I got an installed SH5 yesterday and managed to get through the tutorial patrol and get out on my first patrol and over to the English east coast. Here's a quick rundown of my personal yays and nays so far.

YAY!

Graphics are fantastic, well surpassing the previous entries in the series. Lighting, shadows, water, weather, land, everything is improved, often drastically.

Being able to walk around in the sub is great. Running down the ladders, calling for periscope depth on my way to the attack scope or hydrophone station is so much cooler than just tapping a few F keys. The immersion level in those moments is great.

I like the "you're the captain of the boat" thing they went for. In the old games I always was Captain, XO, Weapons Officer, Bosun, Sound Man, Radio Man, etc. In this I feel more like the captain giving orders (except when those orders are missing)

The interface may appear "arcadey" to some but in combat situations it does a very good job of relaying most of the important information at a glance, overall I like it better than the old dials in hairy situations but the dials have some precision the new interface doesn't have (see compass comment in Nays)

I like the new nav map and I like the new periscope view with the handy attack map and unobtrusive controls. I do wish some missing controls would return, mostly the spread angle control.

Runs well for me. E6850, 4 gigs ram not all used by Vista 32, GTX 280, onboard sound. I have everything maxed except AA and shadows and it runs very smooth except in port.

NAY!

Buggy like Florida in August, The biggest problem for me is morale reverting to nothing when loading a saved game but there are plenty of others and it's already been patched once. Can't say I wasn't expecting it though.

I can issue movement orders with the new minimap thing but I like having the compass for precise control of my course when tracking distant targets via hydrophone. Please give us back visual control of exact course and rudder.

Too many missing orders. eg. No depth under keel, No return to course, No unman deck/flak guns, no targeting orders for the deck gun crew, No report nearest sound contact, no follow nearest sound contact. Those are just some I can think of off the top of my head. Some of the key commands for these can be modded back in and I set them up last night but it takes away from the captain feel and returns to the hotkey feel of the old games.

This has been a problem forever but shouldn't sub commanders be issued charts with some depth soundings?


NOT SURE

I haven't been depth charged yet, I picked up a warship and a couple merchants last night before I went to bed so maybe I can find out about that. I sunk a small merchant with the deck gun, or my gun crew sunk it, and that was cool. Night deck gun attacks look really, really nice with the new engine.

Not sure about the campaign structure yet, like I said I've only done the tutorial and left on my first patrol (sailing the Kiel Canal sucks without that auto course button from the old mods) so I've yet to see how it really works, I also want to see how it changes, if at all, when you start a another career.

DRM has been painless so far, we'll see how that goes. I'm not one to care either way about DRM as long as it doesn't interfere with gameplay and I don't get creepy "we're watching you" notes from the publisher/developer.

SUMMARY

All in all I'm enjoying this different take on sub simming. If you go into expecting SH3/4 with GWX or Trigger Maru and fancied up graphics you will be disappointed, it is not those games but something new that incorporates elements of those games. I'm hoping patches clear up some of the major bugs and modders make some changes but right now I'm happy with my purchase, I'll report back with further impressions maybe after the weekend when I've had some more time with it.

Those are my first impressions, add yours. I'll try to answer any questions as well but I don't have a lot of time in it so I may not know the answer.

I dislike the GUI......it's lost its WWII feel. It may be easier to use, but there weren't point and click ID manuals back then. The effort of paging through ship ID's was well modeled in earlier version...why change? And the torpedo selectors? The old green and red looked better IMO.

My biggest gripe is the antiquated internet connection integration. Booooooo.

Maybe you modders can mesh the best of both worlds.

There are changes to the GUI that are bothersome to me, but after finishing the "shake-down" cruise I am pleased enough with this new approach that I am more than willing to adapt. I've played enough to get excited but not enough to give the kind of opinions that might help someone's purchasing decision. It's definitely a different sim now, but the Silent Hunter spirit is there if you are a fan of WW2 naval warfare.

I plan on adding some of the mods to the GUI (getting some old key commands back in) but can't while doing the review.

I played it for about 3 hours early this am, first time I got a chance to play with the game. First impressions are fairly favorable. I haven't done a true convoy strike yet, that will be this weekend along with some other stuff with the campaign. There are some bugs noted but it is much less buggy than the preview copy so my perspective is a little different. I am seeing some things every once in a while, a few clipping issues and I wonder about the crew morale bug, that needs fixed.

Overall not bad, very pretty game, some interesting things. Some SHIII vets may be put off by the changes in the interface.

