Battlestations: Midway
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| Battlestations:Midway | |
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| Developer(s) | Eidos Interactive Robosoft Technologies (Mac OS X) |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos Interactive Feral Interactive (Mac OS X) |
| Composer(s) | Richard Jacques |
| Series | Battlestations |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X |
| Release date(s) | January 30, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Action, Real-time tactics |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T |
| Media/distribution | DVD, Steam download |
| System requirements
Windows XP/Vista |
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Battlestations: Midway is a video game developed by Eidos Studios Hungary and released on January 30, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The Mac version of this game was developed by Robosoft Technologies, based out of India and published in July 2008 by Feral Interactive.[1]
Set in the Pacific during World War II, it's a hybrid of action and real-time tactics as the player can both command his fleet assets and assume control of any one of them at will. The single player campaign is a series of missions from Pearl Harbor to the Battle of Midway, from a single patrol boat to a carrier battle group.
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[edit] Gameplay
In either the single-player or multiplayer game the player can start with a ship, submarine, aircraft, shipyard, airfield or a combination of any of them. The player can switch between their allocated or built units in order to complete objectives. Each unit also has its own unique features and controls. For example, using a carrier, shipyard or airfield, players can release carrier aircraft, ships, or land-based aircraft respectively. These units can then be used to engage in naval battles, undersea actions or dogfights and bombing runs.
Players are encouraged to work together online. In multiplayer, each player controls a different group of units. One example would be the map "Battle of Samar." The Japanese are to destroy the Allied Carriers, while the Allies have to sink the Japanese battleship Yamato. The Yamato is capable of sustaining dozens of torpedoes, dive bombs, and direct shell hits due to its heavy armor. However, the Allies have two battleships and carriers, the Japanese only have one. Therefore, the Allies are forced to attack the Yamato together, while trying to maintain air superiority. However, the Yamato cannot fend off all the American planes by itself, therefore requiring other players on the Japanese team to support with their lighter Fubukis and Heavy Cruisers.
[edit] Single player challenges
Battlestations: Midway offers several challenge levels where the player's skills are tested.
Ship Challenges
- "Strike on the Monster" - February 28, 1942
- "Battle of the Java Sea" - March 1, 1942
- "Hunt for the Cruiser" - June 11, 1942
- "Might of Yamato" - July 19, 1942
The DLC (Downloadable Content) Adds:
- "Raid on Truk" - February 16, 1944
Plane Challenges
- "Shortage of Reinforcements" - December 9, 1941
- "Saving Tulagi" - May 4, 1942
- "Attack on Force Z" - December 10, 1941
Submarine Challenges
- "Crucial Cargo" - January 12, 1942
- "Periscopes Threatening" - February 17, 1942
- "Coup de Grace" - May 27, 1942
[edit] Multiplayer
Battlestations: Midway supports multiplayer matches of up to eight players. Matches are team-based, beginning with each player choosing either an Allied or a Japanese starting base from a list of preset slots in the lobby. Each slot has its own unique unit or building allocation. Each multiplayer map is essentially a "set-piece" battle, with two notable exceptions, whereby all of the units on the map at the beginning of the match are all the units available to the players for the entire match. The two exceptions to this are units that can be spawned (e.g. aircraft from airfields, aircraft carriers, etc.) and the planes in the map "Air Superiority at Luzon", which is very infrequently played.[2]
[edit] Demo
A multiplayer demo was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace on January 18, 2007. The PC demo was released on January 26, 2007, and the Mac OS X demo followed on July 24, 2008. The demos contain the multiplayer map Battle of Solomon Islands, which supports up to 8 players.
The PC demo works only for LAN play. Players will disconnect frequently when attempting to play via the internet. The Xbox 360 demo functions correctly via Xbox Live online play.
