1941 Counter Attack - Arcade - Shmup (4K 60fps)
8Support This Channel on: Patreon - http://patreon.com/RetronomiconGames
Visit my site for Reviews and Info: Retronomicon - http://retronomicongames.com/
Gameplay recorded by Retronomicon (NVSGamer)
✈ ️ 💥 Classic dogfights, arcade intensity, and non-stop action in the sky. 💥 ✈ ️
Today, we’re taking flight with 1941: Counter Attack, the third entry in Capcom’s legendary WWII-inspired shoot-’em-up series. Released in 1990 on the CPS-1 arcade board, this vertical-scrolling shooter raised the bar with faster gameplay, flashier effects, and—for the first time in the series—two-player simultaneous co-op. But how does it hold up against other genre heavyweights of the early '90s? Let’s dive into the skies and find out.
🎮 Game Overview
1941: Counter Attack follows in the footsteps of 1942 and 1943: The Battle of Midway, offering tight vertical-scrolling shmup action set during a fictionalized World War II. You pilot the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, engaging enemy planes, battleships, and massive bosses across a series of intense, colorful stages.
What sets 1941 apart is its energy-based health system—a departure from the traditional one-hit death model. This, paired with air dodges, charge attacks, and screen-clearing specials, gives the gameplay a slightly more forgiving and tactical edge.
✅ Pros
✔ Refined & Fast-Paced Gameplay: The action is smooth, responsive, and intense, with faster pacing than its predecessors.
✔ Two-Player Simultaneous Co-op: For the first time in the series, two players can battle through the game side by side, adding to the fun and chaos.
✔ Energy-Based Health Bar: Rather than dying in one hit, your ship has an energy meter, allowing for more strategic dodging and damage management.
✔ Dynamic Power-Ups: Grab machine guns, spread shots, and lightning attacks that level up your firepower and make you feel unstoppable—until the boss arrives.
✔ Crisp CPS-1 Graphics: Sprites are clean and well-animated, with detailed planes, cool explosion effects, and some large and memorable bosses.
✔ Classic Arcade Soundtrack: The music is punchy, heroic, and loop-worthy, perfectly capturing the vibe of an arcade dogfight.
✔ Challenging, But Fair: With clear enemy patterns and a health bar, 1941 feels tough but not cheap—something that sets it apart from more punishing shmups.
❌ Cons
✘ Short Campaign: The game can be completed in 20–25 minutes, making it a quick run once you’ve memorized patterns.
✘ Basic Storyline: Like most shmups of the era, the narrative is minimal, with little more than "defeat the enemy fleet!" to push things along.
✘ Repetitive Enemy Types: You’ll face a lot of the same planes and boats, with palette swaps and basic formations.
✘ Difficulty Spikes in Later Levels: While mostly fair, some bosses and bullet swarms can become overwhelming, especially in solo play.
✘ Overshadowed by Later Entries: It’s a great game, but later Capcom shooters (19XX, 1944: The Loop Master) would improve on the formula even more.
🛩 ️ Verdict
1941: Counter Attack is a fast, fun, and polished vertical shooter that marks a key evolution in the 194X series. With two-player co-op, a more forgiving health system, and slick visuals for its time, it’s a standout title that still holds up today.
It may not have the flashiest bosses or deepest mechanics, but for fans of retro shmups, 1941 is a high-flying piece of arcade history worth revisiting.
Final Score: 8/10 – A tight, classic shoot-’em-up that helped shape Capcom’s skyward legacy.
🔔 LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more retro arcade shoot-’em-up reviews! 🔔
#1941CounterAttack #CapcomArcade #RetroGaming #ShootEmUp #VerticalShooter #CPS1