Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic

 PC
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Mar 2, 2010
User Score
3.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 112 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 112
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 112
  3. Negative: 71 out of 112
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  1. Merlin719
    Jul 22, 2012
    8
    With more bugs that the bottom of a toilet seat, it is quite hard to recommend this game. That is until you discover www.subsim.com. With the help of the community, SH5 is something quite special. I still think SH4 is better overall (again, with mods), but SH5 does have a trump card... you can walk around the sub - adding to the realism. If you're dead against modding the game, be preparedWith more bugs that the bottom of a toilet seat, it is quite hard to recommend this game. That is until you discover www.subsim.com. With the help of the community, SH5 is something quite special. I still think SH4 is better overall (again, with mods), but SH5 does have a trump card... you can walk around the sub - adding to the realism. If you're dead against modding the game, be prepared for some serious issues; no 1 being sensors and distance tools being effectively broken!… Expand
  2. Axlyss
    Apr 7, 2014
    10
    The game is the best in the series under one condition.... MODS realistic navigation and open horizons and better crew and realistic waves and damage are a MUST.
  3. OyvindS.W.
    Mar 20, 2010
    7
    Silent Hunter 5 is a mixed bag. At the moment it's incomplete and fairly shallow, with several missing features and unbalances. However, with all the mods already out, and several more on the way, it's no big leap to believe that this will become a true classic once touched up by patches and mods. It has an incredibly moddability and already features things never found in III Silent Hunter 5 is a mixed bag. At the moment it's incomplete and fairly shallow, with several missing features and unbalances. However, with all the mods already out, and several more on the way, it's no big leap to believe that this will become a true classic once touched up by patches and mods. It has an incredibly moddability and already features things never found in III and 4, except through mods: milk cows, wolf packs, far more complex AI, and a far more dynamic campaign where the AI responds well to your every move, and to all the other traffic in the world. Sure, it's got its fault, but Silent Hunter 2, III and 4 were also fairly unfinished when they were released, and look at them now, SHIII in particular with the Grey Wolves Expansion. I highly recommend the review of Neal Stevens, webmaster of subsim.com. He gives a lengthy, honest and unbiased review that really dives (no pun intended) into the game.… Expand
  4. AndrzejZ
    Mar 26, 2010
    5
    Cons: Rusty interface, crappy save-game concept, free-roaming more disturbing/annoying than helpfull. Permanent internet connection. Very unpolished release and current state. Pros: Nice graphics, campaign concept, gameplay ( if you can close an eye here and there). Definitly has the potential. Good price (falling down quite fast).
  5. OyvindS.W.
    Mar 21, 2010
    7
    Silent Hunter 5 is a mixed bag. At the moment it's incomplete and fairly shallow, with several missing features and unbalances. However, with all the mods already out, and several more on the way, it's no big leap to believe that this will become a true classic once touched up by patches and mods. It has an incredibly moddability and already features things never found in III Silent Hunter 5 is a mixed bag. At the moment it's incomplete and fairly shallow, with several missing features and unbalances. However, with all the mods already out, and several more on the way, it's no big leap to believe that this will become a true classic once touched up by patches and mods. It has an incredibly moddability and already features things never found in III and 4, except through mods: milk cows, wolf packs, far more complex AI, and a far more dynamic campaign where the AI responds well to your every move, and to all the other traffic in the world. Sure, it's got its fault, but Silent Hunter 2, III and 4 were also fairly unfinished when they were released, and look at them now, SHIII in particular with the Grey Wolves Expansion. I highly recommend the review of Neal Stevens, webmaster of subsim.com. He gives a lengthy, honest and unbiased review that really dives (no pun intended) into the game.… Expand
  6. neigenoire
    Jan 9, 2014
    10
    To address the critics below: The game can be demanding on older systems, but runs flawlessly on mine (Phenom II 965, HD 7850). CTDs are rare, but can happen. I haven't had one for a very long time, though. And the always online DRM is no longer forced (can be disabled in Uplay settings), the only thing that requires internet connection is a couple seconds of synchronizing save games withTo address the critics below: The game can be demanding on older systems, but runs flawlessly on mine (Phenom II 965, HD 7850). CTDs are rare, but can happen. I haven't had one for a very long time, though. And the always online DRM is no longer forced (can be disabled in Uplay settings), the only thing that requires internet connection is a couple seconds of synchronizing save games with the server.

    My review: The best and most immersive submarine simulator currently on the market (at this stage it is IMO better than SH3 and SH4). After suffering bad reviews after a buggy launch, the game has been greatly improved by tons of community mods that have made this game a very fun and addictive experience. I would say that around 90% of the bugs have been ironed out since the release. Some minor annoyances are still present, but it's nothing compared to the stock game (which is a buggy mess to put it mildly). If you are a beginner, search youtube for: How to install SH5 Mods Beginner Tutorial.

