[Sailor Steve]

SH2 was turned from a buggy mess into a very good game, especially in the multiplayer area with Destroyer Command. Unfortunately, in spite of all the great graphics and sound mods (the Das Boot Sound Mod was created for it) and the marvelous on/off-line campaigns (Iblitz and Atlantik come to mind), no-one was ever able to fix the one game-killing flaw: the absolute lack of a dynamic career mode. You were stuck with FPS-type 'levels'; die on any level, or fail to achieve the goals, and you repeated that level. That was it, no more.

As to your ratings, Mark, I think SH3 wins on other levels as well. Please remember that my experience is old, as I haven't been able to play for some time. I used some of the files - mainly the campaign layers for the harbor traffic and such - from the original GW, but I've never played GWX.

While some dismiss graphics as 'eye candy' (and to a point I agree), there is something about SH3 that is more than just immersive. For want of a better word, I'll call it 'mood'. SH3 has a certain mood that makes it more real. Or maybe I just like looking at all the ships as I leave the harbor. AOD may (or may not) actually have better gameplay, but SH3 makes me feel like I'm actually on the water, not just playing a great sim.

I was going to comment on the different functions you rated, but I think I'll end instead by saying that, while I love those older games, SH3 has me hooked and loving it. I likely won't go back.