Strikers 1945 Plus – A Glorious Bullet-Hell Blitz in Your Pocket – MAME Game Review

When Psikyo’s Strikers 1945 Plus landed in arcades in 1999, it wasn’t just another vertical shoot-’em-up—it was a polished, portable-friendly remix of the beloved Strikers 1945 II. Reimagined for SNK’s Neo Geo MVS hardware, Plus crammed intense action and dazzling visuals into a horizontal screen format, making it one of the most accessible and enjoyable entries in the bullet-hell genre—especially through MAME today.

Classic Dogfights, Upgraded

Strikers 1945 Plus keeps Psikyo’s formula intact: pick one of six WW2-era fighter planes (from nimble Lightning to the heavy-hitting Shinden) and blast through waves of enemies, power-ups, and screen-filling bosses. Each plane comes with a unique charge attack and a devastating bomb special, adding layers of strategy. While the game retains the core mechanics of Strikers 1945 II, it tightens the pacing and shifts to auto-scrolling backgrounds to suit the Neo Geo’s screen layout.

The sprite work shines, with detailed aircraft, vibrant explosions, and massive mechanical bosses that morph mid-battle. Enemy patterns are fast and furious, delivering a fair but fierce challenge. The game’s slightly slowed-down pace compared to its predecessors makes it more approachable, without sacrificing intensity.

Designed for the Neo Geo Audience

What makes Strikers 1945 Plus stand out is its thoughtful adaptation to the Neo Geo MVS format. Instead of the traditional vertical screen, it’s reworked for horizontal displays—meaning no need to rotate your monitor or reconfigure your MAME setup. This tweak may seem minor, but it significantly enhances accessibility while preserving that classic arcade thrill.

The audio deserves mention too: the soundtrack pulses with energy, blending military march undertones with arcade-style synths. Explosions and shot sounds have satisfying weight, and voice samples (especially the classic “Ready?” and “Go!”) amp up the tension before every mission.

MAME Performance and Accessibility

Running Strikers 1945 Plus in MAME is smooth and painless. It’s a Neo Geo title, so setup is easy—just drop the ROM in your Neo Geo directory with the correct BIOS, and you’re ready for liftoff. It plays well on modest systems, and the horizontal screen support makes it great for handheld or widescreen arcade cabinets.

Moreover, the game’s slightly slower pace and reduced difficulty spikes compared to other Psikyo shooters make it an ideal pick for genre newcomers. Hardcore players still have the option to master high-score strategies, chaining enemies and maximizing medal points.

Final Verdict

Strikers 1945 Plus is a brilliant remix that honors its roots while delivering an arcade-perfect experience tailored for Neo Geo hardware—and by extension, MAME players today. It’s fast, fun, and faithful to the Psikyo formula, with enough polish and tweak to make it stand apart. Whether you’re revisiting a classic or discovering it for the first time, Plus is a must-play for shmup fans.

Rating: 8.5/10

✅ Pros:

• Smooth, accessible gameplay
• Gorgeous sprites and satisfying mechanics
• Great variety in planes and attacks
• Horizontal format works perfectly for MAME setups

⚠️ Cons:
– Less vertical space means slightly cramped view
– No significant changes from Strikers 1945 II beyond format tweaks