194X series

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:36 pm

Retro Gamer issue 48 has a 'Definitive 194X' feature which is a nice read, but seems, by my reckoning, to have badly underrated my personal faves of the series 19XX and 1941, while commending the horrible 1944 and the rather disappointing 1943 & 1943 Kai (I've always hated the player life-bars in these two games..) So I was wondering what other forumites thought and what their personal faves were.

My take is at http://www.stickycarpet.com/dam/dam194X.htm

Sammy · Post by **Sammy** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:25 pm

All credit to RG for providing synopses of some of the better series of bygone eras, but I really don't fancy their journalism. For example, their Battle Garegga feature from a few issues back was a bit... lacking, to put it mildly. I don't have time to break it down right now though.

As for their opinions, fair play to them. I voted for 1941.

bee-mangadrive · Post by **bee-mangadrive** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:30 pm

I liked 43, but back then I just didnt have much to compare it to I guess. Our local arcade would get a new shooter rarely, and fighting games constantly since Tourneys brought in the money. I stayed hooked on it until it was traded for the god awful coin sucking P-51 game.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:11 pm

Sammy wrote:All credit to RG for providing synopses of some of the better series of bygone eras, but I really don't fancy their journalism. For example, their Battle Garegga feature from a few issues back was a bit... lacking, to put it mildly..

Heh.. the writer behind that isn't too far from here.

I did try and get a bit of technical gameplay detail into the piece but was mindful that too much might alienate non hardcore shooter fans, while hopefully offering a gentle introduction to non shmup players to a Raizing title. It's a difficult balance to strike though.

Sammy · Post by **Sammy** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:06 pm

Well, isn't it a small world!

I guess the only thing I would say is that it is possible to spotlight a game without being so effusive in praising it. The fact that it had its own 2 page spread was enough to convey, "This is quite a classic. It deserves your attention."

Obviously, a big part of writing is knowing your audience, and I appreciate what your tack was.

maxlords · Post by **maxlords** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:27 pm

Well, I've never really played 1941 or 19XX so I voted for 43 Kai cause it's the old school style/patterns with the upgraded graphics. Sure the lifebar is kinda weak but I like the style, which I felt that 1944 lacked.

Warp_Rattler · Post by **Warp_Rattler** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:33 am

1942 is a bit like Space Invaders, in my opinion: it's got a great place in history as being the start of something good, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to go back and play it now.

That said, my favorite has got to be 19XX, for the way it managed to blend a bit of a manic style with the traditional 194X series features. I'm not entirely sure what to think of 1944--I want to like it, but I'm quite often frustrated by the way the horizontal screen works against it. Vertical scrolling hori shooters CAN work, but not when you design it as though it were on a vertical screen. Considering Raizing's love of the "Hey, let's throw a enemy straight at the player, guns blazing, and see if the poor bastard has time to get out of the way!" gimmick, the lack of vertical movement is definitely a hindrance.

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:53 am

If I didn't have as much a history with 1943, my vote would have easily gone to The War Against Destiny. Terrific game (19XX) and really improves over 1941 in every aspect. Plus, it's a fun game in general minus all the normal % type scoring that is as much apart of the series as the aircraft you pilot.

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:27 am

I voted 1944 because I think the vertizontal design makes the gaming experience more intense, even though it could have been implemented better. I agree with maxlords when it comes to style.

Macaw · Post by **Macaw** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:31 am

Thanks to an insane assortment of awesome bosses and good music, 1944 would have been the best, unfortunantly it has a crappy and annoying scoring system.

Therefore 19XX wins.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:01 pm

I don't much care for the 1940s Series, but out of all of them I found 1941 to be the nicest.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:22 pm

No bullet for the NES 1943, which is quite a bit different from other versions or the PCE 1943 Kai with extra levels? My favorite is probably 1941, though.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:27 pm

I think I like 1941 best, as well. And yes, 1942 hasn't aged as well as some other contemporary shooters.

bsidwell · Post by **bsidwell** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:01 pm

My vote would go for 19XX ATM, but I haven't played 1941 much at all. I should rectify that.

