Hunting Unlimited is a line of hunting games created by ValuSoft and published by SCS Software.
I remember playing the first one on my computer (That was big enough to kill an elk with by
throwing the monitor at it) back in 2005 and thought that it was revolutionary. Unlike other
hunting games
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Hunting Unlimited was different. Gone were the days of wasted hours in the forest and mountains of unused bullets. Where the only thing close to an animal was the occasional squirrel. Hunting Unlimited did things different by placing you in a area filled with animals and giving you an objective. For example, You would spawn at the river side and the game would say "kill 2 or more of the moose next to the creek." as soon as you turned around you would see 3 moose waiting for a taste of hot lead. They still would run away if you got to close and while some of you would say "but that's not realistic" well no shit Sherlock that's the point. It's not supposed to be realistic, it's designed to be fun hunting for people who don't like wandering around the forest for 8 hours.
Now it's 2009 and after almost 4 years without a computer. (I purchased a new, better one). And
recently I picked up a copy of Hunting Unlimited 2009.
Can it live up to it's predecessors?
The front of the box was the first warning sign. "America's most realistic hunting series!"
"Shit" I thought, did they go after Cabela's footsteps? But what hell it's only $20 so I took it home, popped into my computer (I don't have one of those high tech gaming ones just a run of the mill general use one.) and started playing. Things took off well as I noticed all the different species of animals you could hunt. So I immediately headed out to Africa to hunt myself an elephant (ivory trade here I come) armed with a .375 Magnum Bolt Action Rifle. As soon as the game began I was shown a cinematic of and elephant with tusks the size of trailers just 200 yards west of my starting location. I slowly crept forward, took out my spotting scope only to find the elephant was now gone. Completely gone. Apparently the animals now migrate at breakneck speeds and they sense your presence immediately unless you remain prone for the last 100 yards. Requiring you to cut them off at the pass (assuming they haven't changed direction) to catch them.
Things only got worse as I noticed in the hunting gear screen the game had doe urine, rattling antlers, turkey decoys, and tree stands. Yes, Hunting Unlimited has joined Cabela's in offering, Boring, plain uninteresting hunting. So free hunt got tossed out the window. But I still had faith in challenge mode hoping it would offer the respite I so desperately needed. And it does. Things began with two deer and me with a 30-06 rifle. The deer were sit in dumb mode. so they didn't notice me sneaking up through the undergrowth. (This is training mode by the way). I lined up my shot and fired. The camera immediately snapped to a cinematic view of my bullet, hurtling through the air at over 2000 FPS, to an up close shot of it hitting my intended victim, piercing the lung and killing it. The other two ran off. I quickly lined up my shot again and was treated to another cinematic as the second bullet hit deer #2 in the back of the head as his body flipped over into the dirt. I then bagged my prey and was scored, I got 900 and was given the option to display my kills in the trophy room. The missions continued and took me across a wide variety of lands ranging from the Northern Rockies, to Africa. I even got my head ripped of by a mountain lion who sneaked up behind me. (Luckily for you sissy types, you can turn the dangerous animals off in options).
The game also allows you the option to create your own hunting challenges. I didn't spend too
much time here but the system is very in depth and if you have the time it can offer some truly amazing gameplay opportunities.
Hunting Unlimited now has something for everyone. The free hunt is good for you people who love spending hours alone stalking the only deer for 100 miles. Creator mode is good for people who love to display there own game designer prowess. And challenge is good for people who love to kill shit immediately (playing right now as a matter of fact. I check the screen every minute or so). So in short it's goo--hold on, I saw a deer.
O.K.
So where was I? Ah yes! Hunting Unlimited is good fun for people who want to hunt, but don't
want to freeze there nuts off at 5 in the mourning. Now you can tell your friends that your the outdoorsy type without leaving your keyboard! I say pick it up. It's only $20 and it's a good way to kill time and put off doing more important things. Like feeding the dog. (Fido can eat next month)
Final Verdict: Buy It!
