I am seeing a lot of discussion about this or that is more or less historically accurate. While I am sure all the play testers and Larry wanted to be somewhat historical in their game (It is based on world war II after all) we do need to remember it is a game and games need to start off “fair.”
I am using quotes on that because unlike Chess, there just is no possible way to set up this board to be exactly even for both sides. For one thing, one side has more countries than the other!
That said. If America ignores the Pacific, the allies should lose. Period. The game should be built around that basic premise, and it is. Japan can easily sweep down, crush England and ANZAC and move to take Hawaii without serious American interest in stopping them. (Isn’t it nice that this aspect is historically accurate? America threw a lot of Marines and Army Air Corps into the Pacific to stop Japan while tackling Europe.)
What I do not have a problem with is America all but ignoring Europe. (Note, I am talking the continent, not the board.)
So the Axis having the ability to “snipe” a win in the old M84, AARe style is all good for me. The one thing I would change is to move the VC in Ottowa to Central Persia.