Battlestations: Pacific
Encyclopedia
Battlestations: Pacific is an action
and real-time tactics
video game published by Eidos Interactive
and developed by Eidos Hungary
. It is also the sequel to the 2007 video game Battlestations: Midway
. It was released for Microsoft Windows
and Xbox 360
on May 12, 2009 in North America, and on May 15, 2009 in Europe and Australia. The Mac OS X
version of the game was developed by Robosoft Technologies
and released on by Feral Interactive
.
On April 19, 2010, Square Enix Europe confirmed the closure of the games' developers, Eidos Hungary
, marking the end of the Battlestations franchise.http://www.develop-online.net/news/34564/Square-Enix-comes-clean-on-cuts-Hungary-closure
in several ways, adding new combat features such as island invasions, which have effects on the battle at hand. New weapons, planes, and ships were added, such as HVAR rockets and experimental jet fighters, including the Kikka and Shinden
, along with kamikaze
aircraft, such as the Ohka
and Kaiten
; there are also some more conventional aircraft and ship additions. Battlestations: Pacific shifts events beyond Midway
for the American forces as they continue the war onwards to Okinawa, but the most drastic addition is that of the Japanese campaign, which tells a "what if" story in which Japan is victorious at Midway and continues their war effort beyond that point to invade Hawaii. It was also possible to, at the start of the attack on Pearl Harbor, "kill" the main characters of Battle Stations Midway. If the player managed to sink Henry's PT boat, the pilot would comment "His name was Henry Walker. This is not his story." After shooting down Donald, he would go on to comment that "At least he died in the air like a warrior." Pointing back to Donald's death by kamikaze in the first game.
in 1941, to the Battle of Okinawa
, 1945. For the Japanese campaign, the game is set from the attacks on Pearl Harbor to Midway and to an invasion of Hawaii, featuring over 28 single player missions total, 14 for America and 14 for Japan. For the American campaign, the game is set from the end of Midway to Okinawa, and through to the Japanese Instrument of Surrender
.
The gameplay features a historically accurate story while playing the American campaign and a historically plausible Japanese campaign, which involves a storyline of what could have been if the Japanese had won Midway and other major battles, including the victory at Pearl Harbor (with the invasion backed by Hawaii's threat to the Empire's colonies) through the destruction of the battleship and others at port, which forced Washington to issue the American Instrument of Surrender, signed by three US generals aboard the .
The game's damage model and physics engine, specifically the water based physics, have been redeveloped to a much higher level of realism than that of its predecessor. Ships split in two, smokestacks and crewmen could be blasted overboard. The wings, tails and engines can be shot off planes.
The games now includes several different types of environment effects, most notably the addition of night, day and other weather effects
Over 100 playable units are included
A Japanese campaign which reflects plans that the Japanese had constructed if the pacific war had turned in their favour is also included with the historical US campaign.
The usability of the game has gained developer attention, with the learning-curve being shortened and the tabs for launching units and repairs was simplified.
http://www.battlestations.net/en-UK/content/battlestations-pacific-demo-available-april-30th. The demo contained a mission from the US single player campaign as well as two multiplayer modes to play in Skirmish mode.
The first official trailer
The second official trailer
The third official trailer
The fourth official trailer
The war machines trailer
The first Podcast episode
the PC version of the game has got 74 out of 100 and the Xbox 360 has got 76 out of 100. Eurogamer
gave the game a 7/10 stating that "Battlestations: Pacific still has much to recommend underneath the flaws...the pleasures it does offer are enhanced by the knowledge that it's still the only game offering them." Videogamer gave the game a score of 8/10 stating that "There's no questioning the fact that Battlestations: Pacific occupies a relatively unique place in the games market, and that it probably benefits considerably from the resulting freshness." However it also commented upon the games "choppy" moments, criticising the voice-acting as being "pretty cringe-worthy." GameSpot
gave the game 8/10 summarising that Battlestations: Pacific "is a sequel done right: It's just as fun, but it's bigger, broader, and more fully realized." The Official Xbox Magazine
gave the game a 7/10, Team Xbox awarded the game an 8.9/10 concluding that "Battlestations: Pacific is a highly rewarding experience for those who like their action with a heavy dose of strategy." but it also criticised some "gimmicky" elements. Boomtown
gave the game a 9/10. X-Play
gave the game a 4/5. Eidos has acknowledged some small technical issues with the game and has confirmed that it is currently developing a patch to fix said issues which will be released before any other downloadable content.http://www.battlestations.net/en-UK/content/paps-and-matches
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
and real-time tactics
Real-time tactics
Real-time tactics or RTT is a subgenre of tactical wargames played in real-time simulating the considerations and circumstances of operational warfare and military tactics...
