Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific
Preview
Ready and able to embark on another mission to save the world from evil, yet again!
by Howie Howard
previewed on PC
Adjustable reality factor
If you want to play a pure sub simulation then you can head over to the very detailed options section and set the game difficulty to hard. In this mode you will see the inside of your sub and the view from your periscope and pretty much nothing else. Be prepared to know how to calculate torpedo trajectories and to figure out a ship's distance and speed in order to insure your ordnance will end up where you intend it to end up. If you want the computer to do the calculations and you desire the full effects that modern games provide via different camera angles and visual effects then set the option slider to reflect this and you will see your torpedo impact an enemy ship from its very convenient onboard camera. You will see and hear the Japanese ship break up and sink down to Davy Jones' locker. This certainly is a very exciting aspect of any game and I prefer to have the settings allow for a full visual immersion. Let me also point out that the graphic detail in this new game is truly amazing. Every ship is extremely detailed and you will be able to observe everything from the radar dish on the conning tower down to an enemy sailor swabbing the deck.
Campaign mode
Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific comes complete with a campaign game that will take you through a career as a submarine Commanding Officer during World War 2. Of course, you will start with a green inexperienced crew and will be required to survive the entire war, which I must say will not be an easy thing to do. Thank goodness for previous game saves. Or you can choose some instant action in one of the historical games. All of the famous historical ships will be present in both the campaign and the scenarios. If you are lucky enough to sink the Yamato then you will not see it appear again in the next battle as the ships in the previous games often did. The historical scenarios will allow you to jump right into the action with an already experienced crew and sub of your choice. In addition to all of this you will be able to play with up to eight of your friends in a cooperative game via a LAN or Internet connection.
Drooling in anticipation
Yes, folks, you heard it right, Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific certainly is a truly amazing World War 2 submarine game. I have played numerous sub games in my day starting with the land breaking sub game Silent Service and then Silent Service 2. Both of those games and the countless other efforts after these do not compare to what you will experience in Silent Hunter 4. Notice that I didn't use the word get or see. I used the word experience, because you won't just get great sound and graphics, you will be immersed in them. Seeing water break over the bow of your sub and the damage that you will cause to others as you ply the dangerous seas during wartime is wonderful. Come this March 16, 2007 you will experience them just like you are present on the bridge of your very own rusty World War 2 submarine poised to do battle with yet another dastardly Japanese ships captain. Ahoy matey, stand two landlubbers, Captain Howie is ready and able to embark on another mission to save the world from evil, yet again!
