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1942: A Sort of 8-Bit Synthesia
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One Game Feature by Daniel Dujnic, 11/8/07
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1942 is a nice zen shooter, but the music is composed of one part cymbal, one part alarm clock. While shooting down other WWII airplanes the cymbals are lost in the explosions and gunfire, leaving you with a single sporadic tone that does not falter.
You'll end up ignoring it though because in all other ways 1942 is completely engrossing. You will covet the power-ups and subconsciously learn the movements of your enemies. It is mesmerizing to confidently weave within the onslaught of tiny planes, a skill you will learn without you knowing it.
I initially shunned loopty-loop move (limited to 3 per life, bonus one at end of level) that grants temporary invulnerability because I thought it for amateurs. On the contrary, sometimes the rhythm of the game becomes too much, and you have to take a step back to get back in step with the game's tempo. Proper and timely execution of the loopty-loop becomes as much part of the pacing of the game as anything else.
You might think 32 levels of shooting down similar planes would become mundane, and it is possible some think is as bland as it's music. But 1942 is strangely satisfying. Whether you are trying to beat it, shoot down a high percentage of enemies, or roll over the hi-score counter, it draws you into the heartbeat of a game that has more depth than the music would suggest. 1942 doesn't need good music, 1942 is good music.
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'A Sort of 8-Bit Synthesia'
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#&rendershop#
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