Strikers 1945 II grants the player 6 planes. The P-38 Lightning and the J7W Shinden return from the first game and four new planes are introduced.
Lockheed P-38 Lightning[]
Overview[]
The American Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a presence in every major Theater of Operations in WWII. It was made famous in the Pacific Theater of Operations, especially during the Battle of Midway (the setting of Capcom's shooter 1943, in which you also pilot a P-38).
Like the last game, P-38 Lightning is notable for its balanced power and speed making it best for beginner. Its main weapon is great and its sub weapon shoots homing missiles, making it an effective crowd control. However, this plane have some new tweaks from its last game. Its powerful bomb is switched to a Super shot. Its Super shot is not strong until it reaches Level 3. Its Level 3 Supershot is a powerful bomb that inflicts heavy damage to all enemies as well as absorbing their bullets!
Its bomb is summoning 5 planes attacking simultaneously in front dealing considerable damage and act as a front shield from the player. However, these planes cannot take too much damage and can only protect you from the front.
Vought F-5U Flying Pancake[]
Overview[]
The American Vought F-5U Flying Pancake was designed to be a fighter plane capable of remaining in flight at very low air speeds. These airplanes never got past the prototype stage and never was involved in any combat. That's right! The F-5U is a real plane, as weird as it looks!
The Flying Pancake is one of the best planes in the game. It is faster than any other planes and its auto aim Piercing laser sub weapon makes this plane the master of crowd control. Its Super shot is powerful due to its piercing effect but isn't powerful unless it reaches level 3. Its Level 3 Supershot is a powerful beam cannon that can vaporize all bullets and enemies but deal rather high damage to targets making it extremely powerful.
Its Bomb attack consists of two Northrop B-35 flying wings shooting at enemies and providing you with temporary shielding.
Focke-Wulf Ta152[]
Overview[]
The German Focke-Wulf Ta152 was developed for the Luftwaffe as an answer to the Americans' high-altitude bombers, like the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
The Ta152 is a unique plane in the game. It is the best in term of support rather than combat. The Ta152 deals low damage but its sub weapon deals splash damage for compensation. Its Super shot, though, is AWESOME. It releases a plasma mine which eats bullets, creating a shield for the player and its friend especially against bosses where bullets are scattered like crazy. Its Level 3 lasts longer, is bigger and deals more damage making it the best when facing bosses or playing with a friend.
Its Bomb attack is crazy. It hurls a giant missile which deals high damage to any enemy upon contact with the missile. It is indestructible so it can create a temporary shield for 2 players.
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate[]
Overview[]
The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate is regarded as one of the best Japanese WWII fighters. It was nicknamed "Frank" by the Allies.
The Hayate is a strange plane. Its sub weapon spawns small wingman planes that fight for you. These planes fly straight and attack any enemies in front of you. This weapon becomes more powerful as the planes power up, increasing the number of wingman planes spawned. This is arguably one of the most powerful planes in crowd control and tanking enemies and bosses but only when MAX power. Its Super shot spawns wingman planes in an attack formation. This formation can rip through multiple enemies in straight lines and it is best used against stationary bosses. In Level 3, It deals an insane amount of damage.
Its bomb attack is rather weak. It spawns a giant plane which deals considerable damage to any enemy. However, this bomb isn't useful in bullet hell situations since its size and moderate health can be taken down easily.
Kyushu J7W Shinden[]
Overview[]
The Kyushu J7W Shinden is designed but never got past the prototype stage and was abandoned as a prototype. It was believed that one of the prototypes were claimed by the U.S. Navy Technical Air Intelligence Unit
The J7W Shinden is an interesting strange plane. It is best in terms of combat. Its sub weapon has considerable damage at the start, but soon gets more powerful as more missiles enter each level. The best part about this sub weapon spawns that it slowly pierces the enemy, dealing a lot of damage. Its Super shot is summoning a holographic version of itself and hurls it towards the enemy. Once it gets to Level 3, it's absolutely amazing, because it spawns a giant holographic-self, paired with a loop. It can destroy any boss or even down one of their forms. It can even kill an ordinary enemy with one strike in Level 1. With high speed, this plane is arguably one of the best planes in combat, no matter what the level.
Its bomb summons planes bombing the area, then attacks the enemy, which can be a temporary shield. However, each plane has poor durability, but deals considerable damage.
de Havilland DH-98 Mosquito[]
Overview[]
The de Havilland DH-98 Mosquito has a wide spectrum of roles. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder.
The DH-98 Mosquito is capable of any role, from support and defense to combat. Its sub weapon deals high damage and fires rapidly, but deals extremely high damage and more missiles when it is MAX. Its Supershot deals Moderate damage at Level 1, but high damage at Level 3. It fires roll napalms that travels continuously forward while ripping through the enemy, with a bit of a zig-zag pattern. It adds one more napalm at Level 2 and Level 3 enlarges them. It is also one of the best planes in multirole only when it is MAX. Don't get your hopes high. It has the slowest speed among the playable fighters.
Its bomb summons DH-98 Mosquitos bombing the area and attacking the enemy, similar to the J7W Shinden's bomb. But the difference between them is that this bomb has a perfect balance between damage and durability.