Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal: Pacific War Naval Warfare

About

"Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal" is a turn-based strategy game that simulates Pacific War naval-air battles in 1942-1943. It offers 11 historical scenarios, cross-platform multiplayer, and a range of features such as advanced damage system, naval-air search, and radar. Players can command 80 types of warplanes and historical ships in battles with a scale of 30 miles per hex.

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Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal: Pacific War Naval Warfare screenshot

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 167 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal is a well-executed turn-based naval warfare simulation that captures the tension and strategy of WWII carrier battles, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
The game offers a unique gameplay experience with a variety of scenarios and 'what if' options, providing high replay value and engaging tactical challenges.
The developer is responsive to player feedback, regularly releasing updates and improvements, which enhances the overall experience and shows commitment to the game's evolution.

The game suffers from performance issues, including lag and crashes after extended play sessions, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
The user interface can be confusing at times, and there are numerous grammatical errors throughout the game, detracting from the overall polish.
Many players have expressed frustration with the lack of a comprehensive tutorial and campaign mode, making it difficult for newcomers to fully grasp the mechanics and enjoy the game.

gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The gameplay is well-executed and engaging, offering a unique blend of strategy and realism that rewards players for their dedication and tactical decisions. With a moderate learning curve, players can enjoy a variety of scenarios and detailed mechanics, particularly in carrier operations and naval warfare. While the game features some minor visual glitches and a cumbersome play-by-email system, it provides a compelling experience for fans of strategy games, especially those familiar with historical naval battles.
- “The gameplay experience is unique and engaging, with a learning curve that rewards dedication and strategy.”
- “The gameplay is deeper than you would think, and using the weather, search patterns, and time management to your advantage really makes the difference between victory and defeat.”
- “Diverse scenarios, detailed mechanics, carrier operations, sea battles - all the good stuff is here.”
- “My only criticism revolves around the play-by-email feature - it's quite cumbersome and reminiscent of early, dated PBEM mechanics.”
- “The auto-pilot which would make gameplay a lot easier (and more realistic) is not working faultlessly.”
- “Overall good carriers-centric strategy game with okay mechanics; if it's your thing, check it out.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The graphics of the game are generally described as basic and reminiscent of older titles, with a focus on functionality over visual flair. While some players appreciate the detailed map and smooth gameplay, others criticize the minimalistic design and clunky interface, suggesting that the graphics do not justify the game's price. Overall, the visuals may appeal to those who prioritize strategy over aesthetics, but they fall short of modern standards.
- “The flow of the game within the artwork is very smooth.”
- “Apparently the simplicity of its graphics may make you think that it is not a title that attracts attention, but as you scratch the surface you discover the great potential that lies behind its apparent simplicity.”
- “Very smooth play and clear graphics.”
- “Wanted to like this more than I did; the tutorial was not great and actually locked up at one stage. Unit graphics are quite basic and the information displayed on them is not all that clear. The sound and music are very average, and the game is quite expensive for what it is, containing no interlinked missions or campaign to play. It will cost nearly £40 to buy the game and DLC, and for me, it needs a lot of improvement to justify this cost.”
- “The play style and graphics are very 1990s, and the interface is a bit clunky.”
- “But the presentation is awful--the interface is inelegant, the game is opaque with information, and almost all of the graphics aside from the map are in black and white.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for lacking a cohesive campaign or interlinked missions, which diminishes its overall value given the high price point. However, players appreciate the engaging mechanics and strategic depth involved in managing aircraft and missions, particularly in challenging scenarios like the Wake Island mission. The absence of a mission editor and a more structured narrative is noted as a missed opportunity for enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “In '42 and early '43 it was a very different story, and even at the US Navy's best, the war was balanced on a knife's edge.”
- “Trying to prepare planes on the flight deck for scouting, attacks, or other missions, while also accounting for sorties that are taking off or coming back, while also ensuring you don't leave yourself defenseless, is quite the thoughtful task.”
- “Some scenarios include troop and supply missions or seek and destroy fleets.”
- “Wanted to like this more than I did. The tutorial is not great and actually locked up at one stage. The unit graphics are quite basic, and the information displayed on them is not all that clear. The sound and music are very average. The game is quite expensive for what it is, contains no interlinked missions or campaign to play, and will cost nearly £40 to buy the game and DLC. For me, it needs a lot of improvement to justify this cost.”
- “Maybe the mission editor should be the standard, and in the future, some level of campaign would be appreciated.”
- “I do miss having total control on recon missions in the base game and often use a few planes of my own to scout particular areas with focused sectors and hex ranges.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by a mix of minor bugs and glitches, with some players experiencing significant issues like freezing during tutorials. While the developers are actively addressing these problems through updates and are responsive to community feedback, many users feel that the game still requires substantial improvements before it can be fully recommended.
- “When a game with simple graphics freezes up on the 2nd tutorial, that tells you all you need to know about whether to seek a refund.”
- “Part of me wants to recommend this game, for I love the genre, but another part wants to warn prospective players of what is lacking. If each game freezes and crashes before one can play to the end, it shows the game still needs some work. It's also painfully obvious that the game has numerous English errors throughout.”
- “Buggy, but the developers are slowly smashing through them with every update, so I can see they are actively listening and taking note on the forum.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on PC, where players report problems with unresponsive left mouse clicks, freezing, and stuttering. Users emphasize the need for extensive bug fixes and overall performance improvements to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “What would make this game great: optimization, lots of optimization.”
- “It is a mobile port, with a terrible, terrible problem of not accepting left mouse clicks, freezing, and stuttering.”
- “[b]Cons:[/b] needs heavy optimization and bug fixes.”
- “Performance-wise, I've had about 50 hours of gameplay split between iOS and PC.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is described as very average, with background music disappearing after the initial track, contributing to an overall lackluster audio experience. Reviewers feel that the sound design does not enhance the gameplay, especially considering the game's high price point.
- “Background music disappears after the first track.”
- “I wanted to like this more than I did. The tutorial is not great and actually locked up at one stage. Unit graphics are quite basic and the information displayed on them is not all that clear. The sound and music are very average. Also, the game is quite expensive for what it is, containing no interlinked missions or campaign to play. It will cost nearly £40 to buy the game and DLC, and for me, it needs a lot of improvement to justify this cost.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express significant emotional frustration and disappointment with the game's mechanics, feeling unfairly treated and emotionally drained by perceived biases and unbalanced gameplay experiences.