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When I first picked up Silent Hunter 3 (SH3), there was such an immersive factor to the game that it made me want to go out and learn everything I could on the war in the Atlantic. I picked up almost every DVD and book that I could afford. When you were in your Type VII U-Boat, you felt like you were in your Type VII U-Boat! You got the sense that you were a real boat skipper. After waiting for what seems like the length of WWII, we finally have our grubby little hands on Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific. For as good as SH3 was, virtual American skippers are a very patriotic bunch. We wanted our U-Boat wars too! We wanted to fight in the Pacific with American boats, such as the Gato, Tambor or S-Class boats. We were arrogant!

After waiting for what seems like an eternity, something seems missing in SH4. Arguably it is one of the best looking games on the market today, but you don’t get the same sensation, feeling or immersion that you got with SH3. In SH3, you could almost feel sympathy for your men in their cramped iron tube. You could feel them sweating or laboring while they were completing repairs. You could almost sense their fear while you were being depth charged. In SH4, it almost feels like you're playing a spreadsheet rather than captaining sailors on a warship. Something’s missing!

SH4 is a surprising little package. PC gamers have almost always used the “lift test”. That is to say we lift the package up to determine the weight. SH4 certainly fulfills and passes the weight requirement.  In Europe, you have the option of buying the Deluxe or Standard version.

In the U.S., I have only seen the standard version, but you still get a hefty package. In addition to the DVD, you get a 100-page manual, a WWII Submarine DVD documentary, a historical map, keycard and a Japanese ship recognition poster. Before you get excited about the manual, while well written, it does not do a good job of explaining all of the game's intricate details. Some things in the manual could’ve been deleted, such as the ship recognition section and maybe added some details on the radar and torpedo tactics.

This is a grand game and obviously not everything will be covered in this review. So, I want you all to keep that in perspective before we begin. What can we expect from the gameplay? SH4 offers all of the standard gameplay that you’ll find in almost any simulation. Training missions, Career, Quick missions, War Patrols, and multiplayer. It should be pointed out that the Career mode is dynamic. An art truly lost among game developers. It’s quite welcome here. I must confess that War Patrols are especially good because of the interesting missions and it provides a good balance between Quick missions and the lengthy Career mode. Missions are varied, and you are tasked with sinking enemy ships, convoy duty, search and rescue, photographic reconnaissance, delivering Special Forces and much more.

The graphics are gorgeous! Screenshots and gameplay videos do not justify just how good this game looks. You’ll be amazed the first time you watch your boat dive. Or when you take a look in external view when you’re at periscope depth and you can make out your boat just below the surface. Ship damage is done equally as well. You’ll see enemy ships take progressive and dynamic damage. Ships have gaping holes in them from where they took torpedo hits, they list and take on water before they sink. Sometimes, if you get lucky, you’ll see the bow of the ship explode and break off! Sailing your boat in the pacific sunset with all of the graphic options on is picturesque. It’s truly breathtaking…but!