Silent Hunter II

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a game by Ubisoft
Platform: PC
Editor Rating: 7.3/10, based on 2 reviews, 3 reviews are shown
User Rating: 9.0/10 - 2 votes
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See also: Military Games, WW2 Games, Mechs Games, Submarine Sea Battles
Silent Hunter II
Silent Hunter II
Silent Hunter II

The idea of Silent Hunter 2 is that you are in control of a WWII German U-Boat. I thought this was a very clever idea and something I have not experienced too much in a game before. Originally released in 2001, this was a fairly modest hit in that it did not exactly light up the sales charts, but those who played the game enjoyed how authentic it tried to be.

Aye, Aye Captain

There is a single-player campaign here that sees you being the captain of a really badass looking U-Boat. You are tasked with making sure the war goes your way and you have a ton of missions that you need to do. Many of these missions are based on real-life battles that help give Silent Hunter 2 that bit of authenticity that history buffs will love.

For example, you can try and swing the Battle of the Atlantic in your favor. The game will have you going to many different places as well such as the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas.

Making The Right Choices

What I struggled with was that you literally are in charge of every aspect of the ship. This ranges from the navigation to the engine room to the torpedoes as well. You have many things that you need to keep an eye on and pretty much every decision that is needed to be made on this U-Boat is down to you. If you are into this kind of thing, I am sure this is great for those like me, who nothing about this kind of stuff it can be rather daunting.

The game is played from a 2D perspective and all of the screens are just 2D images. This kind of takes away the immersion from the game, but I feel that for the time this was really the only way they could have made the game happen. As well as the campaign, you can also do single-missions, create your own missions and there is even a multiplayer component to the game also.

Where Is The Movie Magic?

What I feel makes Silent Hunter 2 a game that you have to be into this kind of stuff to truly appreciate is the lack of flair and even polish when it comes to the presentation. I already touched on the way the main aspects of the game are 2D, but everything else in the game is very barebones in terms of its presentation. The sound is pretty awesome though as it is very ambient and can make things that extra bit nerve-wracking as you play.

I have to say that this is the kind of game that is not going to be for everyone. I loved the idea of being a U-Boat captain and the WWII authenticity is something I thought was really cool. However, I do feel that Silent Hunter 2 was a bit above my understanding of this kind of thing. I was able to get my way through some of the missions, but I feel that you have to have a real interest in U-Boats and this kind of thing in general to have a real appreciation for this game.

7.5

Final Score

Pros:

  • The game has some real authenticity to it
  • There are interviews with people from WWII
  • The game has a lot of strategy to it
  • I liked the ambient sound of being under the ocean
  • It feels like the stakes are very high

Cons:

  • The game is very hard to get into
  • Things move at a very slow pace

Download Silent Hunter II

PC

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

There is something dreadfully quirky about submarine sims. They’re not exactly thick on the ground, and the original Silent Hunter came out back in 1995. Yet the game has a hardcore following that just never say die, so to them Silent Hunter II must be manna from heaven. Or at least a nice fish supper.

From the outset it is blatantly obvious that the game is not pitched at the casual gamer. The tutorials, although a welcome feature, rely heavily on the gamer reading the manual. No interactive help, or walkthrough steps to be found. Again, this makes the learning curve steep. Beyond the most basic functions 'point finger, aim submarine that way’, the game is a complex sim recreating the scary days of a U-boat captain in World War II. The main combat also takes place underwater, as any attempt to engage in surface combat results in one less U-boat. Which is a pity, as the surface combat is the easiest area for a novice to get into. Torpedoes take up to 30 minutes to reload (thankfully you can speed up the clock) and depth charges explode right when you least expect them. Well it made us jump.

Once you do master all the controls (there’s a lot to learn) the game becomes absorbing and loads of fun. Perhaps less hardcore than Sub Command (reviewed last issue), the game feels more coherent and marginally more atmospheric. The graphics are clean and functional rather than gobsmacking and overall it feels like being in Das Boot without the cheesy soundtrack. But the unfriendly tutorials, complex system and limited graphics consign this game to the 'cult not classic’ category. The best sub sim around, which isn’t saying much.

