1943: The Battle of Midway
Title screen
| Developer: | Capcom |
|---|---|
| Release date: | Arcade: June 1987 |
| Previous game: | Ares no Tsubasa |
| Next game: | Last Duel |
1943: The Battle of Midway (JP: 1943: ミッドウェイ海戦 "1943: Midway Kaisen") is a vertically scrolling shoot em' up released by Capcom in 1987. It is the sequel to 1942.
For replay videos, visit the Video Index.
Gameplay Overview
Controls
1943 is a 2-button game with 16 stages.
- A button: Fires the player's shot/side fighters.
- B button: Uses a Mega Crash.
- A+B buttons: Uses a Roll.
Items
All weapons have a time limit which can be extended by picking up the same weapon type (maximum 64 seconds).
 |
POW Recovers 8 energy. |
 |
3-Way Spread shot with good range/fire rate. |
 |
Auto Rapid-fire shot with large bullets. |
 |
Shotgun Low power/fire rate, cancels enemy bullets. |
 |
Shell Poor range/fire rate, but can pierce once in its lifespan. |
| 50px | Side Fighter Options added to each side of the player's ship. |
 |
Energy Tank Recovers 24 energy (3 POWs). |
 |
Yashichi Refills the player's energy meter completely. |
 |
Sakichi Increases the weapon timer to its maximum state and awards 10,000 points. |
 |
Mobi-chan Gives a 100,000 point bonus on pickup, randomly appears from bosses. |
| Item Cycle | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cycle repeats twice | |
|---|
Energy Meter
Instead of using a standard life system, 1943 introduces the energy meter; a health system which slowly decreases during gameplay. Using a Mega Crash or getting hit by a enemy decreases the meter; the game will end when you get hit with little to no energy depending on the bullet or enemy size.
When pressing the B button in 1943, the resulting effect may vary depending on certain conditions. There are three different outcomes:
- Thunderstorm: The offensive Mega Crash of the air stages. Quickly flashes lightning across the screen, briefly stops the screen from scrolling, and damages all enemies slightly, killing all zako. Costs 8 energy.
- Tsunami: The offensive Mega Crash of the sea stages. Freezes the screen for a much longer amount of time, while a wave slowly glides upward across the screen from the bottom. Damages all enemies slightly.? Costs 8 energy.
- Whirlwind: The defensive Mega Crash of both stages. Freezes the screen briefly (longer than Thunderstorm) and cancels all bullets without damaging any enemies. Used when the player cannot afford the other two outcomes or when one or more bullets are within very close proximity (although this doesn't seem to be the case with large bullets fired from turrets on battleship bosses).? Costs 4 energy.
When pressing the A and B buttons simultaneously (or pressing B while holding A) in 1943, the player will perform a roll/somersault, costing them one of the Rs at the top of the screen. During this period of time, the player will be invincible to enemies and bullets (because they're not on the same Z-index conceptually), but will only be restricted to horizontal movement as the vertical movement is automatic for the animation. When the animation finishes, all bullets will be cancelled (zako will not be harmed), and the player will be vulnerable again.
Rolling is also automatically performed free of charge when the player defeats a battleship boss. This can act strangely. Depending on the battleship's progression towards the bottom of the screen?, the player may perform a full roll, may perform a roll that is cut off by the plane abruptly flipping back into a vulnerable state, or may not roll at all.
Strategy
WIP
1943 Kai
When the Famicom version was released in 1988, a arcade revision named 1943 Kai came out alongside it. This overhauled the games' graphics/sound and changed the stats of some items.
3-Way: Now has built-in autofire.
Laser: Replaces auto, forward shot with piercing properties.
Shotgun: Increased spread/added built-in autofire.
Shell: Improved range/fire rate.
Side Fighter: Goes down in 1 hit, but has a higher spawn rate.
Yashichi: Refills a medium amount of the player's energy meter, reduced spawn rate.
