I think you summed up the issue of balancing playability vs authenticity perfectly. The search for a light, playable (and soloable) Pacific theatre game continues... I'm considering Holdfast Pacific or Pacific tide at the moment.
thank you Cody for the Board Game Review. I don't remember the 1st printing of this game, but I do remember its predecessors: Victory in the Pacific (Avalon Hill) and Holdfast Pacific (Columbia Games). If you are interested in the grandiose war game with some abstraction, look up those games. I am glad to see that this current version adapts transport logistical concerns by points capacity, which is a much more mature mechanic. I am eager to find and purchase this game.
Flat Top did just that with paper sheets. But so complex. became a way of life for months. I am a cardboard geek. What is an app? Looooong time ago. Matchboxes . Move around a grid. very good for micro armour in WW2 desert campaign with tactical battles. Opponent would scout grid with aircraft or light forces.and spying. Depending on score. You would have to give exactly what was in a matchbox. Give the number of points worth of forces inside a matchbox. Say nothing. Lie about what was in matchbox. It worked. Offensives were launched into thin air or hit up against an impossible defence etc
Wow this looks very interesting. I just purchased The Battle of Britain (both PSC and Decision Games) and honestly as a WW2 Air War game this looks even more interesting. More strategic with so many more elements at play...just shortlisted. Thanks mate!
I just finished the audiobook I Will Run Wild by Thomas Cleaver and started book II (of four) Under The Southern Cross. I've had this game on preorder for a long long time with MM. Hoping it comes in soon, I'm super looking forward to this one!
Years ago I played Phantom Leader, I think that was the one. At the time I wasn’t really playing solo games so I didn’t think much about it. Id like to try them again, though.
Hello Cody! I COMPLETELY AGREE with what you said about to create a board wargame using an APP to simulate the fog of war! Mostly with naval games! It's quite easy today! I'm sure somebody will do it some day with success! Why not me by the way LOL? Agree too with the PLAYABILITY being more important than the historic accuracy! Let's create a game together! :)) Keep the faith! GG
I'm still pushing through a lot of Pacific War related things, but unfortunately my preorder of this game was delayed yet again - now expecting it early 2022...
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I don't have high hopes for it, it's been coming "at the end of this month" since August... Fortunately have plenty of other titles to play and I'm happy to wait😁 The game sounds like my kind of fun, slightly lighter than Empire of the Sun...
Cody, thanks for another great review. I will certainly look into this one. Always had an interest in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Of course, I am still waiting for my copy of Successors 4th Edition to arrive. Which knight was always too drunk for battle? Sir Osis
The MMP version was my first proper wargame. I didn't feel it being too complicated back then. I liked being able to play such a large conflict with the whole rise and fall of the Japanese in a single afternoon.
Compared to other Pacific War games I’ve played I did not find this game as complex or its rules layout to be as much as a hindrance as suggested here. That’s me though, YMMV. I found it’s aspect on supply via transport and oil points to be an elegant take on the logistics problems of the conflict. Shifting to tactical combat felt right with the weight given to naval and land air power. The game plays well solo with taking Japan’s side being a daunting challenge. Production value of the pieces is good. The different shaped counters for land, air, and naval units grew on me. The counters are large, around a full inch, and the silhouettes of iconic ships are instantly recognizable. The game is probably a step up in complexity and realism compared to Pacific Victory though certainly simpler than Asia Engulfed or Empire of the Sun. Bare Bone’s Wargaming has a series of YT vids for the 1sr edition that will assist with the game’s learning curve.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Welcome, Cody. I think what I had the most trouble with wrapping my head around was damage resolution. Sending damage ships back to port immediately was a bit jarring. Though after several battles it did seem to help with speeding the flow of combat up.
Absolutely Empire of the Sun! Worth all the effort to learn. Great, great game! Very hard for me to pay any other pacific war games after learning Empire of the Sun. Asia Engulfed is also pretty cool.
Thanks for the vid! The game sounds a little fiddly for me. Beautiful production values, though. Love how colorful the units are, which works well with its more uniformly colored ocean map.
Thank you Cody! Finally, a board game about the Travis Walton alien abduction.
Ha!
I shamelessly steal your puns and torture my coworker with them. He hates you without even knowing who you are. Keep up the great work
Ha. It's what I do.
I think you summed up the issue of balancing playability vs authenticity perfectly. The search for a light, playable (and soloable) Pacific theatre game continues... I'm considering Holdfast Pacific or Pacific tide at the moment.
Thanks. Much luck in your search.
The GOAT of Pacific war games (in my option) is "Victory in the Pacific." A proven classic for a reason.
Great Review Cody, thanks again!
Thank you!
thank you Cody for the Board Game Review. I don't remember the 1st printing of this game, but I do remember its predecessors: Victory in the Pacific (Avalon Hill) and Holdfast Pacific (Columbia Games). If you are interested in the grandiose war game with some abstraction, look up those games. I am glad to see that this current version adapts transport logistical concerns by points capacity, which is a much more mature mechanic. I am eager to find and purchase this game.
