Cabela's Dangerous Hunts (PlayStation 2) review "How many of you out there have flipped around and checked out the outdoor channel, and saw some guy in a tree, whispering, ''Well ain’t she beauty, that’s a trophy'', or something similar? The NRA and every tree hugging animal lover have been going at it for quite awhile, because hunters have been killing ''defenseless little animals for sport''. To people like Ted Nugent, the motto in response is ''kill’em and grill’em''. However, in Activision’s next hunting title, you find yourself on the oth..."

How many of you out there have flipped around and checked out the outdoor channel, and saw some guy in a tree, whispering, ''Well ain’t she beauty, that’s a trophy'', or something similar? The NRA and every tree hugging animal lover have been going at it for quite awhile, because hunters have been killing ''defenseless little animals for sport''. To people like Ted Nugent, the motto in response is ''kill’em and grill’em''. However, in Activision’s next hunting title, you find yourself on the other side of the foodchain, struggling not to become lunch to our old friend, Mr. Grizzly Bear.

To set one thing straight, this isn’t your normal hunting game. Instead of sitting and calling animals for a half hour, you try to sneak around and get a shot at a big predator before it kills you first. And just because it doesn’t know you’re there, doesn’t mean your safe. This game will really keep you on your toes. At any time or place, you can expect just about anything. Bears, wolves, cougars, and the occasional moose all want to open you up like a present on Christmas morning. Deep down, the game is a cross between a first person shooter and a stealth game. The game really seems to love to expand the stealth survival theme. Various modes will have you attempting to kill grizzly bears with Bowie knifes and such. These beasts aren’t to be taken likely. Unlike your common terrorist foes you’re used to, these guys WILL know you’re behind them. Heck, you’d be lucky to get twenty yards without them knowing you’re there. Everything has to be taken into account; wind direction, your clothes, health, how you walk, what you walk through, and your scent are all major factors. You don’t just walk up and pull the trigger. It takes skill and planning to survive.

The set of weapons and equipment you get are all varied, giving you a good choice on how to tackle a hunt. Rifles, pistols, bows, and knives are among the weapons of choice. You have to buy everything in the single player mode, meaning if you waste all your cash on equipment you’ll end up trying to kill bears with a bow or something. Your character also has a set of stats on how well it performs. Depending on whom you choose and how you use them, you could be a stealthy killer, an excellent shot, or have the stamina to go on and on. It’s just depends on how you play, really.

Some hunts have requirements. Like mentioned above, in some hunts you have to use substandard weapons and equipment. Another mode has you on a time attack thing; you are transported to a location, with the creatures already present, and must kill them before they kill you, then move on to another area and repeat. If you’re the type that like’s the sit and call method, there are hunts in single mode and quick hunt mode that allow you to do so. However, for many, these hunts prove only to slow things down. Also, the game can be a bit dull when there’s no action. Of course, these problems are just part of the genre, and contribute to how the real thing can be at times; boring.

Another disappointment is the blocky graphics. The animals look blocky and could’ve been done much better. Many times when you get up close and personal to these beasts, they look like they’re made of Legos rather than animals. However, this hunting game is leagues beyond most other hunting games, attempting to make the whole experience a little more fun, rather than mind numbing realism.It may just have you afraid to go back into the woods. 8/10

Community review by heroofthewinds (August 10, 2004) A bio for this contributor is currently unavailable, but check back soon to see if that changes. If you are the author of this review, you can update your bio from the Settings page.