Should I buy SH5 or stick with SH4 for now?

TDK1044 · 03-12-10, 11:36 AM

Is your processor dual core? You will need a dual core processor to run Silent Hunter 5.

My answer would be to give Silent Hunter 5 at least 6 months to settle down before you purchase it.

jdupree · 03-16-10, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDK1044

Is your processor dual core? You will need a dual core processor to run Silent Hunter 5.

My answer would be to give Silent Hunter 5 at least 6 months to settle down before you purchase it.

I guess my processor is a dual core? Not quite sure how to check but I ran a dxdiag and out beside the processor info it had (2 cpu's)??

msxyz · 03-16-10, 09:36 AM

Stick to Sh4 and enjoy its mods.

SH5 graphics are marginally better but they come at the cost of increased hardware requirements. Considering what it's effectively put onscreen I'd say the 3D engine of SH5 is poorly optimized.

The novelty or running back and forth in a 3D environment wears out pretty soon, particulary because there's only one sub modelled. I'm not even sure they modelled correctly the differences between revision A-B-C. They look all the same to me (except the missing stern tube in type VIIA).

It's really just some eyecandy thrown with no real purpose. You cannot turn the various knobs and handles by yourself. Most dials are static.

The crew is composed of puppets staying in the same spot all the time and repeating the same animations over and over.

The interface is a huge step back from SH4 and SH3.

Crew management is a joke

The bugs in this software are as numerous as ants feasting over a decoposing carrion.

Last, there's the wonderful DRM scheme which is entirely dependant on staying connected to a remote server all the time.

Phantom Mark · 03-16-10, 09:51 AM

Re-Installing SH4 as we speak, say no more

Gilbou · 03-16-10, 10:05 AM

Reinstall SH4 and/or SH3 for now.

You do know how SH3 and SH4 were when they did came out.

You have to wait monthes if not one year minimum before you even
consider trying it...

And I seriously suggest not buying it until the DRM and onlne requirement
is removed.

msxyz · 03-16-10, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilbou

Reinstall SH4 and/or SH3 for now.

You do know how SH3 and SH4 were when they did came out.

You have to wait monthes if not one year minimum before you even
consider trying it...

SH3 wasn't in such poor state. I was a day 1 customer and, despite some flaws, it was truly enjoyable from the start. No serious or game breaking bugs and the campaign was fun. The interface was actually good (the best so far imho) and progressing through the various types of subs was fun.

I didn't buy SH4 untill the addon came out (I wasn't interested in US boats) and it seems I did the right thing. It wasn't until the add on and patch 1.5 that things got resolved.

SH5 is a real mess, it almost seem they didn't bother to beta test it. And even if it were perfect, it still lacks a lot of content in comparison to SH3. The idea of concetrating only on one sub seems a convenient excuse for budget cuts and schedule problems.

SH5 has less ship variety than its predecessors, only one uboat and the campaign ends in 1943.

Considering the quality of mods such as GWX or OM, there's no excuse to buy a much inferior product unless some people were curious to see how the diesel room of a type VII uboot looks.

Gilbou · 03-16-10, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msxyz

SH3 wasn't in such poor state. I was a day 1 customer and, despite some flaws, it was truly enjoyable from the start. No serious or game breaking bugs and the campaign was fun. The interface was actually good (the best so far imho) and progressing through the various types of subs was fun.

I didn't buy SH4 untill the addon came out (I wasn't interested in US boats) and it seems I did the right thing. It wasn't until the add on and patch 1.5 that things got resolved.

SH5 is a real mess, it almost seem they didn't bother to beta test it. And even if it were perfect, it still lacks a lot of content in comparison to SH3. The idea of concetrating only on one sub seems a convenient excuse for budget cuts and schedule problems.

SH5 has less ship variety than its predecessors, only one uboat and the campaign ends in 1943.

Considering the quality of mods such as GWX or OM, there's no excuse to buy a much inferior product unless some people were curious to see how the diesel room of a type VII uboot looks.

Going from SH2 to SH3 had been really nice.
I liked SH2. I didn't knew about Subsim at that time.
I bought SH3 without really reading reviews, and I discovered
the 3D interiors of the sub and spent.. more time doing screenshots
and sending them to friends than play the game

When SH4 came out I tried it. Liked the better graphics, the change
of scenery. Thought those US boats were big (when you start
in a type II and then move to a type VII, any US sub looks huge!)

Those days, I use SH3 for Uboats, and SH4 to play the US side.
I like to play US subs too

I did not buy SH5 (I took the 50 euro and put them on the website
here rather than buy the game...) and unless the DRM is removed,
and the online requirement too, SHV might very well be the last
Silent Hunter I will ever buy.

