Deer Hunter

"Is it raining and you want to go deer hunting?"

Well, here we have a really, really, ultra-old game that was released around 1995. It's been my most favorite Deer Hunter in the series, there's 5 of them now. This still remains the best. Why, you're probably thinking: This game is old, only has 3 weapons, a few locations, and it's astoundingly easy. Well, if you managed to get into that much detail, you answered your own question. It's easy, and still remains fun.

You are a hunter, you get a choice of one of 3 weapons. They are: rifle, which is ranged long, has a scope, and takes awhile to reload; the shotgun, ranged short, shoots fast, and is more effective; and the compound bow, silent and quick, but challenging to use.

You also have a choice of 5 places to hunt. They are all in the different seasons. There's 4 falls, and a winter, if I remember correctly. You get to pick exactly where you want to go based on what you see in the map. If you see a spot with rubbings, droppings, or tracks, it's your obvious inclination to stop and go hunt there.

There's a few pieces of equipment that you can take along with you. You can choose to take a tree stand, which is common amongst archers (people who use the compound bow), binoculars, a rattle call, a bleat call, and some other calls, scent-lok (which is what the brand name is), which locks your scent in, so that deer can't smell you if you're in the right spot (as in not catching the wind in the direction of the deer), and then there's attractant, which attracts deer. It's a dilemma, do you want to keep them within the right distance so they can't smell you, or bring them closer so that you can make that shot with the bow? It's your decision.

That's probably the thing I like best about the game. Considering that it's about seven years old, it still involves strategy. Do you want to go where there are droppings or would you rather go with the rubbings? Scent Lok or Attractant? Rifle, bow, or shotgun? They all have separate advantages and disadvantages, you decide.

The replay value is also great. Why? The supposed ''random deer generator'', or RDG as I call it, keeps randomly generating things. You may get a 13-point buck one time out, and a small fawn the next time around.

To buy or not to buy? Well, honestly, I saw the game just the other day for $5.00. Anyone who hunts, or enjoys hunting, but can't get out, needs to buy this classic.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/09/02, Updated 11/09/02