Features in SH1 and Aces That Have Since "Disappeared"

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Subnuts

SH1 and Aces had a random campaign in the vein of SH3 and SH4. None of them are truly "dynamic" (like Falcon 4) in that sinking aircraft carriers or large tankers doesn't alter the outcome of the war one bit.

Since the SH series is about recreating the historical experience of being a sub driver during WW2, it is pretty clear that whatever actions you take cannot influence the outcome of the war. Otherwise we would be playing a fictional scenario and this is what most players don't want.

Falcon 4 didin't have only a dynamic campaign, it simulated an entire war theater on air, land and sea. And it could do it precisely because there were no constraints as to the outcome of the conflict. So your actions actually had effects on the ongoing campaign.

The SH series never had this kind of freedom. So what we get for all pratical purposes is a dynamic campaign that is nothing more than a glorified random mission generator. So options that in SH I had to be set explicitely (such as time of mission, weather conditions etc...) are now in SH 3 created dynamically by the game engine without user intervention. You still get to sail on rough seas, or by clear weather. But like real life sub captains you get no say as to how the weather will be during your mission. Is this a step backwards ? In terms of realism no.
In terms of feature creep yes. But feature creep is the bane of software, so Ubisoft has done well by not throwing everything and the kitchen sink inside SH 3 and/or SH 4.