video game published by Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
and developed by Eidos Hungary
Eidos Hungary
Eidos Hungary was a wholly owned studio of Eidos Interactive . They were developers of the popular strategy franchise, 'Battlestations' which consisted of Battlestations: Midway and Battlestations: Pacific...
. It is also the sequel to the 2007 video game Battlestations: Midway
Battlestations: Midway
Battlestations: Midway is a video game developed by Eidos Studios Hungary and released on January 30, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows...
. It was released for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
on May 12, 2009 in North America, and on May 15, 2009 in Europe and Australia. The Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
version of the game was developed by Robosoft Technologies
Robosoft Technologies
Robosoft Technologies is an Indian information technology company which provides software product development services. Robosoft was founded in 1996 by Rohith Bhat, who established the company to develop software products for the Mac market...
and released on by Feral Interactive
Feral Interactive
Feral Interactive is a publishing company founded in 1999 that publishes games and other software that did not fit in with the release programs of the large established publishers. It publishes Macintosh games and has relationships with publishers such as Electronic Arts, Eidos Interactive,...
.
On April 19, 2010, Square Enix Europe confirmed the closure of the games' developers, Eidos Hungary
Eidos Hungary
Eidos Hungary was a wholly owned studio of Eidos Interactive . They were developers of the popular strategy franchise, 'Battlestations' which consisted of Battlestations: Midway and Battlestations: Pacific...
, marking the end of the Battlestations franchise.http://www.develop-online.net/news/34564/Square-Enix-comes-clean-on-cuts-Hungary-closure
Gameplay
Battlestations: Pacific expands on Battlestations: MidwayBattlestations: Midway
Battlestations: Midway is a video game developed by Eidos Studios Hungary and released on January 30, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows...
in several ways, adding new combat features such as island invasions, which have effects on the battle at hand. New weapons, planes, and ships were added, such as HVAR rockets and experimental jet fighters, including the Kikka and Shinden
Kyushu J7W
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. Ltd., 1961 . ISBN 0-356-01447-9....
, along with kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
aircraft, such as the Ohka
Ohka
The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka was a purpose-built, rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack plane employed by Japan towards the end of World War II...
and Kaiten
Kaiten
The Kaiten were manned torpedos and suicide craft, they were used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final stages of World War II.-History:...
; there are also some more conventional aircraft and ship additions. Battlestations: Pacific shifts events beyond Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
for the American forces as they continue the war onwards to Okinawa, but the most drastic addition is that of the Japanese campaign, which tells a "what if" story in which Japan is victorious at Midway and continues their war effort beyond that point to invade Hawaii. It was also possible to, at the start of the attack on Pearl Harbor, "kill" the main characters of Battle Stations Midway. If the player managed to sink Henry's PT boat, the pilot would comment "His name was Henry Walker. This is not his story." After shooting down Donald, he would go on to comment that "At least he died in the air like a warrior." Pointing back to Donald's death by kamikaze in the first game.
Multiplayer
Battlestations: Pacific features five new multiplayer modes that can be played with or against other humans or AI-controlled characters online or offline.- Island capture - spend your points on ships, submarines, planes, landing craft and the like. Use them to fight your way through enemy defenses and capture the islands. Certain islands unlock certain unit classes, such as battleships. First team to control all of the islands wins. The size of the map sometimes influences the units available (e.g. a large map may have large battleships, submarines and the like but small maps have destroyers and cruisers (and maybe battleships) and medium map has similar units to those available on small maps). (Only mode with paratroopers)
- Duel - similar to free-for-all. Same units vs each other until one is left.
