Long lost Genesis/Mega-Drive shooter P-47 II: The Freedom Star now up for pre-order for the first time ever by Retro-Bit

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.

Retro-Bit opens pre-orders for all-new Toaplan Genesis/Mega-Drive game reprint collection; Pre-orders open until December 1st 2024

 

Here comes Retro-Bit once again with a new set of Genesis/Mega-Drive Collector Cartridge sets that you can pre-order right now.

Retro-Bit, in collaboration with current Toaplan rights holders Tatsujin, have revealed the Toaplan Shooters Vol. 2 Collector’s Cartridge set, consisting of Twin Cobra (1991), Slap Fight MD (1993), and Grind Stormer (1994). Not familiar with Vol. 1? That began pre-orders in 2020, consisted of Truxton (1989), Hellfire (1990), Fire Shark (1990), and Zero Wing (1991), and we somehow neglected to do a write-up about it. (Hey, I wasn’t here to cover retro news back then. Sorry.)

Anyway, all three games can be ordered separately or together in one big, bad collectors set with all three games in a nice slipcase. The collector’s set also includes a digital pocket clock, a sheet of puffy stickers, and a booklet featuring an interview with Toaplan developer and composer and current day president of Tatsujin, Masahiro Yuge. It can be had for $159.99 USD and is now up for pre-order in North America from Castlemania Games, Rondo Products, Limited Run Games, and PNP Games. Pre-orders in Europe are currently available at Just For Games, Retro Cables, Spel & Sant, Strictly Limited Games, Dragon Box Shop, Xtra Life, Zedlabz, and NedGame. Each separate game costs $59.99 and is NTSC and PAL complainant. This is a limited product and all pre-orders will only run throughout November 2024 and end December 1st, 2024.

Have a look after the break for the deets on each of the individual games.