View Full Version : WW II Magazine review of SH5
Thought you guys might like to read, what other people think of SH5, that are outside the gaming loop. Please aim your comments at him, not me, I'm just the messenger.
From Ryan Burke, WWII Magazine
Sh5 is the latest entry in the acclaimed submarine series, and debuts an ambitious features: the ability to control a German sub from the captain's view. As with other games in the series, hunting and battling enemy ships is fun and exciting. You can stealthily take on vessels with your deck gun or torpedoes, then dive when their destroyers show up. Unfortunately, as a whole SILENT HUNTER V feels hastily slapped together. For example, sprinting around the ship to issue orders, particular in a hectic combat situation, gets tiresome. Where are the voice tubes of real U-boats? Also the game's digital rights management copy protection requiers players to stay online to insure they are using a legal copy, so those without trusty, high speed Internet connections are not advised to buy the game. Further, If the servers go down, it will be unplayable. You also can't resell the game once it's installed. The game has too many bugs for me to recommend it, but hopefully the other game makers will build off its ambitious goals and fix its weaknesses.
Side Note: You might not like is review of the game but, WWII magazine is one of the best out there I highly recommend it. Indy
kylania
06-01-10, 08:16 PM
Wow, what a crappy review. His first point is totally incorrect saying that you have to run around the ship giving orders to control it. Then he just goes off on a standard issue DRM rant. I'm pretty sure I've read that same DRM rant word for word on these forums too.
I think that guy just copied a rant from here and called it a review. Might be a great magazine, but that guy fails miserably as a reviewer. Some box text, incorrect description of gameplay and forum troll ranting that he calls a review. Bah.
If you play without mods, thats it. But even so, I don't see any major problem. My habit is that before I engage the enemy I always order Riposte and after I unloaded all my ammo order Total Reveal for sonar. Is not that hard, I'm not a fat captain who can't make few steps in the sub to talk with my crew. Actually is pretty realistic to have a word with the Bosun before a battle and to stick in the sonar compartment after.
Since patch 1.2, I'm pretty happy to say that I play the game without mods, except "U-boat Historic Specifications" by ddrgn which is a must have one. Rest of mods are only for fine enhancements, like clouds, funnel smoke, radio and so. My only problem with the game now is ... it's boring. Sinking the same ships again and again gets my nerves. Hope that sometime soon few moders will start to work on an alternate campaign with more excitement and fun missions.
commandosolo2009
06-02-10, 05:19 AM
thats got to be the shallowest review I ever read about this crapfest... shallower than 15 meters, Captain..:salute:
robbo180265
06-02-10, 05:49 AM
Is there a link where we can read the whole review? Or was that it?
I agree - based on what I've seen there its a pretty shallow review IMO.
Is there a link where we can read the whole review?
...
Google FTW: http://www.historynet.com/command-a-submarine-in-silent-hunter-5.htm
I don't know why people are whining about the review? Think of the source, it is a World War II history magazine! It is not PC Gamer or something similar.
They are not going to dedicate 5,6, or 7 pages detailing every aspect of Silent Hunter V.
While the review posted by indy is a very poor cut and paste job of what is posted at historynet.com http://www.historynet.com/command-a-submarine-in-silent-hunter-5.htm It is still a very brief review.
You can tell the author is not a gamer with this quote "he game also gobbles up a great deal of disk space..." Most current games nowadays do, we are not back in the 1990's. Heck, my first computer didn't even have a hard drive.
While the author may be clueless about the current state of technology, the review at historynet is a fair one and pretty much sums up my feelings about the game. Although, I am less concerned about the DRM then the overall poor quality of the game.
Well, then maybe they should do something else than review video games. Like go fishing, walking with the grandson in the park & stuff.
Faamecanic
06-02-10, 10:04 AM
Wow, what a crappy review. His first point is totally incorrect saying that you have to run around the ship giving orders to control it. Then he just goes off on a standard issue DRM rant. I'm pretty sure I've read that same DRM rant word for word on these forums too.
