Silent Hunter III ain't your daddy's sub sim. Not only that, but it's not a game for everyone. It requires a great deal of patience, so those with twitchy trigger fingers will undoubtedly find this simulation tedious. Secondly, it's not a game first time simmers will want to try and tackle due to the poor documentation. While the 50-page manual might seem thick to those who aren't used to this type of game, it doesn't do much more then act as a doorstop. And God forbid you have questions about what does what while playing - and you will, there isn't much help in-game either. Thus, you'll need to spend a considerable amount of time in the training mode (referred to as the Naval Academy) performing lots of trial and error in order to get the fundamentals of operating a U-boat.

With that said... SH3 offers single-player missions and a dynamic campaign mode. Single player missions have you partake in historical confrontations, while campaign mode lets you take the helm anywhere from the early days of the Kriegsmarine scourge in 1939 all the way to its bitter finale in 1943. Campaign mode is the shinning heart of the game because it's dynamic, meaning - not scripted. So, every time you replay a mission it will be a totally different experience.

There are several different U-boats to choose from depending on the time period you decide to play in. For instance, the Type II's of the early years aren't much more than prototypes, but because they're such a surprise to the Allied forces they still manage to cause damage and chaos. Most of the targets during this era are easy pickings because they're poorly equipped, untrained or running without escorts. The middle years have improved Type VII and IX models, but by then the Allies have become better prepared. By 1943 your job as U-boat Captain becomes hell since escort ships and aircraft are plenty, manned with first rate crews, and equipped with the means to find you and the weapons to kill you.

As you play you earn "renown." Think of it as your reputation, which you accrue based on how well you complete missions and how many boats you sink. It's the in-game "currency," so as your reputation grows so does your wallet. Renown will let you buy upgrades to your sonar, engines, weapons, and even more experienced crew members. Upgrades vary from sub to sub, and as bigger and better U-boats become available you can cash in and trade up.

Speaking of your crew... they're more then mannequins. You issue broad commands that will make them perform specific maneuvers such as aiming for a specific part of a ship, or reporting the bearing of a target's last sonar contact. Plus, they evolve with you. The more missions you go on, the more experienced they become. A reward system advances rank, raises skills, and confers medals. The crew management feature, which becomes a game within a game, adds something no other sim ever has - RPG elements. In order for your sub to run properly, you must have a well rested crew. Thus, you'll have to take into account things like their morale and fatigue. Even though it might seem like micro-managing, the end result makes it feel like you're in charge of a full crew all working in harmony. It's a great touch!

Upon receiving a mission you can plot any course you like as long as you get to your assigned patrol sector in time. The game is played in real time, but the inclusion of the "Time Compression" feature allows you to bypass tedious stretches. You may have read about the chap who spent 8 days in real-time playing through a patrol. It took him 3 real days of game play before he made his first kill. If you're like us and not that guy... time compression is a great feature!