War in the South Pacific

War in the South Pacific was published in 1986 by SSI (Strategic Simulations, Inc.) for the Commodore 64, and the publisher's name is a statement of intent in itself. Through the eighties, SSI was practically synonymous with computer wargaming — strategy titles that aimed not to dazzle but to model real military conflicts as honestly as the hardware allowed.

The subject is announced by the title: the South Pacific theatre of the Second World War, a battlefield where carriers, supply lines and enormous distances decided outcomes. For a strategy game it is rich material, because it forces the player to think in weeks and thousands of kilometres rather than in single engagements — victory grows out of logistics long before any shots are fired.

SSI wargames carried a reputation for being demanding but fair. A top-down map, dense information and a manual as thick as an exercise book were standard equipment, and their audience bought them for precisely that: the pleasure of spreading out the Pacific of an evening and deciding where the fleet should go. The record lists one or more players, so the campaign could also be fought against a living opponent.

This is one of the catalogue's playable entries. You can open the campaign in your browser — OldGame.cz runs the game without any install — though the patience it demands is something you must bring yourself.