We're on a loser with this one from the get go. Chances are you've already got a mental image of a dull PC-alike sim and nothing we're going to say is going to shift it. You probably aren't even going to read this far, are you?... What, still reading? Well, surprisingly enough, Naval Ops is actually quite a laugh. Think of the game as a seaborne mech title, without the mechs and you'll be in the right ball pack. Think action with RPG elements and you'll be bang on the money.

We'll gloss over the warship-sucked-into-a-parallel-Earth-in-the-stranglehold-of-an-evil-'Empire' storyline. It's set up purely to green-light a mixture of real and futuristic naval weaponry. You start off with your run-of-the-mill hulking great destroyer and embark on missions designed to cripple the enemy using guns, depth charges, cannons, torpedoes and even carrier-borne aircraft.

What raises the game above plodding pugwashery is the neatly thought-out control system. Steering your ship is immediate (unrealistic perhaps, but a wise move) and can be yoked to the targeting camera or left independent of it. The radar is superimposed over the screen, making navigation a breeze, and defensive measures are smartly mapped to a single game button. The end result is a combat game that rewards curiosity with surprising depth (charges). See what we did there? Oh, never mind. Ratchet & Clank 2's up next.

Graphics 70%
A hell of a lot of sea, but it's atmospheric stuff.

Sound 60%
Stirring soundtrack with thumping canvas.

Gameplay 60%
Building a better ship can draw you in...

Lifespan 70%
If hooked, you'll be splicing mainbraces for ages.

Overall 70%
Solid presentation, thoughtful controls and an unusual subject matter make for surprisingly enjoyable combat.