One of my biggest pet peeves with classic arcade titles coming to next-gen consoles in downloadable form is the way they seem to punish gamers. For some odd reason updated titles have turned the difficulty up to 11. I'm not sure if development teams remember these classic games as being more difficult than they really were, or are just looking to offer up a serious challenge but either way, playing an otherwise enjoyable game with a frustrating difficulty just prevents players from getting their money's worth. The latest offender? Capcom's "1942: Joint Strike," now available on PSN and XBLA.
Old school gamers might remember piloting their way through the original "1942," a vertical scrolling arcade World War II shooter that came out in 1984. The new iteration, "Joint Strike," will feel very familiar. The control scheme is simple, there's plenty of action, and playing with a friend is still the best way to get the most enjoyment from the game. The graphics have been fine tuned, making this one of the best looking arcade titles available. Too bad the game is such a chore to work through.
While the game is short, a brisk five levels, your chances of making it to the end are slim because you have a limited number of lives while battling through wave after wave of tough enemies that attack your disappointingly slow and fragile plane. In single player, with no saves or continues, beating the game is a daunting task but two-player online co-op is almost as tough because of "Joint Strike's" spotty online service. I enjoy a challenge as much as the next gamer but I want to at least have the option of having some continues. I'd also like an online partner who doesn't disappear after two levels.
Shoot'em up purists won't be deterred by these issues as "Joint Strike" does have something to offer, especially when playing with a partner. But for most gamers, who after buying the game have already put their 40 quarters on the arcade cabinet glass, some continues should have been included.
Pros: Visually stunning, easy to pick up and play
Cons: Frustrating difficulty, no continues or saves, spotty online play
Fun Factor: 3.0
Sound: 2.75
Controls: 3.5
Graphics: 4.0
