Editing Zero Wing (section)

== Reception ==
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="float:right; font-size:80%; text-align:center; margin:1em; margin-top:0; padding:0;" cellpadding="0"
! colspan=3 style="font-size: 100%" | Reception
|-
! colspan=3 | [[Video game journalism|Review scores]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | Publication
! colspan=2 | Scores
|-
! [[Sega Mega Drive]]
! [[PC Engine CD-ROM²]]
|-
| ''[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]''
| 32/40<ref name="B!MDSMDzw">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ABeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf&page=|title=BEメガドッグレース – ゼロウィング|magazine=[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]|issue=20|publisher=[[SB Creative|SoftBank Creative]]|date=May 1991|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Computer and Video Games]]''
| 93%<ref name="CVGSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last1=Rand|first1=Paul|last2=Boone|first2=Tim|url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-117/page/n59/mode/2up|title=Review: Zero Wing - Megadrive by Toaplan|magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]]|issue=117 (August 1991)|publisher=[[EMAP]]|location=United Kingdom|date=15 July 1991|pages=60–62}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Famitsu]]''
| 28/40<ref name="FamSMDzw">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/WeeklyFamitsuNo133June14th1991#page/n18/mode/1up|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ゼロウィング|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|issue=133|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]]|date=14 June 1991|page=19|lang=ja}}</ref>
| 21/40<ref name="FamPCECDROMzw">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/7425/reviews/|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ゼロウィング|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]]|date=1992|access-date=2020-05-19|lang=ja}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Games-X]]''
| 92%<ref name="G-XSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Rigby|first=Paul|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AGamesX_UK_09.pdf&page=36|title=Console Connexions - Reviews: Zero Wing (Mega Drive)|magazine=[[Games-X]]|issue=9|publisher=[[Europress]]|date=26 June 1991}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:ja:月刊PCエンジン|Gekkan PC Engine]]''
| {{N/A}}
| 78/100<ref name="GPCEPCECDROMzw">{{cite magazine|title=ゼロウィング|magazine=[[:ja:月刊PCエンジン|Gekkan PC Engine]]|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|lang=ja}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[:fr:Gen4|Génération 4]]''
| 81%<ref name="G4SMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Querleux|first=Philippe|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Generation%204/generation4_numero035/generation%204%20-%20N035%20-%20JUILLET%20AOUT%201991%20-%20page132%20et%20page133.jpg|title=Console Test - Zero Wing|magazine=[[:fr:Gen4|Génération 4]]|issue=35|publisher=Computec Media France|date=Summer 1991|page=132|lang=fr}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:ja:ファミコン必勝本#HiPPON SUPER!、必本スーパー!（1991〜1995）|Hippon Super!]]''
| 60/100<ref name="HS!SMDzw">{{cite magazine|title=Hot Game Review: ゼロウィング|magazine=[[:ja:ファミコン必勝本#HiPPON SUPER!、必本スーパー!（1991〜1995）|Hippon Super!]]|issue=5|publisher=[[Takarajimasha]]|date=May 1991|page=42|lang=ja}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[HobbyConsolas]]''
| 86/100<ref name="HCSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=García|first=Marcos|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:HobbyConsolas_ES_011.pdf&page=48|title=Lo Más Nuevo - Megadrive: Zero Wing – Solo frente a un imperio|magazine=[[Hobby Consolas]]|issue=1|publisher=Hobby Press|date=August 1992|pages=48–51|lang=es}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''HonestGamers''
| {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="HGSMDzw">{{cite web|last=Hartley|first=Gary|url=http://www.honestgamers.com/10098/genesis/zero-wing/review.html|title=Zero Wing (Genesis) review|publisher=HonestGamers|date=18 March 2012|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:fr:Joypad (magazine)|Joypad]]''
| 90%<ref name="JpadSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Nini|first=Nourdine|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joypad/joypad_numero009/Joypad%20009%20-%20Page%20158%20%281992-06%29.jpg|title=French Collection (Mega Drive) - Zero Wing: Depart Pour Un Nettoyage En Regle!|magazine=[[:fr:Joypad (magazine)|Joypad]]|issue=9|publisher=[[:fr:Yellow Media|Yellow Media]]|date=June 1992|page=158|lang=fr}}</ref>
| 68%<ref name="JpadPCECDROMzw">{{cite magazine|last1=Morisse|first1=Jean-François|last2=Demoly|first2=Jean-Marc|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=84&num=4080&album=oui|title=NEC: Zero Wing - Dure Vie Que D'Etre Un Extraterrestre!|magazine=[[:fr:Joypad (magazine)|Joypad]]|issue=14|publisher=[[:fr:Yellow Media|Yellow Media]]|date=November 1992|pages=110–111|lang=fr}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]''
| 86%<ref name="JstickSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero018/page%20182.jpg|title=Console News: Zero Wing (Megadrive)|magazine=[[Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]|issue=18|publisher=[[:fr:Joystick (magazine)#Les années Sipress|Sipress]]|date=July–August 1991|page=182|lang=fr}}</ref>
| 78%<ref name="JstickPCECDROMzw">{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero033/Joystick%20033%20-%20Page%20165%20%281992-12%29.jpg|title=Console News: Zero Wing (Super CD ROM)|magazine=[[Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]|issue=33|publisher=[[:fr:Joystick (magazine)#Les années Sipress|Sipress]]|date=December 1992|page=165|lang=fr}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[:ja:マル勝PCエンジン|Marukatsu PC Engine]]''
| {{N/A}}
| 25/40<ref name="MPCEPCECDROMzw">{{cite magazine|title=ゼロウィング|magazine=[[:ja:マル勝PCエンジン|Marukatsu PC Engine]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=1992|lang=ja}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Mean Machines]]''
| 91%<ref name="MMSMDzw">{{cite magazine|author1=Paul|author2=Rich|url=https://archive.org/stream/Mean_Machines_Issue_10_1991-07_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n73/mode/2up|title=Megadrive Review - Zero Wing|magazine=[[Mean Machines]]|issue=10|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=July 1991|pages=74–76}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]]''
