Visuals – 7

Nothing excels throughout the game’s overall visual experience but nothing looks too bad either. The graphic system has gone over leaps and bounds since the dubbed-down version released in the demo that hit the marketplace a few weeks ago. Military units once again score high detail and have been displayed beautifully. Likewise, environments have taken a large improvement. Water does not look like flowing carpet anymore, but instead looks closer to the real thing, but do not get us wrong it is not like gamers are playing Far Cry. Land installations look good, not perfect, but they get the job done.

In High Definition Midway appears dramatically better. Everything has been enhanced for the “full” HD-experience. The cut-scenes are actually bearable when watching them in 720p.

Sound – 8

Once again, the actual gameplay sound is amazingly realistic. Explosions and military units are expressed in good detail. Vocals could have been better, but they never get annoying. Water is one greatly done aspect when it came to sound in Midway. When artillery shells, AA fire, or even torpedoes hit the water, it sounds as if players are actually out on the battlefield.

Gameplay & Controls – 9

Simply amazing are the only two words needed to describe this segment, but that would not be much of a review would it?

Midway brings a new level of action to strategy games, making it a true one-of-a-kind experience. The ability to command an entire army while dog fighting enemy fighters at the same time is simply amazing. Not only does the game have surprisingly easy command controls, Midway also sports a seemingly endless variation of options for each player, which will keep anyone satisfied for hours on end. The thrill a player receives as his or her last torpedo strikes its intended target for the win cannot be duplicated on any other Xbox360 title.

Controls

Even though the controls in Battlestations: Midway do require users to try a few trial and error simulations, once gamers have master the easy control scheme, the game is nothing but all out fun. Commanding your units, ordering a new squadron into battle, and firing torpedoes at an enemy’s light cruiser at the same time can appear confusing; but with Midway’s control set-up gamers can do this and so much more with relative ease. A little experience with other real-time-strategy games would help players become accustomed to Midway’s scheme quicker, but in reality, any person who is smart enough to actually try the game can learn the controls.

There are too many different variations and specific button combinations to go into great detail; but we would advise everyone to go through the naval academy courses before actually going into combat. It’s also worth forty achievement points; so gamers have nothing to lose.

Single Player

Midway’s single player aspect allows players to choose from a multitude of different variations, such as the game’s campaign and specific missions made for specific units, if you exclude the naval academy courses. There are three different types of specific unit variations: ship, plane, and submarine. Each are pretty self-explanatory; players conduct specific missions based on their chosen unit. It will help during campaign missions and live play if gamers go through these challenges first, so they can become more accustomed to every unit’s repertoire.

As for the campaign, Eidos takes gamers on an intense, action-filled storyline that follows Henry Walker. Players take the plunge into Midway’s campaign beginning at Pearl Harbor on the day that lives in infamy. On Pearl, players must take control of a PT boat as they try to save the remaining United States vessels that are docked in the harbor on the island. From there players take control of Walker’s career as he moves up the ranks. Players will be able to play on platforms such as the Philippines, all the way up to the war’s turning point at the Battle of Midway. From pearl to Midway the campaign is a one of a kind experience that is a must play for any 360 owner.

Longevity & Drawbacks – 9

Battlestations sports one of the best multiplayer experiences ever released on the Xbox360. If the title were to be released without any single-player battles then Midway still would have been one of the best titles ever launched for Microsoft’s newest console. Controls are exactly the same as the title’s single player, except gamers have the ability to play as either the Americans or the Japanese.

Maps and game types allow gamers to recreate real battles that took place during the last world war. The mission’s even display the general tactics both sides used during these missions. Now it is the player’s turn to use every last resource at their disposal to defeat their enemy. It will not be an easy task though, espically if a player is new to the game, because most veterans of Midway know every trick in the book to get the best out of their military.