SeaWolves: Submarines on Hunt

Given the heaps of praise, er, heaped upon Silent Hunter III by all and sundry when it arrived last year, I'll bet you thought that it was an accurate simulation of life on board a German U-Boat during the WWII. Hah! More fool you, simpleton. Given the changes Seawolves, an unofficial, nonendorsed expansion pack makes to the game, it might as well have been an arcade shooter set during a Martian invasion in the year 3943 AD.

Comedy exaggeration aside, Seawolves adds plenty to the sub sim du jour both above the board and under the bonnet. Naval bases now feel like busy ports rather than empty safe points. Japan puts in an appearance in a new set of missions. Campaigns are given more variety in mission types and structure. US Navy missions can be attempted (albeit in German submarines, due to limitations on ability to change the game code). Radio messages ping back and forth from friendly forces around the ocean, painting a picture of gripping conflict and drama at sea. Cups have slanted bases to prevent spillage. Plenty for the hardcore crowd to savour.

None of it is in any way essential, of course. But like the neon strips for your nitroboosted Ford Crapmobile, that extra model hedge set for your attic train set, or hats, sometimes it's not about essentialness, more about desire.