A Semi-satisfying Game
In this game, you go through missions that give you several target animals that you have to find and shoot. Each mission is set in a different location around the world, and often includes a mini-game, where you get a minute time limit to shoot as much of the smallgame animal as runs or flies across the screen. For each big game animal, various factors contribute to giving you a point score when you go to tag it. These include animal signs found, cover spots (which give you a bonus), distance from animal, integrity (the more powerful the gun, the more damage and less points you get), age of animal, rack size, area where you hit the animal (heart, lung, head, spine), and challenge completion.
I enjoyed playing this game for a few reasons:
First of all, the environment is pretty realistic. The plants and soil, etc. are detailed when looked at, and the animals are too. Of course, if you walk through tree branches, you can see up close the 2D layering composition. Also, If you step on dry branches or go through water, you make noise that can alert the animals you are targeting.
Second of all, you get a variety of weapons that you can use once you unlock them by earning enough points and experience. This also ties into unlocking levels: by shooting big game, you earn experience and increase experience levels, which can unlock new missions and weapons.
I believe the first time through is satisfying because you don't know where things are or what is going to happen. Like Cabela's Dangerous Hunts, animals will attack you, usually at the end of a mission, but you don't have an energy or life limit. You just press the buttons indicated as many times as you can to fend of the animal and shoot while you're at it. You can also tag these animals for points.
Now for the not so positive side:
Throughout the game, you can use your Hunter Sense to see where you go next, and find the animals, animal signs, noisy terrain (which alerts the animals), cover spots, etc. This may seem like a positive at first, because you don't get lost, but it easily makes for a game lacking in challenge. Your path is pretty much set and beacon lights lead you like a dog on a leash. The Hunter Sense even shows the vital organs of the animal when you zoom in to shoot. The only part that you have to figure out is when you get near an animal. You can find cover spots to shoot from, and can use the crouch position to get close to animals, so you pretty much have free range on where you want to shoot from (if the environment isn't limiting the range of area). Whereas Big Game Hunter 2009 let you wander forever trying to find the animal, Big Game Hunter 2010 assists far too much for my liking.
A tiny thing that I think Cabela's should change is the character. You play a guy named Jack in this game, but there should at least be an option to play a girl, in my opinion.
One more thing, replayability is ok because you can go back to previous hunts and hunt in forgotten terrain, but becuase the animals are in the exact same area, and the signs are in the exact same place, and the tips, noisy terrain, cover spots, etc. are in the exact same place, replaying the game more than a few times seems like it would be tedious.
Overall, I give it 3.5 stars.
