History VideoGame / Strikers1945

The first installment. Originally released for the arcade, was ported to the Saturn and Playstation (both Japan only) and later included as a part of the [=PlayStation=] 2 CompilationRerelease ''Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol. 1: Strikers 1945 I & II''. An emulated version was released for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2017

A reworking of ''Strikers 1945 II'' for the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo arcade system. Though it has the same structure as ''II'', the playable cast is a mix of planes from the first two games with one newcomer, the charge-shot system is different, the levels are completely redesigned, two of the bosses are completely changed and the returning ones have more destroyable parts and new attack patterns. It is also noticeably more BulletHell than the rest of the series. Later ([[PortingDisaster half-assedly]]) ported to the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]] and UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork.

*** The X-36 [[ThelastoftheseisnotlikeTheOthers is an exception]] as it shoots blue despite being the fastest.

* AnachronismStew: Do we really need to spell it out?
** In addition to the obvious, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_B-36_Peacemaker B-36]] did not enter service until 1949, four years after the war had ended.

* StupidJetpackHitler: The FGR from ''II'' is all but stated to be a Nazi remnant group, given that it wants to create a Fourth Reich using reverse-engineered CANY tech from ''I''. It even manages to survive into ''[=1999/III=]''.
* TransformingMecha: Many of the bosses. [[MyfriendsandZoidberg And the X-36.]]

* AnachronismStew: Do we really need to spell it out?.

* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: In the first game, your World War II plane is launched into space without any ill effects despite the low atmospheric pressure. The modern-day jet fighters of '''[=1999/III=]''' later repeat the exploit. The second game has your World War II plane [[InvertedTrope dive deep underground]] into the center of a volcano, again without any ill effects despite the immense atmospheric pressure.

** In the third game, when the F/A-18 drops a ballistic missile to the dead center of the screen and when the Harrier summons B-52's to carpet bomb the screen.

*** The X-36 [[ThelastoftheseisnotlikeTheOthers is an exception]] as it shoots blue despite being the fastest.

* DeathFromAbove: Several {{Smart Bomb}}s, most notably the P-51's one in ''Strikers 1945'' --several B-29 Superfortress carpet-bombing the screen and the AV-8 Harrier's one in ''Strikers 1945 III'' --same but with B-52 Stratofortress instead. The Mosquito in ''Strikers 1945 II'' and Spitfire in ''Strikers 1945 Plus'' do this with Mosquito fighter bombers, followed by a Mosquito firing formation.

*** F/A-18: Blue

* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: In the first game, your World War II plane is launched into space without any ill effects. The modern-day jet fighters of '''[=1999/III=]''' later repeat the exploit.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: The more exotic-looking CoolPlanes like the Shinden, Flying Pancake and X-36 Warlord are actual aircraft from World War II and contemporary times respectively.

* NintendoHard: Naturally, as it's an arcade game series. The second loops are best known for their lightning-fast bullet patterns.

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: If you fail to perform the Technical Bonus against Spectre in ''[=1999/III=]'', its next attack involves it corkscrewing as it moves from side to side, sending bullet walls straight down.

** Averted in ''PLUS''
* BulletHell: Especially ''PLUS'', which use bright pink and blue bullets, not unlike Creator/{{Cave}} games. In the mobile ports of ''Strikers 1945 II'' and ''1999'', there are "Pro" and "Master" options that take this to a new extreme.

* CollisionDamage: Averted. Colliding with another plane will just power you down a notch. Some players use this feature to control the game's DynamicDifficulty

*** F/A-18 and X-36 (Medium): Blue

* GuestFighter: Ayin, the pilot of the Shinden in the first is also one of the main character of the ''VideoGame/SengokuAce'' series and a hidden character in ''VideoGame/{{Gunbird}} 2''.

* SettingUpdate: ''[=Strikers 1999/1945 III=]'' is ''Strikers 1945'' [-IN [[TheNineties THE 90'S]]!-]

* TransformingMecha: Many of the bosses. And the X-36.

* GeniusBonus:

* SpiritualSuccessor: Not only to ''VideoGame/NineteenFortyTwo'', but to the first ''VideoGame/AeroFighters'' as well, since Creator/{{Psikyo}} was founded by ex-Video System staff. With ''1999'' trading the 1940s aesthetics for contemporary ones, it goes full-circle.