Sky Captain

Because it's a scroller, it doesn't make sense to have the coins fade out. The upgrades should "stick" through death... otherwise it produces frustration and a sense of loss. (Bad enough you died.)

Not bad. Reminds me of a older game that is pretty much just like this but at least on the original you can actually see the bullets not like on this one where you can't really see them like the bullets from the first boss and the rest of the stuff that shoot the same bullet. I believe on the original if you died the items/upgrades that you have start to bounced around the screen when the ship blows up. The coins are worthless they will either get you killed trying to get them not to mention they disappear pretty fast. If you die on the 2nd level you might as well hit refresh because you will be dead in a few seconds anyway.

Actually the current system is good considering it's supposed to be a classic shooter. Reminds me of some of the old arcade shooters. Though one small suggestion, instead of losing all powerups when you die, you could just knock one off. That lower the difficulty at the same time...
Oh, and the health of the jets should be increased, and their speed slowed.

Shield disappeared WAY too fast- second boss (chopper) took my plane down from full in one shot. it could really use a life gauge on bosses, so you know how well your doing.

Tiny yellow enemy bullets on a yellow background. Only 3 levels of weapon power-up, and it disappears if you die. It's a bullet hell shooter from Hell.