A great mix of Action and RTS
Battlestations Pacific really isn't a sequel as much as an improvement upon the original Battlestations game. The game features a newer graphics engine however, with noticeably more surreal environments. With a lot more focus now on both the gameplay and the visual side of the game, Battlestations Pacific makes an interesting play.
The story line is something I wasn't expecting when I picked up the game. Aside from providing the obvious U.S. campaign where you fight your way across major battles in the Pacific to Japan, the game let's you play as if Japan had won the war, completely pushing allied forces back to California. It's something I found refreshing and new, however a little exaggerated, in the always repeated WW2 themed action game.
The gameplay provides a good mix of both RTS and Action. The RTS is what you'll notice first, as you command fleets of battleships and bomber squadrons on a simple, easy to use tactical map. Aside from that aspect however, you also have the option of taking manual control of your units. This is interesting because I find it very reassuring when I lose a ship after knowing that it at least put up a good fight under my command rather than just disappearing off my tactical map. The controls of the game are a bit more than what one could consider a sit down and play feel, but are none the less smooth after so fiddling around.
The graphics in Pacific are a huge step up from what was seen in Battlestations Midway. The water flows elegantly in calm weather and smashes against your ship's side in the stormy night. The islands and buildings rendered in the game now also look much better, with AA emplacements and bunkers standing out more than they did back in Battlestations Midway, adding a whole new feeling of realism and depth to the game.
Don't be expecting a great flight or combat simulator when buying Pacific, but be looking more towards playing a tactical based combat action game, giving you control over large fleets and individual units at the same time. Overall 5/5 and definitely worth the 980¥ I paid for it.
