How's Silent Hunter 5 compared to III & IV?

[hellas1]

Hi all,

Long time no post!

I was wondering:
On the S.H.5 box, it says that one can play multiple WWII german submarines.

However, Reviewers state that you can only play 1 type of sub.

Tell me, IS this game worth the money or should I stick to S.H. III & IV?

Thanks much everyone!
Ooops, almost forgot...
:rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock:
Submarines kick ass!
hellas1

[Reaves]

Wait for the price drop and the patches and it will be great. I on the other hand purchased full price on release and have had the experience ruined for me as I'm not a fan of paying for beta releases. :down:

[mcarlsonus]

...no...

[severniae]

Its a good game. A little unfinished but still pretty good.

The ability to walk through the ship makes the game a little more atmospheric than earlier titles. There are already some good mods out there that sort out the major issues, and I think there's a patch on the way soonish too!

Funnily enough, I just re-installed SH4 to compare. I've got to admit I was surprised. Its funny just how used to SH5 I've become. I think some parts of the SH5 interface are a little more intuitive than the earlier games, and I didn't realise how much I'd come to love those jaw-dropping graphics! I really think that give this game a year or so and it will definitely be better than SH3 was!

Anyway, I'd suggest that if you can live with a few small bugs for now then I'd go and get it, I wouldn't pay full price for it, but if you can pick it up half price or something then its definitely worth it. I managed to pick it up for £12.99 from Amazon!

Oh, and in answer to your other question, yes, you can only command one sub (the type VII)

[lothos]

in all fairness, the engine is great its a 10 out of 10 I think. My gripe is with the interaction/interface mostly.

The DRM, quite honestly is not an issue of SH itself but what a manufacturer needs to attempt to protect its material to the best of its ability with the least impact on its customers. I'm not a fan of the choice myself, but you have to deal with what you got at present. I am an owner of Enigma:Rising Tide because of how much I love naval sims. I can no longer play it because the DRM they chose to use is incompatible with BOTH Windows Vista and 7 as well as 64 bit OS's.

As to the original question, I would advise waiting. Price drops, patches, and mods will come given a bit of time as feedback comes in and hopefully the product matures to our expectations.

[Méo]

Hi Hellas, and welcome back.

1) Yes, there's only the type VII and its variants (for the moment).

2) Like SH3 and SH4, SH5 was unfinished on release and needs a lot of work to make it ''valuable''.

Now, is it worth buying?

I did, but...

It's up to you! ;)

[Onkel Neal]

Good to see you, Hellas.:shucks:

[kylania]

It's fun now, it'll be even better with a 'fixed campaign' and more variety. I tried to go back to SH3, and just couldn't. Modded SH5 just "feels better" than SH3 does to me. The things it's missing will be added eventually, but it's quite enjoyable and fun for me.

[Reece]

SH3 is far better IMO!:up: and no OSP/DRM!:yep:

[conus00]

Graphics is definitely BETTER.
Playability is definitely WORSE.

Do you want bugged eyecandy or actual u-boat simulation?

Up to you to decide... :03:

[robbo180265]

It's fun now, it'll be even better with a 'fixed campaign' and more variety. I tried to go back to SH3, and just couldn't. Modded SH5 just "feels better" than SH3 does to me. The things it's missing will be added eventually, but it's quite enjoyable and fun for me.

This ^^^

I own the game too and Kylania is echoing the way I feel about SHIII. I could never go back nowadays, one look at the SHIII screenshots thread to see how dated it looks was enough to convince me.

It will be a while before the gameplay is good enough in SHV to completly write off SHIII , but it will happen in time.

SHV is the new kid on the block.

My advice to you is this - read Neal's review , read the reviews of the game owners here then make your mind up.

Oh and welcome back :up:

[Darkbluesky]

In the current state of things and imo, for u-boat simulation SH3 without doubts, as far as interface SH3 too (OLC/MaGUI,...), specially with the last mods where you can roam the almost-full boat and play the game in free mode and at the same time use the shorcuts to give orders and if needed teleport without the hassle of walking to the guy to tell him do that, etc.

As far as graphics, for exteriors (sea, land, ports, etc) SH5 without doubts (except maybe stormy weather, but that is a very personal taste), BUT for inside the uboat/interiors SH3 wins hands down (except crew models), even if the textures are low res and it lacks dynamic shadows. Even if SH5 has more polys, high res textures, nice bump maps, more crew members and crew dynamic shadows, the SH3's lighting design, textures choice, the shadows (static) design, colors, and sub interior detail, is much more immersive imo (I am talking of SH3 in its current state, with all the extended compartments, UIs, etc). Although even stock SH3 had immersion and atmosphere.