| 70%<ref name="MegaSMDzw">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/mega09#page/n22/mode/1up|title=£19.99 Games - Zero Wing|magazine=[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]]|issue=9|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|date=June 1993|page=23}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Mega Drive Advanced Gaming]]''
| 72%<ref name="MDAGGENthtcut">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bb/MDAG_UK_05.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122222812/https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bb/MDAG_UK_05.pdf |archive-date=2020-11-22 |url-status=live|title=The Incredibly Complete Mega File: Zero Wing (Import)|magazine=[[Mega Drive Advanced Gaming]]|issue=5|publisher=[[Maverick Magazines]]|date=January 1993|page=95}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:ja:メガドライブFAN|Mega Drive Fan]]''
| 19.70/30<ref name="MDFSMDzw">{{cite magazine|title=Mega Drive & Game Gear All Catalog '93 7月号特別付録 - ゼロウィング|magazine=[[:ja:メガドライブFAN|Mega Drive Fan]]|issue=42|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=15 July 1993|page=60|lang=ja}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:fr:Mega Force|Mega Force]]''
| 80%<ref name="MForceSMDzw">{{cite magazine|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/MEGA%20force/megaforce_numero06/MEGA%20Force%20006%20-%20Page%20076-077%20%281992-05%29.jpg|title=Zapping: Mega Drive - Zero Wing|magazine=[[:fr:Mega Force|Mega Force]]|issue=6|publisher=MegaPress, S.A.R.L.|date=May 1992|pages=76–77|lang=fr}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[MegaTech]]''
| 82%<ref name="MegaTSMDzw">{{cite magazine|title=Review – Zero Wing|magazine=[[MegaTech]]|issue=5|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=May 1992|pages=32–35}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:ja:PC Engine FAN|PC Engine Fan]]''
| {{N/A}}
| 19.72/30<ref name="PCEFPCECDROMzw">{{cite magazine|title=PC Engine All Catalog '93 10月号特別付録 - ゼロウィング|magazine=[[:ja:PC Engine FAN|PC Engine Fan]]|volume=6|issue=10|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=1 October 1993|page=81|lang=ja}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[:de:Play Time|Play Time]]''
| 68%<ref name="PTSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Menne|first=Oliver|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/ff/PlayTime_DE_1992-0809.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912000123/https://retrocdn.net/images/f/ff/PlayTime_DE_1992-0809.pdf |archive-date=2020-09-12 |url-status=live|title=Super Sonic: Zero Wing (Mega Drive)|magazine=[[:de:Play Time|Play Time]]|issue=15|publisher=[[:de:Computec Media Group|CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG]]|date=August 1992|page=94|lang=de}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:fr:Player One (magazine)|Player One]]''
| 79%<ref name="POSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Scamps|first=Olivier|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=32&num=1190&album=oui|title=Tests De Jeux - Mega D.: Zero Wing|magazine=[[:fr:Player One (magazine)|Player One]]|issue=20|publisher=[[:fr:Média Système Édition|Média Système Édition]]|date=May 1992|pages=70–71|lang=fr}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:de:Power Play (Zeitschrift)|Power Play]]''
| 67%<ref name="PPSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Forster|first=Winfried|url=https://archive.org/stream/powerplaymagazine-1991-09#page/146/mode/1up|title=Videospiele / Tests: Baller Again - Zero Wing (Mega Drive)|magazine=[[:de:Power Play (Zeitschrift)|Power Play]]|issue=42|publisher=Future Verlag|date=September 1991|page=146|lang=de}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Sega Force]]''
| 86%<ref name="SForceSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last1=Mellerick|first1=Paul|author2=Mat|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaForce_UK_07.pdf&page=72|title=Reviewed! (Mega Drive): Zero Wing|magazine=[[Sega Force]]|issue=7|publisher=[[Europress Impact]]|date=July 1992|pages=70–71}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Sega Power]]''
| {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="SPowerSMDzw1">{{cite magazine|last=Jarratt|first=Steve|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ASegaPower_UK_23.pdf&page=55|title=The Hard Line - Zero Wing (Import)|magazine=[[Sega Power]]|issue=23|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=October 1991|page=55}}</ref><br />88%<ref name="SPowerSMDzw2">{{cite magazine|title=Review: Zero Wing|magazine=[[Sega Power]]|issue=33|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=August 1992|page=34}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Sega Pro]]''
| 78%<ref name="SProSMDzw">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf&page=41|title=The A-Z of Sega Games – Zero Wing (Mega Drive)|magazine=[[Sega Pro]]|issue=6|publisher=[[Paragon Publishing]]|date=April 1992|page=41}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:fr:Supersonic (magazine)|Supersonic]]''
| 85%<ref name="SsonicSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Roux|first=Christian|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Supersonic/supersonic_numero01/Supersonic%2001%20-%20Page%20006.jpg|title=Tests: Zero Wing - Oui, mais un panzani! (Megadrive)|magazine=[[:fr:Supersonic (magazine)|Supersonic]]|issue=1|publisher=Pressimage|date=May–June 1992|page=6|lang=fr}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[Tilt (French magazine)|Tilt]]''
| 16/20<ref name="TiltSMDzw">{{cite magazine|last=Hermelin|first=François|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=28&num=305&album=oui|title=Hits: Zero Wing (Megadrive)|magazine=[[Tilt (French magazine)|Tilt]]|issue=93|publisher=[[:fr:Mondadori France|Editions Mondiales S.A.]]|date=September 1991|pages=53–54|lang=fr}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|-
| ''[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]''
| 67%<ref name="VGSMDsb">{{cite magazine|last=Knauf|first=Andreas|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=11206|title=Test: Das Gaiares-Syndrom - Zero Wing (Mega Drive)|magazine=[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]|issue=8|publisher=[[Future plc|Future-Verlag]]|date=July 1992|page=46|lang=de}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|}
{{Expand section|date=September 2021}}

