The Messerschmitt Bf 109, for example, fires a high-speed stream of bullets straight ahead, but as it gains power-ups, it also gains the ability to fire shots that automatically lock on to nearby enemies, allowing enemies other than those you are directly aiming at to be hit. They all feel very different to play as, but pleasingly, not one of them feels “easier” than the others as such they just offer different ways to play.

These can be used for a “charged shot” by holding down the non-rapid fire button the exact function of this varies according to your chosen aircraft, but they usually allow you to take control of one area of the screen in some way while moving your craft elsewhere.Įach of the six members of the Strikers team pilots a different aircraft, and each aircraft has its own unique characteristics - not just in the way they fire their basic shots, but also how they upgrade, how their charged shot works, how their bombs work and their overall manoeuvrability. Bombs are limited and confer temporary invincibility while their effects go off, usually destroying all popcorn enemies and bullets on the screen in the process.ĭestroying certain enemies drops either additional bombs or power-up items, with the latter not only increasing your firepower but also adding tiny “escort aircraft”. You shoot with one button - the Switch port adds a “rapid fire” button that can simply be held down rather than hammered - and fire off a bomb with another. The basic mechanics of Strikers 1945 are simple. With the world exhausted from the war that just concluded, it’s up to a small team of elite fighters, known as the Strikers, to take down this new threat and return peace to the world. has decided to start some shenanigans with a variety of powerful superweapons.

The setup for Strikers 1945 is that World War II has finished, but a secret organisation known as C.A.N.Y. Part of the excellent value (and beautifully packaged) Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha compilation from NIS America and City Connection, Strikers 1945 originally hails from 1995, and was the fourth game that shoot ’em up specialists Psikyo put out for the world to enjoy.īlending real-world aircraft with ridiculous, fantastic elements, Strikers 1945 is a straightforward but extremely solid and accessible shooter that remains well worth playing even today. Such was the case with Strikers 1945 for me today. You know a game’s on to a winner when you think “ah, I’ll just sit down and have a quick play on this to take some screenshots” and then suddenly it’s over an hour later.

Strikers 1945 ending