Battlestations Pacific

Battlestations Pacific provides an epic sense of scale with some unique mission types, but the hybrid nature of its action-strategy gameplay presents a sword that is often dull on both sides.

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Battlestations Pacific is a WWII-themed game that combines real-time strategy and third-person shooter elements. Players can command and control various naval and air units in epic battles set in the Pacific theater. The game features two single-player campaigns, one for the US Navy and one for the Imperial Japanese Navy, as well as multiplayer modes.

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Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,382 reviews

story43 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

Battlestations: Pacific offers a unique blend of RTS and action gameplay, allowing players to control both naval and aerial units in epic WWII battles.
The game features two engaging campaigns, one for the US and one for Japan, providing a rich historical context and replayability.
Despite its age, the graphics and gameplay mechanics still hold up well, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of naval warfare.

The game is plagued by issues related to Games for Windows Live, which is no longer supported, making it difficult or impossible to play for many users.
Players have reported significant challenges in getting the game to run on modern systems, particularly Windows 10, often requiring complicated workarounds.
The voice acting and some gameplay mechanics are considered clunky and outdated, detracting from the overall experience.

story
207 mentions
21 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in "Battlestations: Pacific" is generally viewed as a step up from its predecessor, featuring two campaigns—one for the Americans and one for the Japanese—each with a variety of missions that explore different aspects of WWII naval combat. While some players appreciate the alternate history where Japan succeeds, others find the narrative somewhat generic and lacking the personal touch of individual character arcs. Overall, the missions are engaging and well-crafted, though some can feel repetitive or tedious, and the game offers replayability through unlockable units and custom missions.
- “The graphics and the plot are really good, with an alternate line where Japan succeeds against the USA and allies.”
- “It developed from its predecessor Battlestations: Midway in all of the right ways and containing a storyline where the Japanese won the war instead is very gripping and interesting.”
- “The good graphics, sounds, visibility, textures, and storylines are amazing!”
- “The story is the same generic stuff that you see in just about any other war game.”
- “Was so excited to play it now it's just dull. Midway is better because this one lacks the personal story of one navy officer and how he progressed. Sure, it's got two campaigns with twice the missions, but still it lacks the story that makes most games interesting.”
- “Now, the cons for this game include horrendous voice acting, some very tedious or slow missions/objectives and compatibility issues.”
graphics
152 mentions
63 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, released in 2009, are widely praised for their impressive quality, especially considering its age, with many players noting that they still hold up well today. Users appreciate the beautiful visuals, smooth gameplay, and the enhancements provided by mods, although some mention that certain elements, like water textures, show signs of aging. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the immersive experience of naval warfare, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The game is absolutely incredible and the graphics are stunning even to this day.”
- “Amazing gameplay, graphics that still look great a decade later, two fun campaigns with tons of unlockables, and a solid historical context to back it all up.”
- “The graphics being a major improvement is the first thing you will notice.”
- “It's worse in graphics, cutscenes, and overall experience, but it's still excellent.”
- “Great game as long as you are fine with aged graphics.”
- “The graphics are nothing to write home about, but on the flipside, this game will run wonderfully on the worst computers this world can offer.”
gameplay
127 mentions
57 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is praised for its variety, featuring numerous vehicles, game modes, and a mix of air and naval combat that creates a unique experience. While some players find the difficulty levels inconsistent and the controls clunky, many appreciate the fun mechanics and strategic depth, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated gamers. Overall, it offers a solid blend of arcade-style action and strategy, appealing to WWII enthusiasts despite some compatibility issues and the need for a Microsoft account.
- “The game has two campaigns, one pretty standard WW2 timeline as the US which includes air battles, sea battles, submarine gameplay, and of course the big combined fleet operations that see you controlling ships, aircraft, and bases.”
- “It is a very fun game with great gameplay mechanics and game modes.”
- “Amazing gameplay, graphics that still look great a decade later, two fun campaigns with tons of unlockables, and a solid historical context to back it all up.”
- “On the highest difficulty, difficulty levels range from painfully easy to impossible due to gameplay mechanics and how the UI is set up, with each mission leaving you wondering when the mission will finally begin due to the simplicity and how it seems like you are being led up to something fun.”
- “Controls are clunky, gameplay is stagnant, and it always wants you to make an account every time you start it up, which is unforgivable.”
- “Battlestations Pacific provides an epic sense of scale with some unique mission types, but the hybrid nature of its action-strategy gameplay presents a sword that is often dull on both sides.”
