Any recommendations for WW2 computer naval games?

[CaptianT]

I have finished reading some books on WW2 naval battles and am interested in seeing what others are playing. (I do play SH3 and SH4, but would like to play something a little larger in scope and strategy.) Are there any low to mid level complexity WW2 naval computer strategy games that you can recommend?

Any input or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards.

[difool2]

Can't quite recommend it because it isn't out just yet and I'm not a beta-tester, but Supremacy at Sea is a title which I've been waiting for for over a year now, and which should be out before Christmas. Operational/strategic level wargame with optional command levels.

[CaptianT]

Difool2,

Thanks for the recommendation. I had never heard of this game or of NWS. The description of Supremacy at Sea looks interesting, although it may be a little too complicated or bigger in scope than what I was looking for. I'll still continue to keep track with new interest of how the development of this game is progressing.

On the other hand, the NWS Warship Combat: Navies at War game looks really interesting. This looks like it allows actual naval battles to be fought and recreated, (which is more of my current interest). Have you played this particular game? If so, does it allow carrier battles to be played or recreated? Is this a game that you or others would recommend?

[Raptor1]

Don't think any good games came out lately (Please tell me I'm wrong!), but there some great older games I can recommend. Try out SSI's Great Naval Battles series and Microprose's Task Force 1942 (There are more, but I can't think of any right now)

[Tachyon]

Great Naval battles is a good game but kinda hard. As for a submarine simulator, Command : Aces of the Deep is as best as it gets.

[CaptHawkeye]

Of course nobody mentioned the one problem with GNB. IE: It's ancient. Oh well, it's pretty sad that sheer drought of good sim games has been so long and hard we're forced to look back on wild sims from the 90s like they're new or original. I blame modern business models really. Who wants to make a game with any actual challenge when it's clear the masses just want Quake/Zerg-em-ups?

[difool2]

Originally Posted by Tim Konuch

Difool2,

Thanks for the recommendation. I had never heard of this game or of NWS. The description of Supremacy at Sea looks interesting, although it may be a little too complicated or bigger in scope than what I was looking for. I'll still continue to keep track with new interest of how the development of this game is progressing.

Expanding on my OP-the game gives you optional command levels. You can let the AI control anything you don't want to dirty your hands with (I at least will let it run ground combat). Read thru some of the docs some more-the designer has attempted to make it playable while not skimping on realism-we shall see if he will deliver.

On the other hand, the NWS Warship Combat: Navies at War game looks really interesting. This looks like it allows actual naval battles to be fought and recreated, (which is more of my current interest). Have you played this particular game? If so, does it allow carrier battles to be played or recreated? Is this a game that you or others would recommend?

It also isn't out yet, but the designers of both sims have indicated that you can fight the actual sea battles in SaS in NaW, and export the results back into the former!

[Winston]

Not a world war two title however it will have ships slugging it out with each other. I'm not sure how you feel about world war one Tim but Jutland might go some way to satisfy you're need for some surface action. It's not out quite yet but check out this link for more infomation about it...

http://stormeaglestudios.com/public/Downloads/Jutland_Resources/Jutland%20Info%20Brochure/Jutland%20Info%20Page%2001.html

[Overkill]

If Jutland does well for Storm Eagle Studios I wonder if their next title will be a WWII Naval game? :hmm:

[peter_912]

I have just bought 'Battlestations Pacific'. Loaded it, tried it, binned it. The user interface is just awful, the frame rates jaggy, and the controls and interface not intuitive or user friendly at all.

The best naval strategy games bar none in my view are still the Microprose ones of the early 1990's - TF 1942 and 1942 the Pacific Air War. The only thing these games lacked was a multiplayer facility. The user interface and graphics were outstanding and the PAW carrier battles unmatched by anything since. Will Microprose or its successor PLEASE bring these titles back so we can play them again on Windows 95/XP and Vista platforms?

[Raptor1]

What...when...how...why the hell does this thread get back up here all the time?!?!?

An exorcism must be performed!

Anyway, Microprose doesn't exist anymore (Even though there was something about a new Microprose last year or so, but haven't heard anything about that since), but you can still play those games with DosBox

[Egan]

Originally Posted by CaptianT

I have finished reading some books on WW2 naval battles and am interested in seeing what others are playing. (I do play SH3 and SH4, but would like to play something a little larger in scope and strategy.) Are there any low to mid level complexity WW2 naval computer strategy games that you can recommend?

Any input or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards.

I know you said 'Low to mid' and it probably isn't what you are looking for but you could probably check out War in the Pacific by Matrix games. As you might expect, the naval aspect is pretty important.

Of course, it's a proper war game rather than a sim, but it's depth is quite scary. i reckon you could finish a campaign in just a little longer than the real Pacific war lasted...

It's a very good game though but like I said, maybe not what you are wanting.

[CaptHawkeye]

Woah what, Battlestations Pacific has a steep learning curve? You're kidding me right?

It's really surreal for me to hear people say how BSP has "unintuitive" controls. Especially when they follow it up with "TF1942 had really good controls".

[JALU3]

If you still have an SNES, or an emulator of the aforementioned, may I recommend to you PTO II by KOEI. Best Console game for what you are looking for, IMHO.

[Sonarman]

Got to agree about TF1942 that was and still is a great game despite its age. Would'nt it be fantastic if the Distant Guns guys could do an adaptation/bolt-on sim aspect to their engine to produce a TF1942 style game for us?