Overview

During WWII, Germany asserted its power by nearly closing the supply line to Europe, almost strangling U.S. forces of their supplies and resources. U-boats were much feared for their ability to silently stalk convoys and wreak havoc on them with truly destructive force. While their stealth was frightful, their fragility was their Achilles heel. Once discovered, the submariners often had to survive pummeling by depth charges or strafing while surfaced. Truly harrowing times.

Silent Hunter II places you as the commander and crew of a German Kreigsmarine U-boat. Taking place in the Atlantic Ocean, your mission is to battle United States and British forces, keeping critical supplies from reaching the Allied troops in Europe. All aspects of ship operation are your responsibility. Navigation, repair, and reconnaissance are critical and up to you. It’s a very solitary existence and all too often, the outcome is grim. How does it feel to be the bad guy?

Gameplay, Controls, Interface

Silent Hunter II is a simulation in the classic sense. No point scoring arcade version is available; you don’t sink ships in a time limit or shoot down attacking planes for kudos. It is a deliberate, slow-paced game that will take hours to complete. As with most simulations, the detail is fairly impressive; everything from the ship’s control panels to your opponents tactics are designed to recreate these epic confrontations accurately. Not only do you have to find the correct station or control panel, you often have to learn how to operate it.

Though the storyline takes place over 50 years ago, the complexity of a submarine is daunting. Several systems require attention for both monitoring and operating. The ship is operated via fifteen control panels: Helm Controls, Radio Room, Torpedo Fire Control System, Deck Gun, Sound Station and so on. Each has its own iconic button at the bottom of the screen allowing reasonably quick navigation of the various panels. Also, floating control panels allow easy access to some of the more often used functions. You simply click on the button and you are delivered to that respective station. To navigate your U-Boat via large area map, go to the Plot Room; to check the re-load status of torpedo tube three, click to the Torpedo Status Screen. It’s logical and intuitive.

If you’re on the deck and want to change the ship’s direction without going to the Helm (which is deep in the ship), just pop open the floating controls and a smaller version of the navigation system is at your disposal without sacrificing your view.

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the control panels and such, you’re ready to commence with the training exercises. They cover the basics of navigation, ship control, torpedo launching, defense of your ship (via machine guns) and simple strategy. Initially you learn your way around the ship; which screens and panels control different aspects of the ship and armament. Submerging, turning, changing depth, operating the periscope and so on. The second exercise entails actually attacking a small convoy of ships. There isn’t much challenge to it though it’s fun and is confidence building. Lastly, you must defend your ship against attacking airplanes using the deck gun. While it’s somewhat more difficult, they are, in fact, just flying loops around you and not inflicting any damage. Again, fun and no pressure.

Upon completion of the training, you can take part in the eight missions individually, create a mission or complete a campaign. Sinking ships off the eastern seaboard or an aircraft carrier near Gibraltar, they vary in complexity and locale. They may be played in any sequence and done over and over as you like. In a sense, they’re also training missions though based on real missions and documented encounters between Axis and Allied forces. The historic nature of these missions lends itself to creating tension and realism; who wouldn’t imagine himself or herself as an actual submariner involved in these conflicts. One drawback is that since these missions are arguably historic documents, not much variance is allowed. You may botch an attack or have a dud torpedo but the objective doesn’t change.

Another game mode is "Create a Mission." You control factors like patrol area, weather, period (which dictates the level of technology used) and whether you’ll encounter convoys, warships or submarines. No scoring mechanism exists for these missions (or the pre-scripted missions) so you simply do it for the experience. Like not counting hoops.

A full campaign is where you test your mettle. All of the experiences and knowledge you’ve gained will be required to fill your medal case and hopefully garner a place on the Top Commanders List. In a sense, it is a career mode, but it also incorporates the advancing technology of the Axis and Allied forces. As you progress, not only do your foes become smarter, their machinery and methodology advances, mimicking history. Thankfully, the U-boats improved also, but everything is on a steep curve with high stakes.

