IronWolf: Free Non-VR Edition

dojepane

SO good

IronWolf: Free Non VR Edition is a submarine combat game that I think works best when I treat it as a straightforward naval action game rather than a serious submarine simulator. I am placed inside a submarine and have to deal with enemy ships, aircraft and depth charges while operating the different parts of the boat. The game was originally made for VR, but this version was built specifically to work without VR and is completely free. I like that because the basic idea is easy to get into without needing expensive equipment. The submarine itself is what makes the game enjoyable for me. I can move around the control room, operate the engines, use the periscope and fire torpedoes at enemy ships. There is also a machine gun for dealing with aircraft, which gives me something different to do when planes start attacking. I like having to physically move between different controls instead of simply pressing a button from a normal menu. It gives the submarine a much stronger sense of being an actual place that I am operating. The missions also give me a decent amount of variety. I can hunt merchant convoys, fight destroyers and larger warships, deal with aircraft and try to survive depth charge attacks. There are the original missions as well as randomly generated missions, so I have more to do than simply completing one short campaign and stopping. I can also play alone with assists enabled or use online co op, which fits the game particularly well because there are several jobs happening inside the submarine. The biggest weakness for me is that this free version leaves out some of the features from the full IronWolf VR experience. There is no map based open world, submarine upgrade system or leaderboard system here, so the long term progression is fairly limited. I do not mind that too much because the actual missions are the main attraction, but it does mean I eventually run out of reasons to keep coming back once I have seen enough of the available scenarios. The game is more about the moment to moment submarine combat than building up a boat over a long campaign. I also think the controls can take some getting used to. Because so much of the submarine is operated through physical controls, there is a short learning period before everything starts feeling natural. That can be enjoyable once I understand what I am doing, but it can also make the first few missions feel a little awkward. The combat is not especially realistic either, which I think is intentional. I am not getting a hardcore simulation here. I am getting a more accessible submarine experience that focuses on action and interaction instead of making me study every tiny part of naval warfare. Overall, IronWolf: Free Non VR Edition is a surprisingly good free submarine game. I like the physical control system, torpedoes, aircraft combat, depth charges and the different types of missions, and the co op option gives the submarine itself more of a purpose. The lack of the open world, upgrades and leaderboards keeps it from having the long term depth I would want from a higher rated game, and the controls take some time to learn. Still, the fact that I can get the full mission based experience for free makes it easy for me to appreciate what is here. It is a simple but enjoyable submarine combat game that gives me enough to have a good time without trying to become something much bigger than it needs to be. Rating: 7.8/10