Wings of Fear II demo v1.4 released: a promising new WW1 shooter for Amiga

The Amiga homebrew scene refuses to fade away, and one of the latest projects creating a buzz among retro gaming fans is Wings of Fear II. Developed by Norwegian creator Roar Tjørhom, known in the community as Roartj, the game is the follow-up to the World War I themed shooter Wings of Fear. The original title already impressed Amiga fans with its fast arcade gameplay and classic inspiration, but the sequel looks set to take things in a new direction. With the recently released version 1.4 demo (02/04/26), players can already jump in and experience an early taste of what the developer has planned. Instead of simply repeating the formula of the first game, Wings of Fear II introduces a major gameplay shift. While the original title used a top-down view, the sequel moves to a side-scrolling shoot ’em up style, giving the action a completely different feel. This change immediately brings to mind the golden age of arcade shooters, as players pilot a World War I aircraft across hostile skies filled with enemy fighters, anti-aircraft fire, and dangerous ground targets. The new perspective allows for more dramatic encounters and more varied stage design, creating a faster and more cinematic experience as you dodge bullets, launch attacks, and fight to survive wave after wave of enemy aircraft.

The game is being developed for Amiga systems equipped with the AGA chipset, allowing the developer to push the visual presentation further than earlier Amiga hardware could manage. Development is powered by Earok’s Scorpion Engine, a modern tool that has become incredibly popular within the Amiga homebrew community thanks to its flexibility and ability to deliver polished results on classic hardware. Alongside this engine, Roartj is using tools such as Aseprite and Resprite for sprite and pixel art creation, Tiled for level building, and Goldwave for sound work. Together these tools form a modern development pipeline that still respects the limitations and style of classic Amiga gaming. Reports from development updates even suggest that work has already begun on later stages such as level five, which is a strong indication that the project is moving steadily forward beyond the early prototype stage. To ensure that as many Amiga users as possible can try the demo, it has been released in several different formats. These include versions compatible with WHDLoad, FPGA, and CD32 setups, meaning players can experience the game on original Amiga hardware, modern FPGA machines such as MiSTer or Vampire, or through emulation. This flexibility reflects the modern retro scene, where classic hardware and modern technology often meet in creative ways.

Although Roar Tjørhom is the main developer responsible for the game’s design, graphics, and programming, several contributors are helping bring the project together. Márton Imre Gáspár provides the title music, Frank Ewil Larsen is responsible for the in-game soundtrack, and Michael Dawes contributes additional coding support. It’s a small but dedicated team, and their combined efforts highlight the collaborative spirit that continues to keep the Amiga community alive decades after the system’s original heyday. At the moment, the developer is aiming for a release window toward the end of 2026, possibly around November or December. As with many independent retro projects, the exact timeline may shift as development continues and features are refined. Even so, the steady progress shown by the demo updates suggests that the project is moving in the right direction. With its new side-scrolling gameplay style, improved visuals, and active development, Wings of Fear II is shaping up to be another exciting addition to the growing library of modern Amiga homebrew titles. For fans of classic shoot ’em ups and retro aerial combat, it’s definitely a project worth watching closely as development continues.

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