01 Feb 1990
01 Feb 1990 - Arcade
23 Aug 1991 - PC Engine SuperGrafx
01 May 1990 - Arcade
31 Dec 1990 - Arcade
Main story
Main story + extras
100% completion
The year: 1941. The place: 20,000 feet in the air over the North Atlantic. Lightning flashes across the skies of war-torn Europe. Your mission: beat back the imperial forces before they can use their new weapon! In 1941: Counter Attack, the goal is to shoot down enemy airplanes and collect weapon power-ups. It is the prequel to 1942, and the third game in the 19XX series.
Audio | Subtitles | Interface | |
---|---|---|---|
Japanese | ✓ | ✓ | |
English | ✓ | ✓ |
I really enjoyed this game. The depth of level design, and interesting, almost fantastical bosses (giant tanks, or a rocket ship brimming with guns as it takes off) is really interesting, and I always love the unique level design and interesting bosses shmups have to offer. This game delivers on that. Gameplay wise, this game is an early shmup, and it shows. Movement and bullet interactions look and feel a bit slower; this is no bullet-hell. This didn't detract from my enjoyment of the game, but did make it feel more like an experience with the past than anything. Length wise, the game feels short and sweet - refreshing compared to some of thr other games in the "194X" series, which can span 30+ levels. Difficulty felt a tad easier on this one. Although it wasn't a huge challenge for me to complete, I still really loved my time with it.
All in all, I had a great time with this excellent early shmup. Short, sweet, and maybe a tad easy, it nonetheless has all the interesting encounters that I enjoy in a good shmup. I game this game an 8/10 (excellent) and would add it to a "favourites" list.