Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack!

In ‘Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack!’, you play as a lone turret gunman for the United States armed forces during the historic attack on Pearl Harbor. Your mission is to shoot down Japanese bombers while avoiding friendly fire, with the goal of saving the harbor and rewriting history.

Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack!: Review

Introduction

Released in 2001 by ASYLUM Games and published by Activision Value Publishing, Inc., Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! is a first-person action game that thrusts players into the chaos of the historic attack on Pearl Harbor. As a turret gunman for the United States armed forces, players must fend off the Japanese bombers and protect the harbor. With its straightforward premise and simplistic gameplay, it’s easy to dismiss Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! as a forgettable, run-of-the-mill shooter. However, a closer examination reveals a game that not only captured the spirit of a pivotal moment in history but also contributed to the evolution of certain gameplay mechanics in the action genre. This review will dissect the various aspects of Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack!, exploring its development context, narrative, gameplay mechanics, world-building, and its reception and legacy.

Development History & Context

ASYLUM Games, the developer behind Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack!, was known for producing games that often focused on historical events or simple, arcade-like gameplay. The studio operated during a period when the gaming industry was witnessing a surge in the production of World War II-themed games, and Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! was released during a time when the event was still a significant cultural touchstone, thanks in part to the early 2000s media coverage and the release of the film Pearl Harbor (2001).

The technological constraints of the era dictated that Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! would be a relatively straightforward game, focusing on simple, accessible gameplay rather than complex narratives or sophisticated graphics. The game’s use of a first-person perspective and mouse controls for turret rotation reflects the influence of early 3D shooters and the limitations of gaming hardware at the time.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The narrative of Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! is straightforward: players are tasked with defending Pearl Harbor against the Japanese attack. The game starts with a brief setup of the situation, and then players are immersed in the action. The “narrative” is largely conveyed through the gameplay experience itself and supplementary features like radio broadcasts, including Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “infamy” speech after each level.

The game’s thematic focus is on action and defense rather than on exploring the complexities of the historical event. It presents a binary scenario where the player must protect American lives and infrastructure from the Japanese threat. The inclusion of a damage meter that decreases as the harbor is bombed adds a layer of urgency and consequence to the player’s actions.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

The core gameplay of Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! revolves around controlling a turret gun to shoot down enemy bombers while avoiding friendly fire on American planes. The game is played in a first-person perspective, with the mouse used to rotate the turret 360 degrees. The gameplay is simple: destroy as many enemy bombers as possible within the time limit while minimizing damage to the harbor.

The game features a time meter and a damage meter, which serve as the primary indicators of the player’s performance. The damage meter, in particular, adds a layer of challenge, as it penalizes the player for failing to intercept bombers. After each level, a map displays the extent of the damage to various structures, providing feedback on the player’s performance.

However, the gameplay mechanics are not particularly innovative. The critic from 7Wolf Magazine noted that the game didn’t bring anything new to the “turret/ machine gun simulator” genre, suggesting that it was more of a simplistic shooter that could kill time rather than offer a deeply engaging experience.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The setting of Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! is its most compelling aspect, transporting players to the chaotic environment of the 1941 attack. While the graphics may seem dated by today’s standards, they were likely adequate for a game released in 2001. The sound design, including the authentic radio broadcasts, adds to the immersive experience, grounding the gameplay in historical reality.

The atmosphere is tense and chaotic, with the sound of air raid sirens, explosions, and gunfire creating an immersive experience. The visual representation of the harbor and the aircraft provides a sense of authenticity, even if the graphics are not particularly detailed.

Reception & Legacy

Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! received a mediocre reception upon its release. The critic from 7Wolf Magazine scored it 40%, indicating a lackluster experience. The player reviews echoed this sentiment, with an average score of 0.8 out of 5 based on a single rating.

Despite its lackluster critical reception, Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! has a legacy as part of a series. It was followed by Pearl Harbor: The Day of Infamy in 2003, indicating that it had some commercial or audience success. The game also represents a specific moment in the gaming industry’s fascination with World War II themes and the evolution of simple, arcade-like shooters.

Conclusion

Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! is a game that, while not groundbreaking in terms of gameplay or narrative, captures a significant historical moment and provides a tense, action-packed experience. Its simplistic gameplay mechanics, while not innovative, serve to immerse the player in the chaos of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The game’s setting, atmosphere, and historical nods are its strongest aspects, making it a notable entry in the catalog of early 2000s World War II games. While it may not have aged well in terms of graphics or gameplay complexity, Pearl Harbor: Attack! Attack! remains a fascinating snapshot of gaming culture and technology at the turn of the millennium.