P-47 Aces Mk. II is the 25th game listed for pre-order by exA-Arcadia, revisiting NMK and Jaleco’s 1995 arcade shoot ’em up with a substantial set of new features.
The game puts up to four players in propeller aircraft and sends them into battles across detailed environments, facing large formations of airborne and ground-based enemies. The original was released to arcades by NMK/Jaleco back in 1995.
With no known console port mentioned in the supplied information, P-47 Aces has remained less familiar than several other 1990s shoot ’em ups. The genre also became less prominent in many American arcades as 3D driving and light-gun attractions became more common. Capcom and CAVE’s Progear no Arashi is another game noted as showing influence from P-47 Aces.
Three versions of P-47 Aces
The exA release is designed as an expanded version rather than a straightforward reissue. Its feature list includes eight ships and pilots, anti-air and anti-surface weapon upgrades, and a Hyper weapon that provides temporary invincibility while increasing damage.
Three modes are included:
- Original: A highly faithful version of the arcade game, with the four additional pilots available.
- Wide: A rebalanced presentation of the original in 16:9 widescreen.
- Mark II: A remake with quicker response, new stages, additional gameplay features and a newly arranged soundtrack by NMK alumnus Manabu Namiki.
A dedicated FEC difficulty setting is also intended to make the game more approachable in casual arcade locations. That option matters in a four-player shoot ’em up, where inexperienced players can be overwhelmed very quickly even when an easier setting or unlimited lives is available.
That challenge is a familiar issue across the genre. The four-player Dariusburst Another Chronicle, for example, offers Easy, Normal and Hard settings, plus an Infinite Lives mode. However, new players can still reach Game Over within 15 to 20 seconds when they have not yet learned how to read the action. A more forgiving option may help keep casual groups playing long enough to understand the game.
Pre-order and release details
The software kit is listed at around $1500 and includes the cartridge and artwork. European buyers can purchase it through Red Sun Systems. The website indicated September shipping, with the release expected shortly after the pre-order listing.
Other exA-Arcadia releases mentioned for September include the NES adaptation of Astro Ninja Man and Samurai Shodown V Perfect.
For Australian operators and collectors comparing hardware options, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide is a useful starting point. You can also browse arcade machines, upright arcades and arcade parts when planning a dedicated shoot ’em up setup.
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