Battlestations: Midway

411mania.com (9 out of 10)

Battlestations: Midway may have set a new bar for the WW2 strategy game. Combining brain-straining strategy and shoot-em-‘up vehicular combat, this game is one nice piece of historical interactive entertainment. Despite a few issues with the controls and the audio package, this title is definitely a must-own for hardcore strategy nuts and World War II hobbyists.

Game Chronicles (9 out of 10)

Just when you thought they couldn’t put a new spin on the WWII genre, here come Eidos ready to show that three genres can exist in harmony and even work on a console. But then again, Battlestations: Midway is far from an ordinary war game. This could be the start of a whole new genre.

Game Freaks 365 (8.7 out of 10)

If you have been waiting to take control of powerful U.S. military units in a video game, you probably won't find a more realistic and option-heavy game on the market. There is so much that I could write about with Battlestations: Midway that it's difficult to sort out, and I haven't even touched the online multi-player yet. You can face up to eight players over Xbox Live in four vs. four American vs. Japanese battles. The single player is just a taste of what to expect from the epic battles that you will face online. This game was made to be played against humans. With dozens of units taking to the sky and sea, Battlestations: Midway is one of the few games on Xbox 360 that is hard to imagine existing on past hardware. This is a true next-gen war simulation experience that you should not pass up.

Gamezoom (87 out of 100)

Der Genremix macht das Spiel ganz einfach aus. Egal ob Action, oder Strategiefan, für jeden ist in Eidos neuem Referenztitel etwas dabei. Battlestations: Midway hebt sich einfach von seinen Konkurrenten in Sachen Kriegsspiele ab. Grafisch und auch steuerungstechnisch gesehen gibt es auch wenig zum Aussetzen. Dann noch der Mehrspielerbereich in dem Spiel, dass bis zu acht Spieler im Xbox-Live Modus antreten können ist natürlich noch ein Highlight dazu. Alle die Realität und Kriegsspiele lieben, sollten sich dieses Spiel sichern. Habt ihr Battlefield ausgespielt, kauft euch Battlestations: Midway.

360 LIVE (8.7 out of 10)

(...) Unter dem Strich ist dem ungarischen Eidos-Studio ein rundherum harmonisches und spielenswertes Kriegs- Spektakel gelungen, ohne nennenswerte Schwächen, aber mit vielen, vielen Stärken. Und vor allem so gestaltet, dass sowohl Liebhaber anspruchsvoller Action wie auch von Gameplay mit taktischer Note gut unterhalten werden.

Imperium Gier (8.5 out of 10)

Tak więc, Battlestations: Midway oferuje wiele różnorodnych doznań. Dla fascynatów II Wojny Światowej jest to tytuł obowiązkowy, podobnie jak i dla wszystkich, którzy lubią szybką akcję w batalistycznych klimatach. Wolność wyboru dowodzonej jednostki czy kierowanie nimi wszystkimi naraz z poziomu mapy taktycznej z pewnością przysporzy produkcji wielu fanów. Reasumując, z tym tytułem nikt nie będzie się nudził. Zdobycie wszystkich medali i odznaczeń, odblokowanie całej encyklopedii lub po prostu zaliczenie kolejnego tysiąca achievementów zmusi nas do stacjonowania nad Midway przez kilka dobrych tygodni. Zatem pad w dłoń i pokażmy, kto tu rządzi.

Gamers.at (85 out of 100)

Battlestations spielt sich fabelhaft. Selbst beim fünften oder sechsten Versuch einer knüppelharten Mission kam bei mir keine Langeweile auf, was einfach an der immensen Abwechslung und den Möglichkeiten lag, die dem Spieler hier geboten werden. Man taktiert, man fliegt oder fiebert mit seinem U-Boot mit, dass er bloß rechtzeitig abtaucht, bevor die Wasserbomben kommen. Diverse Kleinigkeiten fallen zwar negativ ins Gewicht, hauptsächlich Grafik und Steuerung betreffend, aber das wird an anderen Stellen wieder wett gemacht und man hat in der Hektik des Gefechts sowieso keine Zeit sich darüber den Kopf zu zerbrechen.

