1996 was without question one of the finest years in PlayStation history. It gave us stone-cold classics like Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil, alongside countless other standout titles for Sony’s iconic debut console. Now, one more game from that legendary year is making its return, though it’s one that most people have almost certainly forgotten.
A Lost PS1 Gem From 1996’s Golden Year Gets a Second Life
Available today on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, the game in question is a particularly unusual one, it was released exclusively in Japan and Europe, never making it to North America. It was fairly rare back then for Europe to receive any kind of exclusive treatment over the US, making this something of a quirky footnote in gaming history. Now, Hamster Corp is giving it a new lease on life through its “Console Archives” initiative, which is dedicated to bringing long-forgotten classics back to modern platforms. The PS1 game of the day is Sonic Wings Special.
Originally released in July 1996 on both PS1 and Sega Saturn by Japanese developer Video System, the shoot’em up found its greatest success on Sony’s first console, and it’s that version that has been ported today, currently available on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. “In this shooting game, a diverse group of fighter pilots from around the world battle to stop a coup staged by an evil organization,” reads the official synopsis. “The game features a multi-ending system where the story route changes based on the player’s choices. Choose your ultimate partner and fight to restore world peace!”
If this rediscovered slice of PS1 history catches your eye, it’s available now for $11.99 on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. More titles from Sony’s legendary console are expected to receive the same treatment from Hamster Corp through its Console Archives project, though the full list of upcoming re-releases has yet to be announced.
