Just bought it and yes its a winner!

[Warspite3]

Just got the digital version right here from Matrix. Their download server was a bit slow, took about 15-20min but I never had any problems or regrets buying from here. In fact I have several games I bought from here, its how I usually do it. Well, after only playing for a short while, I can already say this game is a winner. While playing the Iwo Jima scenario, I quickly realized you just don't run in and beat enemy units. They are tough and put up strong resistance. I tell you I hit a Japanese infantry group with nearly everything I had including several carrier strikes and they were still there holding out. Sure I weakened them but they are hard as heck to flush out of their position. It takes careful planning of attack to push forward and get some progress. At last, man this game is a lot deeper then I thought, it will take a little time learning it especially since I never owned any of their previous titles. I find it reminds me just a bit of pacific general and those old talonsoft games such as rising sun but it seems much more realistic. Anyone still on the fence with this one, no worries the game is great and seems well worth the money especially for fans of pacific theater games.

[jomni]

How does it stack up to a WITP player?
As for me, I will only be able to play this tomorrow (weekend).

[Anraz]

Warspite3 , thanks for your recommendation.

[Warspite3]

ORIGINAL: jomni

How does it stack up to a WITP player?
As for me, I will only be able to play this tomorrow (weekend).

Well, I never really got into WitP like I thought I would. I do realize its a great game but I just never took the time to actually learn it like I wanted to. I still plan on getting AE eventually. I have spent a lot of time on HoI3 and MH, games like that. You see SotP has that wargame type feeling that I like and remember from some of the really good games back in the mid-late 90s. Its been a while since I came across something like that. I know for sure that I will be playing SotP a lot! So to sum it up, I am not sure you can really compare the two games other then both are pacific theater. Its about like comparing HoI3 to MH I don't know which one of those I like better but I know I play them both a lot. In the end I personally would think a WitP player would like SotP because of the very different play style and still based on the pacific theater.

[Rasputitsa]

The best game is the game you play, there are many great games and I have some, including WitP, but can't give the time they require, however good they are. I played the Barbarossa scenario in WW2-ToW and got to Moscow in 2 nights play, I can now play another Nation, or another scenario, without losing my wife.

SotP looks a little more daunting, as I haven't fully understood the gameplay yet, but looks just as rewarding. [:)]

[Kubel]

Well I jumped straight into Iwo Jima....so far so good [:D]
Something to do while awaiting my AE PBEM oppnent

[jomni]

Played pacific campaign as US and the Japanese invaded Pearl Harbor in January 1942.
No one was there to defend.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: jomni

Played pacific campaign as US and the Japanese invaded Pearl Harbor in January 1942.
No one was there to defend.

Did you move the forces out of Hawaii?

[winky51]

How does it compare to old school Pacific War. I still love that version. A hex version would be nice.

The new Pac War is simply too much. I don't care if Tom Adams bailed out of his F4F was captured by the Japanese and tortured for information kind of details.

[Kubel]

[:)] Well I finished Iwo Jima.... [:D] and quite liked it .... thumbs up from me. On to more scenarios

[jomni]

Old school Pacific War is still more accurate in simulating the theater (of course WITP is the best).
This game feels more "gamey" than simulation.  It's a fun game but still does not give the immersion that I get in WITP and PacWar.

My main gripes are the cute graphics (it's nice but I'd like more serious ones... waiting for mods.)
...and the stacking restrictions. One land or air unit per land hex does not encourage historical island hopping strategy.  Why will I bother taking an island where I can't put air units?

[Rasputitsa]

I felt the same about WW2-ToW, but now with the Agent S unit and map mod I have a great looking game for an old gamer. The flexibility of the game system, you can set out separate named HQ units with specific leaders and a division, Corps, Army organistation. The ability to build units up (I have now got a method to split them down again) and rename them to reflect the changes. This has the promise to provide a really good game, without the overwhelming workload of other titles. [:)]

[mbar]

ORIGINAL: jomni
My main gripes are the cute graphics (it's nice but I'd like more serious ones... waiting for mods.)
...and the stacking restrictions. One land or air unit per land hex does not encourage historical island hopping strategy. Why will I bother taking an island where I can't put air units?

Even with the map switched to "stylized" and the units on "counters?"

[Rasputitsa]

No question the graphics are really good, but on larger scale views, the counters are not easy to see country by country. Said this several times, but unit and map mods made for WW2-ToW will work well in this game. [:)]

[jomni]

ORIGINAL: mbar

ORIGINAL: jomni
My main gripes are the cute graphics (it's nice but I'd like more serious ones... waiting for mods.)
...and the stacking restrictions. One land or air unit per land hex does not encourage historical island hopping strategy. Why will I bother taking an island where I can't put air units?

Even with the map switched to "stylized" and the units on "counters?"

Counters are too shiny. [;)]

[Razz1]

You can use the graphic pictures from the Rising Sun Mod to easily distingush what your unit are from a distant zoom out.

Differnt size and levels have different pictures for each county.

[jomni]

Cool!