Silent Service (video game)
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Silent Service is an early submarine simulator computer game, designed by Sid Meier and first published in 1985 by MicroProse for various 8-bit home computers, and in 1987 for 16-bit systems like the Commodore Amiga. The follow up game Silent Service II was released in 1990.
Gameplay
The game allows the player to chose when to attack and a whole range of realistic tactics are available, including the End Around as well as near invisibility at night (if the sub's profile is kept to a minimum).Plot
The game is set in the Pacific during World War II, with the player assuming control of a United States submarine for various war patrols against Japanese shipping. Although hugely successful during the war (doing what the U-Boats largely failed to do in the Atlantic) this side of the war in the Pacific is seldom told.Development history
Silent Service was a nickname for the U.S. Navy's submarine force in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.The graphics were very basic and it was often difficult to distinguish cruisers from tankers ,etc. However the sound was quite atmospheric, such as the sounds of shell hits when being attacked by destroyers.
In 1986, Silent Service won the Charles Roberts/Origins Award for Best Adventure Game for Home Computer of 1985. It was followed by the much more realistic looking Silent Service II.
Ports
An NES port of Silent Service was released by Ultra in the 1980s. Its realism was hampered by the simulation's inability to handle more than four projectiles at a time. This was particularly troublesome when battling multiple destroyers, since the submarine would not be able to fire if four torpedoes were already in the water.External links
- [Silent Service] Amiga version info page
- [Silent Service 2] Amiga version info page
- [Moby Game's entry for Silent Service series]
- [SubSim.com review, with screenshots]
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