The wind was rising with squalls, so that the ships lay over well to their canvas, and the sea was getting big." Arrrr. I may not know exactly what that means... but it sure sounds exciting. It's from The Royal Navy, A History by Captain A. T. Mahan (1898) and describes an 1781 naval action at Cape Henry, Virginia. Said same battle is included in Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail, currently in Steam's Early Access.
The first look preview was already impressive but, a year on, the game continues to reveal ever more potential. Will it finally recreate all the thrill of naval combat, minus the weevils and the lash? So far it seems to get much right, giving many high hopes for the full release. On top of steady progress throughout the summer, we just saw some significant new additions. Even as I write, the game has updated several times.
Once, the height of realism in sail powered warfare involved the inclusion of wind direction and cannon reload times. While better than nothing, this leaves something to be desired. Where's the thrill one finds in a Forester novel? Where are the tactics so colorfully described in Mahan's prose?
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