That is a real pity for SH5, it is very nice, huge potential...but it lacks immersion.

I see it just as an old movie vs a modern super-production, the modern movie is full of fancy effects, sophisticated lighting and special color processing, surround sound, HighDef, panoramic, impresive sequences (even too much!), and even 3D! and it is frankly spectacular...but cold, boring, short-lived, quick-forgotten/replaced by the new one and at the end lacking any charm, preventing to stick deep in your soul "for life" (you know; lack of good plot & dialogues, missing 1st class acting and interesting/non-intrusive camera work, etc...). On the other hand the old one, is 4:3, B&W, low def, mono sound, probably with scratches and spots in the stock material, but gosh! it hooks you from the very first seconds until you finish it...

We could do another example with ladies, but I let you guess it :O:

At this point I know that there are people that would not agree with me, that's ok. This is as me (and quite others) feel, so I guess that it have some base and it could be useful to share here.

I am aware also that I am comparing SH3 after several years of modding with a just-released SH5, in some way someone could consider it an unfair comparison (and it is), but if we see it as the choices anyone willing to play a subsim game has now, then it is fair to make this comparison.

And don't get me wrong, even if it could mean the dead of SH3 I would love to see SH5 becoming an uboat simulation at least as complete as SH3, with a really good UI, more clickable devices in 3D view (as SH3) and at the same time with a graphic environment as atmospheric and immersive as SH3 (which btw, it was already atmospheric in stock/vanilla version).
I don't have almost any doubts left that SH5 will become a better uboat simulation (likely as good as SH3 now), but I have strong doubts of it reaching the ambience and immersion of SH3, because although it is possible, it seems a lot of very hard work to rebuild textures, lights, light-maps, 3D models, etc only for arguable "atmosphere" reasons. Maybe someone will do it (and I wish it so much!), but...

At the end you will need to see what is more important for you, there are people that priorizes the simulation aspect, regardless of the graphics (no matter if the graphics are outdated or top notch but cold as ice :hmmm:), for others, modern and detailed graphics & effects have a big weight so they carry on with the rest even if it is not so good, and still there is another type which priorizes the immersion factor, which is a mix of simulation aspects and graphic quality, and which is still more subjective... I guess it is clear already which SH fits to each stereotype.

If you are not sure, then you could wait for price drop (and btw, for mods) as suggested, or depending where you live, it could be already really cheap (in Spain SH5 was released from day 1 at bargain price of 19.95 euros!).

My 2 cents

Cheers

[commandosolo2009]

Hi all,

Long time no post!

I was wondering:
On the S.H.5 box, it says that one can play multiple WWII german submarines.

However, Reviewers state that you can only play 1 type of sub.

Tell me, IS this game worth the money or should I stick to S.H. III & IV?

Thanks much everyone!
Ooops, almost forgot...
:rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock:
Submarines kick ass!
hellas1


It's like comparing SH3/4 = Cadillac, to SH5 = Fiat 128 :down::down:

BUY IT ONLY IF IT GETS TO $9... Thats the price proper considering all the trouble we had running this crapmeat..

Oh, and if there are 3 to 4 patches ahead, you then could buy at lower prices than Beta release..

The thing about brass, is that they release crap and expect modders to clean their mess up.. I dont know how you people could put up with this..

They earn thousands USD and you get no piece of the pie.. You still doing the old do it yourself approach..

Despicable:down::down::down:

[Nico09]

It's like comparing SH3/4 = Cadillac, to SH5 = Fiat 128 :down::down:

BUY IT ONLY IF IT GETS TO $9... Thats the price proper considering all the trouble we had running this crapmeat..

Oh, and if there are 3 to 4 patches ahead, you then could buy at lower prices than Beta release..

The thing about brass, is that they release crap and expect modders to clean their mess up.. I dont know how you people could put up with this..

They earn thousands USD and you get no piece of the pie.. You still doing the old do it yourself approach..

Despicable:down::down::down:

I had a 128 back in the day, quite a good car actually. better than a cadillac, well cheaper to run anyway :O:.


