SH5 player review thread - post your opinions about the game here
 

Why I like the new interface


Hi everybody,

curiosity and my love for submarines turned out to be stronger than my hate for DRM, so I eventually got a copy of SH5... and I´m glad I did!

There´s no doubt about many issues the stock version of SH5 has, but this has been the case with all SH releases, so let´s say the DEV Team just sticks to tradition.

Some peolpe complain about the new interface. They say they do not know how to orientate. Well, I would like to have my dear compass back, too, don´t get me wrong here, but I´m for one happy with the new interface. It´s the first time I really seem to know where I am and where everyone else is, thanks to the small map that is always available and which shows me which direction I look.

That´s a simple tool but it helps me a lot. To those who cry: "unrealistic!" - well, I disagree. The truth is, it´s unrealsitic to stare at a computer screen, using a mouse and keys to look around. In real life you have a totally different AWARENESS of where you are in relation to your ship and to other ships (I know what I´m talking about, I do some sailing). You just turn your head and you instinctively KNOW where you want to go or what bearing you have got. If you really need to know degrees, use the UZO to do so.

So what the new interface basically gives you is more awareness of the situation, which results in better orientation. The same goes for setting course. Just look into one direction and press "," you U-Boat will head the way you look. Seems too arcadish to you? Well, basically, this is what you would do in real life, too. And don´t forget, you are the captain, so no, you wouldn´t actually press any rudder buttons! (You can still do it using shift and arrow for full rudder).

The new map layout is also way easier to use, plotting and editing courses is a walk in the park.

I know a lot of people will disagree with me, I can understand them. But maybe those who hate the new interface are only disappointed because they are used to the good old one. I think if you give SH5 a fair chance, it´ll pay off. I´m sure all those great modders out there will turn SH5 into the best subsim ever. Stock SH5 offers a very promising basis for that!

Now I have to go back, my IWO just told me he spotted a merchant!

:salute: Cheers, AS

The interface is not bad. A bit quirky but once you get familiar with the what buttons do what it is ok. Overall it gets the job done.

I like the ideas behind the new interface. There is a lot of potential there. A lot of work is required to really follow through on the execution. Personally I'd like to see even more buttons taken off the "command picture frame" and given to 3D hotspots, crew conversations, etc.

Watching the vernier dial in the center of the compass repeater turn is quite a treat! Of course mine stopped working about 5 minutes into the experience but that's what bug fixes are for.

The Num_. "turn to where I'm looking" command was in SH4 as well if you recall. It's the exact same code, just a new keystroke assignment. Old hat, not a new feature. Personally I want to tap the helmsman on the shoulder or whisper in a speaking tube "Make heading 0-9-1" instead of having to click a course arrow on a minimap.

I'm really not a fan of the minimap as ubiquitous mind link. Situational awareness is built and it's more fun to have a little fog of war. The FOV for the view could be larger though. Feels like I have horse blinders on.

I like how the new course plotting system doesn't always return you to "follow course" mode every time you as much as look at a point. However SH5's happiness to let you stay off the course mode is messed up by the lack of a "return to course" button. It says "double click to return to course" but it lies. Also laying down a route through the Canal and having the voice over shout NEW WAYPOINT COURSE 2-6-9 (in German) for 30 waypoints is a row gets old.

The INTERFACE would be acceptable had the Devs actually finished the game and added all of the necessary dialouge options to your crewmen...

Such as Depth Under Keel...etc.

Unfortunately without the Mandatory Hotkeys and No appriate Dialogue options you will find yourself frustrated at completeing the easiest of tasks...

How easy would it be to command your Helmsman to to right 15 degree rudder for instance (and instead we have the missing rudder guage hotkey so were stuck hitting the right arrow key a rediciously amount).









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I really like the idea of the new interface. It's really fast and presents most of the needed info quickly. The resizeable TAI map is fantastic. I just wish they had included a compass and put orders like Depth under Keel, Return to Course, Cease Fire, Target the waterline, etc. in the dialog boxes.

I'm considering digging into the files and trying to see if these can be done. I've written scripting languages for years but I don't really know the SH file structure and how it works really so it may be over my head.

I like the new interface as well.. it's jut missing some things. Also a more accurate way of setting depth would have been nice. As it is right now holding control and trying to click that small scale is a crapshoot. It takes about 3 tries to get the intended depth.

You know that if you hover your mouse over the depth gauge you get a tool tip with the exact depth you're going to order? It could still stand to be a bit more prescise though.

Do you know at a glance what general compass direction you're headed in? What your fuel supply is? What your battery level is?

No. Therefore you do not have more awareness of the situation. Q.E.D.

Ah, but even the captain of a sub does not know the battery state or fuel level at a glance. In SH5 just touch one key ENTER and you have the info.

If we were talking realism, I would agree. But we were debating awareness.

Finally received my game in the mail and had a chance to sit down for a few hours last night and play around. I definitely like the interface better than I was expecting. Like others have said, there are some very important items missing, but we'll take care of that problem soon enough. I think the whole process of tracking and setting up a firing solution, even in auto mode, is a bit more cumbersome than the old ways, but there seems to be a bit more flexibility built in there.

That said, I'm really looking forward to a finished keyboard mod, something like ol' Set Keys where I can lay down the key associations I am more familiar with from years of habit. D for dive, S for surface, P for periscope depth, etc.

Return to course is the Zero key on the Number Pad.

I found out how to set speed in knots:up:, what depth I want:up:, only the course and heading is missing:down: or not found it, other than that starting to get use to it. Using one of the key mapping mods depth under keel:up:

You and I expected to be able to give orders through the crew member dialogs but it's pretty clear that UBI only really intended the crew to be an interface into the "how's your mum" and the special abilities, not common order tasks. I'd still like to have that changed but it's not fair to say it was forgotten, just designed differently.

You know direction from the TAI, fuel/battery is not displayed 24/7 though but it wasn't possible to have all 4 CO2/O2/Batt/Fuel values shown simultaneously in SH4 as well. If you're arguing SH4 vs SH5 awareness then it is a teeter totter with all the features of SH4 on one side and SH5 on the other. There are indicators in SH5 that SH4 simply doesn't have like the order progress boxes, TAI (big one!), day/night porthole, etc. It's not nearly as cut and dry as you state.

No, that's rudder center.

Such a pity!

The graphics and sea in this game are absolutely unbelievable.
There is no other way to describe sailing along the sea while walking around the tower, it's amazing.
But why did ubisoft not give the devs the time and resources to complete it and produce what could have been the definitive subsim.
I know we belong to a niche market but do we really deserve to be sold a game in this state.
Just because SH5 won't sell as much as the next halo game doesn't mean my £30 is any different.
I worked bloody hard for that £30 and I certainly don't deserve any less of a product.
I am self employed with my own business and if I had provided any less of a service to any of my customers, I would be embarassed to ask for the money.
I don't blame the devs, I blame ubisoft for obviously publishing the game before it was completed.
Last time I ever buy another ubisoft product, I PROMISE!
They have even had to update the manual on their website indicating even the manual was rushed or not synced to the game release.