Is SH4 merely a rehash of SH3?

ParaB · 03-25-07, 01:33 PM

Well, both games cover submarine operations in WW2, it's not as if SH4 is something completely different fromn SH3. I, so far, tremendously enjoy the change from the Atlantic to the Pacific theatre of war.

SH4 on my system looks great (despite the lack of FSAA), the campaign is much improved with more diverse missions and greatly improved briefings, we get animated crews on the ships an survivors, improved underwater scenery, and interesting new features like the radio (although not fully implemented yet).

For me the main reason to buy SH4 were not distinctive improvements compared to SH3 but mainly the switch to a theater I've not visited since Silent Service 2.

Beery · 03-25-07, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParaB

SH4 on my system looks great (despite the lack of FSAA), the campaign is much improved with more diverse missions and greatly improved briefings, we get animated crews on the ships an survivors, improved underwater scenery, and interesting new features like the radio (although not fully implemented yet)...

But the major mods to SH3 brought us more diverse missions, even more improved briefings, more realistic underwater scenery and a better radio mod, not to mention ultra-realistic flotillas, complete freedom to start on any date from 1939 to 1945 (which SH4 doesn't have), monthly news reports (which SH4 doesn't have), and all the other extra features that SH3 Commander brought to the game - few of which SH4 has.

Without all the mods that were part of SH3 I'm just getting the feeling that I'm playing the same sim, but somehow less satisfying.

ReM is right though - after the devs finish patching it and after the community has modded it I'm sure it will be a worthy successor to SH3. I just hope something turns up to really make it shine like Jaesen Jones' SH3 Commander did for SH3.

CCIP · 03-25-07, 07:26 PM

I don't think you've dug quite deep enough yet. SH4 DOES have a lot of features that SHIII could only dream of - it's to the credit of the modders that creative workarounds were made for SHIII to make up for the lack of some of the features. SHIV, by comparison, is 'the real deal' - there is a lot more flexibility here, just that not all of it is being used optimally.

I say just play it as its own game. Up to you, really. I think you'll agree that I'm not the least knowledgeable SH3 player around - and it's my humble view that SHIV is a step forward - not a full step, but a step nonetheless.

What is a bit of a shame is that not all of the improvements in SHIV have really been used to the devs to their full potential and that dulls the good feel of it somewhat, along with noted bugs.

Rykaird · 03-25-07, 07:33 PM

So I've been fairly critical of SHIV and in particular the almost total removal of interaction with the equipment and crew, forcing complete reliance on the interface.

I have a high end system so I can run everything maxed, and in SHIV's defence I must say that this thing is beautiful. The ocean is just fantastic looking, and the various light effects are stunning. For example, the way the fire from a sinking ship plays off the waves at night is magic.

Despite its beauty, I've parked the game and gone back to the Atlantic. I just have too many crashes and weird bugs, and the frustration isn't worth it. Once its stable I'll come back.

This game may turn out to be great - I think its too early to call right now. In the meantime, Fat Boy Winston and I have some unfinished business.

P_Funk · 03-25-07, 07:58 PM

You can't take my remarks here terribly serious since I haven't played SH4 yet (and won't be til I get a better system) but it looks to me as if SH4 hasn't added anything to the game engine, graphics aside, that couldn't have been done by a dedicated modding team with an SH3 SDK.

Most of the things that sound really refreshing were mod ideas from the early days of SH3 before we figured out that we couldn't change the hard code. Automated crew management, more intersting dynamic campaign, etc. So far the non-Pacific related changes seem as though they are lost patches for SH3. Then theres the fact that theres alot of stock SH3 features actually missing.

Its all a bit weird and confusing.

Beery · 03-25-07, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rykaird

So I've been fairly critical of SHIV and in particular the almost total removal of interaction with the equipment and crew, forcing complete reliance on the interface...

When playing during the last 24 hours I missed being able to interact purely via the mouse in 3D. I was hoping that I just hadn't found the way to do it yet. If we have to interact purely via interface buttons I'm going to be really disappointed.

