Previous Next

In the dead zone after Christmas you begin to wonder if any good software is going to appear again, or whether you'll have to wait another 365 days for something worth playing. P-47 may not be the answer to your prayers, but it's certainly worth a closer look.

Jaleco's 1988 coin-op is the subject of all the action. Based on the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a USAF fighter known as the 'Lead Sled', which saw action during WWII, it's a standard horizontal shoot-'em-up.

You take control of the plane and fly it through eight levels of action, facing enemy ground and air attack in the shape of fighters, bombers, tanks and gun emplacements. Each level has a superior obstacle to overcome before you can progress - a heavily defended train for example at the end of level one.

Extra weaponry is made available as you bring down enemy helicopters, with bombs, spray missiles, speed ups and directable fire and even extra lives left in the air for you to fly into. Speed-ups are crucial because your P-47 is a sluggish beast, whilst directable fire is of the greatest benefit for combat allowing you to chuck out bombs in any direction you choose to fly.

Graphically, P-47 is nothing special. Little concession is made to accuracy in scale or detail, whilst the colours rely on brightness more than taste and realism.

Sound is limited to a tiny tune explosions and the odd spot effect when you pick up extra weapons. As far as playability goes I found it pretty frustrating goes I found it pretty frustrating with little room for manoeuvre, P-47 is hard, no doubt there.

P-47 clearly isn't worth climbing mountains for. It's competent, considering the original was nothing special - a second division coin-op at best. Sometimes it works to convert a minor arcade game as with Silkworm, but then it has to be done perfectly. P-47 just doesn't quite make the grade on that count either. The question is, whether you're desperate enough for a new blast. Take my advice and look elsewhere.