We've had a number of authentic sounding WWII games over the years and so it's perhaps hard to get too excited when another is announced. From beach assaults to dogfights over London we've been there and done that in what can be felt as countless times over. So with Eidos publishing another WWII game in their Battlestations series comes as a bit of surprise, but also is quite brave all things considered. The game's predecessor Battlestations Midway must have yielded the desired results for Eidos for a second game to be developed and so we are presented with the all new Battlestations Pacific which sets out to best 'Midway' and offer more WWII sea and air based combat. At least the game isn't a first person shooter per se, which is a good thing, and perhaps its biggest strength. Offering more varied and strategic action, Battlestations Pacific takes to the East and sets sail into well chartered waters.
Battlestations Pacific depicts the military action seen in the Pacific Ocean around 1942 where the US forces engaged with the Japanese. The game recreates key naval/air battles of this period and whilst being historically correct, has opted to provide the real history and an alternate reality to perhaps remind you that there's a game here which is fun to play despite the realism of the setting. You'll be able to dip in and out of a US based campaign, and the alternate Japanese campaign which is neat be presented with the two perspectives. Each of the game's campaigns eases you in to the basic gameplay features, and with a HUD which displays clear instructions as to what to do, there's no excuse to feel out of the loop. As you would expect, each mission requires completion of a primary objective, however there are secondary tasks as well as hidden actions that can be performed. Taking ones time and being thorough with your assaults certainly helps here.
The game comes across a little basic to begin with and feels like just another aerial shooter set in WWII, however once you delve deeper into the campaign you'll start seeing more of the varied gameplay synonymous with the series. You'll also jump right in at the deep end if you choose the Skirmish mode option which offers various game types versus AI. What is impressive about the core gameplay is the fact that you aren't restricted to just the one controllable unit, which means you're able to perform on the fly hot swapping between your forces. So, in one moment you could be chasing down aerial targets in an aircraft or bombing ships, and the next on board a battleship firing at other boats or ground targets - there's even the option to go deep and cause havoc using a submarine. In addition to hot swapping, you're also able to dictate the course of battle by issuing commands via a map interface. As a commander you're also able to launch new units into battle and decide what they are and which weapons load-outs they have. There are plenty of craft on offer with more unlocked as you progress. When making the decisions which can shape the course of the battle, choosing the right tools for the job does have its rewards. So, you're approaching the game on several fronts when you dissect all of the gameplay components, which is most welcome, albeit a little daunting to get to grips with at first. After a short while playing and experimenting, the interface is intuitive and should pose no problems for most gamers.
The aforementioned Skirmish modes really open up the game for prolonged play as it's here that you'll be able to embark on Escort, Siege, Competitive, Duel and Island Capture game types. You're able to choose from a number of maps and depending on what game type you've selected the conditions and rules vary accordingly. This is a welcome feature versus the AI and makes for a good place to learn prior to feeling brave enough to head out into online multiplayer territory. Some of the game modes like Island Capture can take a fair while to play, where as shorter battles found in the Duel mode, offers a neat contrast with its quick fix gameplay. There's something for everyone here and with three levels of AI difficulty to tweak and uneven teams, there's suitable challenge for those looking for extras beyond the campaign mode.
Battlestations Pacific provides some wide open areas to fly and sail around in, and in keeping with the realism can feel quite slow paced (especially sailing from one end of the map to the other). But with the hot swapping and management aspect to keep you occupied, there's a real sense of anticipation as your forces near the hot zones. For some, the slower pace might be off-putting, but for those who have patience will no doubt be rewarded when the proverbial poop hits the fan. This is the only real potential negative at this stage; but is how the game is meant to be. So if you're looking for overly fast paced combat then you might be a little surprised at the slower pace.
Battlestations Pacific offers a neat slice of unique action gaming which encompasses aerial combat and naval warfare, with a slight touch of strategy thrown in for good measure. The amalgamation of ideas into the one game is a force to be reckoned with and is well worth keeping an eye on if a different take on WWII is appealing to you. For fans of aerial shooters, there's something here for you to enjoy as you bomb and shoot your way across the blue Pacific skies. For fans of tactical naval combat, there's also something here for you to enjoy as you vie for watery supremacy. For would be commanders who like getting their hands well and truly dirty, then the option to take to the skies or waters and fully control the unit from a command map is very much a plus, and separates the game from its strategic/action peers.
Releasing on May 12th 2009 on Xbox 360 in North America and the 15th in Europe, Battlestations Pacific should be a welcome entry for fans of the last game, and an interesting prospect for newcomers looking for historic on and offline play.
Preview By: Robert Cram
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