Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013 Review for PC

System: PC, PS3, Xbox 360*
Dev: Activision
Pub: Activision
Release: October 23, 2012
Players: 1-2
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood, Violence

Note that this does not work if there is any foe onscreen, regardless of where onscreen the foe is. This means that a foe attacking from behind can clip through you and disable your ability to quickly turn to face them. It also means that a foe peeking into the corner of your view prevents you from quickly turning to face it or any of the predators behind you. Given how unwieldy turning around with the “Fearmaster” proves to be, this is a terrible design choice.

Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013 Screenshot

Is the game better when simply played with a controller? Sadly, yes. The controls for the “Fearmaster” aren’t where they need to be to make it a viable method of play. Without the novelty of the plastic gun, though, Dangerous Hunts 2013 is just a subpar, linear shooter with animals instead of human targets. It’s one-note and mind-numbing.

In an odd twist, though, the story is actually better than in most big-budget gaming productions. It has a measure of heart, decent voice acting, and a message that runs deeper than “killing things is the tops.” It’s unfortunate that the gameplay it’s paired with is so aggressively unsatisfying.

There’s also a “Maneater” mode. It supports split-screen co-op and is, in essence, Horde mode with predators. Oh, and there are shooting galleries, which are probably the game’s greatest appeal, if only because they take the onus of movement off of the player and are actually fun score challenges. Neither is enough, though, to overcome the bitter taste of the game’s painfully low production values, unsatisfying action, and outright confusing controls.

Note: The heart-rate sensing of the Top Shot “Fearmaster” is exclusive to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game.

By
Shelby Reiches
Lead Contributor
Date: November 15, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.0

Graphics
Blocky, with muddy textures and awkward perspective, the game’s generic designs are neither artistically compelling nor technically proficient.

1.0

Control
Yes, they’re better with the standard controller, but that completely defeats the purpose of a game such as this. The “Fearmaster” is not functional for the type of game Dangerous Hunts 2013 tries to be.

3.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Creatures sound like creatures and the voice acting is generally bearable. Guns are satisfying to fire. That said, nothing really stands out.

2.5

Play Value
The only reason this score isn’t lower is that the shooting galleries are inoffensive, rail-shooting score trials. They’re not half bad. The rest of the game, though, needs to stay far, far away.

1.8

Overall Rating - Avoid
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

New Maneater Co-op Mode: Two players can join together to take on wave after wave of increasingly deadly beasts in the all-new split screen Maneater mode.

Master Your Fear: Armed with the new Top Shot Fearmaster controller, control your heart rate to increase your accuracy, deal more damage, or slow down time to line up the perfect kill shot. Available for the X360 and PS3 systems.

Smarter and Deadlier Predators: The new Prowler animal A.I. engine simulates pack social hierarchies, coordinates complex group tactics, and takes advantage of the surroundings to set up deadly ambushes.