Great Naval Battles

Great Naval Battles is a series of computer games by Strategic Simulations which simulate combat between naval vessels. It consist of five separate games, four of which depict various phases of World War II. Each game combines a wider view of the action on a fleet scale, as well as controls for individual ships.^[1] SSI covered similar themes in another naval game, Fighting Steel, which was released afterwards, in 1999.

Games in series

The game series contains the following games:

• Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943 was released in 1992 and depicts naval warfare in the North Atlantic during World War 2.^[1][2]

• Great Naval Battles Vol. II: Guadalcanal 1942-43 depicts naval combat in the Pacific Ocean during World War 2.^[1][3]

• Great Naval Battles Vol. III: Fury in the Pacific, 1941-1944 is a direct sequel to #2 and depicts the remainder of the Pacific Ocean war. It was not considered to be as strong a product as the previous two games, as it had some problems with bugs. the game structure was problematic due to some attempts to include air combat.^[4][5]

• Great Naval Battles 4: Burning Steel 1939-1942 was released in 1995 and constituted a major overhaul of the game. It utilized entirely new procedures and interfaces. Several new features were provided, including the ability to full customize each combat scenario.^[6][7]

• Great Naval Battles V: Demise of the Dreadnoughts; 1914-18 is set in World War I, and does not include aircraft. It was only sold in the boxed set Great Naval Battles - the Final Fury, which contained all games of the series plus GNBNA.^[8][9]

Gameplay and dynamics

Every game provides a choice between individual ship views and fleet command views. Players can choose individual stations to operate during the game.^[9]

Background music

Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943

When "British" is being selected for the gameplay, Rule Britannia is being played. Whereas if "German" is being selected, Unter dem Doppeladler is being played.

Reception

Computer Gaming World's reviewer in 1993 stated that North Atlantic 1939-1943 was the first computer game to replicate "that 'joy of miniatures'". He cited several flaws in the gameplay but concluded that "for all the problems ... there are a half-dozen very nice features. For every minor disappointment there seem to be several glitzy positives. Frankly, I'm spending a lot of time playing it".^[10] A 1993 review in the magazine of America in the Atlantic, Super Ships of the Atlantic, and Scenario Builder praised the latter's "infinite" replayability from the latter's random engagements, and stated that "SSI's efforts in refining and expanding this series are to be commended ... it has the potential of becoming the recognized placebo for practictioners of historical naval combat in this theater".^[11] A 1993 survey in the magazine of wargames gave North Atlantic, Super Ships of the Atlantic, America in the Atlantic, and Scenario Builder three-plus stars out of five.^[12]

See also

• Naval warfare
• Harpoon (series)

References

External links

• Great Naval Battles series at MobyGames
• Article comparing all games at naval wargame website
• Review of game 1 at naval gaming website
• Review of game #4 at subsim.com