Thank you.
Flat Top did just that with paper sheets. But so complex. became a way of life for months. I am a cardboard geek. What is an app? Looooong time ago. Matchboxes . Move around a grid. very good for micro armour in WW2 desert campaign with tactical battles. Opponent would scout grid with aircraft or light forces.and spying. Depending on score. You would have to give exactly what was in a matchbox. Give the number of points worth of forces inside a matchbox. Say nothing. Lie about what was in matchbox. It worked. Offensives were launched into thin air or hit up against an impossible defence etc
Interesting.
Wow this looks very interesting. I just purchased The Battle of Britain (both PSC and Decision Games) and honestly as a WW2 Air War game this looks even more interesting. More strategic with so many more elements at play...just shortlisted. Thanks mate!
Happy to help!
I just finished the audiobook I Will Run Wild by Thomas Cleaver and started book II (of four) Under The Southern Cross. I've had this game on preorder for a long long time with MM. Hoping it comes in soon, I'm super looking forward to this one!
Fantastic!
Have you ever played any of the "Leader" games from DVG? Corsair, Zero, B-17? Corsair and Zero are in this same narrative.
Years ago I played Phantom Leader, I think that was the one. At the time I wasn’t really playing solo games so I didn’t think much about it. Id like to try them again, though.
Hello Cody! I COMPLETELY AGREE with what you said about to create a board wargame using an APP to simulate the fog of war! Mostly with naval games! It's quite easy today! I'm sure somebody will do it some day with success! Why not me by the way LOL?
Agree too with the PLAYABILITY being more important than the historic accuracy!
Let's create a game together! :)) Keep the faith! GG
Ha! Fantastic! I have faith your designing ability... not so much my own.
great review!
Thank you, sir.
So Axis and Allies and we are happier and healthier! Thank you as always!
Thank you!
I'm still pushing through a lot of Pacific War related things, but unfortunately my preorder of this game was delayed yet again - now expecting it early 2022...
Hope it comes soon.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I don't have high hopes for it, it's been coming "at the end of this month" since August... Fortunately have plenty of other titles to play and I'm happy to wait😁 The game sounds like my kind of fun, slightly lighter than Empire of the Sun...
Cody, thanks for another great review. I will certainly look into this one. Always had an interest in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Of course, I am still waiting for my copy of Successors 4th Edition to arrive.
Which knight was always too drunk for battle? Sir Osis
Ha! Thanks!
The MMP version was my first proper wargame. I didn't feel it being too complicated back then. I liked being able to play such a large conflict with the whole rise and fall of the Japanese in a single afternoon.
Interesting.
Compared to other Pacific War games I’ve played I did not find this game as complex or its rules layout to be as much as a hindrance as suggested here. That’s me though, YMMV.
I found it’s aspect on supply via transport and oil points to be an elegant take on the logistics problems of the conflict. Shifting to tactical combat felt right with the weight given to naval and land air power. The game plays well solo with taking Japan’s side being a daunting challenge.
Production value of the pieces is good. The different shaped counters for land, air, and naval units grew on me. The counters are large, around a full inch, and the silhouettes of iconic ships are instantly recognizable.
The game is probably a step up in complexity and realism compared to Pacific Victory though certainly simpler than Asia Engulfed or Empire of the Sun. Bare Bone’s Wargaming has a series of YT vids for the 1sr edition that will assist with the game’s learning curve.
Good points. To each their own. Thanks. Thanks.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Welcome, Cody. I think what I had the most trouble with wrapping my head around was damage resolution. Sending damage ships back to port immediately was a bit jarring. Though after several battles it did seem to help with speeding the flow of combat up.
What you're describing is the game Flat Top; a new edition with an app would be awesome!
Sounds like fun.
Thanks for the review! So any recommendations on a better moderate-to-heavy complexity WW2 Pac Theatre game?
Empire of the Sun. Definitely on the heavy side but it's considered one of the best.
Pacific Victory from Columbia.
Absolutely Empire of the Sun! Worth all the effort to learn. Great, great game! Very hard for me to pay any other pacific war games after learning Empire of the Sun. Asia Engulfed is also pretty cool.
How’s the production quality and playability of the components? I heard there were issues.
I thought production was great. I didn't experience any palyability issues of that sort.
Thanks for the vid! The game sounds a little fiddly for me. Beautiful production values, though. Love how colorful the units are, which works well with its more uniformly colored ocean map.
Indeed.
I have a few magazines but still lots of issues. :(
Ha!
I lov details games, i lov to hav many options in a game
Great. You'll like this one.
Lol your board game idea of hidden map movement exists in video games :P
Shrugs.
I wish my copy would ever ship lol
Best of luck to you.
Why did the rabbi welcome with open arms - the Japanese war planes during WW2 ?
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because they shouted "Torah! torah! torah!".
Wow. Fantastic!
The lack of miniatures is a deal killer for me.
Too bad. There are a lot of great games that don’t use minis.
Bro, where’s your joke channel?
They removed it. Apparently, it was too "blue" for TH-cam.