Silent Storm
Encyclopedia
Silent Storm is a tactical role-playing game
for Microsoft Windows
, developed by Russian developer 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, undertaking a variety of missions. An advanced game engine
, the Silent Storm engine
, was developed for the game and reused in several later titles. The game was followed by Silent Storm: Sentinels in 2004; and a third game taking place in the same setting, Hammer & Sickle
, was co-developed by Novik&Co and released in 2005. A Gold edition containing both the original game and the expansion was released in Europe later that same year.
Silent Storm depicts the weaponry and equipment of circa 1943 with great detail. 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. This has many tactical effects in the combat. For instance, if a character hears an enemy moving in an adjacent room, they can simply fire through the wall to attack them.
Silent Storm 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).
The story takes place during World War II in an alternate history. Thor's Hammer Organisation (THO), 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.
, partially due to lack of marketing and problems with getting review copies out to magazines and websites. The game was also criticized for its inclusion of science fiction
elements (specifically the Panzerkleins) and their effect upon game balance in the latter stages of the game.
Interviews
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, developed by Russian developer Nival Interactive and published by JoWood
JoWooD
JoWooD Entertainment AG is an Austrian computer game publisher of video games, founded in 1995 by Andreas Tobler and currently led by Franz Rossler....
in 2003. The game is set in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Europe. The player commands a team of up to six elite soldiers on the Axis or Allied side, undertaking a variety of missions. An advanced game engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
, the Silent Storm engine
Silent Storm engine
The Silent Storm engine is a turn-based tactics game engine developed by Nival Interactive for their video game Silent Storm. The engine was reused for Silent Storm: Sentinels, Night Watch, Hammer & Sickle and Day Watch...
, was developed for the game and reused in several later titles. The game was followed by Silent Storm: Sentinels in 2004; and a third game taking place in the same setting, Hammer & Sickle
Hammer & Sickle
Hammer & Sickle is a tactical role-playing game for the PC, co-developed by the Russia-based companies Novik&Co and Nival Interactive and published by CDV in 2005...
, was co-developed by Novik&Co and released in 2005. A Gold edition containing both the original game and the expansion was released in Europe later that same year.
Gameplay
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 six 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 circa 1943 with great detail. Mixed into otherwise realistic elements is a plot that features secret weapon
Secret weapon
A secret weapon is either a concealed weapon, or a weapon that is not officially confirmed by the owner.In terms of large-scale weapons, a secret weapon may refer to a newly-designed or invented weapon that the government denies the existence of...
projects reminiscent of spy-fi
Spy-fi
-Definition and characteristics:It often uses a secret agent or superspy whose mission is a showcase of science fiction elements such as technology and ideas used for extortion, plots for world domination or world destruction, futuristic weapons, gadgets and fast vehicles that can travel on land,...
, including energy weapons. Most notable are the Panzerkleins (pseudo-German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for "little tanks"), crude powered armour suits.
The game features a remarkably advanced physics model. Nearly all structures are completely destructible. This has many tactical effects in the combat. For instance, if a character hears an enemy moving in an adjacent room, they can simply fire through the wall to attack them.
Silent Storm employs ragdoll physics
Ragdoll physics
In computer physics engines, ragdoll physics is a type of procedural animation that is often used as a replacement for traditional static death animations.-Introduction:Early video games used manually-created animations for characters' death sequences...
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
Stopping power
Stopping power is a colloquial term used to describe the ability of a firearm or other weapon to cause a penetrating ballistic injury to a target, human or animal, sufficient to incapacitate the target where it stands....
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
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
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
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
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.
Reception
Silent Storm was awarded "E3 2003 Best of Show" in the tactical genre by Wargamer.com. The game's Metacritic score, GameTab score and MobyRank are 83, 82.93% and 84, respectively. The game however suffered from a lack of sales in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, partially due to lack of marketing and problems with getting review copies out to magazines and websites. The game was also criticized for its inclusion of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
elements (specifically the Panzerkleins) and their effect upon game balance in the latter stages of the game.
External links
Fan Sites- StrategyCore - News, FAQ, files, forums, and more
Interviews