IGN (8.5 out of 10)

In Battlestations Midway, you can. While the learning curve is relatively high, the time spent running ships aground and crashing planes into the ocean is worth it when you are dominating the Pacific. The graphics are a bit bland but there is a ton of detail. The score and voice-acting are well done, if repetitive. Still, Battlestations' shortcomings do not detract from a great gameplay experience that both action and strategy fans should enjoy. While the online options are thin, this game offers arguably the single-most enjoyable one-on-one match on Xbox Live as well as a great co-op experience for those that have paid their dues on the training modes. For those tired of the same old thing, check out this unique new title from Eidos -- Battlestations Midway is anything but just another World War II game.

Extreme Gamer (8.5 out of 10)

Battlestations: Midway fills a void that has been missing so from the Xbox 360 library, rare historic action-strategy games. Battlestations: Midway finally puts Xbox gamers behind the help of a number of water based warmachines that helped win the second world war, along with their dog fighting friends in the sky. It’s obvious that Battlestations: Midway is only going to appeal to a certain fan base, but that’s alright. For this genre Battlestations loads enough ammo to keep your sinking Battleships for a while. If sinking Battleships, Bombers, and Oil Tankers sound like fun, give Battlestations: Midway a once over because I’m sure nothing like it will come around for a while.

GamingExcellence (8.3 out of 10)

Few titles attempt a real-time strategy/action hybrid, and even less actually succeed. The precision of point-and-click may be the time-honored interface for tactical games, but Eidos Hungary has produced an excellent, landmark entry for the genre on consoles. The accessibility of the controls at each level of naval warfare caters to the casual commander and old-time maritimer alike, mostly because they invite the player to freely perform the battle actions they choose. It may lack a fleshed-out campaign on par with its competitors, but Battlestations: Midway supplies enough gameplay depth to make it a unique title that won't leave you with a sinking feeling after purchase.

Gaming Age (B+)

If you're looking for a game that's fast paced and fun from the get-go, this isn't for you. If you're a couch jockey who enjoys a long day of a tall iced tea and the history channel... Well. Eidos has made the game for you.

GamingHeaven / DriverHeaven (82 out of 100)

Eidos have created a solid and professionally handled strategic title with Battlestations Midway. The game is both fun and rewarding to play with a steady learning curve as the single player missions develop. Patience with the game is clearly rewarded and initial frustration can quickly turn into great satisfaction when a particular strategic maneuver wins an hour long battle. The graphics can be rather bland and lifeless yet at times can be equally breathtaking when a screen full of units are battling to stay alive. The artificial intelligence is also, rather pleasantly, capable and varied during combat, leaving you in the position of being able to sit back within the strategic map and reap the rewards of your strategic genius, if you so wish. The online multi player part of the game is also extremely enjoyable and will prolong the life of the game if you are lucky enough to be able to connect to Xbox Live.

FileFactory Games / Gameworld Network (82 out of 100)

Battlestations: Midway offers a brand new approach to naval combat on the consoles. It portrays the atmosphere of WWII in the Pacific theatre quite well. Not everyone will be satisfied with the slow pace of naval warfare, but if you’re a history buff, you don’t want to miss the boat.

XBox Front (81 out of 100)

Battlestations Midway ist ein gutes Spiel, und hätte ein sehr Gutes werden können. Die Mischung aus Taktik und Action weiß zu überzeugen, und macht Spaß. Die Steuerung ist mit Ausnahme der Flugzeuge sehr gut gelungen, und auch das Missionsdesign überzeugt auf weiten Strecken. Lediglich ein Mangel an Innovationen muss sich Battlestations Midway vorwerfen lassen. Auch verhindert die durchschnittliche und nicht mehr zeitgemäße Grafik eine höhere Wertung, die der Titel eigentlich verdient hätte. Der Sound ist hingegen sehr gut und zu jeder Situation passend gewählt. Ein Geheimtipp ist ohne Zweifel der Multiplayermodus. Wer auf der Suche nach einem taktischen Spiel gepaart mit Actioneinlagen ist, ist bei Battlestations Midway genau richtig.

