| Crash reviewed Elite's ZX Spectrum conversion, at £7.95, in October 1986. Its review describes thirty-two levels, each ended by a return to the aircraft carrier, a two-player option, rolls, and a white object in the air that works as a smart bomb. | p. 24, 1942p. 24, 1942p. 24, 1942p. 24, 1942p. 24, 1942p. 24, 1942p. 24, 1942p. 24, 1942 | Magazine |
| Crash gave the Spectrum version 63% overall, with 70% for use of computer, 65% for graphics, 67% for playability, 68% for getting started, 61% for addictive qualities, and 64% for value for money. | p. 24, 1942, ratingsp. 24, 1942, ratingsp. 24, 1942, ratingsp. 24 (image n23), 1942, ratingsp. 24 (image n23), 1942, ratingsp. 24 (image n23), 1942, ratings | Magazine |
| Crash's ratings box called it "a reasonable conversion of a game that wasn't very good to start with". One reviewer, expecting more from Elite after its earlier arcade conversions, found 1942 definitely lacking; another, a shoot 'em up fan, said it "doesn't really appeal to me"; the third called it one of the worst games to come out of Elite's offices in a long while, with extremely basic graphics. | p. 24, 1942, general ratingp. 24, 1942, first commentp. 24, 1942, first commentp. 24, 1942, second commentp. 24, 1942, second commentp. 24, 1942, third commentp. 24, 1942, third comment | Magazine |
| On Crash's Hotline Top 30, compiled from the votes of Crash readers and not from sales, the Spectrum game was second in October 1986, behind Elite's Commando and ahead of its Bomb Jack, and first in November 1986. | p. 34 (image 34, no folio), Hotline Top 30 for Octoberp. 34 (image 34), Hotline Top 30 | Magazine |
| Crash reviewed Elite's ZX Spectrum conversion in October 1986, at £7.95, with Steve Lamb and Tony Mac on its author line. Its fact box gives the screens as a "scrolling township" and the use of color as monochromatic, for the most part, to avoid glitches. | p. 18 (image n17), Paper Boyp. 18 (image n17), Paper Boyp. 18 (image n17), Paper Boyp. 18 (image n17), comments boxp. 18, comments box | Magazine |
| Crash gave the Spectrum version 88% overall, with 84% for use of computer, 86% for graphics, 89% for playability, 91% for getting started, 87% for addictive qualities, and 86% for value for money. | p. 18 (image n17), Paper Boy, ratingsp. 18 (image n17), Paper Boy, ratingsp. 18 (image n17), Paper Boy, ratingsp. 18 (image n17), Paper Boy, ratingsp. 18 (image n17), Paper Boy, ratings | Magazine |
| Crash's general rating called it "another slick, playable conversion from Elite". One reviewer, to whom the arcade game had never appealed, said Elite had as usual done an excellent job of converting it; another found the control hard to get used to at first. | p. 18 (image n17), comments box, general ratingp. 18, first commentp. 18, first commentp. 18, third comment | Magazine |