Uncommon Valor: Campaign for the South Pacific

Uncommon Valor: Campaign for the South Pacific is a 2002 computer wargame developed by 2 by 3 Games and published by Matrix Games.[1] Designed by Gary Grigsby, it is a successor to Gary Grigsby's Pacific War and a precursor to War in the Pacific.

Uncommon Valor: Campaign for the South Pacific
Developer(s)2 by 3 Games
Publisher(s)Matrix Games
Designer(s)Gary Grigsby
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseMay 15, 2002
Genre(s)Computer wargame

Gameplay

Uncommon Valor is a turn-based computer wargame that simulates the war between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, with a focus on key conflicts in the South Pacific.[1]

Development

Uncommon Valor was revealed in January 2001. It was announced as the first of three titles under a deal between publisher Matrix Games and developer 2 by 3 Games, which had recently been co-founded by ex-Strategic Simulations members Joel Billings, Gary Grigsby and Keith Brors.[2][3][4]

Uncommon Valor was made as a successor to Gary Grigsby's Pacific War.[5] It was intended as a stepping stone and teaser toward 2 by 3's upcoming War in the Pacific, a full Pacific War follow-up made with the same game engine and general gameplay system as Uncommon Valor.[6][7] During development, Billings noted that Uncommon Valor was the smaller, more intimate counterpart to War in the Pacific, as it would portray the Pacific War at a smaller scale and with less detail than its planned successor.[7] Grigsby said that Uncommon Valor was nevertheless challenging to make and "overwhelming". He remarked that development "would have been much easier if we hadn't tried to be so darn detailed and realistic."[8] The game reached gold status in late April 2002,[9] and released on May 15.[10]

Reception

William R. Trotter of PC Gamer US was strongly positive toward Uncommon Valor. He concluded, "In my 12 years of reviewing wargames, I’ve never enjoyed a deeper, richer, more historically plausible simulation."[5] Writing for GameSpot, Stephen Poole argued, "Uncommon Valor takes much time to fathom, but after that time is over, you'll end up enjoying it greatly."[1]

Computer Gaming World's Bruce Geryk was less positive. While he called it "good", he noted serious flaws. He wrote, "[I]t's sort of a miniature version of Pacific War with a magnifying glass held over the Solomon Islands. On one level, this works. On another, it doesn't."[11] In PC Zone, Steve O'Hagan was more negative still, dubbing the game "interesting" but flawed even for dedicated wargame players, as its "ill thought-out interface ... practically collapses under the weight of the information and detail".[12]

References
  1. Poole, Stephen (June 11, 2002). "Uncommon Valor: Campaign for the South Pacific". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 27, 2004.
  2. Staff (January 4, 2001). "Matrix and 2BY3 Hold Hands". IGN. Archived from the original on August 3, 2002.
  3. Walker, Trey (January 3, 2001). "SSI Alumni Announce New Wargame Studio". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 17, 2002.
  4. Mayer, Robert (January 10, 2001). "Uncommon Valor: Campaign for the South Pacific First Look". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on April 19, 2005.
  5. Trotter, Willam R. (January 2, 2003). "Reviews; Uncommon Valor". PC Gamer US. Archived from the original on February 15, 2005.
  6. Geryk, Bruce (November 2004). "Reviews; War in the Pacific". Computer Gaming World (244): 87.
  7. Pawelek, Peter (February 14, 2001). "Interview with Joel Billings of 2BY3 Games". Combatsim. Archived from the original on April 25, 2005.
  8. Zabek, Jim; Wallace, Shaun (July 16, 2003). "Interview: Joel Billings and Gary Grigsby". Wargamer. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011.
  9. Butts, Steve (April 24, 2002). "Uncommon Valor Goes Gold". IGN. Archived from the original on August 6, 2003.
  10. Sulic, Ivan (May 15, 2002). "Uncommon Valor Ships". IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2004.
  11. Geryk, Bruce (September 2002). "Reviews; Uncommon Valor". Computer Gaming World (218): 88.
  12. O'Hagan, Steve (September 2003). "Reviews; Uncommon Valour". PC Zone (132): 90.
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