Pacific Theater of Operations II on SNES is one of those games that looks simple at first—just moving little ships around a grid—but then suddenly it's 2 AM and you're still trying to outmaneuver the AI's destroyer fleet near Midway. You start off picking either Japan or the Allies, and right away you realize this isn't some arcade shooter; you're managing fuel, repairs, even pilot experience levels. Mess up your carrier positioning, and boom, there goes your air support.

The map's surprisingly detailed for a 16-bit game, with weather actually affecting visibility and movement. First time I played, I sent my battleships straight into a storm thinking it wouldn't matter—turns out typhoons don't care about your perfect battle plan. What's cool is how it mixes historical scenarios with "what if" flexibility. Yeah, you could play it safe and recreate textbook strategies... or you could gamble on a crazy flanking move with subs. Just don't blame me when the AI punishes you for getting cute.

It's definitely slower paced than modern RTS games, but there's something satisfying about watching your carefully plotted ambush actually work. The manual's practically required reading, though—good luck figuring out why your bombers keep missing without it. If you've got the patience for hex grids and supply lines, this one still holds up.