Campaign For The South PacificJust Flight is famous for providing gamers with top quality flight simulations whether they are new to the genre or experts. As one would expect the flight simulations vary considerably in difficult, some will be picked up easily by flight simulations virgins and others will only be mastered by those with a thorough knowledge of the period the game is based around. Sadly for gamers new to flight simulations this fits into the latter category.

GRAPHICS

Visuals serve the game well. When planning tactics gamers are presented with a map, navigation is easy as important places are marked on meaning gamers spend minimal time looking for the place they wish to attack. As one would expect as the gamer zooms in the map blurs and when moving out the quality of detail is sharper. In addition to the map there are various other screens that the gamers view such as huge databases. There are many databases each displaying different sets of information. Gamers can view databases on ships, planes and various other things. Uncommon Valour is not just about sets of information and maps (although this forms a core part of the game). Gamers are also treated to action scenes as they attack the enemy. Although the graphics aren't particularly spectacular one must remember that this is a strategy game and therefore the main aspect of the game is to carefully choose the right strategies to be victorious in the South Pacific campaign. The battle scenes are often fairly short but serve as a break rather than forming strategies for the entire duration of the game. In addition to the in game, graphics gamers also view actual war time photographs in black and white when selecting a mission and viewing the scenario briefing. The loading screens also show shots of the 1942-43 conflict and the opening to the game displays an FMV of the war! On the whole graphics aren't special but then again there is no need for them to be as the key part of the game is forming tactics not experiencing visual eye candy!

14/20

SOUND

Unsurprisingly the opening to the game is accompanied with wartime music setting the mood of the game. The opening shows huge explosions and the crashing of waves as the sea ripples. There are a few appropriate sound effects as each option is selected but on the whole sound isn't really needed. Continuous wartime music which kicks in can get a little repetitive whilst the sounds as various functions are selected are adequate. Sound is certainly not an integral part of Uncommon Valour and gamers won't really be at a disadvantage if they opt to turn the sound down completely.

(I)12/20

GAMEPLAY

For veterans of war, simulations with a vast knowledge on the South Pacific campaign Uncommon Valour is a god-send, for veterans of war simulations with little knowledge on the South Pacific campaign this game is all right, but at times a little tricky to grasp, and for beginners who have never played a war simulation before this is a nightmare! It is clear that the developers have put a lot of time and effort into Uncommon Valour and for gamers to get the full experience they must also put a lot of time and effort into Uncommon Valour. The first task that gamers must do is have a read through the 24-page manual. After this has been done they will have a feel for Uncommon Valour. Then they must wade through the PDF file provided with the game. After finishing all of the reading it is time to embark on the first mission - a tutorial. Many gamers will believe that a tutorial will simply involve a guided tour of the game with an electronic voice telling the gamer exactly what to do at what point. This is not the case with Uncommon Valour, instead gamers must re-read the 12-page tutorial section of the instruction manual and occasionally refer to the PDF file in order to complete the tutorial. For some gamers having done all this they will be left exhausted with an utter hatred for Uncommon Valour, however those that are used to advanced flight simulations will be begging for more. The main element of uncommon valour is choosing strategies that will enable the gamer to defeat the enemy. This is no mean feat in itself as the enemies are intelligent. Gamers must decide where to launch various attacks whether they are air or naval attacks. Gamers must constantly check the intelligence screen as this displays both the losses and conquests. Each scenario the gamer faces is based on challenges faced by historical commanders. This means there is no such thing as an easy challenge, something which no doubt pleases the developers. Gamers are awarded points for destroying enemy forces, and capturing and holding key locations. These points are then compared with how the historical commanders actually fared. Not only do gamers have to master the game and have relative success but they must better the historical commanders. For some this is simply impossible, for others it is a hard challenge. As Uncommon Valour concentrates on just the South Pacific campaign there is a wealth of information. Rather than looking at the whole war there is information on nearly everything that happened in the South Pacific. The atmosphere is recreated beautifully as gamers get the sense of working under pressure with few resources as commanders would have got in the war itself. Sadly there isn't a steady learning curve in this game as gamers must absorb a lot of information on commencing in order to play the game. If gamers' really think they have the skill to master this game then it will be a thoroughly rewarding purchase, but for those with no knowledge of the period playing this game is a death trap! It's a pity that there is nothing for gamers' to do with no interest in the period but this game was deliberately aimed at a niche market. For those who dare to play any further than the single player mode there is the prospect of play by e-mail for two players. This is very much a game with two sides. For those who persist it is an advanced, accurate recreation of the South Pacific campaign, but for those who do not have the willpower to read up on the game before playing it is frustrating and tedious.

20/25

LIFESPAN

It really does depend on what type of gamer you are when deciding how long the game will last. For those new to the game it may not even last two hours due to pure frustration as gamers fail to get to grasps with the controls and mechanics of the game, however for those who persist there are, quite literally, hundreds of hours of gameplay. Uncommon Valour becomes an addictive experience once the game gets going but it is a matter of on average around five campaigns before the gamer is really sucked into the depth of this game. Uncommon Valour is without a doubt an endurance test - many will fail to reach the first hurdle but for those who persist there are great rewards at the end. This is one of the most intensive war games available but can only be appreciated by the few who get into this game and play it fully.

20/25

ORIGINALITY

There is an overcrowded market of war simulations available but there really isn't anything quite like Uncommon Valour; it's demanding, it's realistic, and it's challenging. There aren't any games out there that provide this much detail on one single campaign in the Second World War. It is unique in the sense that it relies on little more than intelligent tactics. Despite this there are many other war games out there and there are games which rely on the sole use of tactics just not to this level!

7/10

OVERALL

It is interesting to see that the entire credits for Uncommon Valour consist of men. Regardless of this Uncommon Valour is the most demanding title to hit the shops in a long time. Uncommon Valour is not to be played by novices to war simulations and will only be appreciated fully by those with background knowledge on war simulations, the South Pacific campaign, and nerves of steel. Persistence is everything in this case, have you got the bottle to indulge?

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