Faamecanic · 03-16-10, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msxyz

The novelty or running back and forth in a 3D environment wears out pretty soon, particulary because there's only one sub modelled. I'm not even sure they modelled correctly the differences between revision A-B-C. They look all the same to me (except the missing stern tube in type VIIA).

Its not missing the rear tube.... the rear tube in the Type VIIA was EXTERNAL with one torpedo only (no reload).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Type_VII_submarine

msxyz · 03-16-10, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faamecanic

Its not missing the rear tube.... the rear tube in the Type VIIA was EXTERNAL with one torpedo only (no reload).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Type_VII_submarine

I know, I meant to say that the launch tube was not visible from the inside.

The stern room is the only clear difference. It seems to be Ubisoft just modelled the interior after the only surviving uboat (a type C/41), the U995. But that is a late war boat.

Type A, B interiors were quite different in terms of machinery installed. There's a good deal of photos and books on the subjet. Even if it means little from the game point of view, at least it would have been one aspect done right.

Safe-Keeper · 03-16-10, 12:04 PM

To the OP: it depends on how tolerant you are of bugs.

If they don't mean much to you and you're willing to spend some time in the Mods Workshop finding mini-mods that fix most of the issues, go for it. It's a highly enjoyable game, and the mods fix much of the issues and make it slightly less arcadeish.

If it's very important for you that your product works right out of the box, wait for up to three months. We'll probably have at least one more patch and several mod packages by then.

Quote:

Wait, what? Missions? I thought the game was a dynamic campaign like SH3/SH4. How much replay will there be if there are scripted missions?

More about the campaign here

.

Ark · 03-17-10, 03:42 PM

My quick breakdown:

SHIV:

1. Cheap (about $19 USD at the moment)
2. Works.
3. Tons of mods.
4. No DRM issues.

SHV:

1. $50
2. Has quite a few bugs.
3. Has hardly any mods.
4. Has DRM issues (unless you are a hacker/pirate.....it works fine for them. lol)

I REALLY wanted to like SHV but it is just not up to par at the moment. The product is so reminiscent of a beta test (and I hate that phrase when being applied to full retail games) that is just makes me shake my head.

Here are a few issues I noticed after playing the firstfew times:

1. Once in a while, my sound cuts out after I go to the options screen and then jump back in-game.

2. Sometimes my mouse cursor gets stuck in a "free-look mode" (right-clicking the mouse so you can look around freely) and can only be unlocked by opening another menu screen.

3. The "Missions" are somewhat dumb, IMO. "Sink 50 tonnes of merchant shipping along the coast by June 1st. 1940" (or something to that effect). Seriously...what happened to just paroling an area and not finding anything, requiring you to search elsewhere or just return home due to a lack of fuel? I sank 50 tonnes of merchant shipping. Can I RTB and end the patrol? Nope. Why? I don't know....maybe the ships weren't close enough to the coast. It sort of feels like I have to keep playing a level so my score gets high enough to go to level two.

4. The RPG elements are a little wierd. For instance, I need to "upgrade" my chief so my sub goes faster. I have to upgrade my Torpedo officer so his crew will load torpedos and work at "superhuman speeds" (that's a direct quote from the game, btw). I had to upgrade my Cook so he could make special meals so I can increase morale. I have to upgrade my Radar Operator so he can tracks objects better at night. While I see what they were trying to do with the RPG elements, it sort of comes across as a bunch of "fluff" arbitrarily tossed in so there was more content.

5. My watch crew has no binoculars and yet the subsim preview here shows people on the sub using them (at least I think it was here that I saw the screenshots).

6. I can't order a dive to periscope depth until I go down the hatch.

7. I can't get my deck gun crew to leave the deck gun.

8. The people I am talking too repeat the same things, and they hardly look in my direction when speaking.

9. My settings won't save, so basically despite the fact that I shut off the health bars, gun trajectory path, stabilize view, unlimited fuel, unlimited compressed air, etc.. options they are all still enabled once I load the game. "So shut them off after you enter the sub." Sorry, you can't.

10. "It's raining and there are hardly any clouds, Sir."

11. SHV shadows and shadows alone kill performance on Nvidia cards.

12. Some destroyers are half-submerged (the entire rear deck) while they are moving around.

13. Depth under keel? Might be good to know.........ON A SUBMARINE.

14. DRM - You must be online to play. Period. If the UBI servers go down, you can't play....even if you only play single-player. You are not buying the game, you are essentially "renting" the license. If Ubisoft decided to shut down SHV's servers...you would not be able to play any longer unless they removed the DRM scheme.