- Competitive - everyone is on the same team and battles to out-score each other with enemy kills.
- Siege - one team holds and must defend an island stronghold. The other team must capture it in a specified time limit.
- Escort - one team must protect a key unit until it reaches its target and the other team attempts to destroy it in any way possible.
Plot
The game is set between the Japanese attacks on Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
in 1941, to the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
, 1945. For the Japanese campaign, the game is set from the attacks on Pearl Harbor to Midway and to an invasion of Hawaii, featuring over 28 single player missions total, 14 for America and 14 for Japan. For the American campaign, the game is set from the end of Midway to Okinawa, and through to the Japanese Instrument of Surrender
Japanese Instrument of Surrender
The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that enabled the Surrender of Japan, marking the end of World War II. It was signed by representatives from the Empire of Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist...
.
The gameplay features a historically accurate story while playing the American campaign and a historically plausible Japanese campaign, which involves a storyline of what could have been if the Japanese had won Midway and other major battles, including the victory at Pearl Harbor (with the invasion backed by Hawaii's threat to the Empire's colonies) through the destruction of the battleship and others at port, which forced Washington to issue the American Instrument of Surrender, signed by three US generals aboard the .
Development
The game's graphics engine has been overhauled. Details now include such things as foliage upon islands, water becoming transparent at shallow depths and a new cockpit view mode.The game's damage model and physics engine, specifically the water based physics, have been redeveloped to a much higher level of realism than that of its predecessor. Ships split in two, smokestacks and crewmen could be blasted overboard. The wings, tails and engines can be shot off planes.
The games now includes several different types of environment effects, most notably the addition of night, day and other weather effects
Over 100 playable units are included
A Japanese campaign which reflects plans that the Japanese had constructed if the pacific war had turned in their favour is also included with the historical US campaign.
The usability of the game has gained developer attention, with the learning-curve being shortened and the tabs for launching units and repairs was simplified.
Release
Battlestations: Pacific was released on May 12, 2009 in North America, and on May 15, 2009 in Europe and Australia. A demo for Battlestations: Pacific was released on the April 30, 2009 for the PC and Xbox 360http://www.battlestations.net/en-UK/content/battlestations-pacific-demo-available-april-30th. The demo contained a mission from the US single player campaign as well as two multiplayer modes to play in Skirmish mode.
The first official trailer
The second official trailer
The third official trailer
The fourth official trailer
The war machines trailer
The first Podcast episode
Reception
On MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
the PC version of the game has got 74 out of 100 and the Xbox 360 has got 76 out of 100. Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
gave the game a 7/10 stating that "Battlestations: Pacific still has much to recommend underneath the flaws...the pleasures it does offer are enhanced by the knowledge that it's still the only game offering them." Videogamer gave the game a score of 8/10 stating that "There's no questioning the fact that Battlestations: Pacific occupies a relatively unique place in the games market, and that it probably benefits considerably from the resulting freshness." However it also commented upon the games "choppy" moments, criticising the voice-acting as being "pretty cringe-worthy." GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave the game 8/10 summarising that Battlestations: Pacific "is a sequel done right: It's just as fun, but it's bigger, broader, and more fully realized." The Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
gave the game a 7/10, Team Xbox awarded the game an 8.9/10 concluding that "Battlestations: Pacific is a highly rewarding experience for those who like their action with a heavy dose of strategy." but it also criticised some "gimmicky" elements. Boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
gave the game a 9/10. X-Play
X-Play
X-Play is a TV program about video games, known for its reviews and comedy skits...
gave the game a 4/5. Eidos has acknowledged some small technical issues with the game and has confirmed that it is currently developing a patch to fix said issues which will be released before any other downloadable content.http://www.battlestations.net/en-UK/content/paps-and-matches
External links
- Battlestations: Pacific official website
- http://www.feralinteractive.com/game/bspBattlestations: Pacific at Feral InteractiveFeral InteractiveFeral Interactive is a publishing company founded in 1999 that publishes games and other software that did not fit in with the release programs of the large established publishers. It publishes Macintosh games and has relationships with publishers such as Electronic Arts, Eidos Interactive,...
]