Nick discovers the shotgun in 1943 can destroy enemy bullets, a game-changer he missed as a kid.
The episode begins with hosts Nick and Eric introducing 1943: The Battle of Midway for the NES, a home port of Capcom's 1987 arcade game. They note it's a sequel to 1942 and marks Capcom's shift to in-house ports with adjustments for home consoles. The hosts describe the game as a vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up where the player pilots a P-38 Lightning to battle the battleship Yamato. A key feature is the skill progression system: players allocate points to five stats—offensive power, defensive power, energy level, special weapons, and special weapons time—by finding hidden items. The game's health and special weapon energy constantly dwindle, forcing players to chase power-ups. Power-ups include POW blocks that cycle through weapons and health items, with hidden items like the Yashichi fully restoring energy. The hosts explain weapon types, emphasizing the shotgun's ability to destroy enemy bullets as a game-changer. They discuss the level structure: 24 missions, each named after a boss (e.g., Rikako, Kaku), with repetitive but increasingly difficult ship and plane bosses. The final level, Totaku, is a brutal gauntlet that both hosts struggled with, resorting to save states. The episode includes a level-by-level walkthrough, noting variations like bomber squadrons and aircraft carriers. In the review segment, they rate graphics and sound (3.0-3.5), play control (2.5-3.5), challenge factor (4.0), and theme and fun (3.5-4.0) using a Nintendo Power-style system. They recommend the game as a great shoot-'em-up for the NES, especially with a turbo controller, and contrast it favorably with the poorly ported 1942. The episode ends with a preview of next week's game, Spy vs. Spy, and acknowledgments to Patreon supporters.