Hellas, SH5, but get it half price if you can. £12.98 at Game at the moment. http://www.game.co.uk/search.aspx?s=silent+hunter+5

[aurgolo]

Hello captains,

ive bought the collection edition of SH5 as im addicted to SH3-SH4 and cannot wait..... no matter about small bugs

definitely im experiencing some crash-to-desktop issue with carriers and trying to solve with ubi support team, but i can play single missions.... at least better than nothing by now

anyway, im going to love SH5 (i only played for a short time) but i have some doubt about interface and command system........ and i wonder why all the command system is changed...i have to learn it from scratch, and moreover i dont find the shortcuts to stations like: periscope, command room, map, torpedoes..... how is possible to play this way? ...:-(((

maybe i still need time to find the shortcuts but it seems they dont exist... i also cannot switch to second keyboard command system (how to?) and ability buttons dont work....

i think i need more time to workaround this issue but is u have any suggestion is welcome...

tks ciao

[thyro]

How's Silent Hunter 5 compared to III & IV?

SH3+mods = car
SH4+mods = motorbike
SH5+mods = todler's trycicle

[HundertzehnGustav]

How's Silent Hunter 5 compared to III & IV?

shifty.

edit:

SH3+mods = car
SH4+mods = motorbike
SH5+mods = todler's trycicle

excellent description of the situation.

[Faamecanic]

I see it just as an old movie vs a modern super-production, the modern movie is full of fancy effects, sophisticated lighting and special color processing, surround sound, HighDef, panoramic, impresive sequences (even too much!), and even 3D! and it is frankly spectacular...but cold, boring, short-lived, quick-forgotten/replaced by the new one and at the end lacking any charm, preventing to stick deep in your soul "for life" (you know; lack of good plot & dialogues, missing 1st class acting and interesting/non-intrusive camera work, etc...). On the other hand the old one, is 4:3, B&W, low def, mono sound, probably with scratches and spots in the stock material, but gosh! it hooks you from the very first seconds until you finish it...


Personally I view SH5 vs. SH3 like U2571 vs. Das Boot.

U-2571 was full of eye candy and a great looking, big dollar, hollywood production. But it was more of a "Action" movie (much like SH5 is touted as a "Action" game vs. sim). It looks good but falls short of immersion (due to all the bugs).

SH3 is Das Boot. A little older, not as polished (graphics wise), and with the inclusion of GWX 3.0, will have you on the edge of your seat everytime you play it.

WIth that said if this next patch TRULY address several key bugs (AI!! and interface) like I have seen said here.... then it will be good. What REALLY needs to happen to bring SH5 to a 9 out of 10 score is some depth with the RPG elements (crew interaction). But I have a feeling in a year or so MODS will make this and MUCH MORE happen.

SH5 is a diamond in the rough...VERY ROUGH. I will be interested to see where it ends up in a year.

[Westbroek]

I wouldn't go quite so far as to say SH5 = U571...
Let's be fair...

[aurgolo]

to be honest......... i dont know what to think, i still cannot play carreers as the game crashes, i tried to play some single mission but i cannot as i dont know how to manovreur the sub...........

is it possible that in 2010, 40 years after the man landed on the moon........ is not possible to play with a game without getting crazy? the command system is completely changed from SH3 and SH4.........for which reason? nobody knows......just to get people crazy?
And slso some command does not work... i press the key but nothing happen... it is ridiculous........really

comeon how is possible to play this way........i go back to SH3 and wait 1 year, maybe willing modders will turn the destiny of SH5..... even if it is very sad to wait willng modders to play a game.....

[Sardaukar67]

I wouldn't go quite so far as to say SH5 = U571...
Let's be fair...

Compared to fully modded and patched SH III or SH IV it is. I doubt SH V lives that long. To edit, hopefully it will be like Windows VISTA for MS. :O:

[stoneys-nutz]

Buy it.
Graphics are great and the mods are slowly turning it into a playable sim.

[Athlonic]

How's Silent Hunter 5 compared to III & IV?

SH3+mods = car
SH4+mods = motorbike
SH5+mods = todler's trycicle


Hmmm, I would rather say :

SH3+mods = car
SH4+mods = motorbike
SH5 vanilla = todler's trycicle
SH5+mods = spaceship

:D

[msxyz]

Let's talk about stock game.

Because that's what 90% of the people outside this forum play and because that's what you're forking out your money from. MODs are a free and welcome addition, but that's all.

SH3 stock = a few (non grame braking) bugs, some design flaws that could be exploited, nice interface, great ship variety both targets and subs, ran well on old machines

SH4 stock = a few serious bugs, interface was somehow a step back, great ship variety but sub choice was lukewarm (they looked all too similar), required a decent rig for the time.