Those are a few issues I noticed almost right away after playing for a short period of time.

It's up to you, but I would probably stick with SHIV for the time being. Of course, SHIV models a different aspect of WWII anyways so it's not like you can't enjoy both....the only question is are you able to enjoy SHV in it's current state, and the only person who can answer that is you.

Hope this helps.

jazman · 03-16-10, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdupree

I guess my processor is a dual core? Not quite sure how to check but I ran a dxdiag and out beside the processor info it had (2 cpu's)??

Probably not real dual core. What you are probably seeing is hyperthreading, which is fake dual core.

Run System Information (XP: start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Sytem Tools -> System Information) and provide the Processor information, that includes Family, Model, Stepping.

Or go here and get CPU-Z:

http://www.cpuid.com

Direct link to installer:

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpuz/cpuz_153_setup.exe

and run it and post a screenshot of the first page (of the application, of course, not of the install process).

Hartmann · 03-16-10, 04:14 PM

stay with SH4 and SH3 GWX

Both gives you an impressive historical review of all years of the submarine war in both theathers of war , and are nearly bug free and tested.

In the other side you can try SHV , that have more bugs that the outpost valley of starship troopers movie, a draconian DRM that makes you unable to play at weekends and demands a lot of patience because of the absurd gameplay involved with arcade an unreal features..

The best is wait until it will be fully patched, modded, and the price goes down. and perhaps DRM removed

Phantom Mark · 03-16-10, 09:00 AM

I am really regretting having picked up a copy from the shops......

I am finding it a constant frustration with this game, SH4 and the way it worked was much more my cup of tea, especially with some of the excellent mods out there.

Will shelve my copy and wait a year or so and see if it becomes worth playing in the future.

Quite gutted, I should have trusted my instincts on this one, dont even get me started on the DRM

subsimlee · 03-16-10, 09:14 AM

Got my refund from GameStop yesterday. I think SH5 could be a great sim in the future after 47 patches and 683 mods or so.... Seriously I returned it because even after I had paid for it, Ubisoft wouldn't let me play it most of the time, especially Saturdays, Sundays and yesterday. That should be a deal breaker but most seem to be hanging in living in hopes of better days.

03-16-10, 09:36 AM	#3
msxyz Engineer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 218 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Stick to Sh4 and enjoy its mods. SH5 graphics are marginally better but they come at the cost of increased hardware requirements. Considering what it's effectively put onscreen I'd say the 3D engine of SH5 is poorly optimized. The novelty or running back and forth in a 3D environment wears out pretty soon, particulary because there's only one sub modelled. I'm not even sure they modelled correctly the differences between revision A-B-C. They look all the same to me (except the missing stern tube in type VIIA). It's really just some eyecandy thrown with no real purpose. You cannot turn the various knobs and handles by yourself. Most dials are static. The crew is composed of puppets staying in the same spot all the time and repeating the same animations over and over. The interface is a huge step back from SH4 and SH3. Crew management is a joke The bugs in this software are as numerous as ants feasting over a decoposing carrion. Last, there's the wonderful DRM scheme which is entirely dependant on staying connected to a remote server all the time. __________________ ...Sinking deeper into the cold, dark oceans of life

