Survey - Matrix Games War in the Pacific

[Mike Abberton]

Hello,

I currently play the original version, and I have the Admiral's Edition, but haven't done more with AE than play a couple turns. I hope to start an AE in the next month or so (playing time is very limited right now though). The others responding are correct that the AE version plays very similar to the original with both a lot more detail and a lot more flavor. My thoughts on WitP overall are:

Good things:
The game is incredibly detailed and accurate (esp. AE). There are multiple versions of many planes with distinct stats. Ships can upgrade over time or be converted (e.g. destroyers can be converted to fast transports as was done in real life). In AE, there are distinct differences between amphibious assault transports (APA/AKA), militarized civilian cargo vessels (AP/AK), and purely civilian transports (xAP/xAK), and you better know where to send each.

Bad Things:
See above (just kidding). Seriously though, it is a very detailed game, and you have to do just about everything. A few things can be automated (supply runs), but not much without consequences. For example, if you want to bomb an enemy base, you can set various bomber units to bomb the base and fighter units to escort them. They will continue these attacks each turn. Sounds good, right? Nope. Bombing every day, especially against opposition, will eventually grind those units down. You need to manage their fatigue and morale and there is no automated way to do that. Also be prepared because the interface is a clickfest with lots of layered menus (the gui is really the game's weakest point and something they couldn't upgrade in the switch to AE).

So, overall. It's a great game, but not a "light" one. My full campaign turns take about 1 hour minimum, with the occasional turn lasting 2-3 hours (once a month or so). If you like getting shoulder deep in planning and action, buy it. If you're looking for a "beer and pretzels" type Pacific Game, run screaming now and don't look back. :)

For some examples of typical gameplay, I'd suggest taking a look at some of the AARs on the Matrix site. My two favorites right now (linked AE AARs, one from each player) are:

Japanese Side AAR

Allied Side AAR