Xboxdynasty (XD) (8.1 out of 10)

Battlestations Midway ist nicht für Jedermann! Wer taktisches relaxtes Gameplay mit viel Action aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg erleben will, der ist bei Battlestations Midway genau richtig. Battlestations: Midway bietet euch sicher eine neue Herausforderung in Luft-, See und Unterwasserschlachten, was vom Gameplay her aber nicht unbedingt jedem Spieler zusagt. Unser Tipp: Spielt zuerst die kostenlose Demo vom Xbox-Live Marktplatz. Sollte euch die Demo gefallen, dann sollte euch nichts mehr an einem Kauf des Spiels hindern.

Games Master (80 out of 100)

All in all, this is a solid strategy game and a decent action game all rolled into one - and is easily one of the better WW2 games available for your Xbox 360 at the moment. Well worth a punt if you ask us.

GameZone (8 out of 10)

Battlestations: Midway for the Xbox 360 is a surprisingly gratifying game that effectively blends both action and strategy and thus makes this a game that fans of both genres can like. For the action aficionado, the battles are fierce and fun despite some awkward controls and for the strategy gamer there are more than enough options to please fans of tactical strategy. In the end, gamers who like the best of both worlds shouldn’t miss this game.

Pro-G (8 out of 10)

Battlestations Midway is bold, thrilling and immense, and deserves every success. The Action RTS has arrived and let's hope it is here to stay.

Totally Gaming Network (8 out of 10)

Overall BM is great fun to play from both a tactical and action based angle, and this is one that we would recommend you play, even if you were to rent. And now only leaves me to say I would be surprised to find you disappointed with this game.

Eurogamer.de (8 out of 10)

Battlestations: Midway bietet viel und macht wenig falsch. Der Mix aus strategischem Anspruch und actiongeladenen Luft- und Seegefechten ist ziemlich gelungen, ohne zu sehr in Spielfluss hemmende Komplexität abzudriften. Mit wenigen Befehlen kann ich meine Verbände in der Schlacht kommandieren und flugs auf einzelne Einheiten umschalten, um mich selbst aktiv am Kampfgeschehen zu beteiligen. Oder ich genieße die Schlachten wie bei perfekt inszenierten Kriegsfilmen aus der Beobachterrolle - die KI macht dabei meist einen guten Job. Gerade der ständige Wechsel zwischen Makro- und Mikromanagement ist spannend und fordernd und macht einfach Spaß.

Game Captain (80 out of 100)

Allem Meckern zum Trotz: Battlestations: Midway ist ein gelungenes Spiel, das aber den Sprung auf den GameCaptain-Olymp dennoch verpasst. Zum einen ist die mitunter etwas unübersichtliche Steuerung und auch die Grafik ist in vielen Momenten einfach nur gehobener Durchschnitt. Beides wäre zu verschmerzen, wenn der Umfang angemessen hoch wäre – aber für Solo-Spieler ist es ein kurzes Vergnügen. Dafür lohnt sich der Kauf für diejenigen, die einen Xbox-Live-Account haben, ganz sicherlich: Die epischen Schlachten auf See machen einfach Spaß.