Interface is going to be modded to hell and back. The game allows for scripting, so you might not even be bound to revert to keyboard shortcuts.

I think if the GWX guys get to work their magic on this one, the result will be grand.

Anyone as navigation problems (can not turn left or right)i click on the boat with left mouse button and the arrow appears and then release and clicl with the right button and see the hand but the boat does not change direction?Am i doing something wrong or is this a bug ?
Thank you.

There are problems with it. I double click on the boat and it works fine. I'm not sure why but sometime single clicking works, other times double does.

Funny think is that this wasn't a real problem with the pre-release copy that I had.

Ok got it.
Thanks.

The crew morale bug is killing me, I can live with all the other minor ones while they get worked out but having poorly perfoming crew everytime I load the game is awful. Hope that one gets hotfixed soon or some modder devises a solution.

Hooray Modders!

Quick morale fix:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1292858&posted=1#post1292858

Edit:

Double Hooray Modders!

A compass, what a novel ****ing idea in a BOAT sim: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=163077

It does make you wonder how something as potentially debilitating as that morale bug is could make it past beta testing...????

It couldn't, fixing it just didn't make it past the publisher's deadline.

Another promising game ruined because it was rushed out of the door

And all this talk about "making the game more accessible"... Basic functions are not explained in the game's documentation. The tutorial is a joke. Essential commands are either missing or impossible to find. Even long-time subsim veterans are struggling to figure out how things are supposed to work, so any "casual gamers" who might have been interested in a subsim will have given up by now.

SH5's only saving grace (apart from good graphics) is that it is supposed to be very moddable. It's telling that one of the first mods to appear was one that adds a compass... There's so much basic stuff that needs fixing that even enhancing the realism isn't a modding priority.

Although I am very confident that the modders will save this game, I have to say that so far I think its a load of crap.

Its obvious that UBI have forced this releaseto be rushed out in an unfinished state.

Very disappointing.

UBI can go and rot in hell as well as far I'm concerned, they wont be getting any more money off me. The DRM is bad enough but to release the game in such a blatantly unfinished state is criminal.

I was under the impression that we had a choice regarding language in game.For realism i would like to enable German language with English subtitles but i cant find this option. Can anybody help?

Richy, go to this folder (might be slightly different depening on version of Windows):
C:\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 5\data\LngGameData\Voices\German\Data\Sound\Speech

Take all of those folders in there and put them in:
C:\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 5\data\Sound\Speech

Choose to overwrite.

CAUTION: Back up what you plan to overwrite in order to avoid mix ups if the automatic update happens to include speech updates.

First of all hello, this is my first post here.
I played SH5 all this weekend and I must say I found it pretty enjoyable (at least the RP part replacing the push buttons/drag and drop crew around). The thing is that after I finished the first mission, Invasion of Poland or something I chose one which said to sink 50k t in British Eastern Coast. I went in that area, sank 120k t in a few patrols but the mission just won't end. The game rates me as "Ace" at career status or whatever it's called but I can't finish that godamn mission. Any help would be appreciated.

Now as a general note I found the game a bit weird: in my last patrol I sank 9 or 10 ships (merchants) without ever going underwater. I was feeling like I was in charge of some sort of ship, not a u-boat. Also I happened to fire 3 torpedos at a merchant and it would still be there! That is annoying if you consider that there are only 11 torpedos from which 1 is at the back and it's almost useless because no ship would sink because of that and that tube does not have a reserve torpedo so you would need either to turn around and fire a front torpedo (if u have any left) or use the deck gun (if it's a merchant). I just find it weird that the deck gun is more efficient than the torpedos. It may be slower but 220 charges are doing a lot more damage than the 11 torpedos.
I was looking at the ships I hit using the external camera and they had huge holes in them but, somehow, they we're still floating, maybe they had some kind of shield. Some of them we're even running away!
Otherwise the game is nice but buggy all over the place. Don't know what they were thinking launching it in this state. Saw some neat bugs like crew standing on the ship while underwater and stuff like that.

I had the same problem on my first patrol. Apparently the game changes your home base but doesn't inform you. Instead of going back to Kiel, you have to go to Wilhelmshaven (near Bremen). Your new homebase is marked with a diamond-shaped icon on the map.

Hope this helps!

Many thanks for this, i feel it adds to the realism, instead of U-Boat crews with American accents!
Regards-Richy

I have docked at Wilhemshaven (after the first failed try at finishing the mission in Kiel) but with the mission taken from Kiel. Now I'll take the mission from Wilhemshaven and try to bring it here. Hope this works because I already hate the Eastern British Coast.

edit: Because I sank all those ships now I have 35 points to spend with my crew and I'm only at the 2nd mission. lol

I've heard the only way you can play the game offline is if you have an Internet connection -everytime. Is that true?

