No. 5: 1943
Power Up Crazy Top Scrolling Shoot-em-up from CAPCOM

1943. Capcom (1987). Another classic from the Golden Age of shoot-em-ups. A single fighter plane up against the might of the enemy's fleet and airforce. I find the theme of this game ironic, given the nature of Japan's suffering at American hands in 1945. Missing from this game, predictably then, is any mention of specific nationality. The game, subtitled "The Battle of Midway", is classic button-slapping gameplay. Sure, you could hold down the fire-button but all you'd get for your troubles with most weapons was a pathetic PUTT-PUTT-PUTT of  fire. Landscape was completely absent, none of the mostly maritime backdrops were interactive, just eye candy, not that you'd have time to admire the view anyway the game was that frenetic. Power-ups came as thick and fast as the enemy hordes and the mainstay of these was the POW icon . Pick it up for energy, or shoot it repeatedly to change it to another weapon icon. Stop shooting and pick it up, and hey presto - a new weapon. Choice of weapons without the need for a select button like Nemesis (Gradius).

The most common and generally best all-round weapon was the 3-way shot , giving a spread range of 45 degrees to either side of your plane. Tactics could be varied, some areas would be much easier if you equipped yourself with a particular weapon , all of which were subtle balances in variation between fire-rate, firing angle and damage done. There is a killer weapon hidden in the game that comes up rarely, in the form of a strange little mouse head. Grab this and you will be gifted with a laser gun, which slices through enemy armour. There any many other power-ups too scattered throughout the levels, providing energy , ammo, and sometimes a couple of small companion planes that provide auxiliary firepower, taking just a couple of hits each before they disappeared though.

The bosses (every level had one), were massive. Gigantic battleships hove into view, filling the screen, pouring bullets at you by the bucket load, turrets launching missiles, enemy fighters filling whatever space was left. Massive bomber planes made regular appearances, dispatched with the tried and trusted attack method discussed in Super Space Invaders, previously.

Like it's predecessor, 1943 had 16 levels and if anybody can, or could do the whole game on 1 credit, I would not only take my hat off to them, I would probably throw in my scalp, skull and what the hell, brain too.

Features: 2-player, Energy donation, Frantic shooting, big feck-off planes and boats!

Other Notes: Interestingly enough, I believe this was the first 2-player game in which you could "donate" energy to another player by "hovering" over your companion. Also, 1943 was released in 1987, being a sequel to 1942, and had a sequel itself, called 1941. Confused? You're not trying hard enough...

Credit to: Filipe Estima for corrections!

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