    The strength of this game is the simulation aspect, which this game does on a very high level. Certain realism mods (like real navigation) add to this aspect so much, that it is easy to forget you are playing a video game, that's how good it simulates sub control. There are many different ways to calculate attack solutions on ships, this freedom is what makes it so believable. Flexibility is another important aspect. Don't want to play with perfect realism? No problem, you can change your settings to have an almost casual point-and-shoot gameplay. If you want just a moderate amount of realism settings, you can have that. Almost every function and setting imaginable can be tweaked and adjusted with mods or in-game settings. To summarize, Silent Hunter 5 is not for the impatient, but don't let that stop you, because it offers one of the most rewarding gameplay experiences I have ever seen in a video game    … Expand
  7. Budget_Security
    May 28, 2013
    2
    Rushed and half Broken. Having played SilentHunter3 (a good but very mixed experience), I waited till 2013 to get SH5 for £4, hoping most of the flaws had been ironed out. No luck. I really wanted to like this game, but even with all patches and some mods, its still a mess. It takes forever to load, the interface is bad, the graphics are not as good as the trailers suggest, It is tooRushed and half Broken. Having played SilentHunter3 (a good but very mixed experience), I waited till 2013 to get SH5 for £4, hoping most of the flaws had been ironed out. No luck. I really wanted to like this game, but even with all patches and some mods, its still a mess. It takes forever to load, the interface is bad, the graphics are not as good as the trailers suggest, It is too arcade (no matter the difficulty setting), the music and voice acting is bad, and the Uplay DRM is still horrible (but it does have a half-baked offline mode). As of May 2013 there is still no decent fix-all super-mod out there. AVOID!… Expand
  8. robohunterx
    Jan 20, 2011
    1
    I can't describe the joy I thought I would get from this game. The first few hours of play, was perfect as I stumbled around the new features. But as I attempted to get conformable, I started to notice the poor and mixed up mess that was the crew and submarine commands. Just to state an example: The "Dept Under Keel" is one of my most used commands, so I don't end up ramming into the seaI can't describe the joy I thought I would get from this game. The first few hours of play, was perfect as I stumbled around the new features. But as I attempted to get conformable, I started to notice the poor and mixed up mess that was the crew and submarine commands. Just to state an example: The "Dept Under Keel" is one of my most used commands, so I don't end up ramming into the sea floor. I like using that opposed to the external camera and looking...which in my opinion is cheating. Yet, this is what I had to do within SH5. From buggy gameplay, to the almost useless new control config, SH5 doesn't even top SH3's ease of gameplay.… Expand
  9. SlickNick
    Jan 22, 2012
    0
    I'm an avid fan of the Silent Hunter series. So much so that even with all the negative reviews I decided to get 5. Oh boy. Where to begin.... Basically they removed all the good features from SH3 and SH4, added a "meh" UI, sort of improved crew management, improved graphics (yay, but duh), and floundered around with everything else. Tutorial is non existent. Auto TDC sucks (you aimI'm an avid fan of the Silent Hunter series. So much so that even with all the negative reviews I decided to get 5. Oh boy. Where to begin.... Basically they removed all the good features from SH3 and SH4, added a "meh" UI, sort of improved crew management, improved graphics (yay, but duh), and floundered around with everything else. Tutorial is non existent. Auto TDC sucks (you aim where my periscope/uzo is looking? WTF? that's completely and utterly stupid. Who the heck is going to look 30 degrees in front of the boat they're aiming at? Meaning you pretty much have to learn how to manual TDC. Saving/loading is still bugged to F***, which is awesome because there's nothing more fun than simulating driving across the atlantic for an hour. Take simple stuff like "wanting to skip the tutorial" (because it's useles), no option for that until you've already beat the tutorial but if you accidentally restart the tutorial, the option to skip the tutorial is removed (Think about that one). You still haven't added an in-game clock to the UI. Bugs galore. A few small steps forward in some areas, and giant leaps backwards in others. Sigh.… Expand
  10. jadeia
    Sep 22, 2010
    3
    This game was a huge disappointment. There is an inherent mouse lag that makes the game almost enjoyable despite it's reasonable graphics. The user interface is clunky, unintuitive and downright buggy in parts. It has a steep learning curve, slow to load and frustrating. Feels half finished - don't waste your time or money.
  11. JohnnyThunder
    Oct 11, 2013
    0
    I have played all the Silent Hunter games except for SH2, this game is by far the worst Silent Hunter game EVER!

    All the keyboard shortcuts are wrong, the crew is more retarded then normal, there are still tons of bugs years after release, random crashes, etc. I would say this game is worth about 99 cents, it's a complete POS game by a complete POS publisher. Just don't by Ubisoft    I have played all the Silent Hunter games except for SH2, this game is by far the worst Silent Hunter game EVER!

    All the keyboard shortcuts are wrong, the crew is more retarded then normal, there are still tons of bugs years after release, random crashes, etc. I would say this game is worth about 99 cents, it's a complete POS game by a complete POS publisher.

    Just don't by Ubisoft games anymore, I know I won't. They do not treat you right and they deserve to fail as a company because they are a greedy trash company that produces trash games.