4Players.de (79 out of 100)

Battlestations Midway hat mich positiv überrascht: Nach den ersten Trailern und dem doch sehr zähen Tutorial hatte ich schon mit einer Schlaftablette einschließlich unangenehmer Nebenwirkungen gerechnet. Doch hat man sich mit der anfänglich komplexen Steuerung vertraut gemacht und sich entweder als Stratege, Kämpfer oder beides in den Pazifikkrieg gestürzt, kann man über kleine Mängel wie die altbackene Präsentation hinwegsehen. Allerdings wirkt mir das Geschehen teilweise zu hektisch – vor allem, wenn es an die Reparaturen der Schiffe während eines Gefechts geht. Und auch wenn die KI ihren Job meist zuverlässig erledigt, liegt sie mit ihren Entscheidungen ab und an vollkommen daneben, was euch leicht den Sieg kosten kann. Auf jeden Fall ist den Ungarn die Mischung beider Genres gut gelungen, die sich vom typischen Ego-Shooter oder reinen Flugsimulator erfrischend abhebt.

GameSpot (7.8 out of 10)

Battlestations: Midway strikes a balance between action and strategy that makes it uniquely appealing. The strategy isn't especially in-depth, but it is accessible and satisfying. The action portion of the game is also kept very simple, which works in the game's favor by making it easy to switch gears between the two different parts of the game. The action is also exciting enough to make it worth your while to jump into battle, if only for a few minutes at a time. The single-player game is sadly way too short, but the online multiplayer game is at least a small consolation. And while it lasts, Battlestations: Midway is a very fun game to play.

Play.tm (78 out of 100)

To conclude, Battlestations: Midway is a game that has clearly been made with a lot more care than many titles I'd care to mention, especially given the complex blend of action and strategy that would have been very easy to get wrong. If this is a mix of genres that floats your boat, you'll certainly find plenty to get your teeth into with Battlestations, albeit rather too briefly in the singleplayer mode (we seem to be saying that a lot recently). WWII-themed titles are ten-a-penny at the moment, making it even more fortuitous that Battlestations: Midway finds some fairly uncharted waters in which to lay-anchor, even if the game could be a bit more expansive.

TeamXbox (7.8 out of 10)

While Battlestations: Midway definitely isn't for everyone, it's probably one of those games that some people will still be playing on Xbox Live a few years from now. This is largely due to the fact that there really isn't anything like it on the market today. Is it a strategy game for action fans? An action game for strategy fans? We don't have the answers, but we do know that there is definitely an audience for this type of game. If they can look past the disappointing graphics and steep learning curve, gamers will find this to be a worthy addition to their gaming library. However, don't worry if it's not your cup of tea - there are plenty of other genres out there.

MS Xbox World (7.5 out of 10)

Overall, I think the balance between action and strategy is spot on for the casual as well as hardcore gamers out there and is well worth renting it out. Buying this game is recommended if you have friends you can play with, as you know they will not drop out of a game because they are losing. The single player campaign is too short but on LIVE it will be different every time you play, making the game last for quite some time.

V2.fi (75 out of 100)

Koska pelin julkaisusta on jo ehtinyt kulua tovi jos toinenkin, löytyy sitä monesta paikasta jo varsin kohtuulliseen hintaan, mikä toki alentaa ostamiskynnystä. Jos konsolipelaajan strategiasormea tuntuu syyhyttävän, eikä toisaalta räiskintäpelien suuntaan ole tavannut syljeskellä, eivät rahat suoraan kaivoon uppoa, mikäli Battlestations: Midwayn Xbox 360-versio kauppakassin pohjalle päätyisikin. Omaan makuuni pelikokemus on kuitenkin sen verran köykäinen, että tuskin tulen suuremmin iltojani sen parissa viettämään. Suosittelenkin latailemaan Xbox Live Marketplacelta pelin demoversion ja toteamaan omat mieltymyksensä sen pohjalta.