03-17-10, 03:42 PM	#11
Ark Samurai Navy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fresno, CA. Posts: 581 Downloads: 95 Uploads: 0	My quick breakdown: SHIV: 1. Cheap (about $19 USD at the moment) 2. Works. 3. Tons of mods. 4. No DRM issues. SHV: 1. $50 2. Has quite a few bugs. 3. Has hardly any mods. 4. Has DRM issues (unless you are a hacker/pirate.....it works fine for them. lol) I REALLY wanted to like SHV but it is just not up to par at the moment. The product is so reminiscent of a beta test (and I hate that phrase when being applied to full retail games) that is just makes me shake my head. Here are a few issues I noticed after playing the firstfew times: 1. Once in a while, my sound cuts out after I go to the options screen and then jump back in-game. 2. Sometimes my mouse cursor gets stuck in a "free-look mode" (right-clicking the mouse so you can look around freely) and can only be unlocked by opening another menu screen. 3. The "Missions" are somewhat dumb, IMO. "Sink 50 tonnes of merchant shipping along the coast by June 1st. 1940" (or something to that effect). Seriously...what happened to just paroling an area and not finding anything, requiring you to search elsewhere or just return home due to a lack of fuel? I sank 50 tonnes of merchant shipping. Can I RTB and end the patrol? Nope. Why? I don't know....maybe the ships weren't close enough to the coast. It sort of feels like I have to keep playing a level so my score gets high enough to go to level two. 4. The RPG elements are a little wierd. For instance, I need to "upgrade" my chief so my sub goes faster. I have to upgrade my Torpedo officer so his crew will load torpedos and work at "superhuman speeds" (that's a direct quote from the game, btw). I had to upgrade my Cook so he could make special meals so I can increase morale. I have to upgrade my Radar Operator so he can tracks objects better at night. While I see what they were trying to do with the RPG elements, it sort of comes across as a bunch of "fluff" arbitrarily tossed in so there was more content. 5. My watch crew has no binoculars and yet the subsim preview here shows people on the sub using them (at least I think it was here that I saw the screenshots). 6. I can't order a dive to periscope depth until I go down the hatch. 7. I can't get my deck gun crew to leave the deck gun. 8. The people I am talking too repeat the same things, and they hardly look in my direction when speaking. 9. My settings won't save, so basically despite the fact that I shut off the health bars, gun trajectory path, stabilize view, unlimited fuel, unlimited compressed air, etc.. options they are all still enabled once I load the game. "So shut them off after you enter the sub." Sorry, you can't. 10. "It's raining and there are hardly any clouds, Sir." 11. SHV shadows and shadows alone kill performance on Nvidia cards. 12. Some destroyers are half-submerged (the entire rear deck) while they are moving around. 13. Depth under keel? Might be good to know.........ON A SUBMARINE. 14. DRM - You must be online to play. Period. If the UBI servers go down, you can't play....even if you only play single-player. You are not buying the game, you are essentially "renting" the license. If Ubisoft decided to shut down SHV's servers...you would not be able to play any longer unless they removed the DRM scheme. Those are a few issues I noticed almost right away after playing for a short period of time. It's up to you, but I would probably stick with SHIV for the time being. Of course, SHIV models a different aspect of WWII anyways so it's not like you can't enjoy both....the only question is are you able to enjoy SHV in it's current state, and the only person who can answer that is you. Hope this helps. __________________ Ark -------------- Vista 64-bit SP1 Asus P6T Deluxe mobo Core i7 920 @ 3.8ghz 6GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 Evga GTX 285 SSC SB X-FI Fatality 640GB WD "Black" Dell 3007WFP-HC 30" LCD / Acer 23" H233H

03-16-10, 04:14 PM	#13
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	stay with SH4 and SH3 GWX Both gives you an impressive historical review of all years of the submarine war in both theathers of war , and are nearly bug free and tested. In the other side you can try SHV , that have more bugs that the outpost valley of starship troopers movie, a draconian DRM that makes you unable to play at weekends and demands a lot of patience because of the absurd gameplay involved with arcade an unreal features.. The best is wait until it will be fully patched, modded, and the price goes down. and perhaps DRM removed __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor

03-12-10, 11:36 AM	#1
TDK1044 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 2,674 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Is your processor dual core? You will need a dual core processor to run Silent Hunter 5. My answer would be to give Silent Hunter 5 at least 6 months to settle down before you purchase it.

03-16-10, 09:51 AM	#4
Phantom Mark Bosun Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 69 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Re-Installing SH4 as we speak, say no more

03-16-10, 10:05 AM	#5
Gilbou Chief Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: France Posts: 313 Downloads: 152 Uploads: 0	Reinstall SH4 and/or SH3 for now. You do know how SH3 and SH4 were when they did came out. You have to wait monthes if not one year minimum before you even consider trying it... And I seriously suggest not buying it until the DRM and onlne requirement is removed.

03-16-10, 09:00 AM	#14
Phantom Mark Bosun Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 69 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I am really regretting having picked up a copy from the shops...... I am finding it a constant frustration with this game, SH4 and the way it worked was much more my cup of tea, especially with some of the excellent mods out there. Will shelve my copy and wait a year or so and see if it becomes worth playing in the future. Quite gutted, I should have trusted my instincts on this one, dont even get me started on the DRM

03-16-10, 09:14 AM	#15
subsimlee Mate Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 55 Downloads: 47 Uploads: 0	Got my refund from GameStop yesterday. I think SH5 could be a great sim in the future after 47 patches and 683 mods or so.... Seriously I returned it because even after I had paid for it, Ubisoft wouldn't let me play it most of the time, especially Saturdays, Sundays and yesterday. That should be a deal breaker but most seem to be hanging in living in hopes of better days.