I. Game Background
1.1 Setting the Scene
Strikers 1945 II continues the series' alternate-history WWII setting. In 1945, a mysterious alien organization known as "CANY" launched a full-scale invasion of Earth. While humanity narrowly repelled the first wave in the previous game, CANY returned just two years later in 1947 with even greater military might. The world's finest pilots have assembled once again, piloting legendary WWII fighters retrofitted with alien technology to engage in the ultimate showdown between humanity and extraterrestrial power.
Every fighter in the game is based on real-world WWII aircraft—from the American P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang to the British Spitfire, German Bf 109, and the Japanese Shinden—but each has been equipped with futuristic energy weapons. This "historical machine + sci-fi firepower" aesthetic is the signature design language of Psikyo.
1.2 Development History
Strikers 1945 II was released by the Japanese developer Psikyo in 1997 for arcade hardware. Founded by former Video System employees, Psikyo became one of the titans of the vertical shooter genre in the late 1990s, thanks to the Strikers 1945 and Gunbird series.
Building on the success of the original (1995), the sequel introduced comprehensive upgrades:
- The fighter roster expanded from 6 to 8 aircraft (plus a hidden X-36 fighter).
- The Technical Bonus system was refined and deepened—earning extra points for staying close to enemy fire (an early precursor to the "graze" mechanic).
- The BOSS part-destruction mechanism was pushed to its limit—every boss is essentially a modular mechanical model.
- Each fighter's charge attack was redesigned for more spectacular visual impact.
Many Psikyo fans consider Strikers 1945 II to be the true peak of the series, rather than the original. The reasons: more creative boss designs, greater differentiation between fighters, and a more mature tuning of the Technical Bonus system. Simply put: the sequel is the "definitive version."
In 1999, Psikyo released Strikers 1945 Plus, a Neo Geo port and enhanced version of the sequel. While it features improved visuals, the roster was changed, and the debate over "II vs. Plus" continues among hardcore fans to this day.
II. Fighter Selection
This game features 8 historical aircraft + 1 hidden fighter, each with unique weapon combinations and charge attacks.
2.1 P-38 Lightning
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★★ |
- Weapon: Concentrated forward machine gun + homing sub-missiles.
- Charge Attack: Deploys a wingman that flies freely around the screen, automatically targeting and shooting enemies.
- Verdict: A balanced main fighter. The wingman charge is highly efficient for clearing small fry, allowing the player to focus on dodging. Great for beginners and intermediate players.
2.2 P-51 Mustang
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★★ |
- Weapon: Wide-angle fan machine gun + multi-directional sub-missiles.
- Charge Attack: Full-screen fire coverage—massive bullet density for a short duration.
- Verdict: One of the best choices for clearing enemies in high-difficulty stages. Its balanced performance makes it a staple for speedrunners and high-score challengers.
2.3 Spitfire
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★★★ |
- Weapon: Medium-damage machine gun + homing barrage.
- Charge Attack: Precision homing beam—locks onto the nearest enemy on screen and delivers sustained damage.
- Verdict: The highest mobility in the game. Its precision homing makes it the top choice for score-chasers, as high mobility allows players to maintain the Maximum Technical Bonus throughout. However, it sacrifices base firepower, testing the player's dodging skills.
2.4 Bf 109
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★★ |
- Weapon: Heavy forward machine gun + rockets.
- Charge Attack: Massive energy beam—a straight-line, high-damage piercing shot.
- Verdict: The "heavyweight" fighter with the highest firepower and defense. Perfect for players who prefer a direct approach over nimble movement. In boss fights, its beam deals the highest single-target damage in the game.
2.5 Shinden
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★★ |
- Weapon: Forward fan barrage + rear defensive barrage (the Shinden's unique design—the rear-mounted propeller allows for backward firing).
- Charge Attack: 360° omnidirectional shield barrage—releases a ring of bullets around the craft for a short time.
- Verdict: An experimental Imperial Japanese Navy fighter. Its rear-firing capability makes it the only character that can continue dealing damage while retreating.
2.6 Ki-61 Hien (Recommended for Beginners)
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★★★ |
- Weapon: Concentrated forward machine gun + medium-range sub-missiles.
- Charge Attack: Giant energy blade—a massive energy slash released from the nose, covering a huge area in front.
- Verdict: The coolest charge attack in the series! The Hien's blade is not just visually stunning; it has the largest hitbox of any fighter, making it relatively easy for beginners to clear bullets and bosses. Widely considered the best entry-level choice.
2.7 Mosquito
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★ |
- Weapon: Heavy cannon + bomb drops.
- Charge Attack: Carpet bombing—drops a large number of bombs forward, covering ground targets.
- Verdict: The "Wooden Wonder" of the RAF. Its unique bomb-dropping mechanic gives it an irreplaceable advantage in stages dense with ground targets.
2.8 Dornier Do 335
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Firepower | ★★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★ |
| Charge Attack | ★★★★ |
- Weapon: Heavy forward machine gun + rear defensive cannon (dual-engine front-and-back layout—fires simultaneously forward and backward).
- Charge Attack: Dual engines at full power—significantly boosts firepower in both directions for a short time.
- Verdict: A German heavy interceptor. Its unique dual-engine design makes it the only character capable of attacking enemies in front and behind simultaneously—maintaining firepower even when surrounded.
2.9 X-36 (Hidden Fighter)
A hidden fighter unlocked via specific conditions—based on the real-life American X-36 tailless experimental aircraft. It boasts the highest mobility and the smallest hitbox in the game, but the lowest defense. For experts only.
