If you’ve been paying attention to the modern Mega Drive scene in the last few years, then you’re more than likely familiar with ZPF. After the release of his indie hit Tänzer for Sega’s 16-bit console in 2019, developer Mikael Tillander teamed up with composer Jamie Vance and artist Perry Sessions to start work on this stunning-looking new horizontal shooter. ZPF feels like it honors the long legacy of Mega Drive side-scrolling shooters while taking some inspirations from the PC Engine + TG-16 classic Lords of Thunder. Although its Kickstarter is now closed (after being over 1000% funded), I’ve got no doubt that ZPF will be sold directly once it’s finished and releases to backers (such as myself).