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Silent Storm

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Silent Storm
European box art
European box art
Developer(s)Nival Interactive(1C Company)
Publisher(s)Jowood
EngineSilent Storm engine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseEU November 7, 2003
NA January 20, 2004
Genre(s)Turn-based tactics, Tactical RPG
Mode(s)Single player

Silent Storm is a tactical role-playing game[1][2][3][4][5] for the PC, developed by Nival Interactive and published by Jowood in 2003. The game is set in World War II Europe. The player commands a team of up to six elite soldiers on the Axis or Allied side, undergoing a variety of missions. The game was followed by Silent Storm: Sentinels in 2004.

Features

Soldiers and Panzerkleins are shown in battle.

Once the player begins a campaign, they may select a premade character or create their own to lead the team through the game. Once the introductory mission is complete, the player can access a base complete with a medical station, armoury, personnel, and a panzerklein hangar. From this point, the player may select a team of five characters from a pool of twenty. Each character has a role such as medic, sniper, scout, grenadier, soldier or engineer. Each role has different advantages and liabilities in battle. As the player progresses through the game, the armoury will receive new weapons for the player to use, either stolen from enemies or contributed from their own forces.

Silent Storm depicts the weaponry and equipment of 1943 with great detail, while at the same time diverging from them entirely. Mixed into otherwise realistic elements is a plot that features secret weapon projects reminiscent of spy-fi, including energy weapons. Most notable are the Panzerkleins (pseudo-German for "little tanks"), crude powered armour suits.

The game features a remarkably advanced physics model. Nearly all structures are completely destructible. Silent Storm also employs ragdoll physics for bodies according to the precise velocity of an impact. Fully three-dimensional mapping allows for obstruction calculations and cover effects from all angles, bullets ricochet and their stopping power depends on the weapon. The effects are exaggerated for a more cinematic experience (a hail of non-fatal bullets only make the target shake, but a single fatal bullet can send the target flying).

Story

The story takes place during World War II in an alternate history. Thor's Hammer Organisation (THO), or simply Thor's Hammer, is a shadowy organization with connections all over Europe and the goal of world domination. THO knows that this goal cannot be attained while there are powers capable of challenging them, and aims to use its connections and advanced technology to make sure the two sides of WWII devastate each other, while THO makes a grab for power when both are exhausted. The obvious influence of Norse mythology on the organization's name is further shown by the fact that all THO members use a mythological name as their call sign.

In exchange for the services of both Allied and Axis higher-ups, Thor's Hammer provides them with some of their inventions, including Panzerkleins. Panzerkleins are very difficult to destroy, as they are essentially immune to small arms fire. Even rocket/grenade launchers do only minor damage to them, though it is possible to kill the pilot within. Only energy weapons and a hard-to-find sniper rifle (named Sea-Devil), which do severe damage to the pilot, are powerful enough to quickly stop a PK. Fans critical of their power have created a mod that removes the suits completely.[6]

Problems

Silent Storm has suffered from a lack of sales in the United States, partially due to lack of marketing and problems with getting review copies out to magazines and websites.[citation needed] The game has been criticized for its inclusion of science fiction elements[7], specifically the Panzerkleins[8][7], which partially ruin the World War II setting[7][9] and game balance.[9]

References

  1. ^ Thompson, Mike (June 22, 2006). "Night Watch" (HTML). Game Helper Magazine. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  2. ^ "Silent Storm Interview" (HTML). RPGVault. Retrieved 2007-11-26. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  3. ^ Calvert, Justin (June 3, 2003). "New Silent Storm details emerge" (HTML). GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  4. ^ Thorsen, Tor (January 15, 2004). "Silent Storm makes golden sound" (HTML). GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  5. ^ Stock, Robert (January 20, 2004). "Silent Storm" (HTML). Just RPG. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  6. ^ "Cookie's No-PK Mod - StrategyCore Forums". 26th January 2006, 8:52pm. Retrieved 2007-10-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c Coffey, Robert (April, 2004). "Silent Storm". Computer Gaming World. Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Butts, Steve (January 27, 2004). "Silent Storm Review" (HTML). IGN. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  9. ^ a b Coffey, Robert (February, 2006). "Hammer & Sickle". Computer Gaming World. Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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