Western version of 1943 with some welcome adjustments. The Midway historical backdrop is nicely used. A classic 8-bit shoot'em up worth revisiting without apology.
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Category
Shooter1 player7+
Description
Sequel to 1942 in which the WWII pilot battles the Japanese fleet at Midway. Published by Capcom, released in the USA in 1988. New allied aircraft to summon mid-flight, bomb and fire power-ups and battleship bosses. American version of Capcom's 1943 shoot-'em-up on NES.
1943 - The Battle of Midway review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The player's aircraft flies over a sea rendered in animated blue flats, punctuated by carriers, battleships and enemy formations drawn as small crisp sprites. The largest vessels stretch over several screens and come apart section by section under fire, giving each assault a visible progression.
The accompaniment takes the bearing of an aerial march with purposeful melodies, carried by a steady bass that never breaks during a mission. The take-off and stage-end jingles, very short, cut the flight into distinct sequences, and the boss theme hardens the harmony without changing tempo.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
A direct sequel to '1942', this conversion retains real goodwill thanks to its plane-customisation system, unusual for a 1988 NES shmup. The grey US cartridge stays accessible, while complete boxed copies with intact manuals thin out fast due to the fragile Capcom USA cardboard of that era. The recent Retro-Bit compilation revived interest without dragging on the original's value.
Is 1943 - The Battle of Midway still worth playing in 2026?
1943 - The Battle of Midway pushes 1942's formula further on NES, with an energy bar, power-ups, special weapons and a better-used historical backdrop. The pacing stays typical of Capcom 8-bit shooting, the difficulty is fairer and the situational variety improved. The Valhalla edition reuses the base with minor adjustments. Today it stands as one of the most solid and playable NES vertical shooters. For retro Capcom shmup fans and arcade-port hunters, a strongly recommended detour worth a full run.
