It's only after further examination that the game's flaws start to poke holes in the illusion, crippling what could have been an incredibly immersive game. The graphics are some of the best we've ever seen in a tactical simulation from any period. Ships, water and land are rendered in great detail, right down to individual crewmen moving around on the decks at the closest zoom levels. Fast-moving ships build a crest of curling, white water along their sides and leave it foaming in their wake. Cannon belch thick, white smoke that drifts downwind as the shot crash into the enemy or fall into the sea.
Hits leave reminders in the form of holes in rigging and hull, as well as the occasional fire.
The sound effects are equally detailed, although at the default volume levels they're barely audible. A few volume adjustments in the Options screen help bring them out. The whole is accompanied by an epic-sounding score in the cinematic style that helps set the mood. Some stuttering was heard in the music after playing for a while, detracting from the effect. As good as the aesthetics are, spending a few hours with AOS II soon reveals that the gameplay just doesn't measure up.