Continuing the legacy of the 1942 series, which began at approximately the time World War II ended (er, *checks notes*, 1984 to be precise), 1944: The Loop Master brings some new mechanics to the well-worn WWII fighter series. The fighters have only a single starting weapon type, but have access to a charge-up system that unleashes a concentrated burst of fire and makes them temporarily invulnerable to attack, in addition to the standard bombs and power-ups. The planes also have a health bar that depletes progressively when hit, allowing for more hits but with fewer opportunities to recharge your health. The game's use of Capcom's CPS-2 platform adds a new level of sophistication to the visuals, putting it on par with many of the shoot-em-ups of the late 90s/early 2000s.