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System:
Xbox
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Genre:
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Online:
No
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While the words “next generation” have been filling search engines and cramming their way into just about every article related to video games, some gaming companies out there are still offering some original content for the current generation. SCi Games is one of those development teams that are aiming to maximize the experience of warfare on the current generation of consoles and PC gaming. The developers are putting together an interesting hybrid under veteran publisher THQ; mixing the very likes of open-sea scrimmages with battleships, submarines, attack ships and aerial craft.
Standard of warfare
Battlestations: Midway was delayed several times. But that’s because it’s the sort of game that comes through every once and a while and tosses together something completely different from everything else out there. While it may be a War World II based game, it ultimately takes the likes of various genres that most other war games for the consoles rarely use: strategic tactical warfare from the air and sea, with real-time simulated combat. Now many of you action gamers are probably already searching through articles for another non-strategic game. However, SCi has taken into account that most console gamers would prefer edge-of-your-seat entertainment. That’s why Battlestations: Midway is a game that sets up the action with tactical warfare and strategic placement of vessels and aircraft; yet it delivers pulse-pounding encounters when the shells start dropping and the flak starts flying.
The physics and flight models aren’t entirely based on super-realistic playing styles. The game offers a mild mix of both arcade styled dogfights with semi-realistic flying interfused. This way flight-sim fans still get a beefy amount of skillful flying. While those who are not so keen to the simulation genre can pick up the controls and go at it without being daunted by an overwhelming physics design.
Why the Midway?
If you haven’t guessed it, this game is about the tide-turning events that surround the battle of Midway. However, the game starts six months prior at the attack on Pearl Harbor. Players will follow the story through the eyes of an American recruit, Henry Walker. The story will follow his journey through the war that carried over Java, the Philippines, the Coral Sea, and toward the mega-battle of Midway.
SCi is even incorporating news-reel type cinematics to tie the story together in-between the 11 campaign missions and 12 extra bonus missions. This feature is to give gamers a bit more story-related immersion to fuel the actions that take place out on the sea and in the air.
The mission variety also ranges from evacuation efforts and assaults, to defending a vital war vessel, island or craft. The orientation of the campaign is set to give gamers of both strategy and action genres, enough versatility and fun to keep the playability factors high. The missions and dogfights were also designed to keep the entertainment qualities intact, with sweaty-forehead, pulse-pounding action.
Everywhere but inland
For those of you who are probably wondering whether you’ll ever take the fight to your enemies on-foot, I’ll answer that for you with a simple...no. Even if you did control a single individual, you wouldn’t have too many places to go because you’d be trapped on a battleship or aircraft carrier. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t manually take the fight to your enemy. Players can use turret guns manned by crew members, or launch massive attacks on foes, using the battleships’ cannons.
In this game just about every resource that was available to the Naval military, during World War II, will be available for use in this game. There are about 60 different vessels, aircraft and sea-craft from both the US and Japanese fleets, which are entirely at the disposal of war-hungry gamers. From the Spitfires, Mustangs, and Flying Fortresses, to Submarines, air carriers, and battleships...nothing is off limits for players to use and dispose of, as they please.
Simulator for arcade fanatics...
You might consider this game to be an arcade game for simulation, strategy fans, or likewise a strategic simulator for arcade fanatics. I’ll clarify that point by stating that this game, as much as it is being hailed as a strategy title, is just as equally interactive as your typical arcade flyer. As I’m sure a lot of gamers are asking “how much interactivity do we get with the craft?” The answer is quite simple: full interactivity. As fore-mentioned, this game allows players to switch to fellow allied vehicles, craft, or carriers at any point during the battle. You can even go back to the tactical planning map and make changes to your attack patterns, scouting routines, or defensive strategies on the fly. Everything in this game is made to be entirely friendly toward console gamers, though, housing just as much interactive versatility as any other PC strategy title.
Take for example, you set-up a flight pattern with six of your aerial fighters to patrol near your carrier, while six of your other fighters scout for enemy fighter planes. You can conveniently switch back and forth between the defensive/scouting patrols in case of an attack. You can also switch to the carrier itself in case you need to get it into position to launch more aircraft. The larger ships also have an interesting feature of interactivity, as players are given full control over the crew, the hull, the engine, the steering, firefighting and other devices. The action happens so fast players must be keen on taking the right actions to preserve the fighting integrity of their warships and submarines. For instance, if a carrier gets bombed on its flight strip, players will need to work fast in putting out any fires that may have started. Players might also have to level out a carrier or battleship that might be sinking unevenly. In order to level out a sinking ship, the respective compartments must be filled in order to balance out the ship...it won’t stop the ship from sinking but it will allow for players to shoot the cannons from a stable position. --Or otherwise, launch an aerial attack from a carrier craft that may have been too lop-sided for the planes to take off from.
Visual destruction
SCi really put a lot of technical acuity into this title, and the logic behind the battles. Although, on a down-side, it doesn’t look like the larger ships take any more physical damage than what appears to be billowing stacks of black smoke and scorching hot flames. That doesn’t mean you won’t see particles flying everywhere when torpedoes make contact with a battleship...or when bombers let loose half a dozen bombs on the deck of a carrier. You’ll even witness crew members taking cover, heading inside, or trying to dive for safety in a lifeboat. A great amount of realism is definitely in effect for this game. Even with everything that is happening on-screen, the developers have polished the game enough for it to retain a high level of visual integrity despite the fast, unrelenting, in-your-face action. You can actually see the metal ridges in the floor of the battleships and easily spot out the safety vests on the crew members. The water effects are also amazing; when the camera goes from the surface and pans down into the water the screen takes on the effect as if you're looking through an underwater camera. It all looks authentic enough with startling detail.
Battle around the world
Of course, what would a fancy game like this be without a ferocious multiplayer feature? It would be boat fodder. That’s why SCi has included a no-holds-barred, non-stop, action packed, eight player options for the available platforms. The exact details on how many, or what amount, of fleets you will have under your control are still shoddy. Nevertheless, it seems as if each player may have several vessels/craft to use. Players will also have the option of going at it in head-to-head bouts, or cooperatively, with either the Japanese or Allied forces–and up to 60 available units.
You can be sure to catch this title when it releases for the PS2, Xbox and PC in April, 2006.
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