Spread Your Wings

Bayonetta is an unusual choice for this list, since her wings aren’t technically hers. Her signature wings actually belong to an infernal demon named Madama Butterfly. Bayonetta can draw power from the demon and use her wings to increase her jumping height or to glide for short distances. This makes it easier for Bayonetta to get around, and it also allows her to set up dazzling mid-air combos. Although Madama’s presence isn’t always readily apparent, her wings are plainly visible in Bayonetta’s shadow. These aren’t the only wings that Bayonetta uses, however. She also teams up with a raven-esque demon who grants her the ability of flight. In these instances, she will actually sprout majestic wings out of her back. Bayonetta can even use mechanical wings if the situation calls for it, so she deserves credit for being so adaptable.

Nyotengu is one of the most interesting Dead or Alive characters. Despite being over a thousand years old, she’s a total smokeshow. The Tengu Princess of Miyama is openly flirtatious, her gestures are highly suggestive, and her dialogue is laced with innuendo. She also has a sadistic side, however, and she enjoys inflicting pain. On that note, her beautiful wings give her a distinct advantage in a fight since they allow her to glide toward her opponents and catch them off guard with various air throws. I’d love for her to put me in a reverse mating press, but not from 20 feet up in the air! Her wings can also produce powerful gusts of wind, and her unique stances can easily break the rhythm of her opponents. Nyotengu’s wings mysteriously disappear when she goes to Whore Zack Island, but they’ll somehow grow back if she has enough fun.

There are over 100 Pokémon with wings, so it was difficult to single one of them out for this countdown. I could have recognized Charizard or one of the three legendary birds of Kanto, but Ho-Oh stood out from the pack due to its magnificent seven-colored wings. I was intrigued by the remarkable bird from the moment I saw it on the cover of Pokémon Gold, and it’s still one of my favorite Pokémon from Generation II. Ho-Oh is recognized as the guardian of the skies, and its determined to find a trainer that is pure of heart. Legend has it that anyone who sees Ho-Oh will be granted eternal happiness, and its feathers are an enduring source of joy for anyone that bears them. Ho-Oh’s body sparkles with each flap of its wings, and it even leaves a prismatic rainbow behind as it soars through the skies. It’s always a Kodak Moment when Ho-Oh’s around.

Ghost ‘n Goblins was the first console game I ever played, and I considered giving up the hobby entirely on account of the Red Arremer. The obnoxious gargoyle would dart around the screen in an erratic manner, and I couldn’t figure out his pattern for the life of me. His wings allowed him to stay out of reach, and that’s one of the reasons why he’ll forever be remembered as one of gaming’s most annoying enemies. The Gargoyle’s Quest series flipped the script by putting players in control of a Red Arremer. Firebrand can fly for short periods of time, and his aerial form from Demon’s Crest allows him to rule over the skies and control the wind. Needless to say, I had much more fun controlling an Arremer than I ever did fighting them. In either regard, their wings are a fundamental part of their identity.

After inheriting the aptly-named Devil Gene from his father, Jin Kazama was possessed by an entity known as Devil Jin. He pushed back against the dark intruder, but his hatred for his own bloodline allowed Devil Jin to take over. This ultimately caused him to sprout a pair a jet-black wings. His father Kazuya had met a similar fate, but Jin’s feathered wings were more akin to an angel. Incidentally, his mother’s side of the family could neutralize the effects of the Devil Gene. When Jin’s altruistic desires allowed him to gain control of his Devil form, one of his wings turned white. He still had access to Devil’s powers at this point, but he retained his own personality. The Devil Gene was later purified entirely, which allowed Jin to ascend to a new angelic form with golden wings. That’s quite a turn for someone who was once known as the Black Wings of Ruin.

Dizzy is only three years old when we meet her, but she has the appearance and mental capacity of a full-grown adult. The reason why her growth was accelerated was because her mother was a magical creature known as a Gear. Her fellow villagers were weary of Dizzy from the get-go, and they began to view her as a monster after she grew a pair of wings. Dizzy was forced into exile, but it wasn’t all bad news. Incidentally, the wings were sentient beings that could alter their shapes and think independently. The dark wing is known as Necro and could be likened to the Grim Reaper. The light wing is called Undine and is more akin to a water nymph or a typical angel. Although Necro and Undine don’t always get along, they act as Dizzy’s automated defense system. They can even take over her body and fight in her place if she becomes incapacitated.

Sephiroth stands out on this list by virtue of the fact that he only has a single wing. This might seem peculiar, but the lone black wing is deeply symbolic and helps paint the aspiring god as a fallen angel of sorts. The wing is both majestic and grotesque, and it first manifests itself after Sephiroth is regenerated by the Lifestream. Although he also sprouts six white wings from his deformed body, it’s the lone black wing that defines him. (His theme song is even called One-Winged Angel in reference to the extra appendage.) Since his appearance in Kingdom Hearts, Sephiroth is usually depicted with a single black wing that emanates from his shoulder. The wing is a constant reminder that Sephiroth is an abomination with celestial powers, but it doesn’t have much utility. He can fly without the wing, so it mostly exists as a visual metaphor.

Morrigan Aensland is a succubus who requires constant stimulation, so you’d think her eye-catching wings would get in the way. Although she can remove her wings to appear more human, she doesn’t seem to be embarrassed by them in any way. They’re quite stylish, in fact, and they match nicely with the bat patterns on her tights. The smaller set of wings on her head are almost entirely cosmetic. Her larger wings help her move around with incredible speed, however, and they basically have all the benefits of a jetpack. The wings can be used as weapons too, and Morrigan is able to reshape them into spears or blades. If necessary, she can also turn her wings into a shield to protect herself from oncoming attacks. Whether they’re being used in the name of offense, defense, or even fashion, Morrigan’s wings command attention.

It’s easy to see why Banjo and Kazooie have been recognized as gaming’s greatest duo. The dimwitted honey bear and wise-cracking breegul have a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. Banjo does a lot of the heavy lifting and lets the sarcastic bird live in his backpack rent free. Kazooie, for her part, can shoot eggs out of her mouth and peck enemies with her beak. She also has the ability to fly, and her wings are strong enough to take Banjo along for the ride. The flying sections make up a significant portion of the game, and the absurdity of a flying bear was one of the things the marketing campaign focused on. Kazooie can also use her wings to bolster Banjo’s jumping abilities, and they can even be used as a shield. Her aptly-named wonderwing ability can make her invincible providing she has enough golden feathers at the ready.

Pit is the clear choice for the number one spot on this list, considering how important his wings are to the entire Kid Icarus series. After Angel Land is invaded, Pit escapes from his prison in the Underworld and sets out to find the three sacred treasures. After obtaining the Wings of Pegasus, Pit gains the ability of flight. The sequel has a similar plot, but Pit ends up losing his wings during the ending after flying too close to the sun. (This scenario borrows heavily from Greek myth of Icarus.) Thankfully, Pit’s wings were fully functional in Kid Icarus Uprising. In this outing, the gameplay was divided into aerial-based rail shooter segments and ground-based combat segments. While the flight sections were full of excitement, the on-foot missions were mediocre at best. If Pit didn’t have his wings, Kid Icarus Uprising would have been a bitter disappointment.