#Hunting simulator 2 review update

This information places a circle on the map, letting players know roughly where the animal can be found, and finding subsequent tracks will update that circle accordingly. Once they’ve found a track, they can analyze that and see an illuminated set of tracks letting them know what direction the animal was traveling, and how long ago the tracks were left. However, there is one problem with the stalking mechanic, which keeps it from feeling like a truly effective simulation – the way the game handles tracking.Įach hunt starts with the player being told about a general area they might be able to find traces of the animal they’re searching for. While the shooting gameplay may be nothing special, the stalking is impressively designed, and does a great job of making players feel like they’re working hard to earn their shot opportunities. Other animals have such keen hearing that players will have to slow-crawl to a good vantage point if they want a chance at a decent shot. Wolves and bears, for example, have incredible smell, so players can use a puff of powder to determine wind direction and and then circle around to attack from downwind. Avoid this - even with slow motion aiming in effect, a running animal is far harder to hit than a still one.Įach animal has unique abilities, and must be approached with different strategies. If any of the lines fill up, the animal will spook and run for it. Target an enemy and three bars appear on the screen, which gradually fill as any of the sense are triggered. Every animal can become aware of the player based on smell, sight, and hearing. Far more in-depth are the stalking mechanics, which reach a level of detail for which I was completely unprepared. Players don’t have to bother with wind speed or bullet drop – once a target has been sighted it’s a simple matter of point and shoot. The fact that I’m attempting to shoot a deer in the heart rather than a Nazi in eye doesn’t have that much of an effect on the mechanics.įrom that mechanical point of view, this is a fairly forgiving simulation. The goal is to move carefully and deliberately through an area without being spotted, and then get a clean vital shot. Fundamentally, the gameplay isn’t so different from a stealth/sniper title. Players can move around and explore in either first- or third-person perspective, then use rifle scopes once prey has been spotted. Hunting Simulator allows players to explore more than a dozen enormous maps across a hundred missions, crawling through deserts, hiking up hillsides, and creeping through brush in the hopes of sighting and shooting their intended targets. So, how good a job does it do from the viewpoint of someone like me, who knows absolutely nothing about hunting? The game simply wants to simulate hunting. There are no frills here, no fancy setup or elaborate narrative. It’s nice when a title serves as a statement of purpose. WTF How am I supposed to tell which of these sheep is legendarily formidable? They’re just sheep! LOW Being forced to hunt rabbits – again – to unlock the next level. HIGH Finally tracking down a black bear on a moonless night.

Hunting simulator 2 review