SH5 stock = ??? :hmmm:

I see a trend, here.

Me? I would gladly buy a game like GWX 3 for 50€ instead of a half finished, content starved, DRM ridden game like SH5 and have to install a plethora of MODs to bring it in good shape.

[The General]

@MSXYZ

SH5 is like $15 now. Whadda you want?! If your a true Subsim fan you would've bought it already. Maybe this Forum isn't for you? :hmmm:

[aurgolo]

i even pre-ordered the collection edition of SH5 as im addicted to SH 3 and SH4 (also at that time i pre-ordered the collection ed)...... and now im thinking to wait 1 year before playing SH5..........

comeon UBI......... be serious, this time u guys exaggerated

[msxyz]

@MSXYZ

SH5 is like $15 now. Whadda you want?! If your a true Subsim fan you would've bought it already. Maybe this Forum isn't for you? :hmmm:

I've played it at a friend house in three different occasions for a whole afternoon. And each time I found that the criticism expressed here is more than justified. That's why I keep reading this forum but refuse to buy the game. DRM is another issue but I'll keep it out of the discussion.

Price is not an issue for me. 10, 50 or even 100€ would be ok for a proper subsim and not some graphic assets thrown in together hastily on a 5 years old engine which still retains most of the original bugs from the past.

It seem Ubisoft didn't really invest into this game. It was released in a state that it would take 6+ months to a fully funded software team to finish it. Heck, when it's mid 40 and all the merchants you can find around are Liberty (!), Cimarron tankers and C2 transports, this alone should be a clear clue that whatever content it was originally planned, it has been left out and replaced with what was currently available.

Maybe patch 1.2 will save the day, fix all the AI bugs, introdfuce type II, IX and XXI as well as a good variety of merchants comparable to what was offered in the stock SH3/4. I'm not holding my breath, though.

[Watson]

Back on SH3 now, enough said :damn:

[IanC]

How's Silent Hunter 5 compared to III & IV?

SH3+mods = car
SH4+mods = motorbike
SH5+mods = todler's trycicle


That pretty much sums it up. :lol:
The only hope now is if the modders can turn the tricycle into some kind of cool motorbike, time will tell.

[Sailor Steve]

Not having SH5 myself, I can only go by what I've read, and taking every comment together I would say that SH5 is low on the list right now, but will almost certainly end up being the best subsim ever. So buy it now if you like, and watch it grow, or wait and watch and then buy it. Either way it should be worth it in the long run.

I do need to take exception to a couple of comments, though.

Graphics is definitely BETTER.
Playability is definitely WORSE.

Do you want bugged eyecandy or actual u-boat simulation?

Up to you to decide... :03:
If that's totally true then you should be playing Aces Of The Deep. No eye candy (or ear candy) to speak of, but arguably much better AI and gameplay than any of the German SH versions.

Me, I like the visuals, and the sounds, so I'll play SH3 and SH4, and SH5, buggy or not, when they let me.

Personally I view SH5 vs. SH3 like U2571 vs. Das Boot.
Even if that were true, SH5 can be saved. U-571? I don't think so.

SH3 stock = a few (non grame braking) bugs, some design flaws that could be exploited, nice interface, great ship variety both targets and subs, ran well on old machines
Stock SH3 had exactly 9 merchants. The Liberties and Victories are not available until 1942 (Liberties are available in 1939 in SH5, which is wrong), but the other seven were still limited, as three of the freighters and all three tankers were American-specific designs, and hardly used by anyone else. I don't see limited ships as a valid argument against SH5 versus its predecessors.

If your a true Subsim fan you would've bought it already.
Some people have said that SH5 isn't a true subsim.

Maybe this Forum isn't for you? :hmmm:
I want to play SH5, so I read every thread in every forum. Maybe you shouldn't be quite so forceful in your challenges to everyone who has a slightly different opinion.:hmmm:

[aurgolo]

Price is not an issue for me. 10, 50 or even 100€ would be ok for a proper subsim and not some graphic assets thrown in together hastily on a 5 years old engine which still retains most of the original bugs from the past.

It seem Ubisoft didn't really invest into this game. .



exactly........ is not a matter of money, if the value for money is acceptable i dont care how much ..... and also think other gamers

the point is that is very evident the lack of investment from UBI in this sequel......... it is called by marketing people...... a CASH COW.....and we are the cows......