P.T.O. IV

Rewrite history or try your hand at preserving it. P.T.O. IV puts the WWII naval powers at your command, but is it any fun?

P.T.O. IV delivers an intense, sea-based World War II military experience unlike anything currently available for the PlayStation 2. Be warned, though: The game has a steep learning curve and requires a good deal of devotion to the source material

Military sims are usually a bit weak on the presentation side of things and Pacific Theater of Operations is no exception. With the large array of units involved in any given skirmish, it?s understandable that the visual detail isn?t as high as you?d expect. Still, what?s there certainly is more than acceptable. Luckily, the audio portion more than makes up for it with superb sound effects like the booming cannons of a destroyer or the wind-cutting buzz of a fighter plane.

The immense depth of strategic planning and historical accuracy combine for an intensely addictive experience. You can play by mirroring actual events, devising completely new approaches, or using a combination of both. You can even change alliances, such as making Britain part of the Axis powers or Japan part of the Allies. The in-game menus can get a bit cluttered, but they provide great control of it all. It?s easy to deal with once you?ve played through a few campaigns, but some shortcuts would have helped.

Over the course of the series, Koei has refined sea battles to a near science. It would be great to see a land-based version centered around the same time period. The considerable learning curve and subject matter may not be for everyone, but P.T.O. IV provides endless hours of gameplay and is a must for war buffs.

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