Strikers 1945 part 2 review for Playstation & Saturn

This game has the same game-engine as Gunbird 2 and probably the same as most Psikyo shooters. This however is no bad thing, as with the Street Fighter series "if it ain't broke don't fix it!"

Buy the Japanese PS or Saturn versions of this game and play it rotated as it has a vertical arcade mode.
The US version doesn't have a vertical arcade mode.
An European has recently been released and features a vertical arcade mode (thnx to Thorsten Opperman), but this version runs 50HZ resulting in side borders when you rotate your tv and it'll run 16,7% slower,so stay away.
Check the How to.. section of this site for instructions on how to succesfully rotate your monitor.

You play through the first four levels with unlimited continues. From level 5 on every time all of your lives run out you have to restart the level. So unlike some other shooters out there IT'S VERY HARD TO COMPLETE THE GAME.
Did I mention the great multi-stage bosses yet? No? well .....now I have.
A little word of advice to you. Since this game doesn't incorporate an auto-save function you manualy have to save/load from your memory card. So if you want to save that incredible high-score, save your work. Staying on the subject of high scores, you seem to only get to enter your name if you never continue (using only one credit and letting the timer run out).

Even though some of the backgrounds look a bit cardboard at times the graphics get a nine boosted by the immense explosions and shrapnel and debree.
Like with the Gunbird 2 review here's the list of the game's planes with their speeds!

   Planes:            Speeds:

1) P38 Lightning      **(2)
2) F5U Flying Pancake *****(5)
3) Ta-152 Focke-Wulf  ****(4)
4) Ki-84 Hayate       ***(3)
5) J7W Shinden        ****(4)
6) DH98 Mosquito      *(1)
         
Speed becomes more important the higher the difficulty setting!
Offcourse the extra speed doesn't come cheap. It often results in having less fire power.


Differences between the PS & the Saturn versions

The Saturn version has more slowdown than the PS version.
Especially on the "harbour" level this is notable. the game slows down when you reach the scond diagonal moving boat (see first screenshot). The game continuesly slows down for about half a minute!!!!! On some other levels one might experience slowdown when facing the bosses.
On a few other occasions one will experience slowdown.
The PS version doesn't exactly have a clean slate either.
In the PS version one will experience some kind of scroll shock at the beginning of every level.
But slowdown wise the PS version is the clear winner.
Let's look at any further differences:
First of all there are no real differences between the two packages.
All of the graphics are the same.
All intros/galleries can be found in both versions.
Both have a vertical arcade modes. Well, in the Japanese PS version anyway.
The American PS version doesn't have a vertical arcade mode judging by other reviews.
There is an European PS version which has a vertical arcade mode.
The Saturn version was only released in Japan.

There's a difference that's quite unfair to mention, but I'm gonna do it anyway.
This is about the controllers. and this applies to all PS/Saturn games.
The Saturn controller is the best controller in the universe. I used to think that the PS controller was the best. No more,....!
The PS has slightly longer loading time but that's "mierenneuken" (being really picky).
I think that most will favour the PS version.
I want good control, and I'll take the slowdown for granted. (when I get tired of the slowdown I'll rewrite the review)


Rating for all versions:

Playability 10
Music 8
Lastability 9
Graphics 9
Overall 9



Screenshots:







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The later released discounted version by SUCCESS: