A realistic, enjoyable, consuming experience; though some serious bugs make mod installation necessary.
At release, SH4 was all these, but plagued by more bugs than "Starship Troopers". Crash to Desktop (CTD's) issues were common, largely random, and conspired to make a game with so much promise almost unplayable. Ubisoft, to their credit, released several patches (the latest being 1.4) to address these issues; though not all have been fixed, the stock version of the game is now far more stable, and good job too as what a game it is.
The game is essentially split into two modes; Career and Quick MIssion. To date, multiplayer is still plagued by bugs. Choose career to take on the entire WW2 campaign in the Pacific as a newly promoted submarine captain, or participate in realistically simulated WW2 missions for that quick rush. Multiple options for realism are available, allowing you to tailor your experience between realism and a more gameplay oriented setting; you can even select a manual system for torpedo aiming, requiring manual entry of variables such as target speed and angle on bow.
Yes indeed, this is a realism fest, a fact compounded by some glorious graphics, ship models and special effects. Sound is immersive (although you may want to turn off the music) and controls, though difficult to pick up very quickly, are intuitive and functional.
One major complaint is the lack of instruction in what was intended to be an instruction manual. Players are almost forced into seeking out the game forums for pointers in the right direction, as essential information like how to operate the hydrophones and RADAR is ommited. However help is available easily, and this shouldn't be a deterrent for people looking for an immersive experience.
The SH4 community is one bent on improving the game, and such supermods as Trigger Maru, Reflections on the Water and many many more have combined to push the game into epic status. The scope for these modifications is huge, as you can literally tailor the game to your own specific desires. Want more natural sinking mechanics? No problem. Deadlier aircraft? You got it. A complete campaign and ship overhaul? Easy. Massive AI revamp? Right here.
Quite simply, with the original potential of the stock game, realised fully by the mods available, there is no excuse for not buying this game. It will drag you in, keep you in your seat, and have you applying to join the Navy in short order. You will require some patience; this is not a duck shoot, and you must work for your kills. But the sheer satisfaction when you do, combined with the intense atmosphere and realism in this package, makes this a title worthy of anybody's attention.
TK