My first impressions

Spray · 03-20-07, 10:27 AM

I went down to my local games shop today casually looked around and asked if they had any copy of Silent Hunter 4. After chatting up the clerk for 5 minutes they went into a back room and grabbed me a copy :p

. I quickly rushed home called in sick and installed the game. Well the GFX detail is good so is some of the stuff you get into campaign. My first problem is the way you have to fire torpedoes now. I much preferred the SH3 way now you got all these things which you have to fiddle with. I was quite impressed with the GFX I ran smooth using a 7600GT (stock) 3800+ X2 64 bit (stock). 1 gig of DDR2 667 (stock) and XP with service pack 2. (This is GFX all high with little random stutters (Glitch?)). Next issue was with the campaign setting it has a great intro but it took me a while to find out how to change difficulty while in campaign cause when you start you have 4 levels. Easy, Normal, Hard, Realistic. The Gap between normal and hard was big so I set myself inbetween there to start. Went on my first patrol got to the patrol area explored the map (while patrolling) no targets whatsoever. I got an interesting message however saying all patrol craft in the vicinity of Borneo come in to assist and resist a Japanese invasion. Ok I said to myself the only problem is the area of Borneo is quite a few hundred if not a thousands kilometres around and I have no specific instructions. On the 11th of December came on a radio report that USA declared war with Germany Italy etc it was pretty good. Then I got crap and shoppy weather for a few days (thought it was fixed) patrolling off the coast of Vietnam until I hit a convoy. Don't know what the heck is in it but 1 Large Split Tanker ~8000GRT and 2 escorts. I stopped campaign and went to check out damage effects. Sunk a heavy cruiser with 3 torps "overkill" just to see what would happen, was quite impressed seems I wiped out most of the crew on deck except for two men which just myseriously dropped and died when the ship started sinking. No survivors as it went down fast. Then I wen't on to taking on a tanker. 2 Torpedoes no visual damage (but they did hit) no listing no speed drop nothing... Ill check it out tommorow and provide something more detailed my current advice is BUY IT! The game is awesome and well worth the money I think it will just take some adjustment. Don't be suprised if you get the sudden craving for GWX and German subs I can't stand the US subs no variable periscope height and ive got crappy sonars (Tip go under 20 metres for a working sonar). I can definately see some glitches/bugs which should be easily fixed and would love to see a GWX mod for SH4 GWX just brought my SH3 to life. To me im split 50/50 over the two games SH4 has certain aspects that SH3 doesn't and my most major turnoff to SH4 was how the torpedoes were launched and too much changes for me it will definately take some getting used to. The reused sounds are getting old

but its awesome to see crews walking round on the deck.

All in all I think id give the game a 8 1/2 outta 10 I think they definately made it easier and harder if that makes sense. It seems to be based more on the guys who want to just be able to see all the nice GFX and they are realy nice and it has diverted a little from reality. Oh and whats up with SH4 forcing the old look for GFX I though UBI said you could turn it off. All in all buy the game and buy it now its worth it, true it has its negatives but its positives are great if your a subsim enthusiast initially it will be a turnoff but look at the bright side they aimed it for newbies which means we should be seeing a lot of new virtual submariners which means SHV is possible. Good job UBI now hurry up and finish that first patch :rotfl:.

Spray · 03-20-07, 10:35 AM

And to adda bit more im not rally fond of the crew controls and damage controls now either sure the watch is a GREAT option your crew automatically switch but damn im really confused with it. Expect a report tommorow in about 16 hours "curses under breath damn work" Might take my XXI out for a few last spins I ran into an unescorted BB TF 5 BB's Nelson class, Revenge Class, Prince of Wales, King George V, and one which starts with an A for the sake of it I cant remember. Only thing is ive got 15 torps I can take out 3 at least possibly even all 5 if I use 3 torps per BB but that damn BB which starts with an A guzzles em down and doesn't respond. Sunk the Nelson 4 BB's to go 6 torps used 9 left BB with an A is slightly listing might take out the Prince of Wales and Revenge then get back to it.

TDK1044 · 03-20-07, 10:37 AM

Thank you, Spray. A constructive assesment of your initial encounter with Silent Hunter 4. Refreshing to read.