III. Controls
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 8-Way Joystick | Move the fighter |
| A Button | Hold for rapid fire—main weapon + sub-weapon fired simultaneously |
| B Button | Bomb—clears the screen + provides short invincibility frames |
| Charge Attack | Hold A for ~1.5 seconds then release—unique powerful attack for each fighter |
Technical Bonus: When your fighter is close to enemy bullets without being hit, your score multiplier increases. The closer you are, the higher the multiplier. This is Psikyo's signature scoring mechanic—it doesn't just ask you to dodge; it asks you to actively get close to bullets to maximize your score. This design directly influenced the later "Graze" mechanic, becoming a staple of the bullet-hell genre.
IV. Stage Walkthrough & Boss Strategy
There are 8 stages in total. The "part-destruction" mechanism for each boss is the core of the gameplay.
Part-Destruction System
Each boss is composed of multiple independent parts—left cannon, right cannon, central armor, rear thrusters, and core weak point. Players can choose to destroy specific parts to change the boss's attack patterns:
- Destroy left cannon → Boss loses left-side firepower—right side becomes a safe zone.
- Destroy central armor → Exposes core weak point—deals double damage.
- Destroy thrusters → Boss movement speed decreases—easier to target.
This "surgical" tactical choice provides the strategic depth unique to the Strikers series—it's not just about "shooting everything," but "selectively destroying vital points."
Stage Overview
| Stage | Setting | Boss Type | Strategy Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Pacific Skies | Giant Land Battleship (Tank) | Introductory stage; learn the part-destruction system. |
| Stage 2 | European Ruins | Heavy Bomber | Aerial boss; the importance of charge attacks begins to show. |
| Stage 3 | North African Desert | Multi-barrel AA Array | Fixed ground boss; the Mosquito's bomb drop is highly effective here. |
| Stage 4 | Ice Base | Giant Snow Mecha | Bullet density spikes—the best stage for farming Technical Bonuses. |
| Stage 5 | Pacific Fleet | Multi-turret Battleship | Naval boss; four independent turrets—destroy them one by one. |
| Stage 6 | Canyon Fortress | Giant Flying Carrier | Extremely dense bullet patterns. The Do 335's dual-directional fire is a huge advantage. |
| Stage 7 | Orbital Station | Space Morphing Mecha | High-speed boss—requires constant use of homing charges (Spitfire advantage). |
| Stage 8 | Alien Mothership | CANY Core—Multi-stage Final Boss | Three stages. Second stage has full-screen patterns; third stage is extremely fast. Save all bombs for the final form. |
V. Tips & Advanced Strategy
5.1 Basic Survival
- Hien is the best for beginners: Its blade charge has the largest coverage and highest fault tolerance. Master the bullet rhythm before switching to other fighters.
- Practice the Technical Bonus: Don't wait for bullets to come to you—actively move toward them and stay within a safe distance to boost your multiplier. This is the biggest difference between Psikyo and CAVE games.
- Charge attacks are "surgical tools," not "AOE screen clears": Don't waste charges on small enemies. Save them for boss parts—especially the core armor that needs to be broken quickly.
- Bombs are for survival, not damage: Always keep at least one bomb in reserve. The invincibility frames are more valuable than the damage.
- Learn boss part layouts: Boss attack patterns change after parts are destroyed. Memorizing which parts to break first is essential for advanced players.
5.2 Co-op Play
- Fighter Pairing: One player uses P-51 or Hien for wide-area clearing, while the other uses Spitfire or P-38 for precision boss part destruction.
- Staggered Bombs: Don't use bombs at the same time. Staggering them maximizes your total invincibility time.
5.3 Advanced Knowledge
- Hidden Fighter Traits: The Shinden's rear fire and the Do 335's dual-engine fire require dedicated practice to maximize efficiency.
- Scoring vs. Clearing: Farming Technical Bonuses requires moving into danger, which increases death risk—this conflicts with survival strategies. Decide whether you are "score-chasing" or "clearing" and adjust your playstyle accordingly.
- Plus Version Changes: The 1999 Strikers 1945 Plus is an enhanced Neo Geo version with a different roster and improved visuals, but the core gameplay remains the same.
VI. Trivia & Arcade Legends
6.1 Psikyo—The "Hardcore King" of Shooters
Psikyo is known for its "high difficulty, high reward, low tolerance" design philosophy. Unlike the "gorgeous bullet-hell aesthetics" of CAVE, Psikyo's bullets are faster and denser, but hitboxes are also larger—a "hardcore, punchy" design rather than a "graceful" one. Strikers 1945 II is the perfect embodiment of this philosophy—bullets are dense but never "unavoidable," and every pattern has a predictable rhythm.
6.2 Technical Bonus—The Precursor to "Graze"
In Strikers 1945 II, getting close to bullets earns extra points—a design that directly inspired the "Graze" systems in later games like CAVE's DoDonPachi. However, Psikyo's version is more aggressive—the Technical Bonus requires you to actively enter the "danger zone" of the bullets, not just "brush past" them.
6.3 Hien's Blade—A Visual Miracle of the 90s
The Hien's charge attack (a giant energy blade released from the nose) had stunning visual impact on 1997 CRT arcade monitors. In the Japanese shooter community, this is known as the "Iai Cut" (Iai-giri)—because the way it is released (charge → instant burst) is reminiscent of the Japanese sword art of Iai-do.
6.4 "II is the Definitive Version"—The Fan Consensus
Many hardcore Psikyo fans consider Strikers 1945 II the best in the series. The original was a "prototype" testing the core mechanics; II is the "complete form" that polished every idea to perfection; III was a "shift in direction" that added new elements but lost the tight balance of II; and the Plus version was a "visual upgrade" that left some veterans nostalgic for the original roster.
