Dive! Dive! Dive! Here's a
game to play in the bath! This
submarine simulation is a great
war game but for serious
gamers only. If you're the sort
to be put off by a suggestion to
read one or two books on
submarine warfare, then the
game isn't for you either, as this
is just what Microprose warns
you to do.
Silent Service
comes with two huge sheets of
information to drown you in
facts though the actual game is
fairly simple. You must
navigate your American sub
across the Pacific, find a
Japanese convoy, single out
and sink your target, then beat
a hasty retreat.
What gives the game its
subtlety is the huge number of
game options and variations to
choose from. There are four
skill levels - ranging from hard
to totally impossible on my
rating - and there are seven
reality options so that you can
make each game totally
different. These include limited
visibility, manoeuvrability of the
enemy or dud torpedoes on
your sub. Finally, you can
choose between three game
scenarios - torpedo or gun
practise, convoy actions and
war patrol.
Multiple screens aid your
attacks. Map, visual, sonar and
radar locations appear on one,
while others give you
periscope/binocular views, the
conning tower, bridge,
instruments and damage
control. You can suffer from
overkill on the information front,
but it does seem like the real
thing.
Whether you think
Silent
Service is subnormal or
sublime depends on you. Like
a good book, it takes a while to
get into, but once you're there
you'll be pleased you made the
effort.
| Ratings given by other magazines |
| |
8/10
|
|
9/10
| |
|
| Info supplied by the SPOT*ON database |
