Silent Hunter 3 vs. Silent Hunter 5 ... who's the best?

[Ubootsmann96]

After playing previous series I can say sh5 is rather partially Usim, although some aspects are expanded in comparison with sh3. Graphics is alright but i don't agree it's breathtaking. There are still apple shapes. Some effects are not satisfying (explosions). Big plus for U-boots details, sea... but there is not really that much to do is it?? i would say as for that year improvements should be greater. The most disappointing is interface. It makes it very hard to play for old seawolfs and not that easy for new players. Some say that sh5 with mods will be much greater than sh3. Doubt... if yes respectful for modders cause its damn heavy work.
Last words: again we can be "grateful" for commercialism (egz. mafia->mafia2, morrowind->oblivion->skyrim; the same with Lothar-Guenther Buchheim
"Das Boot 2") and Ubi for laying down.. what is enough: renown, and candy graphics and people say: hurrey... is it truely that hard to make better game the same time.. i would buy game for twice a price instead of that.. since I would have played it for 5 years than 5 months like persent sh5...

[usmcfr]

I have to say that after playing SH3, SH4 and SH5, I prefered SH3. SH4 was pretty good as well and I enjoyed the trip to the Pacific. When I got SH5 I thought it had some nice graphics, but dear god the problems with gameplay and the bugs were frustrating. I have to say that I thought SH5 was pretty unfinished and I have had that feeling throughout the campaign. After battling through the campaign and sinking 2.3 million tones of shipping, Black Pitt just put me at my wits end, that and the campaigns in the med. However given plenty of modding, SH5 is probably the winning game. Its just a shame that it takes lots of modding to get it to a point that is acceptable to subsim fans. Thank god for Subsim and the modding community with it.

[DelphiUniverse]

Originally Posted by usmcfr

I have to say that after playing SH3, SH4 and SH5, I prefered SH3. SH4 was pretty good as well and I enjoyed the trip to the Pacific. When I got SH5 I thought it had some nice graphics, but dear god the problems with gameplay and the bugs were frustrating. I have to say that I thought SH5 was pretty unfinished and I have had that feeling throughout the campaign. After battling through the campaign and sinking 2.3 million tones of shipping, Black Pitt just put me at my wits end, that and the campaigns in the med. However given plenty of modding, SH5 is probably the winning game. Its just a shame that it takes lots of modding to get it to a point that is acceptable to subsim fans. Thank god for Subsim and the modding community with it.

I would still prefer the mod community to be modding a complete "bugfree" game rather than modding an incomplete buggy game.

Unfortunately the only way to solve this is Open Source.

[Bothersome]

Personally, I think the biggest problem with the game is the people. Too many think that finishing the campaign is the enjoyment.

I think just playing the game at whatever stage you happen to be in is the enjoyment. The reward is in knowing that you can work the problem with the given tools. You don't have to have radar to have fun. Just have fun.

Another thing I think is the problem with the people is that they think they must have their old interface. The only thing that's needed is a good interface. The stock interface is lacking in regard. For instance, how do you set standard propulsion from the stock interface? You could do it in SH3 and SH4 by clicking on the battery charge icon. But there is no equivelant in SH5 without a mod.

So we need a simple but effective interface that allows us to get to the things we need. We don't need fancy, just simple and effective.

But too many people think they must have the kitchen sink and every gadget to be happy.

I guess my point is, "more doesn't bring happiness."

[nikimcbee]

SH3 as a whole is better. SH5 wins the eye candy award.

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

SH3 as a whole is better. SH5 wins the eye candy award.

I have to disagree. With mods SH5 wins hands down . I have since shelved SH3 as it's just a disappointment to play with it's poor graphics and not having the things SH5 has (real nav, ship's journal, better AI (from IRAI), OHII, dynamic environment, etc.). Plus the modding ability of SH5 far exceeds anything that SH3 can give (allbeit it takes a little more skill to mod SH5 than the other SH series).

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

I have to disagree. With mods SH5 wins hands down .

Your UI and AI mods are the only reasons I have not shelved SH5 and written it off as a bad investment.

I have since shelved SH3 as it's just a disappointment to play with it's poor graphics and not having the things SH5 has (real nav, ship's journal, better AI (from IRAI), OHII, dynamic environment, etc.). Plus the modding ability of SH5 far exceeds anything that SH3 can give (allbeit it takes a little more skill to mod SH5 than the other SH series).

I wouldn't go as far as to say SH3 had bad graphics, just dated. SH5's polygon flicker for all of the gauge labels is a particular annoyance for me. I still play the other Silent Hunter games. I recently got SH2 and for all of its flaws, I like it. I think the big issue is the ultimate subsim. It has been said that 5 has this potential and I agree. 3 and 4 each has its own place and the mods do much to stretch them out. I think once 5 has its full mega mod, it will really make the decision for most people. I still have sharp criticisms for 5, but that is because of its state upon release and its lack of support from Ubisoft. I know 2, 3, and 4 also started out rocky, but I wasn't around for that. Quite frankly, I think it really boils down to preference. I can sit down and get consistent kills with any of them with realism set at at least 80% on all of them and that is all that matters to me. I am just now comfortable enough to begin schooling myself on manual targeting so I can boost the realism up to 100%.

[Bilge_Rat]

SH3, SH4, SH5 are all good sub simulations. Which one is your favorite is really a matter of personal preference. I spend most of my time with SH4 lately, but agree that SH5 is the one that has the most long term potential.

