Silent Service (video game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Silent Service | |
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| Developer(s) | MicroProse |
| Publisher(s) | MicroProse |
| Designer(s) | Sid Meier |
| Release date(s) | 1985 |
| Genre(s) | Submarine simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Platform(s) | Commodore Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum, TRS-80 |
| Media | Tape, Floppy disk |
| Input | Keyboard, Joystick |
Silent Service is a 1985 submarine simulator computer game. It was designed by Sid Meier and published 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Gameplay
The game allows the player to choose 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).
[edit] Development history
Silent Service was a nickname for the U.S. Navy's submarine force in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.
The game's graphics are very basic and it was often difficult to distinguish cruisers from tankers, etc. However the sound is 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 Silent Service II.
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
- Silent Service at MobyGames
- Silent Service Amiga version info page
- Silent Service 2 Amiga version info page
Categories: 1985 computer and video games | MicroProse games | Nintendo Entertainment System games | Amiga games | Amstrad CPC games | Apple II games | Apple IIGS games | Atari 8-bit family games | Atari ST games | Submarine simulations | ZX Spectrum games | Origins Award winners | Charles S. Roberts Award winners | Commodore 64 games | DOS games | World War II computer and video games | TRS-80 Color Computer games
