Review: Ship Simulator Extremes (PC)
A past fan of flight simulators games, Grant Reid was "hand-picked" to test this boat sim. Unfortunately, it was more 'all abhorred' than 'all aboard'.
The Rainbow Warrior is one of the game's hallmark vessels.
Let's clear a few things up right away.
I'm not a 'gamer' as such, and I'm not a sailor either. I also suspect if Ship Simulator Extremes had been called Mash Aliens to a Cream then it would never had landed on my desk. Everyone seems to target the blast, slash or bash monsters, dwarves or mercenaries type of game, and it seemed likely someone would need to be press-ganged into setting sail.
So I volunteered on the strength of having a moderate interest in flight sim games a few years back.
Things did not start too well. In fact things didn't start at all.
Despite carefully going through Steam's obligatory and lengthy registration process, when it came to entering the game's key number it wasn't recognised. After multiple attempts I then turned to their email help who eventually requested a picture of game's key number.
I sent this off and two days later had a reply with very explicit instructions on how to photograph the key number and the query reference number together and they would then try to help.
By now I had worked up enough steam of my own to power a small flotilla. However a day later, and before I'd snapped, well anything, I tried the key number and it worked and eventually the game was unlocked.
These things always seem to have missions and campaigns and the like and the usual 'do what you like' section. I opted to try this first.
Vessels on offer ranged from small pilot boats to supertankers and cruise ships but I resisted the temptation to re-enact the Torrey Canyon disaster or ruin some digi passengers' holidays and opted for a coastguard patrol boat instead.
Choosing calm weather and a location off Dover I found myself becalmed and a bit bemused. The instruction book is a bit sparse (as in useless) and it took a good deal of trial and error to get under way.
The graphics were nothing special, no wow factor, and the free-moving outside view was a bit too enthusiastic, sending you spinning around and around. A steady hand on the tiller is needed.
I can't say if Dover looked like Dover should (I've never been) but it looked detailed enough. I opted to see if I could get into the harbour and dock.
Tricky isn't the word for it. Trying to figure out dual engine controls, bow thrusters, and rudder in unison is time consuming. And almost impossible. Mind you I used to have trouble returning to base in a rowing boat on Stobbie Ponds so perhaps it was just me.
I gave up.
Time to try something else, a fast Dutch rescue boat? That seemed more controllable, but I appeared to have been dumped in the mid North Sea and it was a bit featureless, and hence boring.
Add a comment