SUBSIM: Silent Hunter 5 review (17/03/10)

Onkel Neal · 03-17-10, 12:58 AM

"A truly great subsim transcends computer game mechanics to stimulate the imagination the way books like Iron Coffins and U977, and films like Das Boot did. Writing about Silent Hunter 5 is a challenge. There's no way to sugarcoat it, the game has lots of issues and shortcomings, but it does some things well and it's a lot more fun to play it than write about it. One thing it does magnificently is give the player a very realistic sense of being on a U-boat. "

Silent Hunter 5 review

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robbo180265 · 03-17-10, 01:25 AM

Excellent review Neal.

Pretty much sums up the way I feel about SHV

FIREWALL · 03-17-10, 01:27 AM

Excellent Review Neal.

GoldenRivet · 03-17-10, 01:30 AM

Well done.

fair.

I would say it represents the opinion of most players, it certainly reflects mine pretty much 100%

Dowly · 03-17-10, 02:04 AM

Good one, Neal.

pcelt · 03-17-10, 02:05 AM

On the whole a very fair and balanced review of the major strengths and shortcomings of SH5.
But I do feel that the misery and frustration of some of the effects of the DRM are underplayed. Having on many occasions to wait for long periods to gain access yo your game is one thing but when like me you also find that ,through no fault of your own UBI server has lost or is unable to d/l your last group of saves (in my case ten) then I think frustration and anger are reaonable responses. This game is totally dependent on navigating a net of campaigns (excellent concept) but is consequently totally reliant on dependable and retrievable saving. Otherwise consistent progress is problematic and requires repeating a series of activities already accomplished. And of course such a loss could always happen again.
The success of this game and its enjoyment is really jeapardised if game saves cannot be fully guaranteed for all players.

robbo180265 · 03-17-10, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcelt

On the whole a very fair and balanced review of the major strengths and shortcomings of SH5.
But I do feel that the misery and frustration of some of the effects of the DRM are underplayed. Having on many occasions to wait for long periods to gain access yo your game is one thing but when like me you also find that ,through no fault of your own UBI server has lost or is unable to d/l your last group of saves (in my case ten) then I think frustration and anger are reaonable responses. This game is totally dependent on navigating a net of campaigns (excellent concept) but is consequently totally reliant on dependable and retrievable saving. Otherwise consistent progress is problematic and requires repeating a series of activities already accomplished. And of course such a loss could always happen again.
The success of this game and its enjoyment is really jeapardised if game saves cannot be fully guaranteed for all players.

I've disabled online saves - you do that by clicking on the little cog icon which is on the top right of the game launcher. Never had a problem with any of my save games since doing that.

jwilliams · 03-17-10, 02:24 AM

A fair and just review... In my opinion a little generous on the score. I would have given it 65%.

But with the right patches and mods, has the potential to be 90+. So lets hope the surport from Ubisoft and Modders is good.

Thanks for the review.

alexradu89 · 03-17-10, 02:26 AM

Nice job Neal, but you were too forgiving with them...

JScones · 03-17-10, 03:07 AM

Thanks Neal. Admittedly much more critical than I expected.

Quote:

The game manual is no longer printed...

This must be a region thing. Unless Ubisoft here changed their mind in the last few days before "official" release

, Aussie copies come with a printed manual.

BigBANGtheory · 03-17-10, 03:13 AM

Nicely done, thanks for that.

I will follow your advice on waiting to see how Ubisoft support SH5 before buying it.

Do you intend to review the patches too?

Morpheus · 03-17-10, 03:45 AM

Very nice reading ...

br morph

SodyM · 03-17-10, 03:47 AM

Great work Neal, this is professional und fair preview.

Westbroek · 03-17-10, 04:11 AM

Nailed it. Good assessment.

cherbert · 03-17-10, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JScones

Thanks Neal. Admittedly much more critical than I expected.

This must be a region thing. Unless Ubisoft here changed their mind in the last few days before "official" release

, Aussie copies come with a printed manual.

So does the UK version.

03-17-10, 12:58 AM	#1
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,385 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	SUBSIM: Silent Hunter 5 review (17/03/10) "A truly great subsim transcends computer game mechanics to stimulate the imagination the way books like Iron Coffins and U977, and films like Das Boot did. Writing about Silent Hunter 5 is a challenge. There's no way to sugarcoat it, the game has lots of issues and shortcomings, but it does some things well and it's a lot more fun to play it than write about it. One thing it does magnificently is give the player a very realistic sense of being on a U-boat. " Silent Hunter 5 review . . . __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

03-17-10, 01:27 AM	#3
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Excellent Review Neal. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

03-17-10, 01:30 AM	#4
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,729 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Well done. fair. I would say it represents the opinion of most players, it certainly reflects mine pretty much 100% __________________

03-17-10, 02:24 AM	#8
jwilliams Ace of the Deep Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,013 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	A fair and just review... In my opinion a little generous on the score. I would have given it 65%. But with the right patches and mods, has the potential to be 90+. So lets hope the surport from Ubisoft and Modders is good. Thanks for the review. __________________ Windows 7, 64bit. Phenom II 965BE (OC 4cores @ 3.8 Ghz). Radeon HD4870 (1gb gddr5). 6gb Ram.

03-17-10, 01:25 AM	#2
robbo180265 Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brighton, England.Party capital of the south Posts: 2,255 Downloads: 126 Uploads: 0	Excellent review Neal. Pretty much sums up the way I feel about SHV

03-17-10, 02:04 AM	#5
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,056 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Good one, Neal.

03-17-10, 02:05 AM	#6
pcelt Gunner Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Brighton ,England Posts: 96 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	On the whole a very fair and balanced review of the major strengths and shortcomings of SH5. But I do feel that the misery and frustration of some of the effects of the DRM are underplayed. Having on many occasions to wait for long periods to gain access yo your game is one thing but when like me you also find that ,through no fault of your own UBI server has lost or is unable to d/l your last group of saves (in my case ten) then I think frustration and anger are reaonable responses. This game is totally dependent on navigating a net of campaigns (excellent concept) but is consequently totally reliant on dependable and retrievable saving. Otherwise consistent progress is problematic and requires repeating a series of activities already accomplished. And of course such a loss could always happen again. The success of this game and its enjoyment is really jeapardised if game saves cannot be fully guaranteed for all players.

03-17-10, 02:26 AM	#9
alexradu89 Lieutenant Join Date: May 2009 Location: Romania Posts: 259 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0	Nice job Neal, but you were too forgiving with them...

03-17-10, 03:13 AM	#11
BigBANGtheory Officer Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: British Waters Posts: 243 Downloads: 98 Uploads: 0	Nicely done, thanks for that. I will follow your advice on waiting to see how Ubisoft support SH5 before buying it. Do you intend to review the patches too?

03-17-10, 03:45 AM	#12
Morpheus Ensign Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 234 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Very nice reading ... br morph

03-17-10, 03:47 AM	#13
SodyM Watch Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 17 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Great work Neal, this is professional und fair preview.

03-17-10, 04:11 AM	#14
Westbroek Lieutenant Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: LA Posts: 256 Downloads: 121 Uploads: 0	Nailed it. Good assessment.