1943: The Battle of Midway

A return to the Pacific skies, this time even flashier, wilder, and more sophisticated. 1943: The Battle of Midway from 1987 is the sequel to Capcom's famous shooter, and in many respects it surpasses its predecessor in every way you can imagine.

The foundation stays faithful to the original. You fly vertically upward, mow down flocks of enemy planes, and the climax of each map is usually a battle with an enormous battleship or bomber that takes up a large part of the screen. The key novelty, however, is an energy gauge. Instead of instant death after a single hit, your fighter has a reserve of strength that gradually depletes and can be replenished. This makes 1943 a considerably more digestible and strategic experience than the merciless original.

Another great element is the range of weapon upgrades. By shooting down whole enemy formations, you reveal bonuses that let you choose different types of fire, from a spread fan to a concentrated laser, as well as special abilities like a lightning bolt that sweeps the screen. The game thus offers far greater tactical depth and gives the player the feeling of gradually building up their machine.

1943 followed up on the commercial success of the first game and cemented Capcom in the position of one of the leading creators of arcade shooters. It was ported to home systems including the NES, where it even got an expanded system for upgrading the plane between missions, which pushed it closer to an early form of character progression.

For the contemporary player, 1943 is one of the most accessible classic shooters ever. The energy system forgives mistakes, the weapon selection is enjoyable, and the battles with giant ships have a suitably epic flair. It's a demonstration of how maturely the genre was evolving at the end of the eighties.

Why play: For a polished sequel that adds energy, weapon selection, and spectacular boss battles, and for one of the most accessible entry points into the world of classic shmups.