1942

For a lot of us, 1942 was the first top-down plane shooter we ever fed a quarter: blue ocean below, enemy squadrons swooping in from every side. The jingle at the start and the barrel roll to dodge bullets are burned into the memory of every 80s arcade rat.

It isn't on UsuArcade yet, but its sequel, 1943, is already playable in the arcade.

History

Capcom released 1942 in 1984. It was one of the company's first games and the start of a long line of World War II Pacific-theater plane shooters.

Its success led Capcom straight into 1943: The Battle of Midway and other follow-ups, each adding its own twists.

How to play

You fly a twin-boom P-38 in a vertically scrolling shooter. You fire straight ahead and get a limited number of loops per stage: hit the button and your plane flips into a roll that makes it untouchable for a few seconds. Used right, it gets you out of impossible spots.

Wipe out an entire red squadron and you get a power-up, like a wider spread shot or two wingmen that tuck in beside you. At the end of some stages a giant bomber waits, and it takes patience to bring it down.

Fun facts

• The loop is its most famous move; few shooters of the time had anything like it.
• Your wingmen can be shot down in a single hit, so protect them.
• Two players alternate on one cabinet.

In the arcade

1942 is coming soon to UsuArcade. It's on the wish list, and you can vote for it with the “I want to play it” button. Meanwhile, the arcade already has its direct sequel, 1943: The Battle of Midway, plus shooters like Slap Fight and Aero Fighters, right in your browser with friends watching.

FAQ