Running low on ideas, suggestions welcome.
I remember playing the first one on my computer (That was big enough to kill an elk with by
throwing the monitor at it) back in 2005 and thought that it was revolutionary. Unlike other
hunting games
Hunting Unlimited was different. Gone were the days of wasted hours in the forest and mountains of unused bullets. Where the only thing close to an animal was the occasional squirrel. Hunting Unlimited did things different by placing you in a area filled with animals and giving you an objective. For example, You would spawn at the river side and the game would say "kill 2 or more of the moose next to the creek." as soon as you turned around you would see 3 moose waiting for a taste of hot lead. They still would run away if you got to close and while some of you would say "but that's not realistic" well no shit Sherlock that's the point. It's not supposed to be realistic, it's designed to be fun hunting for people who don't like wandering around the forest for 8 hours.
Now it's 2009 and after almost 4 years without a computer. (I purchased a new, better one). And
recently I picked up a copy of Hunting Unlimited 2009.
Can it live up to it's predecessors?
Did you really think I'd give it away that easy? You have to read the rest of the
review to find out.
review to find out.
"Shit" I thought, did they go after Cabela's footsteps? But what hell it's only $20 so I took it home, popped into my computer (I don't have one of those high tech gaming ones just a run of the mill general use one.) and started playing. Things took off well as I noticed all the different species of animals you could hunt. So I immediately headed out to Africa to hunt myself an elephant (ivory trade here I come) armed with a .375 Magnum Bolt Action Rifle. As soon as the game began I was shown a cinematic of and elephant with tusks the size of trailers just 200 yards west of my starting location. I slowly crept forward, took out my spotting scope only to find the elephant was now gone. Completely gone. Apparently the animals now migrate at breakneck speeds and they sense your presence immediately unless you remain prone for the last 100 yards. Requiring you to cut them off at the pass (assuming they haven't changed direction) to catch them.
Things only got worse as I noticed in the hunting gear screen the game had doe urine, rattling antlers, turkey decoys, and tree stands. Yes, Hunting Unlimited has joined Cabela's in offering, Boring, plain uninteresting hunting. So free hunt got tossed out the window. But I still had faith in challenge mode hoping it would offer the respite I so desperately needed. And it does. Things began with two deer and me with a 30-06 rifle. The deer were sit in dumb mode. so they didn't notice me sneaking up through the undergrowth. (This is training mode by the way). I lined up my shot and fired. The camera immediately snapped to a cinematic view of my bullet, hurtling through the air at over 2000 FPS, to an up close shot of it hitting my intended victim, piercing the lung and killing it. The other two ran off. I quickly lined up my shot again and was treated to another cinematic as the second bullet hit deer #2 in the back of the head as his body flipped over into the dirt. I then bagged my prey and was scored, I got 900 and was given the option to display my kills in the trophy room. The missions continued and took me across a wide variety of lands ranging from the Northern Rockies, to Africa. I even got my head ripped of by a mountain lion who sneaked up behind me. (Luckily for you sissy types, you can turn the dangerous animals off in options).
The game also allows you the option to create your own hunting challenges. I didn't spend too
much time here but the system is very in depth and if you have the time it can offer some truly amazing gameplay opportunities.
Hunting Unlimited now has something for everyone. The free hunt is good for you people who love spending hours alone stalking the only deer for 100 miles. Creator mode is good for people who love to display there own game designer prowess. And challenge is good for people who love to kill shit immediately (playing right now as a matter of fact. I check the screen every minute or so). So in short it's goo--hold on, I saw a deer.
O.K.
So where was I? Ah yes! Hunting Unlimited is good fun for people who want to hunt, but don't
want to freeze there nuts off at 5 in the mourning. Now you can tell your friends that your the outdoorsy type without leaving your keyboard! I say pick it up. It's only $20 and it's a good way to kill time and put off doing more important things. Like feeding the dog. (Fido can eat next month)
Final Verdict: Buy It!
Running low on ideas, suggestions welcome.