Silent Hunter as gift for father?

[lange17]

When I saw my dad over Christmas, we found ourselves waxing nostalgic over playing the Red Storm Rising submarine PC game that came out twenty years ago. When he said "I wish I had a game like that now," I knew just what to get him for his February birthday.

Dad prefers simulation-style games to arcade-style, and has a computer that's a few years old. After doing some research, it seems like the Silent Hunter series would be up his alley. However, he doesn't have a lot of patience for doing IT work to get a game working, so I want to avoid something with too many serious bugs. It seems like SH5 might still be fairly buggy, and might require a better computer than Dad has, so I was thinking that SH4 or even SH3 might be better choices. Does anyone have some advice for which game(s) might fit the bill here? I'll consider anything, so please don't hestiate to provide whatever advice comes to mind.

Thanks in advance, and my apologies if there was a better place to post this question that I overlooked.

[Sailor Steve]

I voted 3, simply because it is the most "finished". That said, all three of them to do require installing mods and a bit of fiddling to make them truly worthwhile.

I realize that looking through the boards here is more than you probably want to do, given the situation; and certainly more than you should have to. I'll look around for some of the comparisons I've made in the past, and if I can't find them I'll be back to point out the major differences.

If he doesn't like the idea of playing the part of a u-boat kaleun, the SH4 is the only option.

[lange17]

Thanks so much for the response. I don't mind browsing around (and I have been doing so, actually), but its hard to see the forest and not the trees- in other words, I see a handful of anecdotal accounts about each game, but I would have to look at hundreds or thousands of posts to understand the pros and cons of each the way you veterans do.

As far as whether he wants to drive a u-boat, I suspect he's probably OK with anything. He was in the real life military from 1975-2005, which was probably part of the attraction to Red Storm Rising, but he likes military history generally so I think the setting is not a major factor.

[Takeda Shingen]

Might want to try Dangerous Waters if he likes the late Cold War and post Cold War hardware. Dated graphics, but you don't need a super machine to run it and it is very, very stable. It is also more 'sim' than the Silent Hunter series, which tends to have some gamey elements.

[lange17]

Thanks, Takeda. I noticed Dangerous Waters mentioned in a thread specifically about Red Storm Rising, but didn't realize it was relatively current. I'll check it out!

[Takeda Shingen]

Here's the link to SubSim's Dangerous Waters forum, if you are interested in asking around.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=181

[GT182]

I voted for Silent Hunter 3. Tho it is best to use SH3 Commander to run it. With all the mods, and the way it plays, it's simplely the best of the series IMHO. But know too that you must use the mods as Sailor Steve has pointed out.

And now that you can play it without StarForce in it it's even better.

Once SH5 is modded and UBI finally gets rid of their reqirements and DRM, then and only then will it come close to SH3. But know too the SH5 graphics are superb for the visual effect.

[voss]

Although I prefer playing SH5, I think your dad would be most comfortable with SH3. Add the Grey Wolves Expansion (GWX3) and you're good to go! He's sure to have a great time! :salute:

[Webster]

Dad prefers simulation-style games to arcade-style, and has a computer that's a few years old.


IMHO there is only one game, well two, that fit this desire.

if he likes German uboats and wants to play as a German then its sh3

if he likes American fleetboat subs and wants to play as an American then its sh4
(IMO sh4 isnt the greatest for German side even thou is has mods for it)

[Jimbuna]

IMHO there is only one game, well two, that fit this desire.

if he likes German uboats and wants to play as a German then its sh3

if he likes American fleetboat subs and wants to play as an American then its sh4
(IMO sh4 isnt the greatest for German side even thou is has mods for it)

Can't argue with that.....but it is really down to your fathers preferences and they are all so low in price why not treat him and buy the three in the SH series.

Don't forget to use the SS link to Amazon so a small percentage can be donated to keep the site open.