[Dogfish40]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Of course I'm wrong. I'm always wrong.

I was a huge fan of detective Dietrich, played by Steve Landesberg, back on the old Barney Miller TV show. Whenever a difference of opinion came up he would launch into a brilliant explanation that couldn't be refuted. Then right when he had everybody hooked, he'd say "Of course I could be wrong." The expressions on the others' faces was priceles.

Like the time they confiscated some guys college project (an Atomic bomb) which they all were trying to figure out if it was one indeed, and after a bunch of to and fro, Dietrich walks in and without a beat says "Hey, where'd ya get the Atom Bomb??" .
Just they way he said it,...OK, Ya had to be there...
Yeah, With the current Mods like IRAI and Dyn Env, I can get depth charged till my ears explode in SH5, and my crew reacts to all this. So as far as Immersion or whatever goes, this one is getting better by the month. Every week someone has improved this or that and that's part of the fun of it. I still love my Fleet boat and trolling about the Pacific too in SH4. It's all good!!
Kudo's to all the Modders!!
D40

[Ubootsmann96]

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

SH5 also has a dynamic campaign, same engine as in SH3, although with many underlying improvements.

I presume you meant that the SH5 campaign ends in 43.

Although I never really understood why this was such a big issue, after may 43, U-Boats are just targets waiting to be killed.

I've read Uboot's history quite thoroughly, despite of losses, there were more U-boats even after 43 (less seaworthy than built but still), main thing was Ubootwaffe had late and minor meaning improvements whereas, Allies had aircrafts and fleet ->Uboatkillers focusing nearly only on Uboats (apart of wargame who catches SUPERBATTLESHIP OF GERMANY). The thing was there wasn't enough number of experienced crews, no Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine support, and the most important: LACK OF HITLER'S BLESSING.

Anyway that would be interesting playing after 1943 making history and brave almost suicide attacks or just face risk of being sunk just to sink at least one cargo ship... That is what has not been done by Ubisoft what may be done by modders... I thought thread is about comparing clean Silent Hunter 3 and Silent Hunter Five..
Any way what so damn wrong with AI of SH3 when playing above 80 prc realism and what so damn dynamic in SH5 campaign????

Nobody says it loud: we are being cheated and disrespected
I colud say the same about sh3 lets allow to do graphics as in sh5 and interior additions and bla bla bla.... Its not all about: compared should be both stock games. SH3 was brilliant... SH5 is not. Ubisoft should support modders at all cost cause they alone are poor :P

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by Ubootsmann96

I've read Uboot's history quite thoroughly, despite of losses, there were more U-boats even after 43 (less seaworthy than built but still), main thing was Ubootwaffe had late and minor meaning improvements whereas, Allies had aircrafts and fleet ->Uboatkillers focusing nearly only on Uboats (apart of wargame who catches SUPERBATTLESHIP OF GERMANY). The thing was there wasn't enough number of experienced crews, no Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine support, and the most important: LACK OF HITLER'S BLESSING.

Anyway that would be interesting playing after 1943 making history and brave almost suicide attacks or just face risk of being sunk just to sink at least one cargo ship... That is what has not been done by Ubisoft what may be done by modders... I thought thread is about comparing clean Silent Hunter 3 and Silent Hunter Five..
Any way what so damn wrong with AI of SH3 when playing above 80 prc realism and what so damn dynamic in SH5 campaign????

Nobody says it loud: we are being cheated and disrespected
I colud say the same about sh3 lets allow to do graphics as in sh5 and interior additions and bla bla bla.... Its not all about: compared should be both stock games. SH3 was brilliant... SH5 is not. Ubisoft should support modders at all cost cause they alone are poor :P

Ubootsmann96, first, welcome to Subsim.

Second, the post you quoted was made almost 2 years ago. Since then, the "Open Horizon" campaign I and II have been released which extends the SH5 campaign out to may 1945.

Third, no one really cares about these SH3 v SH4 v SH5 arguments anymore, they all had problems out of the box.

[Wuss]

by the time the modders have finished with either of them,just how much of the original game is actualy left.
IMO though that wont count for much,its the mod community that have made SH3 the game it is today and undoubtedly will do the same for SH5,UBI should be paying you guys wages

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

I have to disagree. With mods SH5 wins hands down . I have since shelved SH3 as it's just a disappointment to play with it's poor graphics and not having the things SH5 has (real nav, ship's journal, better AI (from IRAI), OHII, dynamic environment, etc.). Plus the modding ability of SH5 far exceeds anything that SH3 can give (allbeit it takes a little more skill to mod SH5 than the other SH series).

I will probably agree with you the day I sink a 500-ton coastal tanker with my Type II, then sail through the Brunsbuttel gates and past the rotating railroad bridge on my way home.

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I will probably agree with you the day I sink a 500-ton coastal tanker with my Type II, then sail through the Brunsbuttel gates and past the rotating railroad bridge on my way home.

In time. The GR2 Editor/Viewer is slowly progressing to the point of adding new meshes

[Ubootsmann96]

Thx for greets, sorry for being unprepared nice to know about those new mods, I just wanted to share my thoughts...(is there any modfor changing interface of SH5) I'm waiting for SH6 :P. Anyhow for all of You mates: cheers! I gonna be listening The Tipperary Song now and drink Uboot special cocktail. uuuuuueeee