Battlestations Pacific Review (Xbox 360) By Sayed Islam Published: 08/20/09 PrintEmail
Two years after Battlestations Midway, Eidos (The same company behind the Tomb Raider franchise) is at it yet again with another adaptation of the Battlestations series titled Battlestations Pacific. Sequels usually offer more content than their predecessors, and that certainly is no exception here. The storyline branches off into two segments: United States and Japan. During the United States perspective, the events covered are based on Midway and Okinawa. Conversely, the Japanese viewpoint deals with Pearl Harbor and Okinawa. Albeit the United States point of view is more like it is based on a true story, the Japanese section is purely fictitious. While it was engrossing to see what could have occurred if the Japanese had won those battles, there is never a sense of connection to any of the characters and a dull narrative to endure.
The gameplay in Battlestations: Pacific is eerily reminiscent to Battlestations: Midway in that it splices two genres: real time strategy and real time combat. Just about everything from issuing orders as a commander to taking control of individual units are all viable. There are a grand total of 28 different missions; fourteen missions are for the United States; fourteen missions are for the Japanese. The bulk of the units are predicated on three types: submarines, naval bases, and aircrafts. Furthermore, there is a wide variety of missions to partake in that range from pillaging certain adversaries to the dreaded escort mission. However, the combat does have a bit of a steep learning curve. Occasionally, gamers will be pondering how to accomplish various mission objectives. You can play with a more complacent approach by giving an order and waiting to see the ramifications or taking an engaging approach (the latter being the more enjoyable and rewarding of the two). Additionally, you can toggle back and forth between all of your units. To make an order, you have to bring up a radial dial menu (much akin to other real time strategy games) and select an order. The multiplayer features five modes: escort, siege, competitive, duel, and island capture. Moreover, the multiplayer can be played with up to eight players either online via Xbox Live or offline. Escort mode is where a group of teammates has to protect another unit from another group of teammates. Siege mode is where a group of teammates has to prevent the destruction of an island by fending off attackers from an opposing team. Competitive mode is where the only objective is to accrue points by defeating foes, but there is no battling between the units. Duel mode is essentially a last man standing mode where there is only one winner. Last but definitely not the least mode is Island capture. Island capture entails fighting your way through the opposition in an effort to capture islands. Although all of the multiplayer modes are intriguing, nothing is as captivating as Island Capture.
In terms of visuals, the graphics are reasonable but nothing extraordinary. Sure, the water effects are flawless (but at this point just about every game manages to have excellent water textures). As the torrential rain being to come down from the sky, the inclement weather conditions are also appreciable.
The audio is compelling as well. You will hear commanders provide orders in a fairly reasonable manner and troops say obedient things. The music is fine too.
Overall, Battlestations Pacific has plenty of content to battle your way through. From the sea to the air, it is battle tested.
Art direction 8 In terms of visuals, the graphics are reasonable but nothing extraordinary. Sure, the water effects are flawless (but at this point just about every game manages to have excellent water textures). As the torrential rain being to come down from the sky, the inclement weather conditions are also appreciable. Audio 8 The audio is compelling as well. You will hear commanders provide orders in a fairly reasonable manner and troops say obedient things. The music is fine too. Gameplay 8 The gameplay in Battlestations: Pacific is eerily reminiscent to Battlestations: Midway in that it splices two genres: real time strategy and real time combat. Presentation 7 While it was engrossing to see what could have occurred if the Japanese had won those battles, there is never a sense of connection to any of the characters and a dull narrative to endure. Replay Value 9 There are plenty of content to play from the multiplayer to the campaigns. Final Verdict 8 out of 10
Two years after Battlestations Midway, Eidos (The same company behind the Tomb Raider franchise) is at it yet again with another adaptation of the Battlestations series titled Battlestations Pacific. Sequels usually offer more content than their predecessors, and that certainly is no exception here. 
