Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Strikers 1945 Plus delivers a frenetic shooting experience that stays true to its Neo-Geo arcade roots while adding enough modern polish to keep players engaged. You begin each mission by selecting one of six distinct fighter planes—plus an unlockable secret craft—each offering its own weapon spread, speed, and special attack. Early levels give you a taste of the classic weak firepower that defined the series, but capturing Power-Ups in midair quickly ramps up your offensive capabilities and secures secondary missiles that can carve through swarms of enemies.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The heart of the gameplay lies in mastering your ship’s special gauge. As you deal damage to ground and air targets, the gauge fills until you can unleash a devastating charged shot. Learning when to deposit these special attacks—whether to clear the screen of projectiles, inflict maximum boss damage, or create breathing room when overwhelmed—is key to achieving high scores and surviving later stages. You can stockpile multiple special shots, which encourages strategic play rather than button-mashing.

Adding depth and longevity, the PSP-exclusive Endless Mode unlocks once you conquer the final boss. This mode cranks the difficulty to maximum and drops you into an unending gauntlet of enemies, challenging you to push your skills as far as they’ll go. It’s the perfect test for veterans who want to improve their best runs or farm points, and it ensures that Strikers 1945 Plus remains addictive well after you finish the standard campaign.

Graphics

One of the immediate delights of Strikers 1945 Plus is its vibrant, hand-drawn visuals. The game maintains the classic pixel art style of the original Neo-Geo arcade release but benefits from cleaner lines and richer colors on modern hardware. Backgrounds teem with detail—bombed-out cities, dense jungles, and industrial complexes scroll smoothly beneath your plane, emphasizing the sense of high-speed aerial combat.

Enemy sprites and boss designs are equally well-crafted, with each mechanical construct sporting unique movement patterns and attack animations. Explosions pack a visual punch, complete with multi-layered debris, smoke trails, and flashy screen shakes that capture that satisfying arcade feel. Despite the onslaught of bullets and missiles, frame rate remains rock-solid, ensuring that you can weave through tightly choreographed bullet patterns without worrying about slowdown.

The user interface is clean and informative, with easily read gauges and counters that never obscure the action. Power-Up icons pop against the backdrop, making it simple to snatch enhancements mid-flight. Whether you’re playing on a crisp HDTV or the PSP’s handheld screen, Strikers 1945 Plus strikes a near-perfect balance between retro authenticity and modern visual clarity.

Story

Storytelling in Strikers 1945 Plus is minimal by design, acting more as a framing device for the arcade action than a deep narrative experience. The premise centers on a global conflict in an alternate 1945, where an unknown military alliance unleashes experimental war machines to conquer the world. Your squadron of elite pilots is humanity’s last hope, and each level represents a mission to dismantle the enemy’s war infrastructure.

Dialogue is sparse, limited to brief cutscenes that introduce each stage and identify boss targets. While there’s little in the way of character development or plot twists, the game’s atmospheric settings—from icebound airfields to underground volcano bases—serve to illustrate the escalating stakes. The story never threatens to overshadow the core thrill of dogfighting and bullet-dodging; instead, it provides just enough context to keep you invested in progressing through the six missions.

For players craving deeper lore, the use of assets and enemy types borrowed from Strikers 1945 and Strikers 1945 II offers a nostalgic nod to fans of the series. Subtle references to earlier entries—such as recurring boss designs and special weapons—tie the game into a broader universe without bogging down the action. Ultimately, the narrative works as intended: it’s concise, thematic, and designed to get you back into the cockpit as fast as possible.

Overall Experience

Strikers 1945 Plus strikes a near-perfect balance between old-school arcade shooting and modern enhancements. The core mechanics—plane selection, Power-Ups, charged special attacks—are instantly accessible yet deep enough to reward repeated play. Endless Mode adds substantial replay value, giving skilled players a reason to revisit the skies long after the credits roll.

The graphical upgrades breathe new life into classic levels, and the consistent frame rate ensures that every dogfight feels smooth and responsive. While the story remains straightforward and minimal, it’s exactly what you’d expect from an arcade-style vertical shooter: a concise setup that fuels your drive to blast through waves of foes and face down massive bosses.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the Strikers series or a newcomer seeking a challenging shooter, Strikers 1945 Plus delivers. Its blend of tight controls, strategic weapon management, and rewarding progression makes it an easy recommendation for anyone hungry for pulse-pounding aerial combat on the go or at home. Prepare to lock on, line up your shot, and fly into the fray.

Retro Replay Score

null/10