1942: The Pacific Air War
A combat flight simulation of the Pacific War from 1942.
1942: The Pacific Air War is a combat flight simulation for MS-DOS, both developed and published by MicroProse in 1994. The game covers the conflict between the United States and Japan in the Pacific from 1942 through 1945. It features aerial combat, ground attacks, and naval battles, and can be played either as a flight simulator or a wargame. Players can engage in individual missions or follow the war through a tour of duty mode, which includes managing fleets and air bases on a strategic map. When combat occurs, the player can take control of any aircraft involved. The game also includes an advanced recording and editing tool that allows players to film missions after completion, using multiple cameras placed anywhere in the scene, with a scrubbable timeline and customizable edits.
An expansion pack, 1942: The Pacific Air War – Scenario, was released in 1995. A sequel, European Air War, followed in 1998. In 2015, Tommo acquired the rights to the game and began publishing it digitally under its Retroism brand.
Reception was positive. In August 1994, Computer Gaming World gave it four out of five stars, with a reviewer who was an Air National Guard F-16 flight instructor praising the graphics, frame rate, and virtual cockpit. He noted that the flight modeling forced him to use real wartime tactics and that the game had better balance than Aces of the Pacific, concluding that MicroProse had created a serious flight sim with lasting appeal. PC Gamer US awarded it the 1994 "Best Simulation" prize, calling it essential for any flight-sim fan's library. In 1997, PC Gamer UK ranked it the 71st best computer game ever.
Quick Facts
- Title
- 1942: The Pacific Air War
- Developer
- MPS Labs
- Publisher
- MicroProse
- Designer
- Ed Fletcher / John Paquin / Michael Rea
- Artist
- Todd Brizzi
- Released
- NA · 1994 · EU · 1994
- Genre
- Flight simulator
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- MS-DOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
1942: The Pacific Air War was developed and published by MicroProse for MS-DOS in 1994. It simulates the U.S. and Japanese conflict in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 1942 to 1945. The game can be played as a flight simulator or a wargame, offering a mission mode for single battles and a tour of duty mode where the player manages fleets and air bases on a strategic campaign map. When aircraft engage in battle, the player can jump into the cockpit of any aircraft in combat. The game also includes a recording and editing tool that allows the player to film a mission after completion, using multiple cameras placed anywhere in the scene, with a scrubbable timeline and customizable edits. An expansion pack, 1942: The Pacific Air War – Scenario, was released in 1995. A sequel, European Air War, followed in 1998. In 2015, Tommo purchased the rights to the game and digitally publishes it through its Retroism brand.
Reader's Guide
1942: The Pacific Air War was recognized by Computer Gaming World in August 1994, whose reviewer—an Air National Guard F-16 flight instructor—rated it four stars out of five. He praised the graphics, frame rate, and virtual cockpit, noting that the flight modeling forced him to use the same tactics as real pilots during the war, and that the game had better balance than Aces of the Pacific. He concluded that MicroProse had created a 'serious flight sim' with 'staying power to spare'. PC Gamer US awarded it the 1994 'Best Simulation' award, calling it an essential component of a flight-sim fan's library. In 1997, PC Gamer UK named it the 71st best computer game ever. The game's legacy is tied to its realistic flight modeling and strategic campaign mode, as well as its advanced recording tool, which set it apart in the flight simulation genre of the mid-1990s.
Did You Know?
- The game was reviewed by an Air National Guard F-16 flight instructor.
- It received PC Gamer US's 1994 'Best Simulation' award.
- Tommo purchased the rights and digitally publishes it through its Retroism brand in 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 1942: The Pacific Air War?
It is a 1994 combat flight simulation for MS-DOS that lets you fly and manage the U.S. versus Japan conflict in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. MicroProse handled both development and publishing.
What gameplay modes does 1942: The Pacific Air War offer?
You can fly individual missions or run a full tour of duty where you manage fleets and air bases on a strategic map. The game blends a flight-sim experience with wargame-style strategic planning, and combat ranges from dogfights to ground strikes and naval engagements.
Who made 1942: The Pacific Air War?
MicroProse developed and published the title itself, releasing it in 1994 for the MS-DOS platform.
Is there a sequel or expansion to 1942: The Pacific Air War?
MicroProse shipped a scenario expansion pack in 1995, and the series eventually got a follow-up called European Air War in 1998.
How does combat work in 1942: The Pacific Air War?
When a battle triggers on the strategic map, you can seize control of any aircraft involved and fight in real time. Missions cover aerial duels, bombing runs on ground targets, and ship-to-ship naval combat.
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