I think that guy just copied a rant from here and called it a review. Might be a great magazine, but that guy fails miserably as a reviewer. Some box text, incorrect description of gameplay and forum troll ranting that he calls a review. Bah.
Seems like you disagree with anyone that doesnt give SH5 a 8 out of 10 star review.
Keep in mind MOST people are playing an unmodded game where you pretty much DO have to run around the boat to give orders. And if you dont then where in the manual does it say how to NOT run around the boat to give orders.... oh thats right...the manual is a joke and woefully incomplete. :nope:
Maybe they added the function to NOT have to run around the ship in the 1.2 patch... but maybe the reviewer played the game Pre-patch (which even PC gamer reviews games ONLY pre-patch, and rarely revists them post patch).
Bottom line is this game was worth about 10 hours of my time.... before I moved on and now await the final patch and mods. I refuse to waste my time with a sim that is so incomplete. I have other games that were actually, GASP, released 90% complete or more, that deserve my time more than SH5 does now.
robbo180265
06-02-10, 10:14 AM
I don't know why people are whining about the review? Think of the source, it is a World War II history magazine! It is not PC Gamer or something similar.
They are not going to dedicate 5,6, or 7 pages detailing every aspect of Silent Hunter V.
While the review posted by indy is a very poor cut and paste job of what is posted at historynet.com http://www.historynet.com/command-a-submarine-in-silent-hunter-5.htm It is still a very brief review.
You can tell the author is not a gamer with this quote "he game also gobbles up a great deal of disk space..." Most current games nowadays do, we are not back in the 1990's. Heck, my first computer didn't even have a hard drive.
While the author may be clueless about the current state of technology, the review at historynet is a fair one and pretty much sums up my feelings about the game. Although, I am less concerned about the DRM then the overall poor quality of the game.
Actually , now I've had time to read the whole review I pretty much agree.
The author isn't a gamer and we should also remember that not everybody has access to Subsim (well they do, but not everybody knows about Subsim)
So all in all seems fair.
Faamecanic
06-02-10, 10:22 AM
Actually , now I've had time to read the whole review I pretty much agree.
The author isn't a gamer and we should also remember that not everybody has access to Subsim (well they do, but not everybody knows about Subsim)
So all in all seems fair.
RIGHT! and if UBI REALLY wanted SH5 to be a success and attract NON-subsim grognards (which if the dumbed down UI is any indication they DID)...releasing a buggy game that DEPENDS on mods just to restore basic function, and the lack of anything substantial in the way of a manual, was NOT the way to do it.
I had no idea that there is a magazine in circulation about WWII. That is so odd to me for some reason. How many times do they go over the same stories, I wonder. I wonder who subscribes.
As far as the review, yea, it is sorely lacking and showed evidence that it was the un patched un modded version being reviewed. He does have a point about the running around the sub to give orders. But mods have come out that emulate the "talkie tubes".
I wouldn't be too harsh about this review, it was most likely written by someone that just dabbles in computer games, and spends more time reading really good books about the war, and reviewing them.
Seems like you disagree with anyone that doesnt give SH5 a 8 out of 10 star review.
Keep in mind MOST people are playing an unmodded game where you pretty much DO have to run around the boat to give orders. And if you dont then where in the manual does it say how to NOT run around the boat to give orders.... oh thats right...the manual is a joke and woefully incomplete. :nope:
Maybe they added the function to NOT have to run around the ship in the 1.2 patch... but maybe the reviewer played the game Pre-patch (which even PC gamer reviews games ONLY pre-patch, and rarely revists them post patch).
Bottom line is this game was worth about 10 hours of my time.... before I moved on and now await the final patch and mods. I refuse to waste my time with a sim that is so incomplete. I have other games that were actually, GASP, released 90% complete or more, that deserve my time more than SH5 does now.
