Silent Service

About

Silent Service is a single player simulation game. It was developed by MicroProse Software, Inc and was released on November 6, 2014. It received neutral reviews from players.

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…

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

Single-Player

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57%

Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews

story3 negative mentions

Silent Service offers a well-crafted simulation experience for its time, capturing the tension and strategy of submarine warfare.
The inclusion of in-depth tutorials and a detailed manual helps players learn the mechanics and appreciate the historical context of the game.
For retro gaming fans and those interested in naval history, Silent Service provides a rewarding and immersive experience despite its age.

The game suffers from confusing controls and a dated presentation, making it difficult for newcomers to engage with the gameplay.
Many players report technical issues, including crashes and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall experience.
The graphics and sound design feel outdated, and the lack of modern accessibility features may turn off potential players.

gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay of this classic simulation game, originally developed by Microprose and designed by Sid Meier, is characterized by its blend of historical depth and strategic complexity, requiring players to navigate realistic mechanics like sonar detection and torpedo trajectories. While it offers multilayered experiences of plotting courses and engaging in real-time combat, the controls and gameplay have aged poorly, making it a challenging experience for modern players accustomed to more intuitive interfaces. Despite its vintage charm, potential players should be prepared for a steep learning curve and outdated mechanics.
- “Originally developed by MicroProse in 1985 and designed by the legendary Sid Meier, it’s one of the pioneering games in the simulation genre, blending historical depth with engaging gameplay.”
- “Gameplay requires patience and strategy, as every move can lead to either a successful ambush or a deadly encounter.”
- “[*][b]multilayered gameplay:[/b] you’ll alternate between plotting courses on a map and diving into tense real-time combat.”
- “Unsparingly, 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.”
- “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.”
- “Tldr: no gameplay left from this relic of yesteryear.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The game's story is set during World War II, focusing on a nautical simulator where players engage in convoy and patrol missions in the Pacific Ocean. While it offers both individual missions and an open-ended campaign, the narrative and character development are less prominent compared to RPGs, making the accompanying manual essential for understanding the game's mechanics and story context. Players may find the initial learning curve challenging, particularly in executing patrol missions effectively.
- “The game features two main modes: individual missions and an open-ended campaign, offering both short and long-form play styles.”
- “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.”
- “While this works for a 1985 simulation, it’s more noticeable here than in, say, an RPG where story and characters take precedence.”
- “It also includes the critical manual—thankfully, because without it, you’d be lost regarding the game’s story, character motivations, and control schemes.”
- “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.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The graphics are considered dated, reflecting the game's vintage status, which may deter some players accustomed to modern visuals. However, the depth and overall gameplay experience compensate for the outdated presentation, making it a worthwhile classic for those who appreciate its historical context.
- “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.”
- “The visuals are understandably dated.”
- “While the graphics and pacing may feel their age, the game’s depth more than compensates.”
- “Why can't the graphics be brought up to today's standards?”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate significant dissatisfaction with the game's music, highlighting a lack of distinctive soundtracks and theme music, which detracts from the overall experience. Players express frustration over the absence of engaging audio elements, suggesting that the game's sound design is subpar.
- “Where is the music, the distinctive ultra game sounds?!”
- “No theme music.”
- “No intro music; the game style layout sucks.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report experiencing frequent freezes while playing, particularly in the current version, which has led to frustration and a preference for using DOSBox as a workaround. Overall, stability issues are a significant concern for players.
- “I've only played the easier ones because I've been experiencing some freezes with this version, and I got really tired of playing.”
- “Sometimes it freezes; it works on DOSBox.”