SH3 and SH4

xptical · 04-19-10, 07:01 PM

I'm on my laptop right now. SH3 seems to run better. It loads fast and, even with the HiRes mod, I get better framerates.

Although, I have heard that GWX will absolutely kill load times...

I don't think it's really that rare to have the option to try both. As a pack, it's currently $30 on Steam. I had both games in the boxed version as well. But I re-bought them on Steam because I prefer not having to deal with CDROM installs...

pickinthebanjo · 04-19-10, 08:32 PM

Well I personally can't stand SH4, but don't let that steer you away (I'm just odd like that) it's still alright. I liked the fact that it's a whole new campaign, I didn't like playing as an american sub (I think you can use U-boat in expansion)
also I hated the stock GUI and the menu's.

I remember that my first "patrol" was to head into tokyo(?) harbor and drop someone off, then my second was to photograph a harbor. I ended up finding a convoy and firing 6 torpedoes into 6 different ships. They were solid hits but they all kept going and I didn't even get pinged.

In short, I prefer the campaigns in SH3 GWX3 once the right mods are applied.

I actually wouldn't mind trying SH5, but if everyone else said it has problems I would imagine I wouldn't be any different.

Phantom II · 04-19-10, 09:04 PM

SH3 = Older, therefore has much more polished mods, most of the problems are fixed by said mods/updates. Being old is also its disadvantage though. Max resolution is 1280x1024, which was fairly small even when the game came out. Graphically its still nice.

Oh, and it has U-Boats in the Atlantic, which is always a guaranteed winning formula. Game is very difficult and challenging since the Germans were historically the underdogs.

This makes the game a lot more fun to play, and it can get very tense sometimes.

SH4 = Newer, fewer mods, more bugs. I guess the developers tried to streamline the game a bit to make it more accessible, but I personally prefer SH3's interface. Some nice graphical features (like post-processing, etc) has high res and wide screen support.

As far as the setting goes, its set in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, which means you get to play with American Fleet Boats. A lot of people don't like this, I personally do (I have since SH1).

Also due to it being newer, it has higher system requirements, but most decent systems today should be able to run all settings on full without any problems.

Unfortunately it seems as if Ubi basically started working on SH5, and hence stopped developing patches for SH4 far too early, since as I said before, it has a lot of bugs which will probably never get fixed.

Verdict: I would love to give SH4 a try with some of the mods (RFB, TMO) but I'm having trouble getting it all to work flawlessly, but I am really spoiled with SH3 and the excellent job the guys have done with GWX3.0, if only it had high resolution, I'd be totally set with SH3.

xptical · 04-19-10, 09:25 PM

I used this with SH3: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1092

I have it running at 1440*900 and it looks great.

SH3 does feel really polished. I love SH3 Commander and I'm sure I'll love GWX once I install it. I'll probably wipe my install tonight and patch a new install with GWX tomorrow...

Phantom II · 04-19-10, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xptical

I used this with SH3: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1092

I have it running at 1440*900 and it looks great.

SH3 does feel really polished. I love SH3 Commander and I'm sure I'll love GWX once I install it. I'll probably wipe my install tonight and patch a new install with GWX tomorrow...

Um that just stretches it.

04-19-10, 10:33 PM

SH3 goes from easy, to nearly impossible, as the war progresses.

SH4 goes from easy, to easier, as the war progresses.

If you prefer a challenge SH3 is the way to go.
If you prefer things to get less challenging as you go, play SH4.

Weiss Pinguin · 04-19-10, 10:44 PM

I started off playing SH4, but since I haven't been able to play more than a little bit since my computer is old, for me SH4 still has that kind of 'mysterious' appeal, I guess. Other reasons are that, well, I'm American, and my grandfather served in the USN as a submariner. (Not that I like SH3 anyless because of all that, but SH4 holds more appeal for those reasons)

Gameplay wise, one thing I definitely think is improved since SH3 is
AUTOMATIC CREW MANAGEMENT

but aside from that I can't really say much else about it, aside from the fact that it looks gorgeous.