Yes, a constant internet connection.

And right now since yesterday (Sunday) people are still locked out of playing it, even the Single-player Campaign due to a DDos attack on the authentication servers. So until Ubisoft can styme the attacks, then it is going to be pretty hard for purchasers of the game to play it right now.

http://www.bluesnews.com/s/108153/ubisoft-drm-servers-under-fire-again

I have found SH5 in many compared to the stock SH3 to be quite beautiful. The opening video is compelling in spite of the American English voice overs. I have since copied the German crew speech to establish a more historically real environment. The "Golly Gewiz" American would detract sharply.

The game surprised me initially as the box and STEAM specifications over reached my XP, Athlon 3500 (single core), Nvidia GeForce 7800 (256M Vram). Yet the Ubisoft installer stated that I passed the minimum requirements for 'playability' with only the CPU and GPU on a Yellow Flag margin. It did launch on Saturday. Upon entrance to the program, the Options had already configured the graphics for High. A surprise.

Some internal movement problems (W,A, S,D) were experienced in the first run campaign mode. I was unable to get out of my bunk to find the conning tower to speak with Herr Kapitan. This reflects a learning process needed. The GUI is 'acceptable', and the only favorable plus I would give to SH3 over SH5. Yet in the former instance, a 'Grey Wolf' MOD turns SH3 into a sub-simulator treasure.

However, the Valve-STEAM link to install and particularly run SH5 is a major concern. The market release for the game is a week old and the servers have been down now for TWO DAYS! This is not a DRM issue, but a FFU. Does anyone know how UBISOFT will improve its software security so that random DDOS or whatever 'kamakazis' impale the program launch and its continued accessibility??

I'm getting pretty fed up and frustrated with this one already and by the posts over at UBI and Subsim I appear that I'm definately not Alone...!

I'm no Noob to the series but there's obviously a lot of content that was in the two previous releases that, so far has been left out of this one (not counting all the bugs in both previous versions that have resurfaced)...

Where's the Command to order your deck gun crew to target a ship and fire or even fire at a specific ship section ala SH3/4. If I'm the dang Captain why do I have to do all the targeting/shooting from the deck gun myself (searched the lousy excuse for a PDF Manual and saw nothing to answer any of my many questions)?

No: Depth to Keel, Weather Reports, Return to Plotted Course, Report nearest sonar contact, Follow nearest Sonar Contact commands or hotkeys...

No clickable Rudder Guage or Compass in GUI and no way to order a crewmen to set rudder or compass heading thus needing the old Rudder/Compass back in the GUI (No I'm not going to manually run over to the rudder or compass guage in, conn tower, as a captain of the boat to see how much rudder has been given or determine what exact heading we're currently following).

How do I order "Silent Running" when I'm not standing right next to my XO... Like when I'm on the PERI?

What the heck are the F5-F9 symbols/ key commands referring to exactly and they don't seem to respond at all when pressed.

Why do I have crewmen that just lounge around in their bunks under "BATTLE STATIONS"?

Crewmen have no FOUL WEATHER GEAR equipped, when outside on deck, even in the most extreme stormy weather...

And last but not least my stinkin' Torpodeo Propellers don't even spin (Is this another didn't have time to implement feature?).

Believe me I could go on and on but I'm getting tired of typing already.

All very good points.
The RP part with the crew is nice but it's lame to run around from engine room to torpedo bay to instruct people, I'm pretty sure they must have had a better way to communicate.
If you want to order your crew to fire the deck gun just go above the u-bot, order the dude there to man deck gun then move the mouse scroll up, a binocular will appear with a target. If you click while looking at that ship they will fire. I would not advice doing this, at least not without full upgrading the Gunner. From 5 shots he misses more than a half and you don;t have that many to spare. Hope this helps.

For the guys that can't play if you bought the game and can't play it because of Ubisofts servers being down just crack it, you paid for it, you have the right to play it right?

As for my previous problem I went to Werder base, took the mission to sink 50k t from there, went back sank 60k, mission still not complete. I am now at 250k t of sank ships in that area and nothing. No problem, its fun. Now I'll pick another mission and even if it won't be complete at least I'll change the area. This way I can play, at least until missions deadline. :-)
Am I the only one who can't finish the 2nd mission or I'm the only one doing something wrong?

