22 Comments
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James's avatar

The sequel is better. That one you can actually play to the end. Super strikers i believe its called. Used to have mame just for it on several computers over my lifetime.

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Pixel Fix's avatar

That's a second recommend for 1943. I'm going to have to take it out for another flight.

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James's avatar

I just googled it. "1945 Strikers" then there is also 1945x

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Pixel Fix's avatar

I've just checked and I have this (and it's two sequels) loaded up on my emulator handheld. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the recommend.

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James's avatar

What emulator handheld do you have put of jealous curiosity? Also note that these arcade games had a very usual aspect ratio i wouldn't expect to look good on a handheld (vertical widescreen).

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Pixel Fix's avatar

I've owned a bunch but at the moment my main is the Retroid Pocket 5.

I was seriously tempted by the Powkiddy RGB30 and the Anbernic RG Cube as they both have a 1:1 aspect ratio screen making them ideal for arcade emulation. But I wanted a more general purpose and PS2 capable device so ultimately went with the RP5.

That said, I do find myself checking for sales on both of those handhelds fairly regularly...

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James's avatar

I have a psvita gathering dust, which is iirc a common device to jailbreak and run emulators on. Maybe i should give that a try ..

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James's avatar

Actually, no .. if there is a 1943, i do not mean that. There is a different arcade game called Super Strikers, which is a bit more modern, but feels like a sequel to 1942 in that its still ww2-ish but the guns get bigger.

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James Francis's avatar

I feel the same. I love this game, and the genre it spawned, yet I suck so badly at it.

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Pixel Fix's avatar

It's been somewhat heartening to learn that being hopeless at 1942 is pretty much universal and that it's not just me...

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Jamie Alston's avatar

Still a better experience than the NES port of 1942 and it’s sluggish animations and poor audio. 1943 on NES was much better due in part to the fact that Capcom themselves developed it this time (instead of Micronics…woof). And the game also features a health meter so at least you don’t die in one hit.

The first time I played the arcade version of 1942 was on the Capcom Classics Collection (I think vol. 1) on the PS2. It was great because we reached the point when we could play truly arcade perfect ports of these games.

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Pixel Fix's avatar

I loved the Capcom Classics Collection. I think it was the only game I bought for both PS2 and the PSP.

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Jamie Alston's avatar

Hey just a quick follow up…your article actually convinced me to play 1942 on the NES to completion over the last couple of weeks. I used save states on my NES Classic Edition, but I’ll take the victory. Just wanted to say thanks man.

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Pixel Fix's avatar

Impressive! Even with save states I can only imagine how batshit crazy things got towards the end...

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Jed Ashforth's avatar

Best opening sentences I’ve ever read on Substack. You’re speaking directly to my personal experience! 🤜🤛

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Pixel Fix's avatar

My man! 🤜🤛

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Thomas Cole Simmonds's avatar

I don't think I've ever played this one, but I very much enjoyed the Eminem line. 😅

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Pixel Fix's avatar

Thanks! And you should check 1942 out. It's fun and you won't be any worse than me...

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Dylan Cornelius's avatar

1942 is great. The NES version is... not. But I grew up with it and have a soft spot for it.

Not sure if you've played 1943, but it's even better and considerably harder.

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Pixel Fix's avatar

I had a few games of 1943 this morning. Great sequel. They really did refine and improve the game tremendously in only three years.

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Dylan Cornelius's avatar

Yeah, they really did

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Pixel Fix's avatar

I've played most of the entries in the 194X series over the years. I don't specifically recall 1943, but I would have played it. If it's even more difficult then I would have been even worse at it.

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