Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter
The hunting genre of video games has to be one of the most contentious ones to emerge in the last ten or so years. This specific kind of interactive entertainment has come under fire - pun completely intended - from wildlife activists who claim such games incite people to kill innocent animals. It often focuses on the merciless death of digital creatures in the sake of sport.
Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter is a PC game that was first released in 1998, a time when the hunting genre was just starting to load up its gun. We're not sure what the same campaigners would make of this game.
The overall goal is the same, except you're killing ancient reptiles in a made-up environment that's eerily similar to the one in Jurassic Park rather than mercilessly shooting Bambi.
But, it's important to note that there is a clear progression to Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter before you have lofty illusions of going toe-to-toe with a T-Rex. You are ranked according to your prior kills using a points system, and at first you are only permitted to take on harmless herbivores.
Terrible lizard
Successful kills get you points, but your final score is determined by a number of variables. For instance, if you tranquilize a dinosaur rather than killing it directly, your score will improve by 25%.
Nevertheless, using tools like camouflage, radar monitoring, and false smell will lower the quantity of points you get at the end of each incursion.
As you'll only have access to short-range weapons, which must be fired repeatedly to take out the bigger targets, it's initially a tradeoff you'll be willing to accept. Consequently, it's crucial that you have the ability to conceal your smell and blend in with the surroundings in order to approach your target and deliver the deadly blow.
But, as your score increases, you'll discover that you may obtain stronger weapons with a wider operating range. This naturally enables you to kill dinosaurs from a distance without worrying about their seeing you.
The hunter becomes the hunted
The more aggressive meat-eaters, such the Allosaurus and Velociraptor, will attack on sight while ducking and weaving in and out of cover to evade your bullets. Herbivores, on the other hand, just flee when they are detected and move away from the area. They may chase you down in groups and surround your location, as is their nature.
As you reach the level of the T-Rex, the challenge level completely changes. This huge king of hunters needs many direct strikes to knock down, and it can go to many locations that you may have previously thought were secure sniping places.
A lot of your time will be spent improving your score and polishing your hunting techniques, but there is also a Survival mode that gives infinite ammo and the chance to further hone your aim.
Make the shot
Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter has snappy controls, slick graphics, and an engaging hunting experience. It plays like a dream. Those of you who lack patience may find it challenging since relentlessly pursuing the bigger targets is often an extended exercise in waiting it out. Yet, the feeling of accomplishment when you finally dispatch a slavering T-Rex is wonderful.
While there is space for development, this is currently one of the most exciting action games available on the iPhone. When you've killed every possible target and collected all the weapons, there isn't much sense in continuing other than to raise your score. This thinking-shooter man's may be just what you're looking for if you're sick of the trigger-happy first-person shooters currently available on the App Store.
Read more: Dinosaur Game