Not to accuse you of anything because it could be something else but not being able to complete missions is what happens with a cracked game.

That might be the thing. Still how come the first one worked? I'll try doing the rest today if I'll have enough patience left.

From what I understand everything in the campaign after the first mission requires connection to the servers otherwise you will be unable to take or complete any more missions.

Sounds like I should wait on this one, eh, Jeevz?

Pity, as I have III and IV and enjoyed those, even with their bugs.

Just depends on how much of a SH fan you are I guess. I knew it would be buggy, I knew the DRM would **** me off but it's a new SH game and come hell or high water I am buying it and sinking some ships on release day. That's just me though and I'm pretty forgiving of minor bugs or historical screw ups when it's a sim of something I like.

I'm enjoying it immensely and with new mods every day it's only getting better, your mileage may vary.

Hi Jeevz - what mods are you using please (or would recommend for an old SH3 player?

Depends on if you like the new interface and key layout or not. I like it so I'm using a mod that just adds a compass and some extra shift keys. There are also mods that give you the same look, keys and most of the functionality of the old interface.

Here's a screen of what I'm using, they are all available in the subsim mods forum. I'll try to answer any questions about them.

If I am playing the Steam version, am I able to add mods to it?

All I am interested in is adding keyboard commands. My laptop doesn't have a numeric keypad so lowering the periscopes is a pain in the arse (Thank you Apple)

P.S. is it even possible to lower the observation scope completely? I can't seem to ahhh get it down. If you know what I mean.

'Less annoying footsteps' that made me laugh

joe what you are experiencing is erectional dysfunction, and yes there is a mod for this, but you have to see your doctor

Yeah you can mod any version. You shouldn't need the numpad for periscope controls. Attack scope is insert/delete for up and down (shift + insert/delete for max up or max down) and the observation scope works the same way but with page up and page down. You need to be off the observation scope to lower it completely.

Sorry, what I meant was it doesn't have a numeric keypad, or those 9 buttons above the arrow keys.

Funny enough I never actually noticed it in anything other than Silent Hunter 4/5

Bisher, would that that be the guy on the sub that administered crab medicine in Das Boot? That was such a good scene.

I am enjoying the game however, I actually bought it because SnapDad told me over Forza 3 one day 'I don't care about DRM' and I kind of thought to myself that I don't either...

It is missing a few things that bug me, the rudder/compass being one, but the feeling of immersion is worth it alone. Just closing the hatches behind me before diving and descending into the sub is phenomenal. I'm sure over time it will pick up.

To those attacking the UBI servers because they disagree with the DRM they can screw off.

Agree here too.
There are at least 7 better way to disagree with Ubisoft policy rather than attack the ones who bought legally the game.

If it was an attack.
With all I've read I still have all the doubt.

Yeah a DDoS and a legit server overload look the same from the client's point of view.

Joe, What kind of laptop doesn't have required document editing keys like home, end, insert, delete, pg up and pg dn?

Uh, forgive me, but... was that sarcasm?
If not fine.

If it was.. Fine.

An Apple one.

In OSX it has everything, but Windows doesn't quite get it.

No, I mean when you try to play SH5 and you can't because it can't connect then whether it's an attack or an overload it looks the same.

Poor Joe, gaming on one of those silly cult of Jobs thingys.

Eurogamer review up for Silent Hunter 5

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/silent-hunter-5-review

Eurogamer gave it a higher score than it deserves by what I have been reading. (5/10) Hey if you cannot play your game, even the Single-Player Campaign, if an outside source (Ubisoft's Authentication Servers) is down, then it deserves a 2/10 rating at best in my opinion.

I think the Eurogamer review is fair.

However it is still a great game. It may be a system hog, but it runs fine on my laptop if I disable the shadows and remember to close the portholes after me when I move around. Yes Jeevz, even on my Steve machine

the DRM is draconian, but so is the level of piracy out there. I haven't encountered any game breaking bugs, and as long as there are patches coming I'm happy.

But I have to say this whole thing reminds me why I love me some Xbox. This game is still very far from displacing Forza 3 in my to do list.

:P Yup ok! Sorry but being Italian my native language, you know...
Cheers!

Is there a multiplayer component to SH5? If so, has anyone given it a shot yet?

It has coop missions. Haven't tried it except playing solo on a self hosted LAN game. Magnum and I were trying to set up a game, possibly tonight if anyone else is interested.

I'll try to join next time, I haven't played a Silent hunter game online since Destroyer Command.