When the classic winning formula that made the franchise so great isn't there anymore, can it still be called a port?
I'd like to say the game is at least mildly good, because it does have a strong pedigree, some nice graphics and the potential of being a decent Sunday afternoon brain fart. Unfortunately, as a reviewer, I have to side with the buyer first and foremost, because ultimately they will make the final sacrifice with their wallet. I'd like to side with the designers, since they probably put more effort into porting the game than it took the buyer to fork over the $12, but I won't because Arc System Works could have added more stuff to this old relic besides cooperative play, and at least not hacked away what made the Neo Geo version good.
A HISTORICAL MESS OF A SHOOTER
For starters, System Works took the liberty to change the roster a bit, but you can still select between six historically accurate fighter planes -- at least in name and look. Each plane can upgrade its primary fire mode by a couple of levels. The effectiveness and look of the upgrades vary disappointingly between fighters. No diagonal firing spread anymore, or wingmen for that matter; upgrades simply make you shoot a couple more bullets at a time, some with more elaborate effects. Each plane can also load up with an unlimited secondary weapon, the kind that tags along with your primary fire mode. Pounding on enemies charges up a Super Shot that range from pretty useful (dual laser beams -- Flying Pancake) to pretty lame (a pathetic bomb that flops to the ground -- Spitfire).
Each fighter also comes equipped with an airstrike summon that calls in your invincible friends to help sweep the screen of bullets and bad guys (no more screen-filling effects like lightning storm or mega-beam). You can only call in the airstrikes three times. This again varies between planes, with some calling in a squadron and others a single plane, like a Flying Fortress or Flying Wing, but all air raids serve to clean up the mess that is gameplay, giving players a few seconds to breathe. Once you run out of air strikes death ensues from the sheer amount of enemies and projectiles on screen. A "Continue" option lets you start exactly from the last point of death with a fresh set of strikes.
NEITHER THERAPEUTIC NOR FUN ANYMORE
The only thing keeping players going here is the score (they still have those in games?) because there is no ending. With unlimited continues and lame upgrades, one has to wonder what is the point of playing Strikers 1945 Plus Portable in the first place. Theoretically you can just watch yourself die without actually playing the game while the screen scrolls down, only pressing the Start button once your lives are up to continue moving forward through the mess. And what a mess it is. Every few seconds the screen loads up with enough enemy shots to fill up the night sky. The amount of bullets on screen prevents any kind of mobility.
If you chose to actually PLAY the game, action revolves around keeping your finger pressed down on the fire button and calling your air buddies while dying every 10 seconds. From the amount of lead thrown at you it almost looks like Arc System Works set out to break some sort of Shooter record. The sad thing is the original version was leagues above 1945 Plus Portable. The old game offered more firing variety, memorable settings, and a cleaner and calmer setup. You could actually play that game.
The handful of levels vary slightly in design. I say "slightly" because with so much action on screen, players will barely notice the nuances of each stage. Things start out in what looks like Europe, then the mayhem goes to sea, then to the desert, and of course it all ends with a final battle against a giant, three-tiered giant alien monstrosity, because, you know, Arian Nazis were aliens from Aries. At least you can share the pain with a friend in co-op mode. Thanks for sharing the pain, Arc System Works!
SUMMARY
Granted, Strikers 1945 Plus Portable is a Neo Geo port from an age where games didn't have much depth, but the game was better in its original, more composed, format. It boggles the mind why Arc System Works didn't simply re-release the arcade version. As is, the PSP version just plain sucks. There's too much action, it's too short and whatever made the arcade original good has been butchered away. Good luck finding a friend to co-op with.
GRAPHICS 75
Some nice graphics, granted, but the old version seemed to offer more memorable levels. The new air strikes aren't nearly as impressive as its counterpart feature from the Arcades.
GAMEPLAY 25
No gameplay. There is "some" strategy to using the air strikes while you have some in stock, but with the amount of action on screen, actually "playing" the game is impossible without dying every few seconds. Killing enemies is secondary to avoiding being shot when it should be the other way around.
PRODUCTION 43
Arc System Works took the time to change some things from the original game, but changed them for the worst (the Flying Pancake is pretty cute, though). No extras, no options, no ending!
SOUND 55
Typical WW2 trumpet beats give it a more 1945 feel, then the aliens and robots take a big, fat, green dump on it. For some weird reason it feels like the game has only one tune.
LASTING APPEAL 10
If you can last the 15 minutes it will take you to finish the game, then you either bought the game and kinda "have" finish it, or you're a reviewer "forced" to finish it…
OVERALL 42