Pacific Fleet Unboxing

About Pacific Fleet: Rise & Fall of the Japanese Empire, from BoardGameGeek:

From the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor to the final Allied offensives of 1945, Pacific Fleet is a grand-strategic simulation of the Second World War in the Pacific. Players command the full spectrum of naval, air, and ground forces, coordinating carrier task forces, long-range air power, amphibious invasions, and complex logistics across the largest theater of war ever fought. Gameplay is turn-based, with each turn representing roughly three months and divided into seven operational phases. Players form and maneuver task forces, conduct air strikes, surface battles, amphibious assaults, ground combat, and manage supply. Fog of war is central: task forces and ports can be hidden, forcing decisions under uncertainty. Aircraft carriers, land-based air power, submarines, and logistics are decisive tools. Victory depends on the scenario. Short scenarios focus on key battles like Guadalcanal or Midway; campaign games use victory points gained from sinking enemy ships, holding or capturing strategic locations, and maintaining operational momentum. Japan must gain land and key islands to form a solid wall early and decisively, or the Allies will survive, counterattack, and methodically dismantle Japanese power. Time is the ultimate enemy—especially for Japan. Designed for experienced wargamers, Pacific Fleet emphasizes operational realism without sacrificing playability. Hidden naval movement, limited sorties, supply constraints, and national doctrine ensure that every decision carries long-term consequences. Victory is never achieved through brute force alone, but through timing, intelligence, and strategic foresight. —description from the publisher