1941: Counter Attack

Gameplay

The goal is to shoot down enemy airplanes and collect weapon power-ups (POW). The game uses a vitality system instead of life system in which if the player is hit, it loses one point of vitality and the player is destroyed if hit with 0 vitality then the player is given the option to continue. Lightning attacks can be used by pressing the B button which sacrifices a portion of life energy. Three loops can be performed per level and a bonus is awarded at the end of the level for unused loops. Player 1 uses a P-38 Lightning and Player 2 uses a new plane: DH.98 Mosquito. The game shifts from the original Pacific Front setting with that of the Western Front, in the north Atlantic Ocean.

It is the first shoot 'em up to add +1 to the score when a continue is used.

Release

1941: Counter Attack was first released in arcades by Capcom and Electrocoin in 1990, running on the CP System board. In February 2021, it was re-released in pack 2 of the Capcom Arcade Stadium compilation for Nintendo Switch.

Reception

85/100, 85/100

In Japan, Game Machine listed 1941: Counter Attack in its March 15, 1990 issue as the third most popular arcade game of the month. The game garnered positive reception from reviewers and awards from Gamest magazine. However, the original arcade version had mixed reception from western publications. In contrast, the SuperGrafx conversion had very positive reception from Japanese critics. Readers of PC Engine Fan voted to give the SuperGrafx version a 19.44 out of 30 score, ranking at the number 368 spot in a poll.

Notes

References

References

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2. Zverloff, Nick. (August 17, 2011). "1941: Counter Attack". Hardcore Gaming 101.
3. Akagi, Masumi. (13 October 2006). "カプコン Capcom; Capcom USA (Capcom Coin-Op); Number". Amusement News Agency.
4. Russell, Graham. (December 10, 2020). "Capcom Arcade Stadium Brings Retro Hits to Switch in February 2021". [[Enthusiast Gaming]].
5. Pineda, Rafael Antonio. (December 10, 2020). "News: Capcom Reveals Capcom Arcade Stadium Switch Collection of Arcade Titles - 32 games available separately or in packs in February 2021". [[Anime News Network]].
6. Romano, Sal. (December 10, 2020). "Capcom Arcade Stadium announced for Switch - 32 Capcom arcade classics". Gematsu.
7. Baize, Anthony. (1998). "1941: Counter Attack [European] (Arcade) - Review". [[All Media Network]].
8. (October 1991). "Supergrafx Review - 1941: Counter Attack". M.E.R.7.
9. (September 6, 1991). "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: 1941". [[ASCII Corporation]].
10. (September 1991). "発売直前 REVIEW: 1941 (SG)". [[Shogakukan]].
11. (October 1991). "NEC | Tests: 1941". Yellow Media.
12. Demoly, Jean-François. (October 1991). "Consoles News: Supergrafx - 1941". Sipress.
13. (September 1991). "新作ソフトお毒味チャート: 1941 (SG)". [[Kadokawa Shoten]].
14. Scamps, Olivier. (October 1991). "Tests De Jeux – Super G. — 1941: Counter Attack". Média Système Édition.
15. Ladoire, Frank. (October 1991). "Console Test: 1941 – Supergrafx". Computec Media France.
16. (17 January 1998). "ザ・ベストゲーム2 - アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史: ゲーメスト大賞11年史". [[Shinseisha]].
17. (15 March 1990). "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Amusement Press.
18. (March 1990). "極楽VGブラザーズ: 1941 (カプコン)". [[SoftBank Creative]].
19. Hogg, Robin. (March 1990). "Arcades - Electrocoin". [[Newsfield Publications]].
20. (July 1990). "Power Tests Automatenspiele — Fang' den Hut". Future Verlag.
21. (October 1, 1993). "PC Engine All Catalog '93 10月号特別付録 - 1941: Counter Attack". [[Tokuma Shoten]].