Guadalcanal: Semper Fi Series 2003

(from AP website:)

Panzer Grenadier finally moves to the Pacific with this game of the intense fighting between U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers and marines in the tense weeks of 1942. Twenty-four scenarios are included. Guadalcanal is a stand-alone game; no other game from the series is required to play any of the 24 scenarios.

Guadalcanal introduces several types of Marine units: Marine rifle, parachute and Raider units plus scouts. The Marines usually have very good morale, and have excellent leadership and strong firepower. Where they’re at time lacking is in support weapons: The Army gets first call on tanks and artillery, and the Marine versions on Guadalcanal are not up to the high quality of the riflemen.

Japan counters with Army and navy units of low firepower but fanatically high morale. Japanese artillery isn’t very good, their handful of tanks will barely keep out rifle bullets, and there are few direct support weapons. The key to Japanese success will be to enter close combat with the Marines, where the Japanese warrior spirit can be used to full advantage.

Scenarios cover a wide variety of actions. The maps, thought by many to be the most beautiful in the Panzer Grenadier series, cover “historical” terrain rather than the generic coverage of most other games in the series.