Strikers 1945: II - PlayStation

Got packs, screens, info?
Viewed: 2D Top-down, Multi-way scrolling Genre:
Combat Game: Flying
Shoot 'Em Up
Arcade origin:No
Developer: Mere Mortals
Publishers: Midas (GB/GB)
Released: 31 Oct 2003 (GB)
29 Mar 2002 (GB)
Ratings: 3+
Accessories: Analogue JoyPad, Memory Card
Features: Vibration Compatible

Summary

Upon creating Strikers 1945: 2, Psikyo has to be congratulated for keeping the dying 2D shoot-em-up flag flying. Along with only the hardcore of Japan’s game development houses, Capcom, Konami and Treasure, they are one of the few companies dedicating time to keeping afloat one of the most cherished forms of video game.

This game has lost little in the port from arcade to PlayStation and is wonderfully jam-packed with sprites. You may not know this, but Strikers 1945: 2 was initially released as a Sega Saturn game back in 1998.

The futuristic-cum-World War 2 presentation will be recognised by most arcade gamers, and you will note that the gameplay mechanism hasn’t changed a great deal over the years. You are given a choice of six WWII-themed craft, each with differing levels of agility and firepower, to make your way through the game.

Strikers is not the classic that Radiant Silvergun or GigaWing are in as much as it brings nothing really new to the genre. There is little of the duality or genre manipulation for its own sake that you will see in the average Treasure-developed shooter, but it will please fans of the series as the formula for gameplay has been essentially unaltered.

Each craft has its standard shot, secondary missile fire and limited-use smart bombs. Power-ups will, as you might imagine, increase the strength of the first two, while extra bombs are picked up as you progress. All very standard stuff, to the extent that pretty much anyone who has played a 2D shooter will feel right at home.