Silent Hunter III (PC DVD)

If you are looking for the ultimate U-Boat simulator, then look no further. I don't know what has gotten into Ubisoft Romania lately. Suddenly they are making kick-ass games. And this is the best so far in my opinion. And best of all, you get to be the bad guys. In other words you control a Nazi submarine (in the time period 1939-1945). You decide yourself if you want this to be a pure U-Boat simulator or a U-Boat arcade game, by adjusting the realism-level. 100% realism means no external camera-view, limited oxygen and batteries etc. You will have to live and act like a real submarine-captain. While 0% realism means full external camera-view, unlimited oxygen and batteries etc. You can also choose anything between 0% and 100% realism. Like full external view but limited oxygen. If you choose campaign-mode you will be assigned with different missions. Usually it will be to patrol a certain grid on the map for 24 hours, and you are bound to encounter some enemy ships along the way (usually british). The more enemy ships you sink, the better, and the more medals you will receive. Another thing that caught my attention in this game is the music (like I mentioned). Wow. Completely awesome.

Coolest moment so far in the game, for me, was me versus a British destroyer outside of Gibraltar at night during a storm. You NEED to try it for yourself. Obviously superb graphics here as well.

Another great thing about this game is the fact that everything on the DVD will be copied to the harddisk, so you won't have to locate the disc every time you want to play it. This is common with games meant for online-playing, like this one. I have all the other games in the Silent Hunter series, and this is by far the best in my opinion. In Silent Hunter 5 the problem was that new crappy feature that requires constant internet-connection to play it, In Silent Hunter 4 the problem was that you have to use the disc every time you play it. Silent Hunter 4 was set in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II, and was a great game but I still think Silent Hunter 3 is the best. If you prefer the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II, beautiful turquoise water and white beaches you might enjoy Silent Hunter 4 more, but if you are a real man, you'll choose the cold, dark water of the Atlantic:-)

This has to be one of the best submarine sims I have ever played!! The graphics to this game are unbelievable. Beautifully rendered, whether night or day. When standing on the bridge of the sub, you get that all in eerie feeling that you are at sea. (Don't forget your sickbag if you suffer motion sickness!!)
It has a great time compression built in, for those ever so LONG sea voyages. But the truth is,I suppose, that's how it must have been. (The ocean is a BIG place!)
When a convoy is spotted, or a lone cargo ship, this game unfurls itself! As the submariner Kapitan (german of course), you must plot courses, take into account the speed of the enemy ship, and lay in torpedo runs! Easy if it's a 'loner' but very tactical if a convoy is to be sunk!
Depending on your own ability to captain the sub, you can have 'realism' set to low, so you can loose off as many torpedos as you wish. But the real fun is to limit them.
Many other features, like a look arond your boat inside and out, make this an absolute belter of a game.
My all time favourite incorporated into this game has to be the 'FREE CAM' mode. If you want to just savour the glorious graphics on a beautiful sunny day, or a clear moonlit night. Free cam is the ultimate viewing pleasure!
All in all I personally think this game has it all. Happy hunting and if you hear the dreaded 'ping' of a destroyer. DIVE, DIVE, DIVE!!!!!

Until you actually download and see how impressive this WW2 U boat simulator actually is nothing will prepare you for the visual treat.

I downloaded it to windows 7 Ultimate 64bit with no compatibility problems and i was in jaw dropping mode.

The simulator has proved to be 100% reliable with no glitches or crashing of the programme even with very extensive use.

If for some reason your software willnot allow you to enjoy this simulator then the disappointment will be emense.

You must remember this is not a game but a highly impressive simulator and those with a limited concentration will soon tire of it because very little can happen for hours on end just surfing the ocean waiting for something to happen but when it does you have to be fully focussed and ready for action.

The graphics as others have already stated are very impressive especially within the U boat and as it is a simulator you have to learn how everything works and pass an exam so that you can confidentally operate this U boat.

Everything is there even the underneath of vessels with rotating propeller blades as they pass over you depth charging as they go.

I would have been just as happy if the graphics were not as impressive as they turned out to be but seeing the underside of vessels above you in heavy seas with fabulous sound effects to match is the iceing on the cake.

I would have felt just as impressed and happy if i had paid £20+ for this disc but being so cheap makes it just so more satisfying.

There is so much to do and analise onboard the Uboat if you want to do it but you can put the simulator into instantaneous action where the ships appear on the horizon waiting for your next move with information regarding whether you have been spotted by ships or measurement of speed and change of direction announced by the crew.

Likewise you can change the settings where everything happens in real time so to speak where it may take some hours of play until the vessels appear on the horizon.

I have yet to set the options to these settings simply because the rush of excitement when the convoy on the horizon is sighted and you push the U Boat into full ahead is so addictive.

I cannot think there are any simulator discs out there as polished or realistic as this one.

Ubisoft must be warmly congratulated for their work on this simulator.

The only real difficulty is timing your torpedoes and anticipating the moves of an oncoming vessel which can turn in any direction at the last moment thus wasting your torpedo in the process and those are limited to a small number so use them wisely.

This is one action simulator that one will want to stick with due to the realism of both U Boat and ocean scenery.

Having now played this simulator a few times i have become addicted to it wanting to try it out at any given opportunity.

I have even placed this simulator on its own Western Digital Velociraptor drive by itself so it cannot be corrupted or slowed down by any other software, which appears to have helped because load times are almost instantaneous.

Forget those comments that this disc willnot load onto Windows 7 without problems because it worked a treat first time and that's with the 64bit operating system and rather meaty 8800GTX overlocked KO graphics card.

I just cannot praise this simulator highly enough and not having played on any of the other versions i cannot comment but no 3 appears to be the best of the lot.

A remarkable bit of entertainment if one can describe it as such.

Now why wasn't i born in time to join the Kreigsmarine but being Welsh and British i think Admiral Donitz might have sent me packing.