Naval sims?

**Nelson** · 01-24-2006, 22:36

The best naval sim I’ve ever played is an old title from Microprose called Task Force 1942. It is a tactical surface warfare sim covering the Guadalcanal campaign. One can play the IJN or the USN.

The real time campaign includes all of the surface combatants that were in the Pacific at the time, sans carriers. When surface groups encounter one another you fight the battle much like in Rome. It has night and day actions and weapons include primary and secondary guns and torpedoes, each of which can be directed by the player for any ship during any engagement. The graphics were terrific in 1993. Aircraft and subs are handled abstractly on the campaign map but do effect play. The campaign was dynamic and different every time. I have yet to see its’ like since. With a face-lift it would be spectacular.

Silent Hunter 3 is excellent but I much prefer handling big guns to sneaking around in a sub. Going in harms way and spotting shot fall from the gun director is the fun way to fight!

**The Marcher Lord** · 01-25-2006, 00:19

I played Enigma Rising Tide too - nice storyline driven campaign, but its not dynamic. Good graphics for the time though and the later sea battles in the campaign could be pretty intense.

I'm looking forward to the release of Distant Guns. A 3d naval RTS set during the Russo-Japanese War 1904-5. Here's the website for more info.http://www.stormeaglestudios.com/public/home.html

**Androo** · 01-25-2006, 05:50

Distant Guns does look very promising indeed. I'm also looking forward to the sequel to Enigma: Rising Tide (I don't remember what it is called- Enigma Something or Other).

**Stiuartas** · 01-25-2006, 10:18

Well i remember it was good games set in carribean sea - Sea dogs, Pirates of the carribean (it was planned as Sea dogs 2). And now in Russia and Baltic states Korsary III (Corsairs 3) was released, in western countries, it will be published as Age of Pirates. Though i didn't try the last one, first two were great. Nice graphics, real sea battles.

**King Kurt** · 01-25-2006, 13:43

It has always been a mystery to me why there are not more naval games. It seems such a natural area to do games of. I have always wanted to game the air/sea clashes in the Pacific from WW2, but the closest you get are flight sims - not my cup of tea as I want to play the broader strategic/ tactical side. Naval warfare throughout the 20th century is a rich vien of material from the Jutland style clashes of WW1 through to present day air/sea/sub clashes.

The best naval PC game I have ever played was over 20 years ago. It was called Carriers at War and ran on a Commodore 64. This was the USA/ IJN clashes in the Pacific and was just incredible - hours of tension as you searched for the enemy, you could bomb bases, control land and sea forces, micromanage your forces - all you would ever need. A modern version would be fantastic.

The only modern naval PC games I have played were Fighting Sail - the original, not 2 - that was excellent - and destroyer command - that is worth a look and is often in bargin bins etc - that is a ship sim with some good campaigns. It can be a bit odd at times and some things seem long winded, but overall I enjoyed it.

**Rodion Romanovich** · 01-26-2006, 13:56

To summarize:

Enigma: Rising Tide:
+graphics seem good
-not historical scenario but historical ships
-not dynamical campaign

Silent Hunter III:
+dynamic campaign
+historical
+many mods
+good graphics

Task Force 1942:
+good gameplay
+historical
-no carriers

Corsairs 3
slightly older historical period

I think Silent Hunter III sounds very interesting. When it comes to Task Force 1942, which I also think sounds interesting, I couldn't find any information, screenshots or a place to buy it anywhere. Are you sure Task Force 1942 was the real name of the title, or is it so old that it's impossible to get hold of?

**English assassin** · 01-26-2006, 16:14

I'm enjoying fighting steel/thunder at sea, which someone (sorry I forgot who but thanks) recommended to me a while back. I got it from these guys http://store.yahoo.com/yhst-12000246...hatseafis.html

**Spino** · 01-26-2006, 17:39

Originally Posted by LegioXXXUlpiaVictrix

To summarize:

Enigma: Rising Tide:
+graphics seem good
-not historical scenario but historical ships
-not dynamical campaign

Silent Hunter III:
+dynamic campaign
+historical
+many mods
+good graphics

Task Force 1942:
+good gameplay
+historical
-no carriers

Corsairs 3
slightly older historical period

I think Silent Hunter III sounds very interesting. When it comes to Task Force 1942, which I also think sounds interesting, I couldn't find any information, screenshots or a place to buy it anywhere. Are you sure Task Force 1942 was the real name of the title, or is it so old that it's impossible to get hold of?

TF1942 may be a classic but for all intents and purposes it is an archaic game. We're talking about the days of floppy disks, 320x240 VGA graphics and DOS memory managing boot disks. Replace TF1942 with Fighting Steel which is essentially the former's spiritual successor. The best part about Fighting Steel is that is has received continuous upgrades via a massive mod called the Fighting Steel Project (version 10.3 was released last month). FSP doesn't simply contain graphics improvements and tweaks to the games data files, it actually contains coded improvements to the AI! Apparently SSI legally handed this product over to the modding community to do with as they wish. The mod is free but costs $$$ if you want NWS to ship it to you on a CD.

FSP Download links (also has link to last official FS patch)...
http://forums.navalwarfare.org/showthread.php?t=34

FSP forum...
http://forums.navalwarfare.org/forumdisplay.php?f=9

The homepage...
http://www.navalwarfare.org/~content/index.html

The good news is there is another naval sim in the works called Distant Guns which deals with the Russo-Japanese war of 1904/05. It is being made by two established wargame designers and looks to be a real gem.

http://www.stormeaglestudios.com/pub...stantguns.html

**Just A Girl** · 01-31-2006, 18:11

Only game ive played was Silent Hunter, The origional.
I liked it,
Although never did figure out how the hell i was suposed to configure torpedo tragectorys properly so they compensated for the ships moovment.

I would imagine
Silent Hunter III Would be as imersive a game as the origional.
But i cant say i know.