Get those wallets out, Genesis/Mega-Drive collectors, cause Retro-Bit’s got an all new Collector’s Cartridge to open up 2025 with, now with a crazy new twist, as this is their first time releasing a previously unreleased game.
Retro-Bit have now opened pre-orders for P-47 II MD, also known as P-47 II: The Freedom Star, for everyone’s favorite 16-bit Sega console. As previously mentioned, P-47 II MD was in development at Jaleco way back in the late 80’s, but for unknown reasons, the game was cancelled in all regions it was planned for. It was a port, not a sequel like the title would have you believe, of the arcade game P-47: The Freedom Fighter, which was distributed by Jaleco and developed by NMK. City Connection, the company in possession of the rights to all of Jaleco’s games, and named for their classic arcade title City Connection (1985), announced at Shooters Fes last year that they had uncovered P-47 II: The Freedom Star and would release it on cartridge in Japan as P-47 II MD, and now they have entrusted Retro-Bit with releasing this game in the western world for them.
Retro-Bit’s release is identical to City Connection’s release in Japan, but with Retro-Bit’s usual touch ups. Like all their Collector’s Cartridges, the game comes in a new, quality-built cartridge for North American Genesis consoles or European Mega-Drive consoles, equipped with beveled connectors with gold-plated pins and proper 5 volt chips to prevent damage to original consoles. It also comes in a lovely plastic box with a slipcover and a full color instruction manual. Unique from all other Retro-Bit releases, though, is an 8mm CD featuring the game’s soundtrack. This is the same CD being included with City Connection’s cartridge release in Japan. The set can be ordered for $54.99 USD, $79.99 CAD, or €69,99 for European regions and pre-orders will run until February 16th, 2025.
For more info on the game, and pre-order links, have a look after the break.
The arcade title P-47: The Freedom Fighter (1988) saw you piloting the titular Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane, battling Nazi forces in the various countries they occupied during World War II. There were 8 stages in total, each one ending with a giant boss battle such as the famous Japanese battleship Yamato and aircraft carrier Akagi. Along the way, you’ll find various power-ups to augment your main guns, increase your speed, or summon smaller planes to back you up with their own special weaponry. In arcades, two players could also play simultaneously. If you’re curious enough to try the arcade game, you can actually find it on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4/5 as part of Hamster Corporation’s Arcade Archives series.
Ports of P-47 were released for the PC-Engine in Japan and on various home computer systems such as Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC. (Computer versions were released as P-47 Thunderbolt.) While P-47 II: The Freedom Star was developed for Mega-Drive with a 1990 release in mind, this never came to pass. Before it’s cancellation, it was shown off at various gaming events in Japan. Its music was also included in the Super ROM Cassette Disc In Jaleco soundtrack, released in Japan in 2015. Fast forward 35 years after its intended release date and P-47 II MD is finally ready for the big time, and with an all-new sound test menu and new cover art by Tankro Kato, an illustrator with a long history of painting images for model kits, usually for planes. Although it’s not known if P-47 II: The Freedom Star was ever originally planned for a western release, Retro-Bit have ensured that will be happening now.
Here’s what comes with your pre-order:
● The first official release to Gen/MD consoles preserving gameplay from 35 years ago
● Phantom Fighter 16-Bit Cartridge for Gen/MD consoles
● 8mm CD original P-47 II MD soundtrack
● Full-colored instruction manual
● Reversible cartridge inlay sleeve
● Individually numbered commemorative slipcover
● Featuring packaging artwork from renowned illustrator Tankro Kato, famous for his plastic model box art
Pre-orders are open from now until February 16th, 2025 at Castlemania Games, Rondo Products, Limited Run Games, and PNP Games for North America and Spel & Sant, Dragonbox Shop, Strictly Limited Games, 8BitMods, Arcade Dreams, DragonBox Shop, Just For Games, NedGame, retroCables, Xtralife, and ZedLabz for European countries and the United Kingdom. For the most up-to-date pre-order links and information, go on to Retro-Bit’s dedicated P-47 II MD page.
Are you excited to see an unreleased game finally come out on a physical cartridge to buy? Will you be pre-ordering? Have you played other versions of P-47 before? Are you a fan of WWII history? Be sure to drop us a line in the comments below?
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