Gamesmania.de (73 out of 100)

Mir persönlich hätte das Spiel als Actiontitel im Stile von Blazing Angels bedeutend mehr Spaß gemacht, die Taktikkomponenten wirken unschlüssig aufgesetzt und fügen sich zumindest im Einzelspielermodus nicht perfekt ins Gameplay ein. Nicht warm geworden bin ich auch mit der Steuerung, die zum einen zu kompliziert für ein solches Spiel ist und sich zudem etwas ungenau anfühlt. Dennoch hatte ich mit den Seeschlachten der Einzelspielerkampagne einige Stunden viel Spaß. Die Abwechslung und die Storypräsentation stimmen, außerdem gibt es nicht viele Spiele, in denen ich so flott zwischen U-Booten, Flugzeugträgern oder Fliegern wechseln darf. Aufgrund des in späteren Einsätzen hohen Schwierigkeitsgrades und dem Verzicht auf Checkpoints innerhalb eines Levels ist der Frustfaktor aber schon recht hoch. Eine Empfehlung ist Battlestations Midway von daher nur für Multiplayerfans.

GameAlmighty.com (7.3 out of 10)

Battlestations: Midway isn’t getting a ___ because it isn’t a good game, instead I feel it merits that because there isn’t enough of it there. The many multiplayer possibilities should buy you a lot of time with the title, but the single-player campaign is just entirely too short (while the tutorial is mind-numbingly long). However, if you play online with a group of friends that have the discipline to deliver coordinated attacks, this game is easily worth the next-gen price tag of the 360 version and is a steal at the $39.99 price tag of the PC version.

Gamestyle (7 out of 10)

Ultimately, Battlestations: Midway certainly isn’t a game that can be picked up and played in a few minutes. It requires a large investment of time, and the acceptance of a few rough edges, to see a return. A title greater than the sum of its parts, the tactical element keeps requires a bit of strategical know-how whilst the action element feels far more involved and creates the feeling that a tangible difference is being made to the outcome of the battle. Eidos deserve respect for trying something above and beyond the tired WWII fps and doing something original on the 360.

GamePro (US) (3.5 out of 5)

Battlestations: Midway is an intriguing and unique blend of strategy and action that challenges gamers with both directing the strategic course of a series of sea-based battles while simultaneously participating in the conflicts.

1UP (7 out of 10)

Still, control issues aside, Battlestations: Midway is a fun game if you're into strategy titles. Just throwing mad amounts of units at each new problem really doesn't work here, since you have finite resources and no unit is really impervious to attack from any other unit. It's a lot of fun just to try out different tactics and see what will work, and the computer loves to draw you away from your main objective. It's too bad each single-player mission plays out almost exactly the same each and every time, cutting the replay value down significantly. Of course, that's what the online mode is for.

TTGamer (7 out of 10)

BattleStations: Midway is a very original title and has taken some WWII conventions and built on them to offer a unique game experience, but it doesn't seem to go to the lengths it could have. The single player campaign is too short and doesn't throw you into the ‘whole navy vs whole navy' action quickly enough - the main appeal of this game is definitely the Live features. To sum up, Midway is innovative, but it ultimately doesn't go far enough.

Video Game Talk ( )

Eidos' Battlestations: Midway brings a lot of innovation to the table. The strategy elements work well and the action plays out fast and furious. Combining the two is a mixture that works towards the game's success but also proves to be a small recipe for disaster. Handling multiple units is no small task in huge fights and constantly having to micromanage your squadrons will leave you frustrated beyond reason. The online experience is decidedly better than the single player one and though both bare their flaws I wouldn't call either "bad". When these elements come together in the manner that they were intended there are few titles out there that can match Midway's scope and awe. I'm going to recommend this title if you're looking for a unique wartime game.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (7 out of 10)

The traditionalist in you wants it to be one thing or the other, but by the time you're done with it you'll admire the flexibility on offer. You might even wish that other action games would give you the kind of tactical flexibility that Battlestations Midway offers - or you might even start to hanker for more hands-on action in real-time strategy games. Despite the largely successful genre splicing apparent, it's not a game that gets everything spot-on - with a short campaign, over-long tutorial and uneven difficulty, there's room for significant improvement for the inevitable sequel. For now, you'll just have to settle for game that's midway between good and brilliant.

