Such a bit jump in port quality from Micronic's very 'meh' 1942 to Capcom's own port of 1943. That said, because I *did* have fun at the time with the NES 1942 when my uncle would rent it, when I got my NES, 1943 was one of the first games I rented from a local rental shop. It's definitely a big step up: 1943's a lot of fun on the NES. I would say that Twin Cobra is probably my favorite NES vertical shooter, but 1943 is right behind it and maybe along side Dragon Spirit for number 2. I do prefer 1943 Kai on the PC-Engine these days after I finally got a chance to play it on actual hardware, but at the time I had no clue about that game. So...yes, the arcade version still shines in presentation and sound, but I do love the NES version too.
Well said my friend! It's like a night and day difference between 1942 & 1943 on the NES. While I'd still prefer to play the arcade version the NES version is also great and is easily one of the best NES shooters I've tried. I'm yet to play 1943 Kai on the PC-Engine though I did play it on the Saturn about a month ago and it was awesome.
My vote's for NES. Everything the arcade did, the sequels did better. But those new RPG-lite upgrade mechanics give me some strategy to play around with. It's the rare game from that era that can change with you as you master all the gameplay styles it enables.
I think I'd still take the arcade over the NES but grading on a scale I might give the NES port a win here. Actually even without grading on a curve the NES port is really close. This game really set the stage for the series as opposed to the way more generic first entry.
They really did a great job improving the audio in this NES version over the less-than-stellar port of 1942. I do want to do the PC Engine vs Arcade at some point but at the moment I'm focusing on two different series; every NES vs Arcade and every SMS vs Arcade.
This mo betta, wow what an upgrade over 1942. I do believe I owned this one, I do not think I played it often due to how hard it was at the time. I did play this quite a bit later in life and enjoyed the arcade version and the NES version. I played this a few times in the local arcade, the spread shot always pissed me off and I would rage quit haha. Winner: Arcade The NES does pretty darn good for what it is! Nice job with this one, I always found it tricky to just pick up and play but after 10 mins you get into the groove.
Lmao well you're not the only one to rage quit this game. I feel like I've rage quit half of the games so far for the NES vs Arcade series. So many of these are tough as nails. While I still think I'd take the arcade port over the NES if given the choice the improvement from 1942 is massive. I mean it's a better game overall anyways but the NES port of 1942 in particular was so meh that this looks like it came out 5 years later.
Again, not as good as the arcade original (or even the java-port, 'cause yes, this one got a java-port too, and it's tough as nails), but it's a huge improvement over the previous entry, especially in the sound department.
Wow that java port is really colorful! I didn't know that one existed either but I just watched some gameplay. Yeah the overall improvement for the NES ports is astounding between this and 1942.
The improvement between 1942 & 1943 is quite impressive as a whole but even more impressive for the NES considering how underwhelming 1942 was on there.
![1943 Kai: The Battle of Midway / 1943 ミッドウェイ海戦 (1987) Arcade - 2 Players [TAS]](/img/1.gif)
Such a bit jump in port quality from Micronic's very 'meh' 1942 to Capcom's own port of 1943. That said, because I *did* have fun at the time with the NES 1942 when my uncle would rent it, when I got my NES, 1943 was one of the first games I rented from a local rental shop. It's definitely a big step up: 1943's a lot of fun on the NES. I would say that Twin Cobra is probably my favorite NES vertical shooter, but 1943 is right behind it and maybe along side Dragon Spirit for number 2. I do prefer 1943 Kai on the PC-Engine these days after I finally got a chance to play it on actual hardware, but at the time I had no clue about that game. So...yes, the arcade version still shines in presentation and sound, but I do love the NES version too.
Well said my friend! It's like a night and day difference between 1942 & 1943 on the NES. While I'd still prefer to play the arcade version the NES version is also great and is easily one of the best NES shooters I've tried. I'm yet to play 1943 Kai on the PC-Engine though I did play it on the Saturn about a month ago and it was awesome.
OOOOOOHHHHH! So much better in the sound department. And to think that was only going from 1942 to the year 1943... must have had better tubes.
In 1943 Capcom used their ration cards to get better sound chips.
@@RetroComparisonsThey stopped drafting Micronics, and the Famicom ended the protests.
@@juststatedtheobvious9633 Lol! I just looked them up and that explains the crappiness of Exed Exes.
@@RetroComparisons 😂😂 literally LOL
My vote's for NES. Everything the arcade did, the sequels did better.
But those new RPG-lite upgrade mechanics give me some strategy to play around with. It's the rare game from that era that can change with you as you master all the gameplay styles it enables.
I think I'd still take the arcade over the NES but grading on a scale I might give the NES port a win here. Actually even without grading on a curve the NES port is really close. This game really set the stage for the series as opposed to the way more generic first entry.
I see why you like this game better than other war airplane games. This looks like a good port. Great comparison vid!
Thanks buddy! Yeah this one is a really fun one and for the time it came out it was a huge step ahead of a lot of its contemporaries.
@@RetroComparisons Yeah for sure I can definitely see that compared to 42 for sure.
NES...the music in the port is lively. Do a comparison of 1943 Kai for Arcade & PC Engine.
They really did a great job improving the audio in this NES version over the less-than-stellar port of 1942. I do want to do the PC Engine vs Arcade at some point but at the moment I'm focusing on two different series; every NES vs Arcade and every SMS vs Arcade.
*The Sound Is God, The Graphics Look Kinda Good, The Gameplay Is Smother Arcade Accuracy Score: 6.6*
The NES version is a huge step up from the NES port of 1942.
This mo betta, wow what an upgrade over 1942. I do believe I owned this one, I do not think I played it often due to how hard it was at the time.
I did play this quite a bit later in life and enjoyed the arcade version and the NES version. I played this a few times in the local arcade, the spread shot always pissed me off and I would rage quit haha.
Winner:
Arcade
The NES does pretty darn good for what it is!
Nice job with this one, I always found it tricky to just pick up and play but after 10 mins you get into the groove.
Lmao well you're not the only one to rage quit this game. I feel like I've rage quit half of the games so far for the NES vs Arcade series. So many of these are tough as nails. While I still think I'd take the arcade port over the NES if given the choice the improvement from 1942 is massive. I mean it's a better game overall anyways but the NES port of 1942 in particular was so meh that this looks like it came out 5 years later.
Again, not as good as the arcade original (or even the java-port, 'cause yes, this one got a java-port too, and it's tough as nails), but it's a huge improvement over the previous entry, especially in the sound department.
Wow that java port is really colorful! I didn't know that one existed either but I just watched some gameplay. Yeah the overall improvement for the NES ports is astounding between this and 1942.
@@RetroComparisons I guess, CAPCOM just knew their own games better than anyone else^^))
@@oldfan4049 Most definitely! It's always cool when the original developer works on a home port.
1943 was always one of my main arcade jams and I was pretty satisfied with the NES port.
The improvement between 1942 & 1943 is quite impressive as a whole but even more impressive for the NES considering how underwhelming 1942 was on there.
Arcade!
Same but the NES version is a massive improvement over 1942.