GamersInfo.net

Battlestations: Pacific is the sequel to the popular Battlestations: Midway game. It is a combination strategy and action game - you not only have the ability to command your fleet of ships and planes but at any time you can jump over and take control of various craft.

The setting is the Pacific theater of World War 2. There is a historically accurate U.S. campaign and a historically possible Japanese campaign using the Battle of Midway as the turning point in the war. There are 28 missions which makes it twice as big as the previous Battlestations game. For instance, the scenarios that we got to see were from the Japanese scenario "The Invasion of Coral Sea" plus a Leyte Gulf scenario.

The campaigns aren't the only thing that is bigger in this one. There are 21 new units, huge maps, fully integrated kamikazes, and the ability to capture islands and bases. A cool scene to see was watching the troopships land on the beach to attack an enemy held island while using the guns on a battleship to help suppress the defenders.

One of the things that they worked on was the learning curve of the game. The original had a much steeper learning curve, this one makes things easier, even showing new players what parts of a ship they can damage. There's the chance to play co-op with an AI as well as multiplayer.

That's not to say this is an easy game. Planes, for instance, can be difficult to control at first (I repeatedly crashed into the water when I first took over control). The game rewards practice, however, and it can be a great feeling when you finally run the gauntlet of anti-air fire and successfully peg the battleship with a torpedo from your airplane. If you're looking for a realistic and fun version of the Pacific naval front in World War 2, this looks to be the go to game for you.