Battlestations: Pacific

Battlestations: Midway's surprising mix of action and strategic warfare set in World War II struck a chord with simulation junkies back in 2007, but a couple of issues - namely a steep learning curve and lack of extensive content - kept it from making an impact with the general gaming populace. Luckily, the sequel Battlestations: Pacific is a meatier, more accessible experience that better conveys the sensation of a full-scale military conflict.

THE VERDICT by Will Herring Will Herring's Avatar A beautiful balance of action and strategy, Battlestations: Pacific proves itself a fantastic upgrade over 2007's Battlestations: Midway.

Also check out our Battlestations: Midway review!

Take the fight online!

    Pacific's eight-player online modes adapt elements from the single-player missions and makes them palatable for those either seeking a quick fix or a drawn-out skirmish. The Duel mode in particular fits the latter need, with sets of single-unit battles that last only minutes apiece, while those with a thick chunk of time to fill might consider Island Capture, which gives teams a large map filled with islands to conquer. Between those two extremes are the Competitive and Siege modes, both of which offer distinct experiences, but whatever your mode of choice, the battles feel suitably epic and I experienced no lag against international players on test servers.


Man your battlestations!

In Battestations: Pacific, action and strategy are not mutually exclusive - you'll need both to succeed beyond the early missions, which means you can't charge in headfirst nor can you simply sit back and hope your units perform admirably. Pacific's calling card is the ability to easily swap between several roles, whether it's manning a fighter plane through anti-aircraft fire, repairing a damaged vessel, or using an overhead map screen to spot enemy formations and command your units.

Battlestations: Pacific

While this delicate balance of visceral gunfire and tactical plotting may not appeal to all gamers, Pacific is a surprisingly easy game to pick up, though it's an experience that still requires patience. The game often lets you decide how to best attack an objective, though frequent checkpoints ease the pain of poor decisions. Lengthier missions can drag at times and unclear objectives lead to some confusion, but the rewarding feeling of toppling that last enemy battleship or claiming the final island on the map makes it worth the investment of learning your units' strengths and abilities.

Battlestations: Pacific