SH3 definitely has some well-polished mods, and as everyone else has said, the challenge goes up as the war goes on.

04-19-10, 09:04 PM	#3
Phantom II Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 139 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	SH3 = Older, therefore has much more polished mods, most of the problems are fixed by said mods/updates. Being old is also its disadvantage though. Max resolution is 1280x1024, which was fairly small even when the game came out. Graphically its still nice. Oh, and it has U-Boats in the Atlantic, which is always a guaranteed winning formula. Game is very difficult and challenging since the Germans were historically the underdogs. This makes the game a lot more fun to play, and it can get very tense sometimes. SH4 = Newer, fewer mods, more bugs. I guess the developers tried to streamline the game a bit to make it more accessible, but I personally prefer SH3's interface. Some nice graphical features (like post-processing, etc) has high res and wide screen support. As far as the setting goes, its set in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, which means you get to play with American Fleet Boats. A lot of people don't like this, I personally do (I have since SH1). Also due to it being newer, it has higher system requirements, but most decent systems today should be able to run all settings on full without any problems. Unfortunately it seems as if Ubi basically started working on SH5, and hence stopped developing patches for SH4 far too early, since as I said before, it has a lot of bugs which will probably never get fixed. Verdict: I would love to give SH4 a try with some of the mods (RFB, TMO) but I'm having trouble getting it all to work flawlessly, but I am really spoiled with SH3 and the excellent job the guys have done with GWX3.0, if only it had high resolution, I'd be totally set with SH3. __________________

04-19-10, 10:44 PM	#7
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	I started off playing SH4, but since I haven't been able to play more than a little bit since my computer is old, for me SH4 still has that kind of 'mysterious' appeal, I guess. Other reasons are that, well, I'm American, and my grandfather served in the USN as a submariner. (Not that I like SH3 anyless because of all that, but SH4 holds more appeal for those reasons) Gameplay wise, one thing I definitely think is improved since SH3 is AUTOMATIC CREW MANAGEMENT but aside from that I can't really say much else about it, aside from the fact that it looks gorgeous. SH3 definitely has some well-polished mods, and as everyone else has said, the challenge goes up as the war goes on. __________________

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04-19-10, 07:01 PM	#1
xptical Bosun Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Macon, Georgia Posts: 62 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	I'm on my laptop right now. SH3 seems to run better. It loads fast and, even with the HiRes mod, I get better framerates. Although, I have heard that GWX will absolutely kill load times... I don't think it's really that rare to have the option to try both. As a pack, it's currently $30 on Steam. I had both games in the boxed version as well. But I re-bought them on Steam because I prefer not having to deal with CDROM installs...

04-19-10, 08:32 PM	#2
pickinthebanjo Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 651 Downloads: 282 Uploads: 0	Well I personally can't stand SH4, but don't let that steer you away (I'm just odd like that) it's still alright. I liked the fact that it's a whole new campaign, I didn't like playing as an american sub (I think you can use U-boat in expansion) also I hated the stock GUI and the menu's. I remember that my first "patrol" was to head into tokyo(?) harbor and drop someone off, then my second was to photograph a harbor. I ended up finding a convoy and firing 6 torpedoes into 6 different ships. They were solid hits but they all kept going and I didn't even get pinged. In short, I prefer the campaigns in SH3 GWX3 once the right mods are applied. I actually wouldn't mind trying SH5, but if everyone else said it has problems I would imagine I wouldn't be any different.

04-19-10, 09:25 PM	#4
xptical Bosun Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Macon, Georgia Posts: 62 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	I used this with SH3: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1092 I have it running at 1440*900 and it looks great. SH3 does feel really polished. I love SH3 Commander and I'm sure I'll love GWX once I install it. I'll probably wipe my install tonight and patch a new install with GWX tomorrow...

04-19-10, 10:33 PM	#6
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	SH3 goes from easy, to nearly impossible, as the war progresses. SH4 goes from easy, to easier, as the war progresses. If you prefer a challenge SH3 is the way to go. If you prefer things to get less challenging as you go, play SH4.