14 DAY TRIAL // The Japanese are advancing, in the dark, and manage to get pretty close to the Marines without drawing fire. It’s raining, which makes the situation around Henderson Field even more miserable for those looking to shed blood for this strategic position.
When my defensive fire phase starts, I try to focus fire on a few units, hoping for at least a few casualties. My luck with the dice cannot overcome the positive modifiers enemy squads have so I only manage one hit, as the Japanese infantry moves even closer to my positions during their assault phase.
My marines now face a tough choice. They can fire during their turn but that means they are unable to retreat to avoid a close-quarters engagement. Or they can move and give up the chance to inflict casualties. I use my mortars for support, which pin one enemy group, and bring my entire force to a smaller perimeter. It should allow me to better focus fire and eliminate at least a few Japanese units as they close the distance.
Valor & Victory: Pacific is developed by Yobowargames and published by Slitherine Ltd. This is a downloadable content pack for the turn-based tactical title, giving players access to a new theater of war while introducing new factions, Imperial Japan and China.
As the name makes clear, scenarios will take players to some of the most complex and difficult battlefields of World War II. The battles at Guadalcanal, centered on the airfield hastily built at Henderson Field, are often forgotten but were incredibly tense for both the Marines and their Marine opponents.
Players will also battle to control the Kokoda trail, where Australian forces performed impressive feats of bravery, and will find how hard it the island hoping campaign conducted by the United States was. The fight for the logistically critical Burma Road is also featured.
Valor & Victory offers gameplay built around turns and dice rolls. There are no major changes introduced by Pacific. Each side has a turn made up of phases, allowing players to use strategic assets, fire at the enemy, move their own units, and assault positions. A defensive fire phase gives the opponent a chance to react. Click on a stack to see what units make it up and their capabilities.
Combat is resolved via dice, with modifiers simulating the unique conditions on the battlefield and the situation of each squad. Roll to hit an enemy and then again to determine the effect. Repeat and then give the initiative to your opponent. The system will deliver surprises but the principles of real-world combat matter. Keep infantry hidden or in cover, provide plenty of long-range fire, if possible, and concentrate forces to achieve objectives.
Valor & Victory is very traditional when it comes to presentation and the DLC does not tweak that. Yes, we’re now fighting in the jungle, but these are still moving unit cards through a relatively barren environment. The interface mostly works while the soundtrack is uplifting but only plays in menus, while battle effects are limited.
Conclusion
The pack is a Yay for those who know the history of these battlefields and like turn-based strategy gameplay. The problem is that the DLC does not tweak the mechanics in any significant way. Valor & Victory is decent as an introductory wargame but does not have the depth of other titles in the genre.
Review key provided by the publisher.
