PC Gamers pre-view out today

[cappy70]

Hi

Got PC gamer today and they have a pre-view in there for SH4 written by Andy Mahood.

Their pre-view build did not have a functioning Dyn. campaign or multiplayer game.....

The Pre-view ends like this Quote; " Silent Hunter 3 universal critical acclaim and six-figure sales performance are a tough act to follow, but as long as it doesn't spring any unexpected leaks. Silent Hunter 4 should see sub sim fans ditching the Kriegsmarine for the U.S. Navy in large numbers." End qoute.

[dean_acheson]

Is there a link, or was this in the print version?

[Safe-Keeper]

It's in print, looks like, and scanning and posting it here would be in violation of copyright, so that's a no. cappy can legally sum up the main points for us, though or quote paragraphs, should he so desire.

[cappy70]

Hi again....

One takeout from the review:

" Our pre-view build didn't have a functioning dynamic campaign or multiplayer game, but it did boast an eventful Quick Mission scenario pitting a Gato-class sub ( fronting a small American carrier group) against a fleet of Japanese battleships,cruisers, and destroyers. The new interface is clean and intuiative, with handy new pop-up dials and targeting tools to help reduce the workload in the thick of battle.Ubisoft corrected SH3's flawed AI fatigue values to produce proper three-watch shifts from your crew, and implemented a new RGP style "crew evulotion" feature that grows each sailor's experience and profiency levels with every ship you sink or objective you achieve."

...and another take-out from the review:

" As with SH3 the game's dynamic Pacific campaign lets you patrol anywhere you want, but with so many historic battles waging around you - Coral Sea,Midway,Guadalcanal - don't be surprised if new orders come in from COMSUBPAC redeploying you to some of WWII's most storied naval encounters."

...and a 3:rd take-out from the review (READ YOU GUYS WITH mid range systems,,my cappy qoute ) :

"Even more encouraging, the unoptimized beta produced surprisingly smooth framerates on my sub-mid-range system with all graphic options maxed out. Although it wasn't available in our pre-release build, Ubisoft also promises a working replay screen and new port animations to further enhance the nautical experience"

That were some take-outs from the pre-view.

[Boris]

Cheers cappy

[TDK1044]

Originally Posted by cappy70

...and another take-out from the review:

"Even more encouraging, the unoptimized beta produced surprisingly smooth framerates on my sub-mid-range system with all graphic options maxed out. Although it wasn't available in our pre-release build, Ubisoft also promises a working replay screen and new port animations to further enhance the nautical experience"

This is important for all those thinking they have to spend significant amounts of money upgrading their systems. A decent mid range rig will run SH4 well and at the highest graphical settings.

[marius]

I wonder what the system was that they tested on where stuff was maxed out. Would love to have some specs.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by cappy70

"Even more encouraging, the unoptimized beta produced surprisingly smooth framerates on my sub-mid-range system with all graphic options maxed out. Although it wasn't available in our pre-release build, Ubisoft also promises a working replay screen and new port animations to further enhance the nautical experience"

Like that info

[ReallyDedPoet]

Not even gonna bother

[Schultzy]

Originally Posted by cappy70

READ YOU GUYS WITH mid range systems

I read it, i liked it and i liked it even more when you virtually described my system when you told us what they'd tested it on!

[cappy70]

Hi.

I have friends in Wels....and in Wolfsegg am Hausrauck.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by cappy70

Hi

Silent Hunter 4 should see sub sim fans ditching the Kriegsmarine for the U.S. Navy in large numbers." End qoute.

How predictable.


Cheers anyway.

[PAW]

I am sorry to announce that sadly, the UK 173 issue of PC gamer does not contain a review of Silent Hunter 4.

The preview cover for this months issue (printed in the last issue) did show that there'd be a review for this month, but sadly it was not to be. Instead, it is rumored to be in NEXT month's PCG (released earliest on the 10th of April to subscribers). Not much point giving you the review after we've all bought it, but maybe i will.

I havn't got much time to read this month's issue for any snippets yet because i have a hand-in deadline tomorrow. A quick browse whilst my girlfriend watches neighbours shows that there is no obvious reference to silent hunter 4 whatsoever. Not even in the simulator's quick section.

Bah

Well, it's back to the grind of work and sporadicaly surfing the net for any more news on SH4

[Steeltrap]

I've probably said this before, but I hope the more 'serious' players don't get ordered off to some 'yippie-shoot-eye-candy-mission' crap, which penalises you if you DON'T go.

Sure, subs were used to rescue downed airmen later in the war, and they were tasked to patrol areas known to be hot for both merchant and IJN traffic, but being called to lead a carrier group etc is just bollocks......they lost such roles to aircraft, FFS!!!

It is no doubt possible to recreate some visually stunning appearance of Coral Sea, Midway etc battles, but they all took place without any enemy ships actually sighting each other, and had no involvement by subs. The sheer distances involved, and the speeds of carrier fleets, meant subs being anything other than damned lucky to be in the right spot at the right time is impossible.

I for one hope I'm not going to be ordered off to such crap as part of a campaign on full realism - the two are mutually exclusive IMO.

Cheers

[Barkhorn1x]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

It is no doubt possible to recreate some visually stunning appearance of Coral Sea, Midway etc battles, but they all took place without any enemy ships actually sighting each other, and had no involvement by subs.

Actually, you are incorrect here as Midway did indeed have some sub involvement - on both sides. Admittedly, the US subs didn't inflict any damage -one did get shots off tho' - and the IJN subs were involved after the main battle - but they were there.

Read the relevant chapter in Clay Blair's "Silent Victory".

Anyone who doesn't own a copy should rush out and buy it. Hey, if you order through Amazon by Saturday, I'm guessing that you can have both the book AND SH4 delivered at the same time. Wow!