GameSpy ( )

For fans of the WWII genre, Battlestations: Midway is a pretty safe bet. The game stands apart from the usual war game fare. If you're willing to put a lot of time and effort into learning the various intricacies of the game's multiple controls, you're likely to get more than a little enjoyment out of the title. For the standard gamer though, the game's steep learning curve and hit or miss multiplayer experience may deep six most of the fun.

Games TM (7 out of 10)

Imagine any of the Battlefield games minus on-foot and first-person bits and you'll have a good idea what Midway is essentially about. (...) Battlestations Midway manages to capture, in all its disparate and anomalous glory, that epic and intense feeling of combat on a truly large scale. While it manages to irk much more than we would have liked, it makes up for it with many amazing moments. (...) For Battlestations: Midway it's those moments that define it and save it from bargain bin obscurity. No, it isn't perfect... but since when has war ever been?

Cheat Code Central (3.4 out of 5)

Ultimately, Battlestations: Midway is a fairly fun gaming experience, especially for those interested in war simulators. RTS fans might find it a little simple, but might find the emphasis on action a pleasing surprise. Action fans might find the strategy a little dull, but with the simplicity of the commands they'll find themselves in the thick of the action as often as they like. Although the single-player is short, the multiplayer adds replayability that fans of the genre can enjoy for a long while.

Game Shark (B-)

Battlestations Midway is a welcome change from the traditions first person World War II shooting games that have been all the rage over the last few years and if you like naval warfare, there really aren’t many games out for the 360 besides this one to get your fix. Because the game is such a mix of action and strategy and the single player mode is short, I would recommend a rental before you go out and pick this one up.

Gamer Within (6.3 out of 10)

Battlestations Midway should keep most strategic naval fans satisfied for a reasonable period of time. While some may argue that the game’s single player campaign offering is on the short side the addition of numerous challenge missions and a solid online multiplayer offering combines to serve plenty of hours worth of gameplay. Despite this, the game certainly isn’t for everyone, and a rental to see if it’s what your after prior to purchasing it is recommended.

Computer Bild Spiele (2.86 out of 6)

Die Version für Xbox 360 unterscheidet sich weder grafisch noch spieltechnisch von der PC-Ausgabe. Mehrspielerpartien können Sie jedoch nur austragen, wenn Sie bei Xbox-Live angemeldet sind. Die komplexe Steuerung mit dem Gamepad ist zwar anfangs etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig, doch nach ein paar Einsätzen mit verschiedenen Vehikeln haben Sie den Bogen raus.

GameCell UK (6 out of 10)

To be fair to Eidos, I think that they've done a good job with a concept that is always going to struggle to become a great game. I applaud them for trying and even getting the product to market, but I wonder whether trying to reconcile the differences between a strategy game and an action game is even possible.

Thunderbolt Games (6 out of 10)

Battlestations: Midway isn’t bad, but its ambitious mixture of action and real-time strategy doesn’t translate into an exciting and engaging game. It isn’t until you’re half way through the singleplayer that you’re allowed to command any decent number of units and the story only has eleven missions anyway. World War II enthusiasts will enjoy its strategic nature and appreciate its historical accuracy, but for everyone else this is worth little more than a rental.

Digital Press - Classic Video Games (6 out of 10)

Battlestations Midway will find its audience. While the cover depicts a scene of stunning action, the laborious pacing once into game play will grip only a dedicated audience. This is one that has "cult hit" written all over it.

Jeuxvideo.com (11 out of 20)

Battlestations : Midway est-il un jeu de stratégie pour les fans d'action, ou l'inverse ? Tantôt agréable, tantôt poussif, le soft a tout de même le mérite d'offrir quelque chose de nouveau sur console. Si vous pouvez faire abstraction de sa réalisation décevante et de sa difficulté conséquente, vous pourrez trouver de quoi vous satisfaire dans les eaux tumultueuses du Pacifique.