Silent Hunter 2 Review

It has been a while since we saw a serious simulation meant strictly for fans of a particular topic. Submarines were always an interesting subject for a video-game, and had a special part in the computer simulation genre ever since the Aces of the Deep. The first Silent Hunter got well accepted by the players, and we must not forget that several years ago, that wonderful bliss called 3D acceleration did not even exist. Electronic Arts published Sub Command this year. This game was well devised, but true fans of submarine simulations will definitely prefer the Silent Hunter, especially as it is one of the few simulations that will let you assume control of several types of German U-Boats from the Second World War.

The first thing you will notice is the great graphic design, including the excellently modeled ships you can see on the horizon. Still, before you start playing the game I would recommend you to spend some time in the Museum section, as it contains all the vessels that appear in the game and an in-depth interview with one of the German aces, Erich Topp.

Graphics are one of the best aspects of the Silent Hunter II. All form the smoke on the horizon and the excellent explosions, to the detailed design of the deck guns... all this can be seen in the game. The waves will slowly... wave, as they glisten on the moonlight and crush against the sides of your sub as you dive in...

The most important thing in each simulation is the verisimilitude of the atmosphere. The atmosphere in Silent Hunter II is setting new standards for all future submarine simulations. Of course, many things will depend on the difficulty level you decide to play. You will be able to choose playing on the easy skill level (with a practically indestructible submarine) or the hard level, meant for true heroes of the deep blue sea.

Trying to play on the hard level with no previous experience will surely result in failure, and not only will you fail in your mission, but it is highly likely that your sub will be full of holes from enemy charges. Silent Hunter II brings a number of factors and controls you have to bare in mind: the direction of the sub, trim angle, wave magnitude and various things that influence torpedoes. You will also have to take care that your engines do not overheat. Enemy ships can only be spotted using the sonar. Control options include: Radio Room (radio is used to communicate with HQ about the mission assignments), Sound Room (the sonar lets you spot approaching enemy ships, and you can also hear the hissing of enemy torpedoes moments before they hit your sub), Torpedo Status (contains detailed settings for tube elevation, torpedo speed and depth) and Torpedo Fire Control lets you set tube reload speed and gives you launch control. Periscope is your only eye that will let you see the surface of the sea... if you are not too deep, that is. Not every sub has a Deck Gun, but those who do can use it for destroying smaller ships while on surface. Anti-Aircraft and Machine Gun are less than efficient, but they can be used to take down an odd enemy bomber. Damage Control is another important option, as it shows where your sub got damaged, and lets you decide which parts are a priority for repair.