Joystiq impressions: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA/PSN)

by Zack Stern { Mar 13th 2008 at 12:30PM }

Capcom and Backbone Entertainment are shipping 1942: Joint Strike for XBLA and PSN this Summer. The HD remake -- hmm, part of a bona fide trend -- takes inspiration from 1942 and the other 194X games. But the top-down WWII shooter strives to be its own title, with unique levels, enemies, and updated weapons.

I recently checked out an alpha version of the game on a 360. The graphics looked sharp, with light sepia effects evoking a news-reel quality at times. Other times, colors popped against high-definition backgrounds. While the 3D world exists in a top-down angle, tall buildings leaned with the perspective, adding another visual hook to the shooter.

Gallery: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA/PSN)

The responsive gameplay seemed similar to other scrolling shooters. Lots of action bursted on-screen, and two players can collaborate on a single system or online. But other than a team-attack that drew a lightning net over enemy swarms, I didn't notice much that sets it apart in a crowded market. Players earn power-ups, fight bosses, and otherwise follow other games in the well-established genre. But if shooters are your game, 1942: Joint Strike could win your $10 or 800 Microsoft Points when it lifts off soon.

Tags: 1942, 1942-joint-strike, 1943, 194x, arcade, backbone-entertainment, capcom, casual, download, joint-strike, psn, remake, shooter, xbla

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr.ESC @ Mar 13th 2008 12:36PM

Do want.

(Capcom should do the same with Megaman 3,I would pay for that in a heartbeat)

PojoMofo @ Mar 13th 2008 12:36PM

how many more of these shmups are we going to have???

I will probably skip this one, because I dont like these type of games

rivaldi22 @ Mar 13th 2008 12:41PM

Raiden II HD. PUH-LEEEEEEESE?

DemonGSides @ Mar 13th 2008 12:44PM

RAPTOR. EFF THE REST!

Mr.ESC @ Mar 13th 2008 12:55PM

Damn straight but 1942 is pretty cool.

Raptor,Star Roads,Megarace,Fury 3,Terminal Velocity,Hellbender and Cyclone (Cyclops?) are games that should be re-released again.Man I wasted so much time playing Star Roads and the tune was catchy I still remember it.

bigd7387 @ Mar 13th 2008 12:47PM

From a couple of comments I see some may not have been born when this series was in the Arcades. Oh well, it will be alot better then most of the new crap they keep putting out. Can't wait. Besides I'm still laughing over some of the tards who thought New Rally X racer was a "New" game!!!!

Yuccadude @ Mar 13th 2008 2:14PM

I remember dumping quarter after quarter into this game just to get positively owned by the end boss every single time. Here's to the second XBLA game I will buy, seeing as I have gotten all of my other ones for free.

Princess Skittles @ Mar 13th 2008 12:52PM

Could they possibly make this game look any less interesting? They've got millions of colors to choose from and they use a total of two. Nice use of the Hardware Capcom.

rivaldi22 @ Mar 13th 2008 12:58PM

So no one should make black-and-white films ever?

I mean, there are billions of perceptible colors, film-makers! Nice use of the hardware!

riggs @ Mar 13th 2008 1:03PM

you would hate watching sin city.

Princess Skittles @ Mar 13th 2008 1:10PM

The difference is that a filmmaker can inject life into the limitations of black and white film stock. This game looks lifeless, like they are using predefined assets that came with their 3D studio software. It looks like the entire game was thrown in to a black hole that sucks the artistry and character from every single aspect of it. These screenshots could be accompanying photos to the word "generic" in a dictionary. I actually have to applaud the art director of this project (if there is one) for orchestrating this masterful work of utter and incompetent blandness. Nothing looks this uninteresting on accident.

rivaldi22 @ Mar 13th 2008 1:24PM

If you think that this is the most generic the industry has to offer, then I envy your limited exposure to the shitty, uninspired games of our time.

popozao @ Mar 16th 2008 12:55PM

I AM old enough to have played this game in the arcade when it came out, and I am a fanatic lover of all things old school and top down. But this game, so far, looks kinda ass. 19XX series of games are known for having bright and vibrant color and artwork. From what weve seen so far, this game has grey, more grey, and oh yeah, 4-5 different other greyish colors. Call in whoever directed the artwork for Powerstone and have him demonstrate how to do colorful 3D graphics. The jury's still out on this one, but the prosecution had one hell of a closing argument.

Shagittarius @ Mar 13th 2008 12:55PM

This game could have been done almost completely photorealistically and would have been awesome to play. Instead its stylized, and I will skip it.

rivaldi22 @ Mar 13th 2008 1:03PM

I think a realistic Shmup would be awesome.

I also think this will be, as well.

Ken Seang @ Mar 13th 2008 1:22PM

I use to play the hell out of this game back in the days, this is great news!

cold school @ Mar 13th 2008 1:41PM

hmmm... Might I actaully buy a XBLA game?

Damian @ Mar 13th 2008 3:35PM

Wow i used to love this back in the 8-bit days on my ZX Spectrum 48K , if i remember correctly ELITE did the excellent conversion for the home computers in the mid eighties (and Bombjack, Commando, Ikari Warriors, Frank Brunos Boxing, Paperboy etc).
This was one tough game and todays youngsters wouldn't/ wont have the patience for old style hardcore gaming ,hell no !
Some of the comments make me laugh , jesus lads if you think this looks bad you should have seen it on my ZX Spectrum ! and no there where no savepoints either , like in real life when your dead your dead.
You whippersnappers don't know your born , imagine having to search a cassette tape to find the next level or when you died to rewind to a point to re-load it. Running water ? Central Heating ? Roof over my head ? Alco-Pops ? your having a laugh !!