As the name states, the entire game is based on some of the major sea battles between the US and Japan during the Second World War. It all starts (just like it did back then) with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour where you play the captain of small patrol boat that’s barely capable of taking down some of the wooden Japanese Zero’s. That’s your goal here, taking down enemy dive-bombers and fighters and protecting the harbour and all ships lying there. After a couple of missions you’ll get promoted and with a promotion comes a new form of warfare. In the end you’ll be able to control an entire Naval fleet going from Destroyers to airplanes and even submarines… This is when the fun really begins. You’ll have to make tactical decisions to take down all opposition. For example, send some subs to the right flank of the enemies ships, some dive-bombers do divert the attention away from the submarines and BLAM. The enemies sent to the bottom of the sea, drinking beer with Davy Jones. As I said… Tactics!

It’s no different in multiplayer, or at least almost no different. Here you’ll have the choice to control ships or planes and this choice is permanent till the end of the round. As a player you’ll be appointed a base from which you’re able to launch your units to fight the enemy. The vessels will be appointed to squads of which you can take control by flying/sailing in the commandeering plane/ship. Apart from sending out squads, you can also choose the number of vehicles in one group and the types of war machines you’ll have in them. From that point it’s all about the same as the single player. Tell squads what to do as the battlefield rapidly becomes a tactical, action packed death zone. This in combination with the massiveness of every possible element in the game gives it a “Wow-feeling” from time to time which will certainly not leave you untouched. Alongside all the wonderful feelings and experiences, there are also some less pleasant aspects to the multiplayer, actually it’s just one. The maximum amount of players in one multiplayer game is capped at 8… Way to little if you ask me. On the other hand, since each player has a massive amount of units at his/her disposal, the battles remain huge.

Apart from this wonderful gameplay experience, there’s also a beautiful graphics addition to this game. Every ship, every plane, every base has been finished up to the smallest detail as bullet holes, hull scratches and many, many other small things. Since water is one of the most important objects in this Naval Warfare game, it needed extra attention concerning detail. This is an aspect people at Eidos clearly understood. As a matter-of-fact, it’s one of the most gorgeous and largest oceans I’ve seen in years. Next to that every element has been made enormous. For example, in the Pearl Harbour mission you’ll be sailing right along the side of the Arizona and at that point you feel really small. Players actually have the feeling like they’re the smallest thing on the entire planet. Huge vehicles, surroundings, … A huge game in other words.

Combine all that with major soundeffects and a soundtrack which will give you goosebumbs and the experience is as complete as it can be. Think Blackhawk Down, the impact the music had in that movie is comparable to what it has in Battlestations: Midway. One word: Lovely!