P-47 Aces is a 1995 arcade shoot-’em-up developed by NMK and published by Jaleco on the Mega System 32 hardware, serving as the sequel to P-47: The Phantom Fighter. Players pick one of four fighter pilots — Thunderbolt, Blackwidow, Swordfish, or Spitfire — each flying a plane with its own speed, hitbox, and weapon loadout, and fight through eight increasingly punishing stages of enemy aircraft. The game is known for its highly detailed pixel art, steep difficulty, and an unusual “bumping” scoring system that rewards more than just shooting.
How to Play
Survive eight stages of enemy planes and ground targets, picking a pilot whose speed, hitbox size, and firepower suit your style — the trade-offs are steep, from Swordfish’s tiny, easy-to-dodge hitbox to Spitfire’s high damage and speed at the cost of control.
- Arrow keys — move your plane (8-way)
- Z — fire your main shot (auto-fires while held)
- X — drop a bomb
- Enter — start / insert coin
Tips
- Don’t just shoot — bumping into non-bullet objects like scenery and large enemies scores bonus points on its own, so ram what you can survive touching.
- Each stage hides score zones worth anywhere from 100 to 10,000 points; drifting off the direct path to find them pays off far more than staying safe.
- If you’re new to the game, Swordfish’s small hitbox makes it the most forgiving pilot to learn dodging patterns with before trying faster, harder-to-control planes like Spitfire.

Leave a Comment / Review: