Wolfpack
- March 15, 2019
- Usurpator AB
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Wolfpack" is a realistic first-person simulation game that allows 2-player co-op or multiplayer action in a German type VII U-boat during WWII. Up to five players can man different stations, such as captain, helmsman, dive officer, radio man, and navigator, and must work together to intercept and sink enemy ships while managing the submarine manually. With a good story, fabulous gameplay, exceptional graphics, and a hilarious atmosphere, players can also engage in PVP for added excitement.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Highly immersive experience with realistic submarine operations.
- Strong community support and cooperative gameplay enhance the experience.
- Great attention to detail in the U-boat design and sound effects.
- Steep learning curve may deter casual players.
- Limited content and features currently available in early access.
- Slow development and infrequent updates may lead to frustration.
- story97 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and variety, with many users noting that it primarily consists of repetitive missions without a campaign mode or engaging narrative. While players can create custom scenarios using a mission editor, the overall experience feels bare-bones and lacks a compelling storyline, leading to a focus on gameplay mechanics rather than a rich narrative. Some hope for future updates to introduce more diverse and historically relevant missions, but currently, the game feels more like a technical simulation than a story-driven experience.
“The sim offers two types of gameplay: missions developed and packaged into the sim, and those developed by players of the game for use by others.”
“It's extremely immersive, and you just end up really caring about every aspect of your boat while on a patrol. Right now, the scenarios are limited being early access, but it still doesn't feel lacking. You will find yourself in different situations on every mission and discussing the best way around said situation with your crew, who are equally invested in your boat's well-being. Just an awesome experience.”
“The new mission editor is already pumping out some really creative stuff from the community.”
“No matter how much sympathy one can have for small passion-driven efforts, this game does not feel like it will ever see the promised features implemented and so far only consists of one mission of 'sink all ships'.”
“There is a lot of work to go, however, as the current skirmish style missions are very bare bones.”
“The only lacking thing is probably more controls over the style of mission and maybe include some historical scenarios.”
- gameplay76 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this U-boat simulator is characterized by its deep mechanics and realism, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience for players willing to invest time in learning the intricacies. While the game excels in cooperative multiplayer settings and immersive roleplay, it suffers from limited AI functionality and a lack of diverse gameplay options, which can lead to slower-paced sessions. Overall, it appeals to fans of simulation and teamwork, though new players may find the learning curve steep and the gameplay somewhat repetitive without additional content.
“Absolutely fantastic game with challenging mechanics and unique roles to try and learn.”
“The developers have wisely focused on the basic mechanics, and that shows in the solid, detailed gameplay patterns already present.”
“It bridges the gap between realism to keep all the hardcore submarine fans invested, and gameplay, to allow for normal people to pick up and play and steadily learn.”
“The AI is incompetent (if we can call it an AI) and has a bad mechanic, so it makes the game irritating after every attack.”
“It's boring; gameplay is slow usually, have to learn Enigma, too much stuff to memorize, not worth the time.”
“The game setup is devoid of many options for varied gameplay.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the detailed interiors and immersive environments, particularly the realistic portrayal of submarines and ocean settings. However, some users criticize the dated visuals of the external world and the presence of graphical glitches, indicating that while the game shows potential, it still requires significant improvements as it is in early access. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, but there are notable areas that need enhancement.
“The graphics are great.”
“Gorgeous graphics and still early access, so hope for a solo career. The U-boats are so realistic, interactive, detailed, and have good physics.”
“The graphical aspect of this game is very good with finely detailed interiors, decent player models, and an immersive world that constantly changes.”
“Incompetent developers, graphics are dated back from the stone age, bugs are prevalent and nothing new nor significant.”
“You would get better graphics on GMod at the moment.”
“That being said, at the moment the graphics look very last gen on full options, like Silent Hunter III's big brother.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and authentic qualities, effectively conveying a sense of claustrophobic danger and tension typical of submarine warfare. Players appreciate the realistic sound design, such as the creaking of the submarine and sonar pings, which enhance the overall experience and contribute to a thrilling, engaging environment. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating and integral to the gameplay, making it a standout feature.
“Very authentic atmosphere and sensation of claustrophobic danger!”
“When diving, the creaking of the submarine and sonar pings of the enemy convoy are very atmospheric.”
“Immersive, great atmosphere and steep learning curve.”
“I am leaning on U-boat due to its single player career, but I'm holding on to this one for that and I like the realistic, nauseous, and fearful atmosphere of stealth and getting away when detected.”
“It never gets boring and it's always got a certain atmosphere to it; it feels like you're actually in a submarine under the waves and you're just waiting that extra minute to hear the torpedo hit.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from the chaotic and frantic experiences shared with friends, leading to moments of laughter and camaraderie during gameplay. Players find joy in the game's funny bugs and the absurdity of certain mechanics, such as the calculations for torpedoes, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere. Overall, the game's comedic elements shine brightest in multiplayer settings, fostering a sense of community and shared hilarity.
“Hopping into a sub with a couple of friends and frantically attempting to raid a convoy has left me laughing, cheering, and holding my breath in anticipation.”
“Game is great in almost every aspect; apart from a few funny bugs, the game is very stable.”
“I spent a few hours learning, laughing, and panicking with friends.”
- music8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhancing the overall experience with a mix of atmospheric sounds and engaging soundtracks. Players enjoy the combination of in-game audio effects and curated music tracks, often expressing a desire for additional music options to further enrich gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, making it an auditory highlight for many users.
“10/10 would die for the fatherland to a soundtrack again.”
“Hearing the creaking of the hull under pressure, the explosions in the distance, and the vinyl player booming music over the speakers makes this nothing other than an auditory masterpiece.”
“I just spent an hour tracking down a convoy with my friend, and then wrecked two of them, jumped up, and sank the last one with the 8.8cm while listening to the doom soundtrack.”
“Only thing I say is add more music like 'Der Alte Dessauer' from The Enemy Below.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is currently a mixed bag, with users reporting numerous glitches, crashes, and freezes, indicative of its ongoing development. While many find it enjoyable and immersive despite these issues, particularly praising the netcode and mechanics, the overall experience can be hampered by the game's unfinished state and graphical problems. Players are advised to approach with caution, as the game requires patience and external communication tools like Discord for optimal enjoyment.
“The netcode is great, and the mechanics for firing and diving are 95% complete, making the game almost bug-free with a new patch fixing the most glaring issues.”
“The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs, showcasing a strong foundation for stability.”
“Overall, the stability of the game is impressive, allowing for a seamless gaming experience.”
“Be warned, this is very much a work in progress, with plenty of crashes and freezes.”
“Can be quite buggy, obviously unfinished, but it is fun for the first 10 or so games.”
“When you do find a lobby of active players, it is glitches galore.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it requires an excessive time commitment, often feeling tedious and unending. While some find the grind engaging, many report that progress can come to a standstill, leading to unfinished gameplay experiences.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Suddenly the progress came to a grinding halt and the game sits unfinished in a barely somewhat playable state with supposed behind-the-scenes updates every few months on what the developer is doing but no actual updates or patches to the game in many months.”
“Very, very long and tedious missions.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback; while some players experience significant stuttering and desynchronization during multiplayer sessions, others report solid performance and stability, even on lower-end hardware. Overall, it appears that the game is relatively well-optimized for early access, with some users enjoying smooth gameplay without major issues.
“I get pretty good performance playing this game with a 970m; I've never had any problems with frame rate drops or the like.”
“Lots of stuttering and desynchronization when playing with friends.”
“One of the few games that went straight into early access and is very optimized for my laptop.”
“Rock solid performance.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the emotional aspect of the game as being significantly enhanced by the supportive and wholesome community, which fosters a sense of belonging and encouragement for newcomers. This camaraderie helps players overcome challenges, making the learning experience more enjoyable and emotionally rewarding.
“As a complete beginner, I learned almost everything in a couple of days, mostly thanks to the wholesome crew members I met who explained and taught me lots of things.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game is praised for its quality, many users note that it offers limited replayability, primarily due to its lengthy and methodical gameplay that may not appeal to those seeking quick action. Players often find themselves repeating similar patterns to complete objectives, which can diminish the overall excitement of revisiting the game.
“The game offers a rich variety of strategies and paths to explore, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and diverse character choices, the replayability factor is incredibly high, encouraging players to experience every possible outcome.”
“The dynamic world changes with each playthrough, providing fresh challenges and surprises that keep players coming back for more.”
“Right off the bat, I would like to say this is a great game, but it has very little in the way of replayability. It's not for those who want instant action; it's 45 minutes to 1 hour of calculating, stalking, and identifying, followed by a 5-minute attack run and 10-20 minutes of evading, repeated two or three times to get your tonnage job done.”
“The game lacks variety in its missions, making it feel repetitive after just a few playthroughs. Once you've experienced the main content, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
“While the initial experience is enjoyable, the lack of different outcomes or branching paths means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than a choice.”