[edit] Downloadable content
Eidos released the "Iowa Mission Pack" on the Xbox Live Marketplace. This update includes several new ship models, as well as the "Raid on Truk" ship challenge and the "Battle of Sibuyan Sea" multiplayer map. A patch has been released for the PC version. There are themes and gamer pictures available for Xbox Live as well. More maps, patches, modifications, and textures can be downloaded at http://www.battlestations.eu/
[edit] Reception
| Reception | |
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| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | 75% (PC) 73% (Xbox 360) |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | 7/10 |
| Game Informer | 6.5/10 |
| GameSpot | 7.9/10 |
| IGN | 8.5/10 |
| Official Xbox Magazine | 7/10 |
| X-Play | 3/5 |
- 1UP: 7/10
- IGN: 8.5/10
- Game Informer: 6.5/10
- 360 Gamer Magazine UK: 8/10
- PC Gamer Magazine UK: 74%
- Official Xbox Magazine: 7.0/10
- GameSpot: 7.9/10
- X-Play: 3/5
The Xbox 360 version scores 73% on Metacritic based on 33 reviews, the PC version scores 75% based on 11 reviews.
[edit] Ships
[edit] Game Awards
Awards in order on the in-game-display.
| Award | Award Name | Requirements for Award | Accessible in | Notes |
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Medal of Honor | Must reach the Time and Hit Limits of the Service and Marksmanship medals | Multiplayer | |
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Air Medal | Kill 20 Enemy Planes, 5 minute plane usage | Singleplayer | |
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Distinguished Flying Cross | Kill 40 Enemy Plans, 5 minute plane usage | Singleplayer | |
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Kill 5 Enemy Ships, 5 minute ship usage | Singleplayer | |
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Navy Cross | Kill 10 Enemy Ships, 5 minute ship usage | Singleplayer | |
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Silver Star | Kill 10 Enemy Planes and 5 Enemy Ships | Multiplayer | |
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Distinguished Service Cross | Kill 50 Enemy Planes and 10 Enemy Ships | Multiplayer | (Air Force Ribbon, non-existant medal) |
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Purple Heart | Worst Kill/Death Ratio | Multiplayer | |
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Bronze Star | Team Kill/Death Ratio must be 3:1 | Multiplayer | |
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Legion of Merit | Team Kill/Death Ratio must be 5:1 | Multiplayer | |
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Artillery Marksmanship Citation | 200 Artillery Hits | All | |
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AA Marksmanship Citation | 100 AA Hits | All | |
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Torpedo Marksmanship Citation | 15 Torpedo Hits | All | |
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Sea Unit Service Medal | 25 Minutes unit usage | All | |
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Air Unit Service Medal | 20 Minutes unit usage | All | |
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Submarine Service Medal | 15 Minutes unit usage | All |
[edit] Sequel
On February 28, Eidos Interactive announced Battlestations: Pacific for PC and Xbox 360[3]. In May 2009 the game became available to the public.[4] This sequel takes place right after Battlestations: Midway and has twice as many missions as the game before. It also includes 21 new units and add the ability to command troops to fight on the islands, though the player has no control over any individual land unit.[5]. Naval mine and Kamikazes have also been added. A new feature includes the ability to play as the Japanese from commanding the Pearl Harbor attack to Midway. Details have been added for a more realistic effect; for example, while submerged in a sub flora and fauna are visible, as well as a sea floor. The game also provides an alternate history timeline for the Japanese, a what-if scenario that tells the story of the IJN's victory at Midway, which later considers Pearl Harbor a threat to its already overextending conquest borderline, therefore forcing an invasion of Hawaii, which Japan successfully executes. Bereft of naval supremacy and supplies, it forces the United States to surrender, and submit to a puppet government, dividing the region with Nazi Germany in the East, which concludes World War II in an Axis victory, and world conquest.
On May 15, 2008, Feral Interactive has announced Battlestations: Midway for Mac[6]. This game was developed for the Mac by Robosoft Technologies and published by Feral Interactive.
[edit] References
- ^ "Feral Interactive - Battlestations: Midway". http://www.feralinteractive.com/game/bsm.
- ^ Amateur Survey revealing "Air Superiority at Luzon" is played only once out of twenty times mathematically.--~~~~
- ^ Battlestations: Pacific press release
- ^ Battlestations: Pacific Wikipedia
- ^ Eidos Battlestations
- ^ Battlestations: Midway press release
