Battlestations makes a progressive contribution to computer gaming with its skillful blend of action and strategy. You can command your units from the tactical map and can then take control of any unit to join in on the action. For instance, you might co-ordinate an attack on an aircraft carrier and then take control of the airplane making the vital torpedo run on the carrier. Alternatively, you might take control of your battleship pounding enemy units from a distance, while directing your crew to damage control to keep your ship afloat. The larger battles require real skill and you need to learn the strategies and tactics of naval warfare to succeed. The user interface is excellent and gives you just the right amount of control at all times.
While the graphics are not the selling point of the game, there certainly is no lack of attention to detail and battlestations brings to life what could easily be boring ocean dominated battle scenery. I absolutely love the detail of the battleships.
Although a secondary factor for me, there is a story you follow in the single player game that helps to set the scene and fill out the game experience. The game overall certainly gives me a feeling for what it must have actually been like to be involved in the sea battles of the time. I haven't managed to experience the multi-player yet, but I'm certainly looking forward to it.
There is a learning curve associated with this game, but ultimately its your skill, courage and determination that decide whether you win the battle of midway. I give this game 5 stars because its down right fun, and for its progressive contribution to computer war gaming. Can't have been easy for Eidos to pull this one off.