It has issues, but now we hope it will be patched and possible to modify to a large degree. It was made to attract a larger crowd and one can argue that they succeeded in that regard.
The interface, point-upgrades to the crew, the cannon with a laserpointer and a map where you can click and change course in an instant (no compass!) all point to arcadeness. And the fact that there is'nt a comprehensive manual, the game is supposed to be intuitive! The game is also soled as in the adventure-genre - thats hilarious and sad at the same time.

Lets face it, simulation-fans are not the target customers in this edition of SH:5.

How can we get the devs/ubisoft to listen to us? Perhaps, only by mays of economics and it seems quite futile (how many of us 'nerds' are there?).

I totally agree. I think the rpg element is beyond pointless. And perhaps it even kills frame-rates a bit. I looked in the editor and through character files at ways to get rid of the rpg stuff. But so far, it appears to be hard-coded in the exe.

Going to have to toss my hat in the "disappointed" ring. The interface is maddeningly clunky. And walking around the sub is a novelty for about 30 minutes, then it becomes a nuisance not to mention how bad the collision detection is.

Even something as small as switching languages. In SH3 it was a simple Esc key, go to audio options and change to what you wanted. I was assuming it would be the same with SH5. Only to discover that you had to install the entire game with one language or the other using custom install - which I never do when it comes to games. Guess it would have been too much trouble for Ubisoft to include that in a "read me first" note? Had to uninstall and do a complete reinstall to get the German voices. Seriously annoying.

I'm like everyone else - want this game to be all that SH3 was. I don't know how many hundreds of hours I played that game it was so good. But looks like we're all going to have to wait until some patching gets done and the modders really take over.

Think I'm going to park this game for now and come back in six months. Damn shame - was really looking forward to it.

I don't mind the RPG stuff, in fact I would welcome it more. But so far I'm rather underwhelmed at how it's implemented. If you're doing RPG (and I would argue that sims ARE ultimately a role-playing genre), you have to at least do it well. Crewmen with pre-scripted lines that they tell you once every patrol is really not cutting it as a role playing game...

In theory I don't see anything wrong with the idea. But to see it implemented in this way is really not encouraging.

Just a funny example of one of the ridiculous broken aspects of SH5- Upon crash diving, everyone on top went below decks and locked the top hatch. I couldn't open the hatch to get in. The U-boat dove with me still on top. But I didn't drown or anything riding all the way down. Lol.

Very well said. Besides the rpg element, I think that is one of the biggest killers for me- the hellish user interface. In all my years of gaming, it is probably the worst I have ever seen. Someone must have been stoned while designing it. Seriously.

I own every SH game that has come out until now... I was thinking of purchasing... but the DRM thing is a worry....

Sorry for the Noob questions.... but can you explain to me what the RPG components of SH5 are exactly? What scripted lines or....? sorry sort of missing what you all mean by RPG in SH5..... :doh:

Your crew members skills can be added to or 'upgraded' through increases (over-charge batteries. etc). Plus, the captain has to keep their morale up. And something about the cook's magic soup. Lol.

By scripting, I meant game play features and mechanics.

I just want to make one thing clear. I am not 'giving up' on SH5. There may still be some hope through a heavily modded user interface and less rpg element through modding. I just wanted to post my honest opinion of the game so far.

Haha! :haha:

"Stuff 'em, no one likes him anyway"

Yeah, as I say, it's early days. As I also say, the clock is ticking.

Thanks for the reply Drifter... I must be getting old....

Now I dont own the game ...yet.... as stated, but I dont mind the idea of being able to 'upgrade' your crews abilities after they gain battle expierience. It was well known that a crew with a few missions under thier belt were far more likely to return home than the green maiden crew. So I guess to simulate this on the computer the RPG elements were introduced. Dont you want some benefit from the crew (i.e. upgrades) for all that time spent on missions?

Maybe its the old Dungeons and Dragons coming out in me.... (now I am showing my age).... if only I could find my OPTAGOOGANOL sided dice and roll a 6!!! yes... its a hit!!... down with that freighter!!.. MWAAHHHHH..... :DL

OK - hold up. Quick question..... Dowly says this is built on the same Sh3/Sh4 engine???? I thought SH5 was getting a whole new engine??????

Also - @ Neal -

Uhm.... well that gives us a general guess where the review is going. I still won't be playing SH5 until the DRM stuff goes away, but something tells me that Ubi really needs the input.

@ the devs - guys, we are not beating you up. Your given a roadmap and you have to make the road fit it - we understand that. Never forget that with all our griping - we still appreciate the work you do. I know I do, I just cannot line the pockets of an exec at a publisher who made bad decisions on this game and made the road go through a swamp.. Hopefully some of you will become those executives one day, and if so, I hope you keep your openness to us as you have in the past.

I'm all for crews' skills automatically increasing over time. But the captain shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose 'super skills' for his crew. :)

This is my review of SHV. Its short and simple.

Silent Hunter 5 is like dating the very hot girl... But she has a problem, the problem is that everyonce in awhile she punches you in the face. But she is so hot that you keep trying. Eventually you learn when to block when the punch in the face comes, and get comfortable.

But then she kicks you in the ....... Well....

But she is hot, so you learn too.....:rotfl2:

LOL, at least she's hot!

I see your point, but I guess how else can they implement it into the game other than you being 'GOD' I mean... Kapitan!!...

Whats the saying? Show me a Smoking Hot Woman and I'll find some dude who is tired of putting up with her S#$@! haha...I posted something to this affect with the realism vs graphics crowd a while back! Something like She is hot (graphics) ...but dumb a rocks (lack of realsim)...eventually you will get bored and move on.

Automatic TDC doesnt work, its the number 1 bug for me so far. Just cant figure out why they had to basically change the whole target aquiring process from the sight of enemy vessel to the moment when torpedoes are launched. I mean there werent anything wrong with the old system from SH III. Now its much more arcade style with all the gauges missing etc.

I wasnt even able to accomplish the tutorial mission as I couldnt score any hits on those required vessels. And even if I could have accomplished, when I quitted game there came this dreadfull "Synchronizing saved games... failed to store saved games online" -message. Really good start with this DMR -****.

Yikes. One of the nice things of Silent Hunter 3 & 4 is that the key maps (sans the function keys) are pretty much the same. You'd think that they'd want to stick with that with 5.