The Hunter Call of the Wild is not just a hunting game; it’s a fully immersive simulator that sets a new standard for the genre. If you’ve ever imagined stepping into the shoes of a hunter, this game lets you do just that. You’ll navigate wild landscapes and stalk your prey. The best part is that you get all of this without the actual bloodshed.
While it’s not for everyone, especially those new to the hunting world, this game may feel overwhelming at first. The Hunter Call of the Wild review reveals that it’s a complex game. However, for those who master its challenges, it has the potential to become the ultimate hunting simulator.
What Makes The Hunter Call of the Wild Stand Out?
You might be wondering, “Is this just another hunting simulator?” Well, The Hunter: Call of the Wild is anything but typical. It’s a game that combines hunting, open-world exploration, and RPG elements like leveling up and earning new gear. Imagine this: you start by tracking animals, but as you level up, you get better tools, and soon, you’re fully immersed in the hunting lifestyle.
The game’s world is vast, and there are expansive reserves, each filled with unique animal species. The graphics are stunning, the animal behaviors are incredibly realistic, and the environments are so detailed that you might forget you’re playing a game. If you’ve got friends who love hunting too, the game offers online multiplayer for cooperative hunting sessions.
A World of Realism and Precision
What truly sets it apart is its attention to detail. This isn’t a fast-paced shooter where you can go wild with a rifle and expect to come out victorious. The game takes its hunting seriously. From tracking animal footprints and droppings to observing the wind direction, every little detail is part of the hunt.
Realism is at the heart of this simulator. You’re not just wandering around shooting at random animals. Instead, you’re hunting with purpose. To succeed, you must carefully study your surroundings, track animals’ habits, and understand the behavior of different species. Each animal has its own patterns, and learning those patterns is key to being a successful hunter.
Exploring the World: Reserves and Need Zones
The game offers multiple reserves to explore, each with its own distinct environment and animal populations. You’ll travel through expansive wilderness areas, from the vast forests of Germany to the rugged landscapes of North America. Each reserve has a different set of animals, like moose, bears, and foxes, which you can track, study, and eventually hunt.
A central feature of theHunter: Call of the Wild is Need Zones, which are locations where animals go to eat, drink, rest, and socialize at different times of the day. Finding these zones is crucial to your success as a hunter. Some zones will be marked on your map, but others require you to use your skills in tracking animal footprints or droppings. These need zones become your primary hunting spots, and once you discover them, you can return again and again.
But it’s not always that simple. If you make too much noise or fail to hide, the animals will get spooked and run away. This is where the stealth mechanics come in. Moving slowly, being quiet, and finding cover in the environment can increase your chances of getting a perfect shot.
Tracking and Luring
Hunting in theHunter: Call of the Wild isn’t about rushing into a situation and firing off a bunch of rounds. It’s about patience and precision. Tracking your prey can take time, but it’s essential to get it right. As you explore the wilds, you’ll come across footprints, droppings, and other signs that lead you toward your target. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the animal itself, but often, you’ll need to follow tracks, looking for clues that tell you where it’s been and when it passed.
Once you’re close, you’ll need to be aware of the wind direction. Animals can detect your scent, so you must avoid being downwind or too noisy. If you’re spotted, the animals will flee, and you’ll need to start the chase again.
For those looking for an alternative approach, lure hunting offers another method. You can use various lures to attract animals to your position, such as an antler rattler to lure fallow deer. But beware, if you use the wrong lure, it’ll be useless. Timing is also crucial, as you need to wait until the animal is close enough for a perfect shot.
Weapons and Equipment
The game offers a wide variety of weapons and equipment to help you on your hunts. You’ll find everything from rifles and shotguns to pistols and crossbows. Each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right one for the job is critical. For example, a rifle is great for long-range shots on large animals, while a shotgun works better for smaller targets up close.
Beyond weapons, you’ll also have access to different types of scopes, binos, and traps. As you level up and complete missions, you’ll unlock new equipment, giving you more tools to succeed.
Multiplayer/Hunt With Friends
If you find hunting alone a bit too lonely, The Hunter Call of the Wild offers multiplayer options that allow you to hunt with friends. You can join forces with up to 7 other players to hunt together. The game’s massive world means there’s plenty of room for everyone to spread out and enjoy the experience.
You can collaborate on tracking animals or split up to cover more ground. Multiplayer mode also adds another layer of fun, as you’ll get to see how other players approach the hunt. However, be careful when it comes to vehicles. The game features ATVs, but they’re loud, so you can’t use them while actively hunting. Still, they can be useful for getting from one outpost to another or scouting areas quickly.
The Challenge of Realism
While the realism is a major strength of theHunter: Call of the Wild, it also poses a challenge for newcomers. The learning curve can be steep. If you’ve never hunted before, you’ll likely find yourself struggling with the tracking system, the weapons, and the need to move carefully through the environment.
The game’s tutorial is brief, and while it offers some guidance, it doesn’t fully explain the mechanics. You’ll spend a lot of time experimenting with different tools and strategies. However, once you understand the basics, the game becomes incredibly rewarding. Mastering the art of tracking and making the perfect shot is deeply satisfying, especially when you finally bring down a large animal after a long and careful pursuit.
Graphics and Sound
Visually, The Hunter Call of the Wild is breathtaking. The landscapes are beautifully crafted, and the animals look realistic down to the smallest details. The game offers day-night cycles, with stunning sunsets and moonlit nights that add to the immersion. Whether you’re stalking a deer through a foggy forest or watching a bear drink at a river, the world feels alive and vibrant.
The sound design is equally impressive. The sound of the wind rustling through trees, the call of a distant animal, and the crack of a branch beneath your feet all help build tension and realism. At times, the game can be eerily quiet, which only enhances the experience. The absence of a constant soundtrack makes the sounds of nature even more significant, as you rely on your senses to track and hunt.
Technical Issues Like Crashes and Bugs
No game is without its issues, and The Hunter Call of the Wild does have some technical problems. The most common issues are periodic crashes, particularly near bodies of water. While not frequent, they can be frustrating, especially if you’ve spent a lot of time tracking a specific animal only for the game to crash.
There are also some minor visual bugs where you might spot clipping issues or assets placed incorrectly. For example, grass might grow out of a cliff, or characters might walk through solid rock. These issues don’t break the game, but they do take away from the immersion at times.
Is It Okay for Christian Players?
For Christian players or those sensitive to the ethics of hunting, The Hunter Call of the Wild may present some moral concerns. The game does not shy away from the reality of hunting, depicting blood and injuries in a fairly realistic manner. Animals can be wounded or killed in various ways, and their suffering is shown in graphic detail.
The game doesn’t make hunting out to be a glorious activity, nor does it glorify violence. It presents the act of hunting as a skill-based challenge. That said, if you are morally opposed to hunting or uncomfortable with the idea of killing virtual animals, this game might not be for you. However, the game does allow players to explore the world without engaging in hunting directly, which might offer a less controversial experience.
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Final Words
The Hunter Call of the Wild is an exceptional hunting simulator that offers a depth of content and realism rarely seen in video games. The vast, open world, detailed animal behavior, and variety of weapons and tactics make it an engrossing experience for those willing to put in the time and effort. It’s not an easy game by any means, and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for fans of hunting simulators, it’s likely the best you’ll find.
