To me, there's a basic conceptual difference between SH III and SH IV that has to do with history, rather than gameplay. Patched or unpatched, modded or unmodded, GWX or not, when I play SH IV I'm playing to win the war. with SH III GWX I'm playing to not lose too badly.

That said, I play each at about the same amount (2-3 everns in the Atlantic, another 2-3 in the Pacific,) and I find both experiences equally enjoyable. FWIW I'm not seeing desktop crashes in SH IV, and the current crop of modes make it quite playable.

But that's just my opinion.

Well, no one sub was ever going to win the war for any side. So that concept is a bad way to approach the game IMHO.

The only way to approach it is to sink as much tonnage as you can...and survive. That applies to any sub commander in the war.

Tony

I am sure it will get better, but in SH4, even with mods and patches, I have yet to complete even an abreviated career without some immersion breaking game issue. So, for a first time sub simmer, I would have to recommend SH3.

But as someone said, splurge and get both ;)