Battlestations Midway MP demo

[fallenangle]

Yes I knew it had strategic elements, I just didn't realise it was virtually the sole focus of the game. The videos I saw a while back were purely of dogfights.

It has rather been sold on the dogfighting and other direct combat elements. All the screenshots I've seen over the years have made it look more like a familiar WW2 based Pacific theatre flight/naval combat game than the original RTS hybrid it actually is.

So it's perhaps understandable that some people might not have realised this. Whether this is the cause or not I have read, on other forums, that a fair percentage are not exactly impressed by what they've seen from the demo.

BTW Does anybody here know if Warship Gunner 2 (PS2) is ever going to get a PAL release?

[Mardigan8]

All this discussion is really getting me excited about this. I was hoping it woud be more focussed on the strategic elements of warfare with the unit control just an option and that is just fine with me. Taking controls of certain units for that extra bit of precision but controlling most of the game via the battle interface sounds perfect.

A problem with the recent Star Trek legacy (other than it being more combat based) was that you couldn't just view what a ship was doing if you moved to it, you had to take control. Does Battlestations allow you to move the camera, etc around a unit as if you are controlling it BUT just let you watch it carry out the commands you have already set it? This would be great for viewing key battles rather than getting caught up in the individual unit manouvres and stuff. Something that was sorely alcking from Legacy. Every time you moved to a different ship it sould stop what you had told it to do from the battle interface and wait for you to move it... please tell me this works better in Battlestations.

[Yoshimax]

Think Johns right to call this Chromehounds 2007 - it's going to be a very marmite title and I can see people picking it up thinking it's something it's not.

Played with Nige/Sol and a few others yesterday - You just don't release a demo like this without some kind of tutorial or instructions it beggars belief - Yes, the walkthrough video is handy in a tutorial-type way but not everybody will have seen it.

I had, but still was very confused then had a shot as "shipyard guy" and everybody was telling me they'd been just sat looking at a shipyard - took a good 10 mins to figure out I could launch ships ><

I was right up for it, now I'm not so fussed - In my minds eye it was going to be Carrier Command Online but I shoulda known that pipe dream will have to keep for another day.

Mardigan - Regarding "control" I'm sure if you just let go of the stick the plane/boat/whatever will simply revert to what it was doing before you took over.

Four things I adored :

The way planes crash (especially if you *just* clip a battlecruiser or similar.

The bubbles from the back of a submerged sub.

The noise when you put a plane into a dive

Seeing the little people going about their business on the big boats.

[Mardigan8]

Four things I adored :

Seeing the little people going about their business on the big boats.

One thing I know I will adore...

Shooting the little people as they go about their business on the big boats

[chopemon]

i just had a quick and thoroughly enjoyed it

nice to see something coming out that isn't a straight shooter and has more strategy behind it

to everyone thats confused by it (due to be being no tutorial) download and watch the level walkthrough video off live, it explains all the controls and stuff and how to do things

they should have released a single player level rather than a multiplayer with no tutorial but this is definitely a preorder

[shuurajou]

Ok, entered a game with agianst my friend over live. I sent out my Planes and ships, all units got blown up within 10 minutes. Left me with **** all to do but cycle through loocations of my base, waited 30 mins for the game to end, it didint end so i switched my 360 off and then back on and deleted the pishy game.

Can i have the 40 minutes of my life back please!!

Looks like you don't know how to play the game. Download the walkthrough and read IGN's guide. This game has a very steep learning curve.

The game has a lot of depth, there are many bases, which can send out different types of units, each unit has a configurable weapon. Certain weapons work well against other units. You can change which units you send out (e.g. 2 torpedo bombers and one fighter to escort). If you choose to pilot any vehicle, be it boat, or aircraft, it is very enjoyable. The map screen allows you plan out strategy and have your other units carry out your bidding whilst you control one - you can switch on the fly.

I think this is definitely going to be worth a buy. The only thing I will say, is that the games are quite long. It's not something you can sit down for a quick 10 minute blast, you need to give yourself an hour at least.

[VR46]

Not exactly first play, but VG+ today confirmed the USA version is region free

[Goemon]

IGN review is up (including vid)

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/757/757297p1.html

Good score, altho slightly conflicting closing comments...

[chopemon]

if i wasn't using my reward points at GAME, i'd have ordered the region free version. who will be online with it next weekend?

be interesting to see how many copies it sells

[Mardigan8]

I may pick this up as things are quiet on the game front right now, plus I do like the look and feel of the game from the demo.