I play without mods, as I wrote few post ago. Old people tend to have some serious issues with orientation in 3D spaces, I remember many complained that they cant exit the sub as they don't know how to use the ladder :haha: I mean, c'mon .. that's the only problem with SH5? Orientation, difficulties in moving around the sub and talk with the crew? I saw nothing mentioned about the God damn retard (pre-patch) AI, the boring campaign and the stupid missions.. you know, the real problems. Those guys should quit playing video games, or at least write reviews about.
Anyway, I doubt Ubi give a frak about that review, the biggest hits in the stomach was from the Eurogamer and Subsim review, those hurts really hard and is really bad for business. So if any1 want a good and comprehensive review, read those 2 mentioned... this one is a joke.
robbo180265
06-02-10, 11:23 AM
I play without mods, as I wrote few post ago. Old people tend to have some serious issues with orientation in 3D spaces, I remember many complained that they cant exit the sub as they don't know how to use the ladder :haha: I mean, c'mon .. that's the only problem with SH5? Orientation, difficulties in moving around the sub and talk with the crew? I saw nothing mentioned about the God damn retard (pre-patch) AI, the boring campaign and the stupid missions.. you know, the real problems. Those guys should quit playing video games, or at least write reviews about.
Anyway, I doubt Ubi give a frak about that review, the biggest hits in the stomach was from the Eurogamer and Subsim review, those hurts really hard and is really bad for business. So if any1 want a good and comprehensive review, read those 2 mentioned... this one is a joke.
My thoughts exactly:up:
I play without mods, as I wrote few post ago. Old people tend to have some serious issues with orientation in 3D spaces, I remember many complained that they cant exit the sub as they don't know how to use the ladder :haha: I mean, c'mon .. that's the only problem with SH5? Orientation, difficulties in moving around the sub and talk with the crew? I saw nothing mentioned about the God damn retard (pre-patch) AI, the boring campaign and the stupid missions.. you know, the real problems. Those guys should quit playing video games, or at least write reviews about.
Anyway, I doubt Ubi give a frak about that review, the biggest hits in the stomach was from the Eurogamer and Subsim review, those hurts really hard and is really bad for business. So if any1 want a good and comprehensive review, read those 2 mentioned... this one is a joke.
Everybody has a right to have an opinion, but it is sad that you think old people should stop playing videogames. :-? I really HAD problems with ladders at first. It was a big problem and annoyed me much. Now I don't know why it was so hard, but it was. And I don't have orientation problems in 3d spaces. Hmm... oh well, I'm not old either, unless one thinks that someone in mid twenties is old. :DL
But I agree about that review. You should not write reviews unless you know what you're talking about.
Nisgeis
06-02-10, 01:04 PM
I really HAD problems with ladders at first. It was a big problem and annoyed me much. Now I don't know why it was so hard, but it was.
The game workls differently that a lot of 3D environments, in that if you look up at the hatch you want to go to, then you can't 'engage' on the ladder. Now you know where the hatch is, you just go for the ladder instead of looking up. It caused a few people problems, due to the design choice they made.
Faamecanic
06-02-10, 01:43 PM
I had no idea that there is a magazine in circulation about WWII. That is so odd to me for some reason. How many times do they go over the same stories, I wonder. I wonder who subscribes.
I subscribe.... Im waiting for next months issue to see if anything about the war changed since last month!
In between magazine deliveries I watch the HISTORY and MILITARY channel just to make sure the Allies still win and Axis loose!! :yeah:
SHV fans should be used to negative reviews. I don't remember reading one wsingle positive review of this game. ;)
Ducimus
06-02-10, 06:23 PM
As far as the review, yea, it is sorely lacking and showed evidence that it was the un patched un modded version being reviewed.
Here i would like to point out, that the game (any game really) should stand on its own merits, and not have to rely on user created mods in order to get a better review.
mookiemookie
06-02-10, 06:49 PM
I had no idea that there is a magazine in circulation about WWII. That is so odd to me for some reason. How many times do they go over the same stories, I wonder. I wonder who subscribes.
I do.
And I haven't gotten this issue yet. :-?
