1942

Nintendo console exclusivePort

The NES port of 1942 includes a "looping" mechanic where players begin and end each level on an aircraft carrier.

Released: 11 December 1985
Platforms: Apple IIGS NES
Genres: Shooter
Developers: Capcom
Publishers: Capcom
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Warfare
Age ratings: CLASS_IND 10
Languages: English

About

1942 is a 1984 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. Designed by Yoshiki Okamoto, it was the first game in the 194X series, and was followed by 1943: The Battle of Midway.

1942 is set in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and is loosely based on the Battle of Midway. Despite the game being created by Japanese developers, the goal is to reach Tokyo and destroy the Japanese air fleet. This was due to being the first Capcom game designed with Western markets in mind. It went on to be a commercial success in arcades, becoming Japan's fifth highest-grossing table arcade game of 1986 and one of top five highest-grossing arcade conversion kits that year in the United States. It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System, selling over one million copies worldwide, along with other home systems.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player pilots a Lockheed P-38 Lightning known as the "Super Ace". The player must shoot down enemy planes and avoid enemy fire. Sustaining a single hit or colliding with another aircraft causes the loss of one life. During the game, the player may collect various power-ups.

One of them allows the plane to be escorted by two other smaller fighters in a Tip Tow formation. Enemies include Kawasaki Ki-61s, Mitsubishi A6M Zeros and Kawasaki Ki-48s. The boss plane is a Nakajima G10N.

Development

The game was designed by Yoshiki Okamoto. The game's main goal was to be easily accessible for players, leading developers to use a World War II theme. 1942 was also the first Capcom game designed with Western markets in mind. To appeal to the American market, the development team decided to have the player pilot an American P-38 fighter plane. The game is loosely based on the Battle of Midway, which was a turning point in the Pacific War when the Americans began defeating the Japanese.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed 1942 as the fourth most popular arcade game of December 1984. It went on to be Japan's seventh highest-grossing table arcade game during the first half of 1986, and the overall fifth highest-grossing table arcade game of 1986. In the United States, it was one of the top five highest-grossing arcade conversion kits of 1986. In the United Kingdom, it was the top-grossing arcade game on the Euromax arcade charts from July through November 1987.

The NES version sold over a million copies worldwide. 1942 was Capcom's breakaway hit, eclipsing in popularity the company's preceding three titles: Vulgus, Sonson, and Pirate Ship Higemaru.

Legacy

1942 was re-released in Capcom Generations 1 for the PlayStation and Saturn consoles. It was featured in the Capcom Classics Collection for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, as well as Capcom Classics Collection: Reloaded for the PlayStation Portable. The arcade version was added to the Wii Virtual Console in Japan on December 21, 2010, and in the PAL and North American regions in January 2011. It was also re-released for Windows Mobile Professional.

A remake, 1942: Joint Strike was released for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in 2008. 1942: First Strike was released for iOS in 2010.