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1942: Joint Strike
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 36 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 8 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Genre(s): Shooter
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
Release Date: July 23, 2008
Summary
[Xbox Live Arcade] 1942: Joint Strike takes inspiration and influence from the 194X series of World War II-themed vertical shooters. The art, sound, and gameplay of the new game takes cues from the original 194X games, but stands out as its own unique entry. Gameplay resembles the classic 2D style that gamers expect, but the game utilizes a full 3D engine. Set in a World War II-themed locale, stages, vehicles, and weapons have the look and feel of WWII with some stylistic differences. The world in which 1942 takes place is not our own and the events that transpire are not historically accurate, nor are they intended to be. This is an alternate world where history and technology developed along their own paths. As a result, players jump into the cockpits of WWII-era aircraft to take on huge waves of incoming enemy fire, dodging explosions and missiles while challenging huge bosses at the end of each stage. New co-op "Joint Strike attacks" combine the powers of two aircrafts into a devastating barrage. [Capcom]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
ZTGameDomain
If you loved the original 1942 then Joint Strike will likely conjure up memories of the golden days of shooters.
Read Full Review >WonderwallWeb
This is another must have Capcom game for your Live Arcade collection.
Read Full Review >Deeko
Drenched in 1940's art, stellar presentation and some tough boss battles; 1942 Joint Strike is one of the best shooters on XBLA.
Read Full Review >Games Master UK
A competent but uninspiring update of a classic arcade game. [July 2008, p.82]
1UP
Joint Strike is a great way to kill a short period of time...just like an arcade game should be. It's brief (you can beat it in about 30 minutes), but that plays to its strengths, as it never feels repetitive during such a short time period.
Read Full Review >Da Gameboyz
For the fans of the beloved series I would absolutely recommend playing 1942 Joint Strike.
Read Full Review >X360 Magazine UK
The game employs some brilliant animaitons for dying enemy units. [Issue#33, p.116]
Totally360
This is one of those games where it can be a lot of fun to play with your friends and relive the experience that you had in arcades years ago.
Read Full Review >Gameplanet
A classic arcade game is brought to XBLA the way old titles should be. With a fresh coat of paint but still keeping the same feel and magic that made it great and popular in the first place.
Read Full Review >Gaming Target
It's short length, combined with a very forgiving Easy (AKA "Penguin") difficulty level, means that most experienced 1942 fans will blow through the whole game in an afternoon. But if you are a fan, this reimagining is very rewarding indeed.
Read Full Review >Worth Playing
If you liked the original coin-op game or are a fan of scrolling shooters, Joint Strike should definitely be in your collection.
Read Full Review >Gamer 2.0
If it weren't for the highly enjoyable multiplayer, we would have to rate this with a "Skip It." But it really isn't all that bad. Check out the demo of the game beforehand.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
Joint Strike's short length is bolstered by its difficulty, but it's hard to see gamers coming back for repeated solo player; co-op is the most impressive feature of this update.
Read Full Review >Team Xbox
This most certainly isn’t a game that you’ll be able to relax and play with a smile on your face. That’s not to say it’s bad, but just that it’s going to cater to a smaller segment of the Xbox 360 population looking for maximum challenge.
Read Full Review >Planet Xbox 360
1942 is a solid vertical-shooter addition to XBLA, just do not expect a killer revamp, a la Pac-Man Championship Edition.
Read Full Review >Play.tm
Ultimately, only true hardcore arcade fans prepared to look beyond the relative gameplay brevity and sporadic online hiccups are likely to revel in the revamped iteration of 1942: Joint Strike.
Read Full Review >GamerNode
1942: Joint Strike is a sweet, albeit short gaming experience for fans of classic top-down shooters. Those who have friends to play with will obviously have the most fun with the game, but even solo pilots will find plenty to enjoy here.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
I won't pretend that Joint Strike is the most thrilling shoot-'em-up to be revived and relaunched as a digital download, but it's a damn solid effort and if all classic arcade titles received this sort of careful updating before being shunted into our cyber-pipes the world would be a better place.
Read Full Review >IGN
The kind of game that will have you very excited for about an hour. It looks great, it's accessible, and it's fun. But come back on day two or day three and you'll probably be eyeing other games on your hard drive to play.
Read Full Review >GameDaily
Sure, it's not the deepest of shooters, but for $10, you could do a lot worse than 1942.
Read Full Review >NZGamer
Although the gameplay is limited and only takes around 30 minutes to clock (per plane), 1942: Joint Strike is still a satisfying gaming experience.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
While 1942: Joint Strike brings nothing new to its series, it’s just good nostalgic fun when you’ve got a wingman with you.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
This entertaining update to the classic arcade game is fun while it lasts, which is under an hour.
Read Full Review >PTGamers
Aimed at the most nostalgic among us, it's a pity to realize that 1942: Joint Strike isn't very ambitious.
Read Full Review >Giant Bomb
A good, solid scrolling shooter. It's tough, but not so tough that it will only appeal to genre crazies who can only feel emotion when it's filtered through a bullet hell pattern.
Read Full Review >Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
Well-made with fun co-op, but not as good as it should be. [Oct 2008, p.101]
GamePro
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.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
Also annoying is the frequent, noticeable slowdown when a lot of effects start flashing on-screen, particularly during online play.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
As a title that doesn't stand out in any particular category other than nostalgia, 1942 still holds up well as the shooter it is.
Read Full Review >Gamers' Temple
1942: Joint Strike wasn't only a disappointment because the game just isn't very interesting or fun, it also served to remind me that I've still got another couple of months until Capcom's remake of Bionic Commando hits the PS3 and 360 for download.
Read Full Review >GameShark
Unreliability truly is the recurring hallmark of 1942: Joint Strike. Like a used-car dealership, it seems to have a vehicle for every budget and lifestyle, and each one is covered with a thick sheen of low-grade wax. Yeah, they look tasty, but you have to wonder if even a single one can make it off the lot.
Read Full Review >Edge Magazine
A remake that's peculiarly of its time: a western-style, casual gaming aping of the Japanese shoot 'em up that's less homage than banal dilution, and the game sucks the life and vibrancy from its rich lineage. [July 2008, p.99]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Nate B gave it an8:
A visually engaging and accessible shooter that will please 1942 fans and casual shooter aficionados alike. 1942 does not have the depth or variety of Ikaruga, but 1942 also is not as punishingly difficult. While the in-game replay value is limited (like all shooters, really), the co-op mode is lots of fun, there are 4 difficulty levels to challenge your ability and 3 different planes to complete the game as. In all, worth the 800 points if you're at all a fan of top-down shooters.
Shane P. gave it a10:
Great revival of a classic shooter. Very nice graphics and animation with great attention to detail. Coop play is fun and the gameplay is almost constantly intense.
