War in the Pacific: The Struggle Against Japan 1941-1945 is a game of a somewhat forgotten category – turn-based strategy with a map divided into hexagonal fields (so called “hexes”). The uncomfortably long title suggests that we will be taken into the center of the conflict between United States and Imperial Japan, also known as Pacific War.
Mechanics
The game, based on Uncommon Valor engine, is very complex. The warfare is not limited to sea battles, but also includes air and land combat. The biggest mainstay of the game is its immersive realism. The hexes, each corresponding to sixty sea miles, allow complex maneuvers of any kind, regardless of the chosen outfit. All hexes are based on real maps, and include numerous islands located around the Pacific Ocean.
War in the Pacific is characterized by an innovative approach to handling units. Unlike other strategy games, a ship is not just an icon with set attributes. Every crew gathers experience during battles, while the person at the helm is not just a set of letters – he has certain strong points, but we need to also consider his weaknesses. The same rule applies to airplane pilots. Each one is treated by the game as a separate person, which allowed including certain combat-oriented statistics such as e.g. morale. A tired pilot can be less effective, or fail in a key moment. The same treatment had been applied to infantry units that are sent into battle. The player can choose from a wide range of units that are intended for different tasks. All of them received a set of individual traits, which are translated into expected combat performance. We are not limited to warfare only – economy is also a factor, which has a crucial influence on our range of actions.
Despite immense complexity, War in the Pacific is definitely a -friendly title. Some of the tasks can be assigned for the AI, leaving the most satisfying elements to the player. The game offers 15 varied campaigns, which should keep us occupied for at least a few weeks of continuous play. If this isn’t enough, we can further satiate our thirst with online modes. The players can choose between a direct connection with another , or a play-by-email mode.
