NES #44: 1942

There is something very exciting about finally being able to cross 1942 off of my list. This is one of those games that everyone with an NES seems to have. It doesn't matter if you like shooters or not you'll probably have a copy. I think it is one of those games that just appears out of the ether. Okay I know that's not true because I bought a copy with real money years after I should've had one already. Oh well a guy can dream. The popularity of this one has more to do with its age and publisher than anything else. It was one of the first three North American Capcom games released way back in November of 1986. It was released right after third parties started making NES games which was a very important step toward Nintendo dominance. The NES had a pretty spectacular launch, but their well was starting to go dry. Nothing in 1986 was really setting the world on fire. They were mostly releasing old arcade games and genre oddities like Mach Rider and Urban Champion. Sure Donkey Kong is a great game, but it was already on about a dozen systems and probably still in most pizza parlors in 1986. Luckily the third party support meant that Nintendo could slow down and focus on good games while other companies filled out the catalogue. Capcom got in the game just before Christmas by releasing 1942, Commando, and Ghost 'n Goblins. Of those three 1942 seems to be the one that everybody has. It's also the one that nobody seems to like. It's the least heralded but most popular. Isn't that always the way?

(This island was a relief after nothing but blue)

Well it's probably a little harsh to say that people dislike this game. They just don't get very excited about it. I can see what their complaints are too. First and foremost is the awful music. This game has the worst sound I have ever heard. It is full of random scrapes and high pitched beeps that never seem to stop. The only relief is the bit of actual music between levels. I wonder why they didn't just have music like this during the levels themselves. Perhaps the high level count caused the developers to cut some corners. I'm sure there was a better solution than snare drum and morse code though. The high number of levels is another thing this game is known for, but much like the music it is not in a good way. This game has 32 levels of oceans and islands with the same few plane designs over and over again. Nothing really changes much except for an occasional boss just to keep things interesting. However, even the bosses repeat over and over. This could all be a very dull affair, but I had a blast playing this one. I am kind of a sucker for ancient games of course, but I certainly also see this one as a symbol of what made the NES so great in the first place.

(I think this screenshot has every color you will see in the game)

This game is one of the great NES endurance matches. It takes about a hour and a half to play through and it all has to be done in one sitting, or at least as long as you feel comfortable leaving you system's power on. This almost makes the sound seem strategic. The developers are daring you to sit an play for a long period of time while the sound effects slowly melt your brain. Of course I turned the sound down and listened to my itunes. I'm crazy but I'm not that crazy. The gameplay itself is repetitive but with a satisfying challenge that keeps a player interested. It has unlimited continues so it gives you a chance to think about your next move and how you would play a certain section differently. Playing a game like this is certainly a cerebral experience. I was surprised by how much thought went into it. It's much more than mindless shooting. 

(Get used to this giant plane boss. Make sure you fly above his guns and shoot his wings. I should've written the FAQ on this one)

What this all adds up to is one of the first games that has the true NES long play experience. It was an important shift away from arcade style games to a new style which required a much larger investment of time by the gamer. It was a promise that games were going to be more than five minute diversions. Nintendo started this with Super Mario Bros. and to a lesser extent other launch titles like Ice Climber and Clu Clu Land. However, by 1986 they had started to stagnate and went back to releasing simpler games. Capcom could see that the new long form game was the future and reflected this in their early titles. They weren't the first third party publisher, but they were the first good one and probably most important. As time went on more people published games in the Capcom mold and after suffering its weakest year the NES would rebound and become a legend instead of the one hit wonder it could've become. So we owe a great debt to 1942 and the other two games Capcom released in late 1986. They set the template of the kind of games we still play today, but unlike the other two 1942 won't make you hate yourself after you get done with it. This is the one that didn't go overboard. It manages to be long enough to be challenging but short enough to still be fun.