S2: Silent Storm

Moby ID: 11117
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Silent Storm is a 3D turn-based tactical combat game. Set in 1943 during World War II, Silent Storm plays much like Jagged Alliance 2, with some very noticeable differences, such a true 3D world, completely destructible environments, ragdoll physics, and lack of 4X (eXpand, eXploit, eXplore, eXterminate) elements.

You can lead a squad of the Axis or the Allies as you play through 24 missions and random encounters, unfolding a sinister plot that would threaten both sides of the war.

75 weapons are available to you as you fight through nonlinear missions that range from quiet villages in snowy Russia to secret underground enemy bases. There are six professions to choose from: Sniper, Scout, Soldier, Grenadier, Medic and Engineer, each with their own advancement tree, where you assign perks to as they level up.

Spellings

  • Операция Silent Storm - Russian spelling
  • 沉默小組1943 - Chinese spelling (traditional)

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Credits (Windows version)

203 People (174 developers, 29 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 83% (based on 45 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 47 ratings with 4 reviews)

Just mentioning Panzerkleins makes baby Elvis cry.

The Good
The game engine supports an awesome array of tactical options, including destructible environments, detailed movement types and stances, multiple aiming levels, detection of enemies via auditory and visual queues, and a huge assortment of guns. The audio and visuals are also superb, and the interface is nearly perfection.

The Bad
I'll just quote myself from a reply I posted on a message board:

"So why did panzerkleins ruin the game so much? Haven't played it, just wondering."

  1. The variety of tactics that you can use is miniscule when compared to regular soldiers. All the tactical depth offered by the engine ends up being pointless. You actually end up with "less game" than you had to start with, and feel totally let down.
  2. They kill anything that isn't also a Panzerklein.
  3. They appear very early in the game.
  4. They make the game totally easy.
  5. If all the infantile humor in the game weren't bad enough, they just *had* to insert sci-fi elements into a WWII historical game. Imagine if David Schwimmer were mysteriously transported to Mars at some point in Band of Brothers. That's what it's like.
  6. #1 again for emphasis.
  7. #1 once more.



The Bottom Line
The game will leave you frantic and wishing for what could have been. I'd recommend the game if you're the type who likes to purchase game demos.

Windows · by SharkD (425) · 2015

A brilliant and addictive strategic combat game in a World War II setting

The Good
Silent Storm features an engaging story which can be approached from either the viewpoint of the Allies or the Axis. The gameplay is also extremely well-designed (and, while i haven't played Jagged Alliance 2, many people say that they are similar). Using a pool of Ability Points, your team members carry out their actions in turn-based battles. The graphics and ragdoll physics which are incorporated in this game are also beautiful. Finally, one of the most entertaining aspects of Silent Storm is the real-time calculations which are used to determine ricocheting bullets' paths, grenade/explosion radii and other effects which add a new sense of realism to the already realistic combat.

The Bad
Silent Storm had very few cons in my opinion. Eventually, the story takes a sci-fi twist and strays from its authentic WWII setting, which, in my opinion detracted only slightly from the game. Another problem that I had, was the inconsistency in the realism of the game. An example of this is in the side-effects which characters take from being shot in specific body parts (immobilized if shot in leg, deaf if near a grenade, etc.), yet both enemies and your squad members can take more shots than any ordinary person could. While these were personal dislikes of this game, they certainly did not impede my enjoyment of Silent Storm.

The Bottom Line
Silent Storm is a tactical combat game which features great gameplay, great graphics, uncanny realism (at times), and a decent storyline. Anyone who enjoys war games which actually require precise planning and patience rather than running-and-gunning should seriously consider checking this game out.

Windows · by Jon Collins (24) · 2004

A great tactical squad-based strategy game

The Good
The graphics are great. All of the locations are 3D modeled, as are all of the characters. You get free use of the camera and can zoom in or out pretty much to your heart's content. The settings are varied and each village you enter gets a slightly different feel, though there is some repetition (see below). The RPG elements are well incorporated without being over the top or a distraction from the gameplay. Characters gain levels in the traditional manner, but also increase in the skills that they use frequently independently of their levels. This lets you create focused characters or jack-of-all-trades. It's seamlessly incorporated, so much so that you don't even notice your characters' advancement until an icon informs you. The gameplay in this game is great. It's just what you'd expect from a turn-based tactical game. The entirely destructible environment adds some depth to the traditional way these games play. Almost all of every level will get played out in turns, though when there are absolutely no enemies present, the game does switch to real-time. This is helpful for after you waste everyone and you want to collect the loot. It is my opinion that complaints in other reviews about the length of enemy turns are exaggerated. Most turn-based games have long turn latencies, it's just part of the genre. Another strength of this game is that, unlike Jagged Alliance, it's purely action. There's no economy or army raising or whatnot. I think this does much to unclutter the game and make it a pure tactical turn-based action. The quantity of weapons of the game is an interesting addition. thankfully, it's doesn't make a huge different which gun you use for each situation, whether it's sniping, machine guns, or pistols. It adds a ton of style to the game, however. The weapon sounds are varied and very cool. Again, this adds a ton of style to the game as well. I don't think EACH weapon has a unique noise, but it's enough so that clearly each gun doesn't sound the same.

The Bad
Voice acting is shabby at points. Some of the accents are so clearly contrived that it becomes obnoxious to hear them. The score is very repetitive, but it's got a very "in the background" feel, so while you'll likely memorize it within a couple of hours of playing, you'll certainly never be pulling your hair out in annoyance. The environments can get pretty repetitive as well. Many of the settings are "country villages" that are contain exterior areas and buildings. This is not really a weakness of the game, however, since it would be difficult to conceive of places that a group of special forces soldiers would go that DIDN"T have some buildings and some roads. Thankfully, while the overall environments can get boring, none of the buildings themselves are repeated. Each looks distinct.

The Bottom Line
Overall, the strengths of this game far outweigh the weaknesses. The graphics, sound, gameplay, and variety of weapons make for a great tactical action game. I enjoyed this game even more than jagged alliance 2. The RPG elements and mission execution are seamlessly integrated. If you are a fan of tactical turned-based squad action games, I highly recommend this game. It's a great example of the strengths and enjoyability of this genre.

Windows · by Marty Bonus (39) · 2004

[ View all 4 player reviews ]

Trivia

Awards

  • Computer Gaming World
    • March 2005 (Issue #249) – Best Use of a Game Engine of the Year

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by kbmb.

Additional contributors: tarmo888, Dennis Roy, Trond Berntsen, Paulus18950, Patrick Bregger.

Game added November 24, 2003. Last modified January 21, 2024.