Regardless of which type of mission you opt for, the game is pretty good a creating tension and sense that there truly is something at stake. It’s scary to hear depth charges around you, it’s creepy to know that you’re alone and frightening to have your ship breaking up around you.

Since this game is played over long periods of time, Ultimation had the forethought to include a time compression setting. In effect, you can speed things up so long hauls across oceans can be done in a more manageable way.

Multiplayer

SH II has no multi-player version though an intriguing alternative will be offered. Destroyer Command will be launched the day of this writing, allowing two different players to have distinctly different roles in the same campaign. While games with multiplayer options are common, the notion of two different stand-alone game interacting with each other is interesting.

Graphics

One thing a game like this has working to its advantage is that it can create nice visual cues. Action doesn’t happen too quickly, so scenery doesn’t have to be generated at high rates; in turn, nice details can be designed into the views. The different control panels have historically accurate appearance, the colors of the sky fade nicely near the horizon and the ship profiles are realistic and detailed allowing identification from a distance. Initially, you may not notice some of the finer visual cues, but you’ll learn appreciate and even rely on them as the game progresses.

Audio

Like the graphics, the audio offers what I presume to be true-to-life sounds. It provides a good sense of your surroundings and in certain situations, are an integral part of the game. Planes strafing your ship sound as though they are actually flying over you. When in the Sound Station (where you try to identify ships and subs audibly) the sound clarity is acute enough to differentiate between types of ships.

System Requirements

Pentium II 266 MHz (600 Recommended), 64MB RAM (128 Recommended), DirectX 8 or higher, 650 MB free hard disk space, 3d video card (Direct X compatible) w/ 16MB RAM (32 recommended), Internet/LAN connection for optional link to Destroyer Command.

Documentation

SH II comes with a user manual that is thorough and necessary. Being a simulation, this isn’t something you can stuff into your CD-ROM and start playing. Most of the ship’s operations require multiple steps may require referencing the manual. Also, a help menu is just a click away; critical when you realize that 50+ functions are listed on it.

Originality / Cool Features

Potentially the coolest feature is the ability to operate in a single campaign with a different game, Destroyer Command. The notion of playing an entirely different title in the same arena is very intriguing. Unfortunately, the literature and articles I found only incidentally mention this feature, so I simply don’t know what to expect. The game’s CD has a interview and the manual has a couple of stories of remarkable tenacity -- truly harrowing stuff. Another feature is the ability to create your own ship insignia and use it on the U-boat. I see product placement! Perhaps Phillip-Morris will put the Marlboro logo on the sail of a submarine and have Ross play SH II on "Friends."

Bottom Line

The original Silent Hunter was published five years ago and received much acclaim. Sub Command was introduced earlier this year but is based on current era submarines. Thankfully, despite cornering the market of WWII sub games (such as it is), Ultimation didn’t design it to the lowest common denominator. Though a fundamentally complex game, it’s surprisingly easy to control the ship. I had envisioned difficult and frustrating operation and didn’t expect much in terms of quick help (read: not having to plough through its almost 200 page manual). SH II is a well thought through game that makes the player think also. Patience is a critical commodity, as is the ability to stay cool under pressure.

While this game is enjoyable, interesting, clever and even educational, its realism may be its weak point. If I haven’t impressed upon you enough, it’s a slow evolving, deliberate game requiring patience and intelligence. It just couldn’t keep the interest of most players. Most likely, only someone with a specific appreciation for this type of game would bother buying it. That said, this could have been a game that reaches a larger audience by not being so accurate. Both in terms of scripted missions (lack of flexibility) and more so the sheer amount of effort to do simple tasks. Hats off to them for making it user friendly but more needs to be done. A pretty strong effort for the right audience.

Snapshots and Media

PC Screenshots

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