theHunter: Call of the Wild by Avalanche Studios, Expansive Worlds and astragon Entertainment might just be the “ground-breaking open world hunting simulator” you’ve been waiting for. The game implements realistic animal behavior, ballistics, and even weather cycles. There is not much of a tutorial and the player is dropped into the world with a gun and a map. Although there are initial voice overs and some tips, the player is pretty much left to their own devices.
In regards to gameplay, the tracking mechanic can prove to be both frustrating and exciting. This is perhaps what lends it so well to creating an immersive experience that feels pretty real. While deer don’t have glowing prints, it is difficult not to feel excited when you realize you are getting close to one of the many types of wildlife in the game. It is also important to be on edge because many of the animals can turn and attack at a moment’s notice. It is hard not to feel excited when you finally line up that shot and pull the trigger. This game’s ballistics really alter the success of each shot based off of distance and trajectory so accuracy matters.
In addition, the animals are also programmed to simulate natural behavior and are prone to warning others or fleeing if they sense your presence. This makes stealth and noise containment an essential part of the gameplay. Constantly crouching and altering your path away from noisy foliage does make the gameplay pretty slow, especially when the 50-acre map is factored in. Although this does make the game realistic, it can be a little daunting for it to take minutes to reach your destination. As a result, theHunter: Call of the Wild is incredibly time intensive and the hours will slip away before you know it. There is a fast travel mechanic, but it only applies to previously visited outposts. It perhaps goes without saying but the graphics are gorgeous.
However, I did find a few issues with the game. Due to the sheer size of the map and it being rendered all at once, the game is both beautiful and sometimes laggy. When prone I noticed that the grass does not connect to the ground, which caused clipping and obstruct the path at times. The most noteable glitch was a moose stuck in a hillside that would not die until it was shot five times. This is a big deal when ammo is limited and weapons are difficult to unlock in the beginning. There is also an auto walk feature, which is nice when walking great distances, but problematic when collecting trophies. This is because when doing so the game does not pause and you can walk off a cliff, be attacked by a bear, or both in my case.
All things considered, I believe that if you are fond of hunting simulators or open world games you may enjoy this one.
Overall: 9/10
Here is theHunter: Call of the Wild Official Release Trailer:
You can purchase theHunter: Call of the Wild for $29.99 for PC on Steam.
PC Review
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Overall Score - 9/109/10
Most of my childhood was dedicated to raising my Pokémon, but nowadays I find myself taking time off to enjoy indie games and RPGs. I have always been fascinated by how easily videogames immerse us into their own worlds and stories, and I hope to be a part of this one day. Until then, I would like to serve my gamer community in helping you to navigate between the great and the overhyped.
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