03: 1942
Playing rules: Difficulty: Normal. Start: 3 Lives. Bonus: 1 life at 20,000, 80,000 and every 80,000 points. Single-player scores only
Dip switch bank A: 1-4=OFF; 5=ON; 6-8=OFF.
Dip switch bank B: 1-8=OFF
Current Record holders:
1st: 13,363,960 - Martin Bedard - 2006
....
25th: 132,990 - Robert T.Mruczek - 2005
Now we’re talking. This is one of my old childhood favorites. I remember it being planted, on it’s own, in the local mini-cab office. I used to pop into that mini-cab office pretty much every day, on route home from the arcade – and it was ALWAYS busy. I actually remember, clear as day, the excitement when one of the seasoned players managed to get to a level where there was a plane that filled the WHOLE of the screen – literally. I’ve never seen that level since, maybe in the pursuit of the record I will, who knows? What i do know, is that if i do, it wont be in a room full of half a dozen fat, sweary, sweaty cab drivers.
Anyway, i digress – let’s look at the records. As you will see in the coming posts, there are occasionally some really interesting info to be found when looking at the scores, and 1942 is one such list. The top score of 13 million (!) was made at the end of last year at FUNSPOT in the US, which is where most records are made these days. However, the second place score (12 million) had been holding fast since 1985, over 20 years ago – the charming part is, that score was made in Bridlington, UK – a small northern Yorkshire seaside town. Bless!
Bridlington, yesterday
Anyway, back to the matter at hand! the top score is absolutely massive and no mistake – 13 million is immense – i have a very good idea that i will get nowhere even near that, but i reckon the 132 thousand score is within reach certainly.
So what’s the game about? 1942 is one of the very early vertical scrolling shooters, and even today I am amazed at how fluidly it plays. You control a little plane jobby, and your options are shoot or roll (a limited avoid move – you start each level with 3) and that’s it. Your aim is to shoot all of the other naughty planes, of varying sizes, and win the day over 30 plus levels. And it’s bloody ace. You get all manner of powerups along the way, including little planes that bolt on and help you and smart bombs. Score is pretty slow going, but one of the secrets to a high score is the percentage of planes you manage to shoot for each level – if you can get anywhere near 100% then the bonus you get can be rather large.
Ok, time for my first go and it’s like i never stopped playing. I lose a few early lives, but build up quite a respectible score indeed: 147,180 – thats enough to nick 25th place straight away, woo!
Score: 147,180
Enjoyed that, so i’m straight in for my second go – and i have a blinder. 80,000+ on the first life. As i get further in the game however, i notice that it gets really rather hard, what with the planes buzzing around the screen firing bullets almost randomly. This is where the roll button comes into play. I have always pretty much ignored the roll button – i find that either i simply dont get to the button in time or the roll ends up pretty useless or wasted. I would much rather take the 3,000 point bonus at the end of each stage for not using them. This is a luxury that simply can’t be afforded in the latter stages though, and i find myself rolling all over the place – to occasional great effect!
Another score tip occurs to me as well in this game – every now and then a cheeky small green plane will creep onto the bottom of the screen and zoom towards the top. If you manage to shoot this little scamp before he legs it, he spins out of control leaving a nice 5,000 point bonus for you to pick up. He does choose his moments though, so dont be suprised if you have a screen full of daddy planes when he sneaks in!
Anyway, had a blinding game and reached a MASSIVE boss, that im not convinced i’ve seen before. He doesn’t fill the screen like the one in the cab office all them years ago (wonder if that player in them days was from Bridlington?), but he was big enough for me to fill my pants and lose my last life pretty much immediately.
great score though – enough to get me up to 20th place!
Score: 286,840
right, well i usually play each game 3 times, but i dont think a 3rd is necessary here – an old favorite indeed, but 13 million will be a world away i would imagine. I’ll Definitely keep playing this game though that’s for sure…