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When Wings of Death hit the Atari ST back in 1990, it quickly carved out a reputation as one of the system’s most intense and stylish vertical shooters. Developed by Eclipse Software and published by Thalion, the game threw players into the boots of Sagyr, a sorcerer cursed to transform into a series of winged creatures in order to battle his way through wave after wave of enemies. Across six lengthy and visually varied stages, players faced relentless bullet patterns, environmental hazards, and imposing bosses that demanded precision reflexes.
What made Wings of Death stand out at the time wasn’t just its fast-paced gameplay but its presentation. The scrolling backgrounds pushed the Atari ST’s hardware to its limits, while Jochen Hippel’s soundtrack remains one of the most celebrated chiptune scores of the era. The game later made its way to the Amiga, where it won over even more fans, and it still enjoys a cult following among retro enthusiasts who remember it as a showcase for European shoot-’em-up design.
Now, more than three decades later, this classic is taking flight once again, on a system where it never originally appeared.
A New Life on the Atari Jaguar
Eclipse Software, the very same studio that created the original, has teamed up with Songbird Productions to bring Wings of Death to the Atari Jaguar. The project is now in its final testing phase, with work underway on packaging, manuals, and even a remixed soundtrack CD to celebrate the occasion.
The Jaguar port isn’t a bare-bones conversion either. It’s running at 60 frames per second, supports a high-color mode, includes EEPROM save support for high scores, and comes with multiple difficulty settings to challenge both veterans and newcomers. Fans can also switch between the original soundtrack and a remixed version—complete with a factory-pressed CD that can be played separately or in a Jaguar CD unit.
Pre-orders are open now for Wings of Death for the Jaguar! Ported by Marc Rosocha of Eclipse Software.
Limited Edition: https://t.co/b6uzHwq1BR
Standard Edition: https://t.co/5E1XLZUNzv pic.twitter.com/6XR5E169kn— Songbird Productions (@SongbirdPro) August 19, 2025
Pre-Orders Are Open
Pre-orders officially went live on August 19, 2025, with two editions available for collectors and fans:
-
Standard Edition ($99.95)
Includes a black cartridge shell, full-color manual, box, and the remixed soundtrack CD. The first 250 copies will carry a “1ST RUN” sticker, after which the packaging will shift to a “RETRO” label. -
Limited Edition ($129.95)Ships in a clear cartridge shell and features the same contents as the standard edition, with the added bonus of having the buyer’s name printed in the manual. This run is limited to just 50 units.
- limited edition has sold out.
For those who missed the Jaguar during its original run, or for long-time fans who want to see their favorite ST shooter reborn on new hardware, this release is a rare and exciting event. A game once trapped in the past is spreading its wings again.
👉 Official pre-order page: Songbird Productions