music
26 mentions
46 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its unique blend of U.S. and Japanese naval instruments, creating a nostalgic and immersive experience that resonates with players long after they finish. Many consider it one of their favorite soundtracks, describing it as lively and bombastic, reminiscent of classic titles like Silent Hunter 4. Despite some criticism of the voice acting, the soundtrack significantly enhances the overall enjoyment and atmosphere of the game.
- “The game has some of my favorite soundtracks ever and it is very unique - a mix of US and Japanese navy instruments and music.”
- “While the voice acting is horrible, the soundtrack is damned good, and if you are really in the game, it immerses you in the game more.”
- “The music is lively and bombastic; it reminds me a bit of the music from Silent Hunter 4.”
- “The game has some of my favorite soundtracks ever, and it is very unique - a mix of US and Japanese navy instruments and music.”
- “The music is lively and bombastic; it reminds me a bit of the music from Silent Hunter 4.”
stability
26 mentions
23 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
69 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with frequent freezes, crashes, and issues related to Windows Live login, particularly on Windows 10. While some players report a smooth experience after troubleshooting, many others face significant bugs and installation challenges, making it frustrating for users. Overall, the game is described as buggy, especially on newer platforms, despite having well-crafted missions.
- “This game runs great.”
- “There is no troubleshooting required.”
- “Every mission is masterfully crafted with no glitches or bugs that I have seen yet.”
- “Freezes and locks up PC if I try.”
- “Broken installation - requires Windows Live login; after you put in the credentials, it freezes.”
- “It launches then freezes on the loading screen right before I get to the main menu.”
replayability
16 mentions
50 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, with players reporting over 500 hours of playtime and a variety of modes and unlocks that enhance the experience. With 28 missions and a unit selection screen, it encourages repeated playthroughs despite a lack of strategic depth. Overall, it has been rated between 6 to 7 out of 10 for replay value, highlighting its fun gameplay and engaging mechanics.
- “Overall, fun gameplay and excellent replayability.”
- “These unlocks can be used in any mission that will allow it and they can be used in missions you've already played, which makes for great replay value.”
- “This game doesn't have much in the way of strategic depth to it, but the multiple modes of playing give it some replayability.”
- “A replay value of 6 out of 10.”
- “With 28 missions to play through, there is a surprising amount of replayability due to the inclusion of a unit selection screen.”
optimization
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is mixed, with some players reporting smooth performance on Windows 10, particularly when using Steam, while others encountered significant issues requiring tweaks and leading to refunds. The game's reliance on outdated services like Games for Windows Live has contributed to its optimization challenges, affecting overall user experience.
- “Feb, 2018 - the game runs fine with Windows 10, runs smoothly through Steam, Steam itself installs Windows Live games and whatever else is needed.”
- “Game runs smoothly and is a blast to play, no regrets on the purchase although the negative reviews almost made me not buy it.”
- “Sadly, you need to do a couple of tweaks here and there for the game to run smoothly since Games for Windows has ended and the company making this has gone bust.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game's historical context and immersive battlefield experience, but this is overshadowed by disappointment due to technical issues. The frustration of having invested in a semi-broken game leads to feelings of heartbreak and regret, with some users wishing to remove it from their libraries entirely.
- “This is one of those rare games that holds a lot of history and made me feel like I was on the battlefield in every battle.”
- “As of now, I just really want to remove this game from my library; it almost makes me want to cry just seeing this game untouched.”
- “It was just very heartbreaking knowing I paid on Steam for a semi-broken game, and I was going to recommend this game.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is consistently praised for its humor, with players finding it both funny and immersive, even in its older format. Additionally, the multiplayer mode enhances the comedic experience, and users recommend utilizing the bsmodhq 3.0 mod for an improved gameplay experience.
- “This game is funny and you can learn different tactics from it.”
- “This game is sure old, but it's still immersive and funny. Also, there are a lot of people in the multiplayer mode.”
- “Funny game! I recommend using the bsmodhq 3.0 mod!”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game allows for enjoyable battleship exploration without the extensive grinding typical of free-to-play titles, especially given its frequent sales. However, some missions can be tedious and lengthy, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Some missions can be tedious and very long to complete.”
- “Now, the cons for this game include horrendous voice acting, some very tedious or slow missions/objectives and compatibility issues.”
- “If you like the feeling of going around in a battleship without the con of grinding for months in a supposed free-to-play game, this is still a quite good choice.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is noted for being immersive and slow-paced, creating a captivating experience that, while not a simulation, effectively draws players into its world.
- “It's not a sim, but quite atmospheric and slow-paced.”