I recently enjoyed playing Boat Crew, a thrilling single-player game developed by the indie team at Tabbing Tabby Game Studios. As a fan of strategy, tactical, and action games, I was immediately drawn to the concept of leading my tiny crew into battle, and I was not disappointed by the game's unique design and execution.

Tide of War

In Boat Crew, players take on the role of a commander tasked with leading their men to victory against the formidable Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The game's setting is immersive and well-crafted, with various dynamic environments that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, such as racing through the waves in your PT boat or engaging in fierce naval battles. The action is always hot and heavy and there's always a new challenge waiting around the corner.

One of the standout features of Boat Crew is the emphasis on crew management, which is relatively robust considering a small team developed it. As the Captain of your rag-tag team, you must constantly evaluate and deploy your men to their fullest potential, making strategic decisions about when and where to deploy them. Each crew member has their strengths and weaknesses, and learning to work with each of them effectively is crucial to success on the watery battlefield.

As you can tell, the action is fast-paced and intense, with plenty of opportunities for adrenaline-fueled excitement. Whether you're dodging shells from enemy battleships, shooting down Japanese Zero's, or unleashing a barrage of torpedo's of your own, there's never a dull moment. Using both keyboard and mouse, the game's controls are tight and responsive, making it easy to jump in and start wreaking havoc on the high seas.

Even with all the excitement around your PT boat, the game does have its shortcomings. For me, one major issue is the need for a multiplayer mode. While the game's single-player levels were enjoyable, what I wanted was to team up with friends to take on the enemy forces together. Additionally, the game lacks a dedicated sandbox mode, which would allow players to experiment with different strategies and tactics outside of the recently added campaign.

Boatload of Fun

Despite these shortcomings, Boat Crew remains a solid action game that offers a unique blend of strategy, suspense, and fun. The game's focus on crew management and tactical decision-making keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging, and the setting is immersive and well-crafted. Still, as I mentioned previously, the lack of multiplayer and sandbox modes may turn off some players looking for a more social or exploratory experience.

Overall, however, I highly recommend Boat Crew to anyone looking for a thrilling single-player action game with a strong emphasis on strategy and team building. The game's attention to detail and immersive setting make it a standout in the crowded action genre, and I can't wait to see what Tabbing Tabby has in store for us next.