The objective of the game is to clear the island of Japanese defenders and capture 7 key objectives. However, that alone does not guarantee a victory. In order to truly excel, the player must meet their objectives while also limiting their own casualties and bettering the timetable of the actual battle.
Each turn represents a full day of the battle. Each turn plays out in a number of phases:
- Invasion Phase (Happens once only on turn 1)
- Japanese Invasion Bombardment Phase (Happens once only on turn 1)
- Marine Reinforcement Phase
- Marine Support Phase
- Marine Movement Phase
- Japanese Opportunity Fire
- Japanese Artillery Phase
- Japanese Combat Phase
- Marine Combat Phase
- Marine Replacement Phase
- Night Phase
- Record Phase and end of turn summary
During each turn, the player can decide which of their units receives support, move units, and engage in combat. While moving, the players’ units may discover previously hidden enemy units. Japanese units will also conduct harassing opportunity fire against Marine units moving in the open, often inflicting casualties. When the player has finished moving their units, the Japanese will call in artillery strikes and then conduct attacks against Marine units in contact. Surviving Marine units will then conduct their own attacks on the Japanese. Each day ends with a night phase, during which the Japanese will conduct infiltration or Banzai charge attacks.
On some turns, the player may receive reinforcements, which represent follow-up waves of units from the participating Marine divisions. The player may also receive replacements, which can be used to make up for some of the losses that have been inflicted by the Japanese.
At the end of each turn, the game will inform the player of the status of each of their objectives. If any of the endgame conditions have been met, the game will inform the player of their victory (or defeat). The game is finished at the end of turn 35, or D-Day+34.
