The scenarios are realistic and enjoyable, but since there are only 17, you may get bored in a hurry. Fortunately, with the game's powerful editor, you can create your own naval battles. In campaign mode, you'll command a U.S. Navy ship during the War of 1812. You can command sloops and brigs in this mode, but the real fun starts when you step onto the virtual quarterdeck of a 44-gun frigate. The campaign unfolds as a series of uneventful days, interspersed with random encounters with British merchant vessels and warships.
Campaign mode is enjoyable but a bit too random at times.
Also, no option is available for campaigning for the British, Dutch, French, or Spanish fleets. In both modes, the battles take place over a series of turns. One false maneuver can leave your ship helplessly taken aback. The helpful manual explains many naval terms and tactics. Also, WSIM crashed periodically when run in a Microsoft Windows 95 DOS box.