Being a real life sailor, off sick at the moment, having some free time on my hands, against all negative opinions I decided to finally purchase SSF. So, long story short.
-Game is seriously lacking... texturing. Most models and objects look like quickly lifted out of 3D Studio, without putting a texture on. That's unacceptable for an officially released game.
-Bug after bug, MP/SP. Won't even list them.
-You call it a "simulator". Which part is a simulation actually? There are no navigational instruments whatsoever. How the heck should I plot the course from Dover to Calais? There is no radio which is a number 1 instrument onboard every vessel larger than those in the bathtub. Radar is probably force-pulled out from some console game.
Where are indicators, battery, fuel the basics at least.
-No weather reports whatsoever, weather itself is at arcade level at the most.
-the game doesn't even support it's own features damn it. Tried to assign buttons to 360' circular two way thruster? There are no buttons for it to assign. Only thrusters 1 and 2.
-Game has graphics like from early HL2 epoch and requirements like Crysis.
-Zooming view in onto the dials on the dashboard - textures are so poor, most dials cant be read.
And I'm using high spec machine with all quality options maxed at high resolution.
-Multiplayer free roam mode only? And what, let the people use their own imagination, be good RPers etc? Come on, RP is one thing but we're no longer children who like to play with invisible toys.
-No damage at all in MP, no visible damage in SP, no component damage ... now, that's really low...
-SP missions boring to death, non inventive, passive.
I've seen low budget games in early beta developed better than this. How did you even dare to release it to public, call such a price for it. This is a low punch guys, below the waist. You know, there are people who would kill to have a decent ship sim, so you just released some seriously unfinished product, put the price on it hoping to snatch some money from the market. Even Silent Hunter 5 beats this at every possible point, and people say that game isn't very well attended to by devs.
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Good points are, the maneuvering of the ship itself. Left right tadadada, it's fun. Short, but fun, and seems to work ok. Apart from the rudder position in reverse and direction to which the ship is gonna go... won't even comment on that, because I'd get banned.
Towing isn't bad idea, and works reasonably well. There is a multiplayer. Buggy as heck, but there is one, so that's a plus too. Water cannons - nice, but where is the fire to be put down? I also like walking on ship feature. Improves immersion.
I seriously believe, the game has great potential, and could be freaking amazing, when released as FINISHED product, with more simulation features added, not only BETA trainer.
Done.
You may kill me now.