1942, along with it’s clone game Raiden, were some of my favorite arcade games. At select arcades, I could be frequently be found pumping quarters into it’s one of it’s old arcade cabinets. For those not familiar with either, the games are basically a top scrolling, World War II plane themed game. With the same objects as any game involving bullets; shoot many people, and try not to get hit yourself.

Although this game has been out for awhile, I haven’t had the pleasure of reviewing it until now, mainly due to how poorly Microsoft makes a system. After finally getting my third Xbox replacement back today, I figured i’d finally take it on. The main problem about this game for me, despite my eternal passion for it, is that I SUCK. I’m pretty bad for someone who’s been playing this game style for so long.

The main menus and cutscenes in this game do a very good job of keeping with the feel/year of the game. With many cutscenes being in sepia tone, and menus appearing like tattered parchment paper, the game captures the gritty filming style of old cameras, at select times, adding a lot of extra visual presence.

The three main additions to this game, beside the visual updates, and the ability to select planes, a very much needed shield and health system, and the feature that gave the game it’s title, the Joint Strike. (Insert stoner joke here.) The health system is much needed for someone as bad as me, because in the classics, getting hit once would kill you, leading me to rack up to many inserted quarters. The ability to select planes isn’t too much of an advantage, with the three having similar stats, they each get their own achievement for beating the game with each. Besides ascetics, the main difference is the Joint Strike powers.

When it gets down to it, this game is not meant to be a single player game. The Joint strike ability is something you choreograph with your partner, leading to some of the coolest, and most powerful weapon attacks in the whole game series. And without two players you can’t get several achievements, and personally I think it reduces your chances at successfully beating it. Lucky for you friendless people, Xbox live co-op is totally enabled.

The classic weapon upgrades have returned in this game as well. Three variations, One laser and two bullet shooting configurations. I’m not actually sure if this feaure was in the classics, but you can collect three of the same weapon power up, to get the strongest version of the weapon, which is very useful on bosses, I recommend the lasers.

With having all of the charm of the classics, updated with HD textures, and having online multiplayer, this is a great game for the retro game type lovers like myself. At 800 Microsoft points I know personally that I’ve spent at least this much playing at Arcades. Having the ability to choose between multiple players, planes and difficulties gives this game great replay value, not to mention the points system and Xbox live leader boards gives you things to do for a while, and the best part of all – it’s fucking addicting, even if you’re terrible at it.