Buddahaid
06-02-10, 07:08 PM
I play without mods, as I wrote few post ago. Old people tend to have some serious issues with orientation in 3D spaces, I remember many complained that they cant exit the sub as they don't know how to use the ladder :haha: I mean, c'mon .. that's the only problem with SH5? Orientation, difficulties in moving around the sub and talk with the crew? I saw nothing mentioned about the God damn retard (pre-patch) AI, the boring campaign and the stupid missions.. you know, the real problems. Those guys should quit playing video games, or at least write reviews about.
Anyway, I doubt Ubi give a frak about that review, the biggest hits in the stomach was from the Eurogamer and Subsim review, those hurts really hard and is really bad for business. So if any1 want a good and comprehensive review, read those 2 mentioned... this one is a joke.
And just what do you consider old? I've been playing PC games since they were invented, so does that make me old? :shucks:
How about young people have problems with patience and bed wetting, or did I go too young? :rock::D
mobucks
06-02-10, 09:35 PM
I had no idea that there is a magazine in circulation about WWII. That is so odd to me for some reason. How many times do they go over the same stories, I wonder. I wonder who subscribes.
I dont subscribe but i will tell you who does. Armchair warriors. Veterans.
Not people who sit around debating wether we won the war or not COUGH THE SOUTH COUGH JAJA
Anyway theres a magazine out there for everything, it was the old internet. There were things like "Tablesaw Users Weekly" and "Lightbulb Design!"
But your comment did make me laugh.
These veterans could do a more useful review of SH. Instead of bitching about how hard is to go up/down on the ladder and talk with the crew, they could make a review about the realism. I would be really interested to see what a ww2 veteran would have to say about the realism in the game.
We had few debates about the AI tactics, about the plane attacks, how real is the torpedo damage, explosions and many stuff like these. So I suggest that next time.. let the nephew play the game, veterans just sit and watch. Then write a good review about what is wrong or what is right in the perspective of historical accuracy and realism level. Dunno if is any real ex u-boot sailor still alive, but if is.. I would be very interested in his opinion about SH realism level. Not about drm, not about climbing the ladder, but about historical accuracy. Yeah, I would even pay to read something like that :P
Faamecanic
06-03-10, 06:05 AM
Here i would like to point out, that the game (any game really) should stand on its own merits, and not have to rely on user created mods in order to get a better review.
Hence why its PC Gamer's policy to review a game on release, and not RE-review AFTER patches and especially not with user created MODS.
Just like SH3 and 4, SH5 can NOT stand on its own (not even close) with no patches.... which is a sad state to release a game in and unacceptable and also unexcusable.
And for the record ...I had no problems with the 3D and ladders.... and Im an 40 yr old...so I must not be "old" enough to loose my spatial awareness in 3d games (been playing them hard core since Wolfenstien 3d days).
mobucks
06-03-10, 08:47 AM
i had problems with ladders. Im 25. id say 90 percent of games with ladders, in a FPS environment, you can look up a ladder and climb it.
In SH5 i felt really stupid when i realized you have to stand like a robot eyes level to the ladder to climb it like OSHA is watching or something.
Nothing to do with ages, everything to do with poor design
don1reed
06-03-10, 02:02 PM
I'm 70ish. I find the ladders in SH5 a breeze...it's real ladders that I have trouble with. :woot:
The article was written for a different audience than ... us.
Modders have, and always will...
RULE.:rock:
I'm 70ish. I find the ladders in SH5 a breeze...it's real ladders that I have trouble with. :woot:
:haha:
Nordmann
06-04-10, 08:30 PM
SHV fans should be used to negative reviews. I don't remember reading one wsingle positive review of this game. ;)
I suspect most of the negativity stems from the DRM, regardless of claims to the contrary. If there had been no online requirement, there may have been a much more positive attitude toward the game.
It's always the same, focus on one negative aspect, blow it out of all proportion, and don't even bother to highlight the good features. This is one of the many reasons why I distrust most reviews/reviewers, most of them don't have a bloody clue what they are rabbiting on about!
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