Review: Battlestations: Midway game

Set in 1942 at the Pacific warzone, where America and Japan were battling for control of the oceans, Battlestations offers an unusual mix of strategy and action gaming.

What’s even more surprising is that it works a treat.

With the user choosing to take control of either side, the bulk of the game plays as a strategy offering, with the user commanding an army from the military map.

It’s pleasing to report that this element is neither overly simplistic nor bogged down in excessive detail and micro-management.

At times it flips to allow the player to take direct control of the many machines in the army's arsenal, and these sections are also excellent. One minute you’re attacking boats from your fighter plane and the next you’re in the depths of the ocean skippering a submarine. It’s gripping stuff, and it’s impressive that the strategy element isn’t so boring compared with the adventure parts as to ruin the action.

Although the animation is smoother and the war machines are well-crafted, neither will win any awards for visual flair. The solid gameplay is more than enough to compensate for any minor visual shortcomings, in any case.

However, the main problem with Battlestations is that it’s all over too quickly in the single-player mode – we polished it off in a Saturday afternoon’s gaming. Although Battlestations: Midway is great fun while it lasts, we’d have appreciated some more of it. But an impressive multiplayer mode makes up for this somewhat, with some excellent gameplay options.