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A good continuation of an excellent series

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The original "Silent Hunter" was released in 1997 and put the player in command of several different types of US submarines battling the Japanese in WW2. It also took its history lessons seriously and included a narrated video of a tour around an American fleet submarine and a short pamphlet about US submarine tactics and history during WW2. It quickly became the benchmark of WW2 submarine sims - the symbol by which all other sub sims were measured. Three expansion disks followed with additional terrain, missions, and a scenario editor. Although the software was written for DOS, the faithful sub captains learned how to set up "desktop shortcuts" to play the game with Windows 95, 98, and ME and the game continued to live on the harddrives of players around the world.

"Silent Hunter II" continues this tradition and puts the player in command of several different types of German submarines in WW2, and is designed to run under Windows 95, 98, and ME (so no more editing the properties of shortcut icons). The game is very stable on these Operating Systems and is quickly surpassing the benchmark set by the original game, particularly in graphics, sound, and gameplay (the training missions can be quite enjoyable). Unlike the industry trend to put the game manual on the cd, SH2 includes a full printed manual (always a good idea). The controls are very intuitive, particularly if you've played a submarine game before and know the difference between a periscope and a sonar head. If you prefer to learn by doing instead of reading, there are training missions to help you along. For extra fun during the navigation training, you can try to dock the boat yourself (ahead 1/3, back 2/3, all stop, aye!).

The only detractions to the sim are (a) lack of multiplayer capability and (b) lack of a scenario editor that will save custom missions, both of which are scheduled to be corrected with the release of the second half of this sim pairing - "Destroyer Command" - which will place the player in command of a US destroyer that will (ta-daa!) hunt the German u-boats of "Silent Hunter II". "Silent Hunter II" does include a quick-mission builder similar to the first "Silent Hunter"'s tool, where you can specify convoy size, escorts, time of day, wave/weather/visibility, aircraft interception, etc., so the game does have good replay value, but captains wishing to recreate the attacks they read about in books like "Shooting the War" and "U-Boat Adventures" and sending the files to friends will have to wait until "Destroyer Command" comes out.

As a stand-alone sim, "Silent Hunter II" is a good start but comes up short without the multiplayer and scenario builder tools. Once these two features are added, SH2 will be the crowning achievement in submarine simulations (and a whole lot of fun to play, too!). But don't just wait for the add-ons. This game is good enough to stand on its own merits.

I would highly recommend this game to my friends and family, and anyone else that enjoys action, strategy, and history in one very entertaining package. Buy it for your kids and they may actually start paying attention to school history lessons. And to really drive home the lessons, take them to visit the u-boat on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Technology or the SS American Victory (a favorite target of u-boats) in Tampa, FL or the American submarines SS Clamagore in Charleston, SC or the SS Cavalla in Galveston, TX, or any of the other handful of vintage WW2 submarines - visit them while you can because they're rusting away on shoestring budgets and well-wishing volunteers.

Windows XP

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Although I have played Silent Hunter II and I for many hours, I had to upgrade my machine, which included Windows XP Home edition. You need not bother trying to get these games to play on XP! They won't and it is sad that the software company has no plans to upgrade the games so that they will according to their tech support. So ... a BIG BOOOOOOO!

Good simple time passing game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 12, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Just your typical older sub game which you can make as hard or easy as you wish. I was very happy because I just wanted something simple and easy on the computer and I configured it that way. Ubi soft typically has "glitches" in their software and as long as you expect it, that's ok with me. They usually aren't too major, just make sure you read the compatiblity stuff on the box. A manual is not really necessary as even I was able to figure it out without one since the "readme" file has all the info you need and even without reading that pointing to an item on the screen tells you what it is or does. Graphics are good, not anywhere approaching great. Fun, no brainer game with a fast load.

It came uncomplete

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

It does not include the manual. How can I get it?
It seems to be a great game, but I don't know how to play!

Bad Taste

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 64
Date: September 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

There is a limited market for this type of thing - and I do not want to be part of it. I enjoy submarine simulations, however I do not want to hunt down and destroy friendly forces. I will buy other products that at least try to conform to traditional values. It is hard enough these days to instill a sense of tradition and fair-play in our youth. Software games should try to reinforce good values, traditions and taste.

I couldn't buy it.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 41
Date: August 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The game may be great but, for what it's worth, although I was a fan of GATO, that old DOS sub game, I couldn't buy a game in which I torpedo American and British shipping. I just couldn't do it. There may be others like me who will wait for a realistic American based sub game, even against an imaginary enemy.

Silent Hunter 2

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: September 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Game is realistic and graphics are great. The best submarine game I have ever played.

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs and ahistorical.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 13
Date: March 31, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have an open mind about naval simulations. This sim is one of the most disappointing sims I've ever played. If you like sims with lots of bugs and don't resemble the history they are supposed to portray than by all means waste your money...

Very Disappointed

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: November 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have played Aces of the Deep DOS, and Win 95. They were very good games. I loved Silent Hunter. However Silent Hunter II is a disappointment. I expected better graphics and got Silent Hunter I quality. It is no where as smooth as SH I was.
SH I was also easy to operate even in DOS.

After 4 years, I would call this a failure. On the other hand, playing up against destroyer command may just be something unique for sub sims. We shall see.

All In All-Aces of the Deep for Win 95 was the Best U-Boat Game ever. If this game could be updated instead, I would buy that.

Major Disappointment

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: February 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I loved playing the original Silent Hunter. Silent Hunter II has all of the features to be a good game but falls way short of the mark. It is very buggy and locks up a lot. I ran it on three different new systems and had the same problems.

The Graphics are stunning. I especially liked some of the realistic paint schemes that you can see on the ships.

The realism of this game was another problem. Submarines (either American or German) NEVER fought it out with destroyers or patrol boats unless they had to (damage or whatnot). It is totally unrealistic to sink a destoyer by guns. I have always wondered why the developers of military simulations feel that they have to make a game have action on EVERY mission. I come from a large family and have a lot of WWII vets in it from my father to many uncles. I am a Navy Vet myself. A fighter pilot or a soldier and even a submarine DID NOT make contact on every mission, patrol or voyage.

UbiSoft does not have a patch or fix for any of the bug problems as of yet. My advice is to safe the money.

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