    You are better then Ubisoft, stay well away from anything they produce. All they care about is money, they are worse then EA and I don't buy EA games anymore ether.    … Expand
  12. Anderson
    Nov 26, 2011
    10
    Awesome stuff Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  13. PatrickW.
    Mar 30, 2010
    1
    While the new mission system and graphics are great, the bugs cripple this game. Theres little documentation, and the new rpg interaction elements are poorly implemented. Adding to this, the DRM, that requires you to be online and which stops you from playing when your internet connection drops is a disaster.
  14. BIEN
    Jun 3, 2012
    2
    This really really sucks. this review makes me look like a negative nancy but im just seein alot of crappy games lately peace out. yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeahhhhhhhhhhhhh bros
  15. Gulskjegg
    Dec 9, 2016
    0
    I installed this game on a whim as I wait for Space Hulk: Deathwing to be released. Being a 20-year Silent Hunter fan, I expected a decent, if not good, game. I was wrong. Silent Hunter 5 is an abomination, and an insult to the legacy of the series. The core of the problem is the removal of quick keys that allow the player to move from one station to another. The player no longer has theI installed this game on a whim as I wait for Space Hulk: Deathwing to be released. Being a 20-year Silent Hunter fan, I expected a decent, if not good, game. I was wrong. Silent Hunter 5 is an abomination, and an insult to the legacy of the series. The core of the problem is the removal of quick keys that allow the player to move from one station to another. The player no longer has the ability to move directly to the Conn, plotting map, deck gun, periscope, or other location by simply pressing an F-key. You must literally and actually WALK from one location on the sub to another. This is frustrating and severely detracts from enjoying the game. Another deal-breaker is the nerfing of the deck and flak guns. Manning the deck gun and manually engaging a difficult surface target at 4000 meters has been part of Silent Hunter since 1996. Now, it is no longer an option. Just man the deck gun, point in the general direction of a target, and hope your crew can get the job done. The only redeeming feature of the game is the fairly decent graphics, but even a pretty face can be overwhelmed by the stench of incompetence and ignorance. Unless a mod is released that perfectly matches the user interface of Silent Hunter 3, this game is quite literally unplayable. Do not buy this game.… Expand
  16. 68Camaro
    Dec 16, 2013
    2
    Someone please make a patch so SH3 can be played on the new Windows! Or, better yet, plug in the SH5 Graphics into the SH3 engine!!! Because SH5 is SOOOOooo boring. Sooooooo system demanding...when it doesn't need to be (my system should hack it with no problem but this game is sticky). and, finally the game is unfinished. Not to mention the worst....you have to be online to play it.
  17. QuickHead555
    Sep 11, 2014
    0
    This game is OK.... I mean like it is okay when it works, like 25% of the time I don't like how this game is so unfinished. UBISOFT please put effort into your work.
  18. Dco326
    Sep 25, 2022
    2
    Bagovi, bagovi i bagovi i jos bagova, ne zelim da instaliram modove da bi igrica radila, mada iskreno ima fantastican potencijal tu nema reci
  19. Tacticalbiscuit
    Oct 5, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Najlepszy Silent Hunter dziejący się w niemieckich realiach świetna grafika,możliwość chodzenia po okręcie,poziom trudności,mało bugów i najważniejsze KLIMAT… Expand
  20. iTigers
    Jul 12, 2020
    0
    This is sooo broken! I thought they fixed this game.... did the first mission and my crew keep spamming me with info that "depth at 20 feet" every 15 seconds. I know, dude... we are surfaced.

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
29
#29 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
  1. 9Lives
    81
    Essentially, Silent Hunter 5 is what it is: the fifth installment of a submarine simulation series. Graphically, it’s bounds and leaps forward and the new inside perspective adds to the realism. Sim fans will get what they want, with loads of options to make the game even more realistic if required. It’s accessible for those not particularly seeking realism. Sailing, simple manoeuvres, firing torpedo’s. The new interface adds to this ease. Everything is reached with simple mouse clicks and intricate menu’s are nowhere near this game. However, everything takes its time, which some people might not appreciate. Sailing from one point to another, searching for enemies, sinking them, getting new supplies, finding enemies again, etc. SimCity and Anno also require lots of time investment, which is what this title also has, and that’s how you discover the true strength of the game. That’s what makes Silent Hunter 5 mainly a game for those with patience.
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  2. BigPond GameArena
    60
    In all, the game seems to alternate between a wonderful, engrossing experience and a frustrating, incomplete one - and while we can hope that upcoming patches fix many of these (often niggling, sometimes major) problems, for the moment, Silent Hunter 5 remains a interesting but partially-broken game.
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  3. Eurogamer
    50
    As a game, Silent Hunter 5 fails because the bugs and UI render it a chore. As a simulation, it fails because the bugs and UI render it ridiculous and incomplete. As a product, it's just overwhelming disrespectful to this long running series' fans. And finally, as one of the first games to receive Ubisoft's new copy protection, it's an embarrassment.
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