The First Kuril Crisis (Beta)

Pre-Play Reminder

I underestimated how complicated it would be to edit via .ini files. It turned out to be far more complex than I imagined, and I really should have listened to Baltazar’s advice earlier. At the moment, because the official editor can only edit a limited number of elements, plus the fact that this is my very first attempt, you will definitely encounter a variety of issues — such as events not triggering correctly, enemy forces being either too strong or too weak, text errors, and more.

If you mind such problems, I strongly recommend waiting until the campaign is fully completed before giving it a try.

Also, note: the in-game story does not represent my personal political stance.

The First Kuril Crisis (Beta)

As the U-2 incident continued to escalate, the United States urgently needed a concrete military operation to restore its international prestige, which had been badly damaged by strategic setbacks. F-4 fighters were deployed to the Far East ahead of schedule, while Japan, whose frictions with the Soviet Union were intensifying, gradually became the perfect stage for America to demonstrate its determination.
The Kuril Islands — lying between the North Pacific and the Sea of Okhotsk — became the exact hotspot where the interests of all three parties clashed.

Mission 1 – Frozen Seas (Soviet Union)

As part of the Soviet Pacific Fleet, you are constantly on guard, defending Soviet territorial waters from intrusion. Since the upgrade of the U.S.–Japan security treaty, American and Japanese reconnaissance planes have been flying dangerously close, with reports of probing activities piling up.
Today, more reports come in: Japanese fishermen and unidentified vessels have illegally entered Soviet waters. Expel them, Commander. The Soviet Union’s maritime sovereignty cannot be violated — it’s time to respond with decisive force.

Mission 2 – Broken Messenger (Soviet Union)

The arrival of America’s advanced fighter jets shocked everyone — but even greater news arrived from the KGB: U.S.–Japan provocations were far more severe than expected, to the point of being acts of war. Meanwhile, anger spread like wildfire across Tokyo’s Defense Agency.
To bring this crucial intelligence home, you — as the commander of the evacuation mission — will need both clever tactics and sheer luck.

Mission 3 – Shattered Strait (Japan) (Work in Progress – Not Recommended to Play)

Routine drills quickly turn into wartime readiness. You are confident in your ability to drive the invading Soviets back home — or bury them at sea.
On the way to the Hakodate Strait, grim news circulates: reports claim a medical ship has been sunk. The horrific live images make the Soviet excuse of “verifying military cargo” seem painfully hollow.
Escort the supply ships. Defend against Soviet missile boats. This time, civilization will stand on your side.

Mission 4 – Frozen Sōya (Soviet Union)

Japan celebrates its “victory” at Hakodate like it’s fine wine, drunk on illusions of triumph. It’s time to shatter that illusion. Landing forces stand ready. The main fleet has already set sail. Prepare to storm the Sōya Strait and show those who think they’ve won what it truly means to oppose the Soviet Union.
For some, only guns and steel can teach the true value of peace.

Mission 5 – Frost and Lone Flag (Japan)

You don’t quite understand when exactly the Japanese Diet gained such influence — perhaps there are better solutions than the orders you’ve been given. But the mission happens to be one of your specialties.
Prepare your fast boats and head for the Kuril Islands. Defend the archipelago. Show the Soviets that Japan does not fear.

Mission 6 – The First Kuril Crisis (United States)

The Kuril gamble has spun out of control like a runaway horse. It’s time to put an end to it. If the Soviet Union’s wrath is not contained, the whole of Japan could face disaster.
Now is the time for the beacon of the Free World to shine. Lead the mighty 7th Fleet and bring this crisis to a conclusion.

What You’ll Experience

Innovative gameplay, leaving “wasted time” behind.

Complex mechanics and brand-new defensive modes.

A unique scoring system where your decisions directly affect the outcome of the Kuril Crisis.

A true “just like 2077 marketing” experience — another round of “actual gameplay may vary.”

Supported Languages

English, Chinese, Russian — including reports, objectives, and even small, easy-to-miss map labels. (But yes, all machine-translated, including this very sentence.)

Known Issues (Read Before Deciding to Download)

Operation orders fail to display (caused by .ini modifications; cannot be fixed directly in the editor).

Mission 2 late-game AI lacks initiative (AI won’t attack even in visible range; no solution yet).

Mission 3 design flaws: overuse of bombings, missile boats are too difficult, alternate routes too easy, wrong boat models used.

Mission 5 problems: hidden planes spawn too close, defending the main island is too difficult, missile boat model is incorrect (late-era type), AI upgrade may cause boats/landing forces to attack key targets instantly, causing instant mission failure.

Mission 5 transport helicopters may be wasted (“unit enters area” trigger cannot repeat; but since units can move underwater, not too severe).

Mission 6 ending may not trigger (theoretically fixed, but untested).

Mission 4 helicopter supply bug: resupplying counts as “destroyed” because the game respawns them after landing; system fails to track destruction correctly. (Planned fix: add hint text and improve triggers).

Final Notes

Keep in mind, this is essentially my first attempt, more of an experiment than a polished release. My goal was to break away from the monotonous “endless shooting” style common in the Workshop. Given my limited skills, the editor’s restrictions, and other factors, I’d call this attempt more of a failure than a success — but I’ll keep trying.

I’ll continue improving as the editor evolves, until either I’m satisfied, or I can no longer continue.

So, with that said — have fun! ╰(°▽°)╯