Wing Man 2

Wing Man 2 is a side-scrolling shooter for the MSX 1 home computer, released sometime during the mid-1980s. It continues the action of its predecessor, putting you in the cockpit of a fighter plane against waves of enemy aircraft and ground targets. The game takes advantage of the MSX's hardware capabilities for its era, with smooth scrolling and detailed sprite work. While the developer and publisher are not widely documented, it stands as a typical example of the shoot 'em up genre that dominated early computer gaming in Japan, where the MSX platform found its strongest audience.

You pilot a small fighter jet through horizontally scrolling stages, dodging enemy fire and blasting incoming foes. The core loop involves weaving through bullet patterns while collecting power-ups that upgrade your weaponry. You have a limited number of lives and will restart from the stage's beginning upon death. The difficulty ramps up steadily, requiring quick reflexes and memorization of enemy spawn positions. There are no continues or checkpoints, making it a tough, arcade-inspired experience.

For retro shoot 'em up fans, Wing Man 2 is a solid, if unremarkable, entry in the MSX library. It doesn't do anything revolutionary, but its tight controls and satisfying challenge make it worth a quick session. Compared to more famous MSX shooters like Nemesis, it's more straightforward and less ambitious. Still, it offers a glimpse into the era's arcade-style design philosophy and remains playable today for those curious about the platform's action games.