Koei announces Warship Gunner

Koei has announced that it's working on a North American version of Warship Gunner, the latest in a series of naval battle games from the company. At the beginning of a mission, players will be given a briefing that will help them determine how to construct or retrofit their ship with various weapons, propulsion systems, aircraft, and defensive weaponry, though this process can be bypassed by selecting a ship based on actual naval vessels.

During the real-time battle portions of the game, players will have to destroy land- and water-based targets as well as different types of aircraft. Weather will also come into play over the course of a battle, making it difficult to see targets when there's a dense fog or a fierce storm. The game supports up to three different camera views, each of which is designed to give a tactical advantage when certain types of enemy fire are approaching the ship.

The final version of the game will include a warship evaluation system, a survival mode, a World War II mode, and a tutorial system designed to ease newcomers into the experience. Warship Gunner is scheduled for release on the PlayStation 2 this June.