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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       11th April 2005: Silent Hunter III  Enter the Sub-Culture of the German U-boat as you stalk the waves of World War Two looking for prey. Posted by Chris Snook - PC - UK and Europe From the very first frame of the opening movie through to the design of the interior and beyond into the final stages of a torpedo attack, Ubisoft have strived for the ultimate in feeling the cramped, nervousness of commanding a U-Boat, even more so as you find yourself hunted by destroyers after your small, steel world. Silent Hunter III is as close to this as you can currently achieve and sets the bar for all to follow. Set throughout the Second World War, SH3 has you in command of a U-Boat, one of the most feared craft of that conflict. Gliding silently and dangerously below the waves threatening to slice apart the fragile lines that were keeping the United Kingdom supplied in the face of the land battle that was raging across Europe. Silent Hunter III is one of the best simulations about, every aspect has been considered and weighed in together to keep a blend of realism with a level of attainability that is pitched so well it almost sings. Career Mode, whilst the most rewarding of the ways to play is not the be all and end all while still supplying you with all the game that you could need and then adds more on yet again. Within it you embark on a journey that can take you from the training academy through into the operational theatres of the Mediterranean Sea and the bitter, unforgiving reaches of the Atlantic Ocean and the chilled depths of the North Sea. Here you hone your skills and your men to become the terror of the waters, sinking a ship then slipping like a thief into the night, ready to again attack and destroy enemy shipping. There are single missions to be undertaken. Avenge the Bismark and sink a British Battleship even as that titan of the waves is brought low. Or teach the dangerous Aircraft Carrier that even your mortal enemy is not safe from the silent, waiting U-Boat, lurking below the waves. Factor in that there is an online mode where you and three others can join into a Wolfpack online and via a LAN eight buddies can all have fun pulling to bits the opposition, either in a scripted scenario or one generated specifically for that instance. There is also a mission editor for those not satisfied with what comes out of the tin. As a simulation it works simply, with an interface that is easy to access and to use but has multiple ways that it can be employed. It is this simplicity that does allow SH3 to be played to the fullest and renders down the obviously complex operations of a number of people into the realm of one person able to control the whole kit and caboodle, something not seen as well done since Carrier Command. The graphics are stunning. The main control area is rendered into a 3D control cabin that sets the tone for everything else, from the exteriors and the various other views. The water is visually impressive with foam and bubbles rising depending on whether you are surfaced or underwater. Further the day/night effects and weather is also shown as a factor in how these events were conducted. There is the occasional frame-rate glitch and slowdown as the sheer level of information is processed. Beyond this it looks good, very good. To complement this the audio is also of high quality. There are creaks and groans of the hull as the pressure alters or a booming depth charge explodes nearby, sonar pings and the hydrophones are more useful than you may think. Voice acting is good and there are snippets for most commands, all that you need really. Music is the real treat. You find elements that evoke the Matrix Trilogy and the Star Trek films, blended together to provide just the right theme for the moment, be it extreme tension as you try to evade that tenacious destroyer or landing a salvo of torpedoes into the side of a carrier. At times sombre, at times triumphant but always applicable. As is appropriate to a game that spans a quarter of the globe and six years of history the play area is huge and the number and range of missions reflects this. Whilst the single missions are handy for a quick fix (though they can be saved part way through) the career mode does provide you with a seemingly endless choice of what to do as you build up your renown and gain access to better Submarines and equipment to be placed within them, better crew and officers. An Element not as such shown but this resource management can be as vital as knowing when to run and when to land that critical torpedo strike. Control is easy and intuitive, explained easily and in steps in the clear manual, that there is often two or three ways to do things helps and all the main controls are available on nearly every screen. The tutorial is easy to follow and shows you how things can be done, not always the best way they should be done. The depth of gameplay is like everything else large and roomy, you can try out various strategies to gain a kill and when you have done so to make your escape when there are as many as half a dozen ships trying to claim your backside in answer to your strike. There is even an 'event' cam that pops up picture in picture to show torpedo launches, ships sinking or just how close that depth charge actually was. An easy addition to include but one that makes you go yes each strike you get. Silent Hunter 3 is a game for powerful machines, yes it does run on the minimum specifications but even on those that exceeds them but falls short in one or two it is a struggle. It is a game of patience just like the real life struggles of the men on both sides of the real life conflict. It is also a game that does not glorify that which it depicts, something that is rare and as such deserves more of a look at than it will probably receive. If you like tension and the need for tactical and strategic understanding then this is not one to miss. Chris Snook             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  Taut and edgy introduction to the world of underwater warfare, set during the most vicious battle of survival in human history. Beautifully put together with an eye for manageable realism with a simple interface and a depth that belies the premise this is one of the best simulations in any field to be found anywhere.  Related Games:  Silent Hunter III for PC  13  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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