That's right, little deer.
It's okay.
Just...keep doing what you're doing.
Keep eating those delicious flowers, and berries.
It'll be okay.
I'm just here to shoot you in the brain.
It's Cabela's Big Game Hunter: Pro Hunts.
See, I'm whispering.
So you know that it's real.
Anyway, much to the delight of the entire state of West Virginia and PETA members everywhere...this
game was released to a sh*t load of platforms earlier this year.
Which means hurray for Derek, I get to kill a sh*t load of animals.
And I don't even feel bad about it, because had wild boars invented guns first, that would
be me out there.
Getting shot in the face.
You call it being delusional.
I call it being American.
And hey, speaking of America...that's where this game takes place.
Because try doing this anywhere else but America.
Can't do it.
Anyway, Pro Hunts divides America into four territories.
Technically, Canada's involved, but...come on.
Is Canada ever really involved?
Each of those areas has its its own missions, its own geography, its own beautiful environments,
serene, untouched by the inherently destructive hand of man.
Hey, I have an idea.
Let's go there, and shoot black bears in the goddamn head.
Well, sh*t.
So, if you're familiar with previous Cabela's games...uh, this one's a bit different.
It's not a gallery shooter, it's not arcade-y, not on-rails...instead, it goes for a much
more realistic vibe.
In fact, in all seriousness, this is probably the most realistic hunting game I've ever
played.
If you want to bag a trophy buck, you have to put the work in.
Like real hunting, there's a lot to do before you ever pull the trigger...in Pro Hunts.
So it works like this.
You pick a territory, and you pick a hunt.
And there are different types to choose from.
There are ones with specific objectives; there are free hunts, where you get to do whatever
you want; and there are pro hunts.
These pair you up with a pro hunter, a person I'm assuming actually exists.
Although, I do have my doubts.
Of course, no matter which one you choose...the game plays the same way.
Which is to say, you have to legitimately hunt these animals.
Staying down wind, finding cover, using calls, the whole freaking deal.
Every map shows you spots where the animals might be, based on the time of day.
But it's up to you to locate them, approach them, and harvest them.
Harvest is, like, a nicer way of saying "slay them."
Ted Nugent calls it harvesting.
So you know that it's real.
So I mean, unlike some hunting games, this is almost like a stealth game.
It has a deliberate pace that's definitely going to appeal to fans of games like Metal
Gear, and Splinter Cell.
That is, provided those fans also like to hunt.
If you like to hunt and you like Metal Gear, you're going to love this.
Of course, on the other hand, the slow pace definitely won't be for everyone.
There are times when Pro Hunts just feels boring.
And to be honest, the game's realism only goes so far, too.
The fact that the game tells you where the animals might be...sometimes, that turns the
whole thing into a guessing game.
But one thing I genuinely do like about the game...are the graphics.
Obviously, it's not some technically impressive game, but...artistically, it works.
The natural settings are both gorgeous and faithful to their real-life locations.
And I especially like the lighting.
The same areas of the forest can look totally different, depending on the time of day.
Pro Hunts nails that, which is awesome.
It adds an aesthetic realism to that already realistic gameplay.
Although...again.
Technically?
Could've used a lot more polish.
I mean, I've never seen shadows do that.
Of course, this is the Wii U version, but...in this case, that doesn't really mean much.
This version is pretty much identical to every other version, and it only uses the GamePad
for the most minimal stuff.
You can tap the map, to set a waypoint...and you can do offscreen play.
That's about it, so...don't expect any GamePad design, or anything very Wii U.
It's basically a straight port, which...I mean, to be fair, there's a place for that,
too.
Hunting games don't get a whole lot of respect in some circles.
And I mean, I'm probably as guilty of that as anyone.
But when you play one like this, it's hard not to at least appreciate the gameplay.
I mean, this is a pretty decent hunting game.
The stealthy gameplay is actually fun, there's a lot of different weapons to buy...and again,
the locations are sometimes genuinely pretty.
It's a game that demands precision, both in approach and execution.
Otherwise, you'll hear that a lot.
It's Cabela's Big Game Hunter: Pro Hunts, for the Nintendo Wii U.