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:09 pm

I don't really care for this series, but I'd consider 1942 as the lesser of the evils.

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:09 am

19XX by a mile...

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:10 am

I'll give my vote to 19XX: The War Against Destiny.

I don't like lifebars in a shooter, so this is a knock on 1941, 1943, and 1944- though 1941 is the best of these three in spite of that. The original 1942 is rather horribly dated, and admittedly not worth it with 1941 and 19XX around.

One more thing that bugs me in 1943 is having to repeat a section if you don't meet the boss damage criteria. BAM- back you go again to restart the stage's 2nd half. This kind of breaks the game in a way, especially if someone could deliberately screw up on the boss to have another run at the stage for more points.

1944 would likely be better if it had stayed in Tate and given you three lives rather than the life bar. Having to cough up all your gold so you can have wingmen is a bummer. It's not like Raizing at all to only give you 2 planes to select from- which are both identical in firepower AFAIR. Now the soundtrack definitely rocks, however.

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:20 am

194X has the bet set pieces, but I never liked the pacing. It gets better further into the game, but I still think the pacing is a bit off. I should revisit it.

1944 has the sweetest graphics, plus great pacing. Also a real old school feel, I think.

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:45 am

I thought I'd be the only vote for 1944. Maybe I'm a Raizing fanboy... :O

HeWhoGoverns · Post by **HeWhoGoverns** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:21 am

bee-mangadrive wrote:I liked 43, but back then I just didnt have much to compare it to I guess. Our local arcade would get a new shooter rarely, and fighting games constantly since Tourneys brought in the money. I stayed hooked on it until it was traded for the god awful coin sucking P-51 game.

What god awful P-51 game?? Was it Fire Mustang? I love that little shmup, or rather, its genesis port.

I haven't played much of the 194x series. I liked 1943 for the NES...

P_HAT · Post by **P_HAT** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:39 am

szycag wrote:Maybe I'm a Raizing fanboy... :O

Burn! Burn! Burn!

Herr Schatten · Post by **Herr Schatten** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:10 am

MikeB wrote:Retro Gamer issue 48 has a 'Definitive 194X' feature which is a nice read, but seems, by my reckoning, to have badly underrated my personal faves of the series 19XX and 1941, while commending the horrible 1944 and the rather disappointing 1943 & 1943 Kai

That article was written by Stuart Campbell, who thinks that Raiden III is the bee's knees. Go figure.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:05 pm

Well with 19XX grabbing a cool 50% of votes I'm glad to see I'm not insane in it being my favourite of the series then

lgb · Post by **lgb** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:08 pm

Huh. I actually didn't mind that article. Except that he forgot that 1943Kai has slightly more futuristic weapons. Also I think 1944 was better than that. Nice of him to mention that R/8 was reliable. Also nice of him to mention 1941 and how good it is. I wish he included Varth; it may not say "19--", but it's a bit of a cross between 1943Kai and 1941, to be honest. Good review.

I voted 1941.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:01 am

i have 19xx and have 1944 on the way... does that make me dumb?

Ozymandiaz1260 · Post by **Ozymandiaz1260** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:09 am

Thunder Force wrote:19XX by a mile...

Warp_Rattler · Post by **Warp_Rattler** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:08 am

Strider77 wrote:i have 19xx and have 1944 on the way... does that make me dumb?

It means you like what 1944 could have been so you bought 19XX for the best of both worlds?

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:20 am

Strider77 wrote:i have 19xx and have 1944 on the way... does that make me dumb?

I own both too, but 19XX has better bongos.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:47 am

Ditto.. and agreed

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:02 am

I like 1944 and raizing enough.... a game could have zero score mechanics and I'd still enjoy it.

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