03-20-07, 10:27 AM	#1
Spray Planesman Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 182 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	My first impressions I went down to my local games shop today casually looked around and asked if they had any copy of Silent Hunter 4. After chatting up the clerk for 5 minutes they went into a back room and grabbed me a copy :p. I quickly rushed home called in sick and installed the game. Well the GFX detail is good so is some of the stuff you get into campaign. My first problem is the way you have to fire torpedoes now. I much preferred the SH3 way now you got all these things which you have to fiddle with. I was quite impressed with the GFX I ran smooth using a 7600GT (stock) 3800+ X2 64 bit (stock). 1 gig of DDR2 667 (stock) and XP with service pack 2. (This is GFX all high with little random stutters (Glitch?)). Next issue was with the campaign setting it has a great intro but it took me a while to find out how to change difficulty while in campaign cause when you start you have 4 levels. Easy, Normal, Hard, Realistic. The Gap between normal and hard was big so I set myself inbetween there to start. Went on my first patrol got to the patrol area explored the map (while patrolling) no targets whatsoever. I got an interesting message however saying all patrol craft in the vicinity of Borneo come in to assist and resist a Japanese invasion. Ok I said to myself the only problem is the area of Borneo is quite a few hundred if not a thousands kilometres around and I have no specific instructions. On the 11th of December came on a radio report that USA declared war with Germany Italy etc it was pretty good. Then I got crap and shoppy weather for a few days (thought it was fixed) patrolling off the coast of Vietnam until I hit a convoy. Don't know what the heck is in it but 1 Large Split Tanker ~8000GRT and 2 escorts. I stopped campaign and went to check out damage effects. Sunk a heavy cruiser with 3 torps "overkill" just to see what would happen, was quite impressed seems I wiped out most of the crew on deck except for two men which just myseriously dropped and died when the ship started sinking. No survivors as it went down fast. Then I wen't on to taking on a tanker. 2 Torpedoes no visual damage (but they did hit) no listing no speed drop nothing... Ill check it out tommorow and provide something more detailed my current advice is BUY IT! The game is awesome and well worth the money I think it will just take some adjustment. Don't be suprised if you get the sudden craving for GWX and German subs I can't stand the US subs no variable periscope height and ive got crappy sonars (Tip go under 20 metres for a working sonar). I can definately see some glitches/bugs which should be easily fixed and would love to see a GWX mod for SH4 GWX just brought my SH3 to life. To me im split 50/50 over the two games SH4 has certain aspects that SH3 doesn't and my most major turnoff to SH4 was how the torpedoes were launched and too much changes for me it will definately take some getting used to. The reused sounds are getting old but its awesome to see crews walking round on the deck. All in all I think id give the game a 8 1/2 outta 10 I think they definately made it easier and harder if that makes sense. It seems to be based more on the guys who want to just be able to see all the nice GFX and they are realy nice and it has diverted a little from reality. Oh and whats up with SH4 forcing the old look for GFX I though UBI said you could turn it off. All in all buy the game and buy it now its worth it, true it has its negatives but its positives are great if your a subsim enthusiast initially it will be a turnoff but look at the bright side they aimed it for newbies which means we should be seeing a lot of new virtual submariners which means SHV is possible. Good job UBI now hurry up and finish that first patch :rotfl:.

03-20-07, 10:35 AM	#2
Spray Planesman Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 182 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	And to adda bit more im not rally fond of the crew controls and damage controls now either sure the watch is a GREAT option your crew automatically switch but damn im really confused with it. Expect a report tommorow in about 16 hours "curses under breath damn work" Might take my XXI out for a few last spins I ran into an unescorted BB TF 5 BB's Nelson class, Revenge Class, Prince of Wales, King George V, and one which starts with an A for the sake of it I cant remember. Only thing is ive got 15 torps I can take out 3 at least possibly even all 5 if I use 3 torps per BB but that damn BB which starts with an A guzzles em down and doesn't respond. Sunk the Nelson 4 BB's to go 6 torps used 9 left BB with an A is slightly listing might take out the Prince of Wales and Revenge then get back to it.

03-20-07, 10:37 AM	#3
TDK1044 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 2,674 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Thank you, Spray. A constructive assesment of your initial encounter with Silent Hunter 4. Refreshing to read.