Silent Service

39%
Game Brain Score Based on 22 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Silent Service Game Cover
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Exciting World War II Submarine Action in the South Pacific by Sid Meier. 0400 hours, Tuesday 1942... BATTLE STATIONS!! BATTLE STATIONS!! Enemy convoy identified on radar!! SILENT SERVICE, The Submarine Simulation, brings exciting action, great strategy, detailed graphics and an ultra-realistic simulation of a World War II U.S. submarine in the South Pacific. SILENT SERVICE's outstanding featur…

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Amiga
  • Amstrad Cpc
  • Apple II
  • Atari 8 Bit
  • Atari St
  • Commodore C64
  • Linux
  • Ms Dos
  • Zx Spectrum
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

39%
Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews
music3 negative mentions
  • A nostalgic experience for fans of retro games, capturing the essence of 1980s gaming.
  • The game offers a well-crafted simulation for its time, with rewarding gameplay once you learn the controls.
  • Includes a detailed PDF manual that provides in-depth information about submarine operations and controls.
  • The port suffers from confusing controls and unresponsive gameplay, making it difficult to enjoy.
  • The graphics and overall presentation have aged poorly, leading to a frustrating experience compared to modern games.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues, such as freezing, detract from the gameplay experience.
  • story6 mentions

    The story of "Silent Service" is set during World War II, focusing on submarine warfare in the Pacific Ocean, where players engage in convoy and patrol missions to destroy enemy vessels. While the game offers a rich historical context, players may find the initial learning curve steep, requiring familiarity with the manual and game mechanics to fully enjoy the experience. Some users have reported difficulties in executing certain missions, which can detract from the overall narrative immersion.

    • “Silent Service is a nautical simulator set in World War II where you have to shoot your way through different convoy and patrol missions in the Pacific Ocean, destroying all kinds of ships, cargo, destroyers, tanks, and more.”
    • “When you launch practice or the convoy missions, you'll start on the conning tower menu, where you can choose between the various battle stations.”
    • “I've played the convoy missions.”
    • “Sadly, I couldn't get the 'patrol missions' to work. I don't know how to launch an attack; I could only move the sub, and when I got to the red dot, the screen went green/blue, alternating, but there was no way to attack.”
    • “The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to engage with the characters or the overall narrative.”
    • “The missions are repetitive and fail to build a compelling storyline, leaving players feeling uninvested in the outcome.”
  • music3 mentions

    Reviews indicate a significant dissatisfaction with the music in the game, highlighting the absence of distinctive soundtracks, theme music, and an overall lack of engaging audio elements. Players express frustration over the game's audio design, feeling it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Where is the music, the distinctive ultra game sounds?!”
    • “No theme music.”
    • “No intro music; the game style layout sucks.”
  • gameplay3 mentions

    The gameplay of this vintage title is characterized by confusing controls and cryptic mechanics typical of its era, requiring players to invest time in manuals rather than actual play. While it may feel outdated with its functional graphics and reliance on keyboard commands, it still offers a fun and complete experience for those seeking nostalgia. Overall, it is a relic that may not appeal to modern gamers.

    • “It is hard to really want to review such old classics based on their gameplay as they are from another era and anyone who buys the game should be well aware that this is a vintage gaming experience, which will mean functional graphics and a lot of keyboard commands and no mouse - aside from these, the game though is still fun and overall complete enough in itself to be worthwhile.”
    • “Unsurprisingly, this has aged terribly with confusing controls and cryptic gameplay from the era of games where you spent longer reading the included manual than playing the game.”
    • “Tldr: no gameplay left from this relic of yesteryear.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report experiencing frequent freezes while playing, particularly in the current version, which has led to frustration and a diminished gaming experience. Some have found that the game runs more smoothly on DOSBox, suggesting stability issues with the native version.

    • “I've only played the easier ones because I've been experiencing some freezes lately with this version, and I got really tired of playing.”
    • “Sometimes it freezes; it works on DOSBox.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    The graphics of the game are considered outdated and do not meet modern standards, reflecting its vintage status. While players acknowledge the functional graphics and keyboard controls typical of its era, they still find the overall experience enjoyable and worthwhile despite these limitations.

    • “The graphics are a nostalgic reminder of a different era, and while they may not meet today's standards, they still contribute to the overall charm of the game.”
    • “This game offers a vintage gaming experience, complete with functional graphics that reflect its classic roots, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate the history of gaming.”
    • “Despite the outdated graphics, the game remains fun and complete enough to be worthwhile for players who understand its classic nature.”
    • “Why can't the graphics be brought up to today's standards?”
    • “The graphics look outdated and lack detail.”
    • “The character models are poorly designed and feel lifeless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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