P-47: The Phantom Fighter

Japanese magazine Game Machine listed P-47: The Phantom Fighter on their June 15, 1988 issue as being the fourth most popular arcade game at the time.[21] The arcade version of P-47: The Phantom Fighter earned an "Annual Hit Game" award from Gamest magazine.[20]

Commodore User praised the addictive gameplay and graphics, stating that "this one looks set to be Jaleco's most successful product to date; it's certainly their best.".[22] Computer and Video Games' Clare Edgeley commended the graphics and regarded the game as "well worth playing."[17] The Games Machine's Robin Hogg and Cameron Pound commended the fun and addictive gameplay despite the standard graphics and sound.[18] Your Sinclair's Ciarán Brennan regarded the title to be a poor Nemesis variant lacking speed and complexity, criticizing the low difficulty and uninspired sprites, stating that "this is definitely one for the fanatic."[23]

Crash's Philip King and Mark Caswell regarded the presentation to be mediocre and the gameplay to be unoriginal but addictive, stating that "once you start blasting away, you'll find it hard to stop."[16] ACE's Andy Smith stated that "the game's fun but it's not going to get your heart racing too much."[2] Boris Schneider-Johne of German publication Power Play commended the visuals and bosses, though the slowdown when many sprites are on-screen was criticized but noted this was crucial for certain situations, stating that "if you want to let off steam for a few laps, "P-47" is just the thing. But if you are not a real action fan, the blast of air becomes too monotonous after half an hour at the latest."[24]

The PC Engine version was well received by critics.[4][44] Computer and Video Games' Paul Glancey praised the PC Engine port for its graphics as well as sound and gameplay, regarding it to be a "very tough arcade conversion, but veterans of computer wars past should find P-47's good blasting action both addictive and challenging."[45] The Games Machine's Phil Harrison commended the PC Engine port for its arcade-accurate presentation and music.[46] Readers of the Japanese PC Engine Fan magazine voted to give the PC Engine port a 20.69 out of 30 score, ranking at the number 287 spot.[47]

The Amiga port received mixed reviews from critics.[38] CU Amiga-64's Mike Pattenden criticized the sound and difficulty level of the Amiga port.[39] Amiga Format's Andy Smith praised the Amiga port for its arcade-accurate presentation and co-op play.[27] Max Magenauer of German magazine Amiga Joker gave the Amiga port a mixed outlook, criticizing the graphics as well as sound, controls and gameplay.[37] When reviewing the Amiga port, Amiga Action's Steve McNally as well as Italian magazine Amiga Byte drew comparisons with Silkworm.[26][48] Zzap!64's Stuart Wynne and Phil King commended the Amiga port for its presentation, visuals, sound and co-op feature but noted the retail price to be high for a conversion.[6] French magazine Joystick and Tilt's Alain Huyghues-Lacour regarded the Amiga port to be superior than the Atari ST version, praising the visuals and playability.[33][34] Daniel Melin of Swedish magazine Datormagazin praised the visuals but criticized other areas of the Amiga port.[40] Amiga User International's Tony Horgan criticized the presentation, graphics, design, sound and gameplay of the Amiga port.[28]

As with the Amiga version, the Atari ST iteration was met with mixed reception. Computer and Video Games's Paul Rand regarded the ST port of P-47 to be a playable title as well as a good arcade conversion, but noted the graphics to be "very garish."[30] The One's Brian Nesbitt remarked that the visuals in the ST port were colorful but unremarkable while criticizing other issues, stating that "P-47's fun in a mindless sort of way, and it's tough enough to keep most players on their toes - but not for any great length of time... especially at the price."[42] ST Action praised its appealing simplicity and playability.[8] As with the Amiga iteration, French magazine Génération 4 as well as Micro News's Marc Lacombe and Zero's Matt Bielby drew comparisons with Silkworm when reviewing the ST port.[31][41][36] Aktueller Software Markt's Peter Braun praised the graphics, sound and gameplay of the ST port, stating that "P 47 can be recommended to all those who are fed up with adventure and strategy construction sites and want to hit the wall again with a good action game."[25] Martin Gaksch of German magazine Power Play commended the gameplay speed and co-op feature of the ST port but criticized various in-game issues, regarding the game to be an average shooting game.[43] Joystick's Jean-Marc Demoly commended the ST port for its realistic-looking graphics, parallax scrolling effects, sound design and playability.[32] Tilt's Alain Huyghues-Lacour commended the visuals and animations, recommending arcade arcade players enough to give the ST port a try.[34]

French magazine Amstar praised the Amstrad CPC port for being "an excellent conversion of the arcade game of the same name", praising the visual presentation and difficulty level.[7] Amstrad Action's Trenton Webb and Rod Lawton praised the CPC port for its visual presentation and addictive gameplay, though Lawton ultimately remarked that the game was "just another shoot-em-up when all's said and done".[49] Alian of French publication Amstrad Cent Pour Cent commended the overall quality of the CPC port.[50] Joystick's Bó TGV drew comparison with Silkworm when reviewing the CPC port but commended the conversion for its presentation and sound.[32] Tilt's Alain Huyghues-Lacour praised the CPC port for being better than the Atari ST iteration, commending the graphics and gameplay but lamented the lack of co-op play.[34]

Zzap!64's Stuart Wynne and Phil King regarded the Commodore 64 port to be not as slick as the Amiga iteration, criticizing the lack of co-op play as well as the visual presentation.[6] Aktueller Software Markt's Torsten Blum regarded the C64 port to be disappointing, criticizing the jerky-scrolling background graphics and lack of music during gameplay, however the sprite animations were praised.[51] Your Commodore's Ashley Cotter-Cairns gave the C64 port an overall negative outlook, criticizing the sprite flickering indistinct backgrounds, among other issues.[52] Commodore Force's Miles Guttery criticized the preset enemy patterns but regarded the C64 port to be a "fair trigger exercise."[53] The Games Machine's Warren Lapworth praised the MS-DOS port for its arcade-accurate visuals and adjustable gameplay options but criticized the sound effects and keyboard controls, stating that "P47's still a jolly little shoot-'em-up."[54]

Crash's Mark Caswell and Nick Roberts commended the ZX Spectrum port for its visual presentation, however Caswell stated that "P-47 holds nothing new in the way it plays, but could just give the hardened shoot-'em-up fan a challenge."[55] Sinclair User's Jim Douglas drew comparison with Silkworm but commended the visuals and playability, stating that the Spectrum port is a "clean conversion of an average coin-op. Low on skill but high on kill."[56] Your Sinclair's Robin Candy regarded the Spectrum port to be a traditional horizonal-scrolling shoot 'em up, criticizing the overly detailed backgrounds that leads enemy bullets blend within the scenery, however Candy stated that "P47 may not be R-Type, but it's a perfectly competent and satisfying addition to the Speccy stable of shoot-'em-ups."[57] Spanish magazine MicroHobby praised the Spectrum port for its visuals, controls, sound and replayability.[9]