| Title |
Battlestations: Midway |
| Date |
02.19.2006 |
| Genre |
Action, Strategy |
| Platform |
PC |
| Developer |
Eidos Interactive |
| Publisher |
Eidos Interactive |
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For reference, the specs of the system we tested on are as follows: AMD Athlon64 3400+, 1GB DDR3200, Visiontek Radeon X1300 XGE (512MB), Sound Blaster Audigy, 250GB SATA HD, as well as some Logitech 2.1 speakers.
Graphics
The graphics of this game are not its most impressive feature. There is absolutely no reason that you need to have the "optimum" specs of an X1800 or GeForce7800. My system, with modest specs, runs this game with everything on max at 1280*1024 without a hiccup. Even at this resolution with max details, the graphics are far from stunning, especially with games coming out like Flight Simulator X, F.E.A.R., Oblivion, etc. However, the bonus is that it makes the game more accessible to moderate PC gamers. If graphics are something that influences your decision to buy a game, you would probably drop this one. However, if you can look past the visuals, which in truth are NOT horrible, they are just not amazing compared to some other games, you will find a very satisfying game.
Gameplay
Ahh, this is where she shines. The gameplay is like nothing I've ever felt before. If you've ever played Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, I would say that is the closest you can get to how this game plays. However, the difference is that you are never on foot in this game, but rather commanding huge warships, and the feeling is incredible. Other than ships, you can also command submarines (which are sweet) and airplanes, which you can launch from your aircraft carrier. Even the little things like how the ship steers makes the game feel real. They don't turn on a dime, by any means, but it never feels sluggish, and with a lot of control over the throttle (Not just a "move forward" "stop" thing), it really immerses you. Strategy also comes into play in this game. I guarantee that the first time you have a nice destroyer under your command, you will die. Why? Because in training, they seem unstoppable, and they are when used properly. And this means no jumping into the fray. You can send your planes on bombing runs, have your subs dive under sonar range, assemble fleets and formations...the possibilities are simply endless. The only reason this section does not get a 10 is because of the sloppy airplane controls. The dogfights are very difficult to get the hang of, but once you learn they are not bad.
  
Storyline
I would say the best adjective for the story would be "forgettable". It's not that the game has no story. You take the place of a man named William Walker and follow his story from the attack at Pearl Harbor (which is an amazing sequence, might I add) and follow it all the way to the battle of Midway, which is where the tide of the Pacific theater turned in US favor. The cut scenes do look beautiful, but the most important part about watching them is getting to see what kind of ship you are given command of next. The rest is really just fluff.
Extras
The game does provide some fun extras, like challenges with various vehicles for you to try out. It also provides a super helpful set of tutorial levels, which is almost essential to learn how to play the game, although they do spoon-feed you a bit. All and all, the extras are nice, and they add a little bit more to the game.
Replay Value
The game does have some replay value to it, as it has three difficulty settings. The easiest is child's play, really, and the hardest is quite a challenge. I would say, however, the company did the right thing by dropping the price of the game $10 from what most new PC games are. It's not that it's not worth $50, because it surely is, it is just that the game is not that long, and I imagine a lot of people would probably feel a bit cheated. The game provides some ample opportunity for replay.
FINAL SCORE
This game is definitely worth a buy, or at least borrow it from a friend, for anyone who is a fan of either strategy or action games, as it combines both. It is a must for any WWII enthusiast. If the game had slightly better graphics and were a little longer, it would have a perfect 10 from me. I encourage everyone to at least give it a try.
Game Score
B
Reviewed By: Contributed |
