Graphics are good for a turn-based war game, where clarity is far more important than flashy details. We found the game was best played from a 2-D overhead perspective, but we frequently zoomed to a more detailed 3-D view to get a better sense of the situation at the front.

The interface is extremely easy to use, considering the sheer number of units a player can command. Rising Sun models hundreds of different instruments of war, from infantry units and tanks to heavy artillery batteries and defensive complexes such as bunkers. Mounting a successful attack (or defense) takes much more than simply throwing as many units at the enemy as possible--players must consider terrain, minefields, morale, supply, and myriad other factors they have little to no control over. The game is aimed more at seasoned war gamers than newcomers to the genre, but anyone with an interest in the war in the Pacific--and who has the modicum of patience required to sort out its intricate gameplay--will get months of enjoyment out of Rising Sun. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Terrific attention to detail
• Great interface
• Many scenarios and campaigns to play through

• Those new to war games may feel a little overwhelmed