Air combat is so simple!



Everybody knows that all you need to win an air war is one pilot who can shoot, move, and, above all, do a loop. Well, an air war that happens in two dimensions that is. With opposing pilots who can't really shoot. Or turn. But the other side has bigger planes!

Okay, despite the simplistic nature and basic graphics of 1942, it's still a good bit of entertainment. There are moments of terror when you almost get hit by a tiny round projectile or a plane punctuated by the necessary frantic movement to attempt to shoot down all of the many attacking planes. Later games in this bullet hell scrolling shooter genre just added more bullets and colors, but really didn't change the formula much, because that wasn't necessary. The fun is in the chaos!

However, this is a game you must play on mute. The audio is basically just static with morse code over the top until the end of the "level" when you get about three seconds to pause when you land on the carrier and a jaunty little tune plays. Trust me, hit that mute button while you just enjoy attempting to avoid exploding.

Hey, wait a second. In this racist country, it makes sense that Americans would love blowing up Japanese fighters, but why was this game popular IN JAPAN? I can't think of a game where Americans would be stoked to relive one of our military losses by playing the other side... Hmm.



Beep beep beep beep beep beepbeepbeeeepeeepeeep.