Dangerous Waters

About

Dangerous Waters is a single player and multiplayer strategy game with a warfare theme. It was developed by Sonalysts and was released on February 7, 2006. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

Dangerous Waters is a naval combat simulation game that allows players to operate various military vessels and aircraft. The game features a dynamic campaign mode, detailed damage models, and a wide range of weapons and sensors. Players can command surface ships, submarines, and aircraft in missions involving anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare.

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 418 reviews

humor4 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

Dangerous Waters is widely regarded as the best modern submarine simulation available, offering a high level of detail and realism.
The game features a steep learning curve that rewards players with a deep understanding of naval tactics and operations, making it very satisfying once mastered.
It supports multiplayer and allows players to command various platforms, enhancing the immersive experience of naval warfare.

The game has significant compatibility issues with modern operating systems, particularly Windows 8 and 10, often requiring third-party fixes to run.
Graphics are dated and may detract from the experience for some players, as they do not meet contemporary standards.
The AI can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating gameplay moments where enemy actions do not align with realistic naval tactics.

story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
91%
5%
The game's story aspect is primarily conveyed through a campaign consisting of 11 missions, which can be expanded to 34 by selecting different platforms and countries. However, the campaign is criticized for its linearity and lack of narrative depth compared to other titles in the genre. Players appreciate the inclusion of a mission editor and random mission generator, which enhance replayability and allow for user-created content, though some missions suffer from technical glitches that can hinder gameplay.
- “The game comes with a lot of single missions to play and a campaign, which unfortunately is just a linear set of missions with little connectivity; however, there's some randomness introduced in where you start and whom you fight, as well as allowing you to choose one of several platforms to play as that increases replayability.”
- “Even though the graphics are quite dated now, once I become engrossed in a mission, I seem to not even notice it.”
- “What improves the content side of things, however, is a still active modding community which produced and produces many new missions and even total conversion mods.”
- “☑ no story”
- “The game comes with a lot of single missions to play and a campaign, which unfortunately is just a linear set of missions with little connectivity. However, there's some randomness introduced in where you start and whom you fight, as well as allowing you to choose one of several platforms to play as that increases replayability.”
- “Sadly, there are a few glitches that make some missions either unwinnable or unplayable. For instance, in one mission you have to launch missiles from a sub at a shore target. I was in range, checked the range to target, crossed all the t's and dotted the i's, but the missiles I launched only hit 1 out of every 4. With a limited ammo supply, I was stuck; I searched for a fix but only found others with the same issue.”
graphics
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
70%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated and primitive, with many users noting that they feel dated compared to modern standards. However, the consensus is that the graphics do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience, as players often focus on maps and tactical displays rather than visual fidelity. Despite the graphical shortcomings, the game remains a highly engaging submarine simulation, especially when played with others.
- “Even though the graphics are quite dated now, once I become engrossed in a mission I seem to not even notice it.”
- “Graphically, it's dated as hell, but it's still hands-down the best modern submarine/naval combat simulation I've ever played.”
- “But hey, if you're in it for the naval strategy and the thrill of commanding your own fleet, who cares about fancy visuals, right?”
- “If you have company to play and you are brave to research for it, you can have an immersive experience, even though the graphics are terrible by today's standards.”
- “Sadly, broken on modern graphics.”
- “The graphics, sound effects, and gameplay possibilities are quite limited, at least compared to Silent Hunter 3, which was released a year before.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
70%
18%
The gameplay in "Dangerous Waters" is a mixed bag, with some players praising its realism and depth, particularly in stealth mechanics, while others criticize its dated graphics and frustrating mechanics that can detract from immersion. While the game offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in mastering its complexities, many find it lacking compared to other submarine simulations like "Silent Hunter." Overall, the gameplay is seen as both gripping and flawed, appealing to dedicated fans of naval operations.
- “But the realism and gameplay are so gripping.”
- “I truly believe that the gameplay you experience in Dangerous Waters is a very accurate portrayal of actual naval operations and procedures in practice today; every vessel and weapon you will encounter has been meticulously reproduced according to real-life records.”
- “Dangerous Waters is not for the faint of heart, but it can be a very rewarding experience if you take the time to learn the finer points of its gameplay.”
