PT Boats: Knights of the Sea
Preview
This one offers a realistic and fun simulation of the PT Boats during the 2nd World War
by Howie Howard
previewed on PC
Wonderful graphics and sounds
The graphics and sound are really exquisite in their presentation. As you watch your boat make it's way through the blue seas you will be amazed at the appearance of the water splashing across your bow. The ripples in the water look very lifelike and the shells that will inevitably be splashing around your boat look like you could reach out and touch them. The game sports an improved version of the Storm 2 engine and your boat will realistically bob up and down on the open seas. This one will be called Storm 2.5 and the improvements are wonderful. As commander, when you give an order to the crew you can expect it to be carried out in all of its glorious 3D detail. If you are successful in a torpedo run on an enemy vessel you will be rewarded with the visual effects of the opposing ship exploding into a huge fireball. As the ship slowly sinks you will see the crew scrambling to abandon ship. It's a visually pleasing and realistic experience.
Game sounds are good. You can expect the explosions and machine gun fire sounds to pour out of your speakers much like if you were actually present in the heat of battle. If you are unlucky enough to have your boat sunk from under you then you will be rewarded or rather un-rewarded with the sound of your ship breaking up as it sinks to Davy Jones Locker! Fortunately for you, you will be able to call in one of your other boats in the squad to pick you up.
Then you can say that you really did experience a Kennedy in a PT boat moment. As you sail along you can expect to hear music from the period but who would want to listen to music when you can hear the drone of twin 1000 horsepower diesel engines. The sound of a fierce battle raging around you will certainly keep you on your toes and glued to your screen.
In conclusion
As far as war simulators go Akella knows what they are doing, both in the graphics department and the game play and computer AI areas. In addition, there will be a multi-player mode where you can battle either with or against up to 16 of your friends. In the cooperative mode you can assign a friend to man (or woman) each of the positions on the boat. Bear in mind though, as commander you will have to be able to coordinate your fight plan perfectly. You will be able to do this via online text communications. If you have one crewmate that fails in their job then you and your crew will certainly not live to see another battle. With all of that said... Ahoy Matey, man your battle stations, rev up those engines, target those torpedoes and get ready for the sea battle of ye life!