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Zero Wing'' on their 15 November 1989 issue as being the fourth most-successful table arcade unit of the month, outperforming titles such as ''Jitsuryoku!! Pro Yakyū'' and ''[[U.N. Squadron]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=368|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 November 1989|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref>

The game received a positive critical reception upon release.<ref name="AJARCzw">{{cite magazine|last=Labiner|first=Michael|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=12300&s=2|title=Coin-Op|magazine=[[:de:Amiga Joker|Amiga Joker]]|issue=3|publisher=Joker-Verlag|date=January 1990|page=79|lang=de}}</ref><ref name="G60">{{cite magazine|title=ザ・ベストゲーム: ビデオゲーム フルリスト|magazine=[[Gamest]]|issue=60|publisher=[[Shinseisha]]|date=July 1991|pages=175–216|lang=ja}}</ref><ref name="VGPCECDROMzw">{{cite magazine|last=Knauf|first=Andreas|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=9017&s=2|title=News: Engine-Ereignisse|magazine=[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]|issue=13|publisher=[[Future plc|Future-Verlag]]|date=December 1992|pages=44–45|lang=de}}</ref> ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' scored it 93%, including ratings of 92% for graphics, 93% for sound, 90% for playability, and 89% for lastability. They praised "the great intro sequence", "super-smooth gameplay, beautifully defined graphics, rocking sound track, amazing explosions and incredible end-of-level bosses", concluding that it is "the game which breaths (''[[sic]]'') new life into shoot 'em ups on the Megadrive".<ref name="CVGSMDzw"/> ''[[Mean Machines]]'' scored it 91%, including ratings of 92% for presentation and graphics, 88% for sound, 90% for playability, and 89% for lastability. They praised the "ace" opening sequence, "detailed" graphics, "real good" music, and skill-based gameplay, and called it one of the best games for Mega Drive.<ref name="MMSMDzw"/> ''[[Sega Force]]'' scored it 86%, including ratings of 84% for presentation, 89% for visuals, 83% for sound, 89% for playability, and 82% for lastability. They praised the "animated intro" sequence, "smart" graphics, "up-beat Jap tune" music, and the accessible but "highly involved" gameplay, concluding that it is "almost as good as ''[[Hellfire (video game)|Hellfire]]''" but "not quite".<ref name="SForceSMDzw"/>

''[[Complex Networks|Complex]]'' ranked ''Zero Wing'' 98th on their "The 100 Best Sega Genesis Games" list.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Concepcion|first=Miguel|date=11 April 2018|title=The 100 Best Sega Genesis Games|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-sega-genesis-games/|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Complex|language=en}}</ref>

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