1943 Kai: Midway Kaisen
| 1943 Kai: Midway Kaisen | |
|---|---|
 Promotional Flyer | |
| Katakana | 1943改: ミッドウェイ海戦 |
| Developer | Capcom |
| Publisher | Capcom |
| Designer | Noritaka Funamizu, Dechikun |
| Series | 19XX |
| Release date | June 1988 |
| Genre | Shooter |
| Control | 8-way Joystick, 2 buttons |
| Orientation | Vertical |
| Display | 15KHz |
1943 Kai: Midway Kaisen is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game released exclusively in Japan by Capcom in June 1988. It is the third game in the 19XX series, an update of 1943: The Battle Of Midway, released a year prior. The title of this game translates from Japanese as "1943 Modified - Midway Naval Battle"[1].
Update
Not a proper sequel per se, 1943 Kai is a Japan-only re-vamp of the original 1943 that keeps the same setup and gameplay, while making a few minor tweaks here and there for variety's sake.
A sturdy biplane replaces the staple P-38, the level count has been reduced from 16 to 10, and the weapon selection available from the 'Pow' icons has been increased to include the rare 'wingmen' option and a super-efficient 'laser' (a special weapon that could only be obtained via a hidden code in the foriginal 1943). Not just that, every weapon can now be individually powered-up by picking up the same icon twice - so word to the wise: go for two lasers and some wingmen immediately.
Well, some might say that it is almost exactly the same as its predecessor, yet 1943 Kai does have a slightly different flavour: it features an all-new soundtrack, and the overall rhythm of the game game has been increased. If anything, the core of the game is better - but then its kitsch biplanes, over-the-top weaponry and outrageous background colours (red sea?) give it a slightly tacky re-hashed feel, and make it loose the gritty pseudo-realism of the original.
The difficulty has been upped so that the game is even more unforgivably fierce... It's a quicker, tougher challenge - a souped-up remix specifically concocted for those who enjoyed the original[2].
Tips and Tricks
- Press and hold the commands listed below at the start of every round (before taking off from your aircraft carrier) to get a special bonus weapon.
| Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Weapon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | ↑ | Shotgun |
| 2 | ← + A + B | A + B | Laser |
| 3 | → + A + B | ↗ + A | 3 Way |
| 4 | ← | → + B | 3 Way |
| 5 | ← | ↘ + A | Shell |
| 6 | ↙ + B | ↖ + A | Laser |
| 7 | ↓ + A + B | B | 3 Way |
| 8 | ↙ + B | ↓ + A | Laser |
| 9 | ↖ + B | ↘ + A + B | Shell |
| 10 | ↑ + A | ↖ | 3 Way |
- Hint : If you see an icon shaped like a mountain, get it - it will give you the laser! (This bonus will not appear in every game, or at any particular level).
Soundtrack
Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Daimakaimura : G.S.M. Capcom 1 - D28B-0011) on 11/01/1989.
Credits
Designers : Noritaka Funamizu (Poo), Dechikun
Producer : Yoshiki Okamoto (Kikaji O.)
Character designers : Naoko Sato, Miki Chan, Kawamoyan, Aho no Sakata
Music & SFX : Yoshihiro Sakaguchi
Additional music : Junko Tamiya (stage 1-1), Manami Matsumae (stage 1-2), Harumi Fujita (stages 2-2 and 3-1)
Hardware : Panchi Kubozoo (Punch Kubozoo), Jumbo Saito
Programming : BLBON