- “Unfortunately, there are many deficiencies and anomalies that make the gameplay disappointing, sometimes even absurd.”
- “The graphics, sound effects, and gameplay possibilities are quite limited, at least compared to Silent Hunter 3, which was released a year before.”
- “Worst game I have ever had; I would not recommend this to anyone unless they want to suffer from the endless hours of watching poor gameplay to try to learn anything from this. Go buy Silent Hunter instead, 110% better than this outdated piece of crap.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game offers a decent level of replayability through its variety of playable submarines and the inclusion of random quick missions, enhanced by a ten-digit seed generator for infinite variations. However, the linear nature of the campaign and limited connectivity between missions may detract from long-term engagement. Overall, while there are opportunities for replay through player-made scenarios and mission randomness, some players desire more diverse playable options.
- “Technical and immersive, endlessly replayable with the random quick missions and many player-made scenarios.”
- “I really wished this game had more playable options from the earlier diesel electric submarines like Foxtrot, which is already in the game for AI.”
- “The game comes with a lot of single missions to play and a campaign, which unfortunately is just a linear set of missions with little connectivity. However, there's some randomness introduced in where you start and whom you fight, as well as allowing you to choose one of several platforms to play as, which increases replayability.”
- “And there is a ten-digit seed generator which makes quick missions infinitely replayable.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and glitches that can render certain missions unplayable. Users have reported compatibility problems with newer computers and frustrating UI and AI errors, suggesting that the game feels dated and in need of updates. While enjoyable overall, players recommend purchasing it on sale due to these persistent stability concerns.
- “Sadly, there are a few glitches that make some missions either unwinnable or unplayable. For instance, in one mission, you have to launch missiles from a sub at a shore target. I was in range, checked the range to the target, crossed all the t's and dotted the i's, but the missiles I launched only hit 1 out of every 4. With a limited ammo supply, I was stuck. I searched for a fix but only found others with the same issue.”
- “Sometimes there are annoying UI and AI glitches, and the lack of a global map is a bit of an annoyance.”
- “It's also kind of buggy, and don't even think about newer computer compatibility.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the irony of a lengthy manual that focuses solely on controls rather than practical application, leading to a comedic disconnect for players. This aspect is noted as particularly amusing, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the experience.
- “The funny thing is that the 600+ page manual only explains how the controls work but not really how to apply your submarine, frigate, helicopter, or airplane.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game is so demanding that it may require a second life, suggesting it can be excessively time-consuming or challenging.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's optimization allows players to either let the AI handle details, which may compromise battle performance, or adjust settings for a more arcade-like experience, providing flexibility in gameplay style.
- “You can leave the details for the AI to manage (at the expense of battle performance) or change the settings for a more arcade-like experience.”
- “The game offers a great balance between automated management and manual control, allowing players to optimize their experience based on their preferences.”
- “Customization options are extensive, enabling players to fine-tune their settings for the best performance or a more casual gameplay style.”
- “The game forces you to choose between letting the AI handle details, which negatively impacts battle performance, or adjusting settings for a more arcade-like experience.”
- “The optimization options are limited, making it difficult to find a balance between visual quality and gameplay performance.”
- “I found the optimization settings to be confusing and not very effective, leading to a frustrating gaming experience.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is generally perceived as lacking, with many users noting that it feels dated and is hindered by poor interfaces. Overall, this contributes to a diminished immersive experience.
- “It might need some time on my part, but on the whole, I thought it is very dated, has poor interfaces, and lacks atmosphere.”

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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

PC Review - 'Dangerous Waters'
Worthplaying.com
90%

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37h Median play time

37h Average play time

37-37h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dangerous Waters is a strategy game with warfare theme.

Dangerous Waters is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 37 hours playing Dangerous Waters.

Dangerous Waters was released on February 7, 2006.

Dangerous Waters was developed by Sonalysts.

Dangerous Waters has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its story.

Dangerous Waters is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Cold Waters, Command: Modern Air / Naval Operations WOTY, Silent Hunter III, 688(I) Hunter/Killer, Command: Modern Operations and others.

Dangerous Waters

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