P-47 The Freedom Fighter (a/k/a P-47 Thunderbolt) is a PC Engine game released in 1989 by Jaleco, originally developed for arcades by Nihon Maicom Kaihatsu (NMK), ported to the system by Aicom. It’s based on the historical P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II but may either do it a service or a disservice as a result.

It’s a bit slow and clunky to maneuver and despite the actual P-47’s formidable arsenal of weapons your plane in this game feels like it’s throwing spitballs at a (literal) tank. There are redeeming qualities though! The game is visually beautiful, the soundtrack is very appealing, and the weapon selections keep things interesting as you try to find the right one for the enemies based on their location and your personal preferences. Give this one a try! Subscribe to Mistah MegaManFan (mmf187) for PC Engine games every Tuesday at 8 PM ET along with daily and weekly content.