Iron Budokan · 03-25-07, 08:43 PM

Sad to say, Beery, you're gonna be disappointed. (I was, too.) You can't interact via the 3d like you could in the control room in SH3. You gotta use the icons in SH4....

03-25-07, 08:52 PM

Gentlemen! Give us time!!!
I to hate alot of things, but keep digging to
correct what needs corrected.
We will fix this beast!!!
And if the GWX team comes at it?

God help us all!
We'll all be divorced, shunned,
and locked away in some sleazy motel Hell!
Playing our game a muttering
"I just need a few more fathoms Scotty!!!"
:rotfl: :rotfl:

03-25-07, 07:26 PM	#3
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	I don't think you've dug quite deep enough yet. SH4 DOES have a lot of features that SHIII could only dream of - it's to the credit of the modders that creative workarounds were made for SHIII to make up for the lack of some of the features. SHIV, by comparison, is 'the real deal' - there is a lot more flexibility here, just that not all of it is being used optimally. I say just play it as its own game. Up to you, really. I think you'll agree that I'm not the least knowledgeable SH3 player around - and it's my humble view that SHIV is a step forward - not a full step, but a step nonetheless. What is a bit of a shame is that not all of the improvements in SHIV have really been used to the devs to their full potential and that dulls the good feel of it somewhat, along with noted bugs. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

03-25-07, 07:58 PM	#5
P_Funk Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 2,537 Downloads: 129 Uploads: 0	You can't take my remarks here terribly serious since I haven't played SH4 yet (and won't be til I get a better system) but it looks to me as if SH4 hasn't added anything to the game engine, graphics aside, that couldn't have been done by a dedicated modding team with an SH3 SDK. Most of the things that sound really refreshing were mod ideas from the early days of SH3 before we figured out that we couldn't change the hard code. Automated crew management, more intersting dynamic campaign, etc. So far the non-Pacific related changes seem as though they are lost patches for SH3. Then theres the fact that theres alot of stock SH3 features actually missing. Its all a bit weird and confusing. __________________

03-25-07, 08:43 PM	#7
Iron Budokan Sea Lord Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,778 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Sad to say, Beery, you're gonna be disappointed. (I was, too.) You can't interact via the 3d like you could in the control room in SH3. You gotta use the icons in SH4.... __________________ "You will take on England wherever you find her ships, and you will break her power at sea." --Iron Coffins, Herbert A. Werner http://kennethmarkhoover.com

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03-25-07, 01:33 PM	#1
ParaB Chief Join Date: May 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 327 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Well, both games cover submarine operations in WW2, it's not as if SH4 is something completely different fromn SH3. I, so far, tremendously enjoy the change from the Atlantic to the Pacific theatre of war. SH4 on my system looks great (despite the lack of FSAA), the campaign is much improved with more diverse missions and greatly improved briefings, we get animated crews on the ships an survivors, improved underwater scenery, and interesting new features like the radio (although not fully implemented yet). For me the main reason to buy SH4 were not distinctive improvements compared to SH3 but mainly the switch to a theater I've not visited since Silent Service 2.

03-25-07, 07:33 PM	#4
Rykaird Weps Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 356 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	So I've been fairly critical of SHIV and in particular the almost total removal of interaction with the equipment and crew, forcing complete reliance on the interface. I have a high end system so I can run everything maxed, and in SHIV's defence I must say that this thing is beautiful. The ocean is just fantastic looking, and the various light effects are stunning. For example, the way the fire from a sinking ship plays off the waves at night is magic. Despite its beauty, I've parked the game and gone back to the Atlantic. I just have too many crashes and weird bugs, and the frustration isn't worth it. Once its stable I'll come back. This game may turn out to be great - I think its too early to call right now. In the meantime, Fat Boy Winston and I have some unfinished business.

03-25-07, 08:52 PM	#8
Madox58 Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Gentlemen! Give us time!!! I to hate alot of things, but keep digging to correct what needs corrected. We will fix this beast!!! And if the GWX team comes at it? God help us all! We'll all be divorced, shunned, and locked away in some sleazy motel Hell! Playing our game a muttering "I just need a few more fathoms Scotty!!!" :rotfl: :rotfl: