthworm-jim-on-jaguarquestion-was-asked-answer-was-given/#entry3196208|title=Earthworm Jim on Jaguar:question was asked, answer was given :-)|website=[[AtariAge]]|date=March 12, 2015|access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref>

After the success of the sequels, Siller left [[Sunsoft]] and joined [[Universal Interactive]]. Universal bought the rights of Siller's character and were intent on making Aero their mascot. He had intended to start up a sequel to the second game titled "Aero the Acrobat 3D" to be released on PlayStation to complete the series as a trilogy, but this concept never reached development, as Universal turned their attention to ''[[Crash Bandicoot (video game)|Crash Bandicoot]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unseen64.net/2018/08/02/aero-the-acrobat-3-a3ro-cancelled/|title=Aero the Acrobat 3: A3RO|website=[[Unseen64.net]]|date=February 8, 2018|access-date=October 28, 2020}}</ref> Following the success of that game, Crash was their official mascot instead of Aero. With no success in starting a new Acro-Bat game, Siller bought back Aero as he left Universal.<ref name="Aero-Cartoon">{{cite web|title=Missing Mascots 2: More Gaming Superstars Who Went AWOL |url=http://www.1up.com/features/missing-mascots-2-gaming-superstars.html |work=1up.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment Games |access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref> While Siller worked at [[Capcom]], the USA Bill Gardner wanted to make use of Aero, but the Japanese HQ denied that request in accordance to Siller's contract.<ref name="Aero-NES"/>

By summer 2002, Siller had to relocate to [[Texas]]. He did not have the funds to form his own studio, but was able to hire [[Atomic Planet Entertainment|Atomic Planet]] to port his original game to the [[Game Boy Advance]]. [[Metro 3D]] found the game very promising for marketing<ref name="Aero-Gzone">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/aero_the_acrobat_coming_to_the_gba/ |title=Aero the Acrobat coming to the GBA |date=4 May 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> and Siller directed the port during its development.<ref name="Aero-DirectGBA">{{cite magazine|title=Aero makes an Advance |url=https://archive.org/stream/Nintendo_Power_155_April_2002_U#page/n19 |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |issue=155 |date=April 2002 |page=18}}</ref> In addition Siller wanted to port the two sequels ''[[Aero the Acro-Bat 2]]'' and ''[[Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel]]'' on Game Boy Advance in near future<ref name="Aero-3DMetro">{{cite web|title=Metro 3D Ships Aero |url=http://nin.vgf.com/news/2002/tr0625.htm |work=nin.vgf.com |publisher=VGF, Inc. |date=June 25, 2002 |access-date=April 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425140443/http://nin.vgf.com/news/2002/tr0625.htm |archive-date=April 25, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and compile them in a collection called "A-Z Force", but he cancelled those plans in favor of designing original games.<ref name="Aero-AZForce">{{cite web |author=Frank Cifaldi |date=August 22, 2005 |title=Playing Catch-Up: David Siller |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/97250/Playing_CatchUp_David_Siller.php |workarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721234038/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/97250/Playing_CatchUp_David_Siller.php |publisher=[[UBM plc|UBM]] |author=Frank Cifaldi |archive-date=AugustJuly 2221, 20052015 |access-date=April 10, 2018 |work=gamasutra.com |publisher=[[UBM plc|UBM]]}}</ref>

Promotional artwork of the game was shown at 1993 Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Nevada<ref name="Aero-WinterCES93">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezero.com/team-0/articles/industry/wces_1993/ |title=1993 Winter CES |date=January 1993 |access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> as well as the prototype version at the 1993 Summer [[Consumer Electronics Show]] in Chicago,<ref name="Aero-SummerCES93">{{cite magazine|title=Acro-batics |url=https://archive.org/stream/mean-machines-sega-magazine-15/MMSega_15_Jan_1994#page/n111 |magazine=[[Mean Machines]] |issue=15 |volume=6 |publisher=[[EMAP]] |author=Paul G. |date=January 1994 |page=113}}</ref> where it stood out well above other exhibits.<ref name="Aero-Promote">{{cite magazine|title=Sunsoft (Estados Unidos) |url=https://archive.org/stream/Superjuegos_020#page/n7 |magazine=[[Superjuegos]] |issue=20 |date=December 1993 |page=8}}</ref> Aero the Acro-Bat was made [[Sunsoft]]'s new mascot.<ref name="Aero-Mascot"/> By late 1993, Sunsoft was giving away free copies of the Super NES or Genesis version of the game to the first 100 people that sent them a 3x5 postcard to their address.<ref name="Aero-Postcard">{{cite magazine|title=Aero the Acro-Bat - Backstory |url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_53#page/n325 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=53 |volume=6 |publisher=Sendai Publishing |date=December 1993 |page=322}}</ref>

| MC_GBA = 71%<ref name="Aero-MC">{{cite web|title=''Aero the Acro-Bat'' (GBA) reviews at Metacritic.com |url=httphttps://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/aero-the-acro-bat/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>

Four reviewers in ''[[GameFan]]'' gave the Genesis version 93, 97, 87, and 90<ref name="Aero-GFan">{{cite magazine|date=October 1993 |title=Viewpoint |url=https://archive.org/stream/GamefanVolume1Issue11/GamefanVolume1Issue11October1993#page/n9 |magazine=[[GameFan]] |volume=1 |issue=11 |page=11 }}</ref> ''Video Games: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine'' gave both the Genesis and SNES versions 8 out of 10.<ref name="Aero-VG-UGM">{{cite magazine |author=Andy Eddy |date=November 1993 |title=Game Reviews |url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_58_November_1993#page/n65 |magazine=Video Games: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine |issue=58 |page=67 }}</ref>

* {{MobyGames|id=/aero-the-acro-bat}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090705092309/http://justinsiller.com/main_games.html Justin Siller's website]

[[Category:PlatformMetro3D games]]

[[Category:Side-scrolling platform gamesPlatformers]]