theHunter: Call of the Wild

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 54 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 54
  3. Negative: 14 out of 54
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  1. fistfullofnails
    Jul 27, 2018
    6
    I'll go ahead and admit this, yes the graphics are pretty darn good. Now for the rest. I've hunted a good portion of my life, mostly whitetails. Anyone else that hunts whitetail, know that most hunters get excited about the racks on these deer (most any kind of deer in fact). In this game, there seem to be no non-typicals at all. In fact, almost every rack looks identical but justI'll go ahead and admit this, yes the graphics are pretty darn good. Now for the rest. I've hunted a good portion of my life, mostly whitetails. Anyone else that hunts whitetail, know that most hunters get excited about the racks on these deer (most any kind of deer in fact). In this game, there seem to be no non-typicals at all. In fact, almost every rack looks identical but just scaled up and down in size. What's even more sorry is that your buck isn't scored on it's rack. There are no G1, G2, etc. lengths or even any kind of spread or length measurements at all on the deer you kill. It seems that your score comes from how "rare" this particular deer is on some unknown scale and it's weight(which it does give in pounds). Sure, the more rare the deer is, the bigger it's rack tends to be, but there is no way of knowing any kind of measurements for each one. Even on the after kill menu, it doesn't even say how many points the rack is. It does have a picture you can look at, but I remember Cabelas Pro Hunts could at least manage to tell you how many points for each side of the rack, and that was PS3. So basically, if you are into Pope&Young/Boone&Crockett kind of scores, be prepared for a massive letdown. Seems to be the same for other game as well, for example, you aren't given the skull size for bears, no tusk measurement for boars, etc.

    Now for realism, haha. I can shoot at a deer, miss, and call it right back within five minutes. I can kill a deer and the others will run off and then come right back and stand around if I just sit there. There are no tree stands that I can carry around and set up where I want. What takes the cake for me though, is the animal vocalizations. Apparently, all deer doe's mating call is a grunt. The vocaliztion for alert seems to be a grunt as well, and not a snort. Any hunter knows the clear difference between a grunt and a snort, and any real hunter knows that a doe doesn't grunt. I can't really talk about most of the other big game animals because where I live, pretty much all we have is deer and black bear. But as bad as the deer vocalizations are, I am highly suspect of the rest. I can't really understand how a development team could afford to make a game, but not even bother to hire an actual hunter to advise them on the realism of their game. I mean, I would be happy too if they would just fly me over and buy me lunch.

    The tracking system is ok. You can turn off track indicators, which would make it really hard to find tracks, actually harder than seeing them in real life in my experience. Tracks feature scat, footprints, and disturbed vegetation. Like all other hunting games I've experienced, for some reason, no one seems too concerned with adding scrapes or hornings for deer. You know, two of the most important signs when looking for presence of bucks in an area. On a side note as well, why the heck can't anyone add a preferred food system where animals tend to congregate? Like maybe have acorn stands in fall and most of the deer would tend to congregate to.

    Anyways, the end, if you want a hiking simulator, this is it. If you want a hunting simulator, look elsewhere. I do not know where though.    … Expand
  2. McCoyPauley
    Dec 12, 2017
    7
    Open-world hunting done solidly.

    TheHunter takes a great idea, and delivers a servicable product. Roaming the game's large, open environments is -- for the most part -- very enjoyable. Exploration is one of the title's strongest aspects. On console, there are two hunting reserves. Both are a pleasure to explore and offer a variety of sights and points of interest. The actual hunting    Open-world hunting done solidly.

    TheHunter takes a great idea, and delivers a servicable product. Roaming the game's large, open environments is -- for the most part -- very enjoyable. Exploration is one of the title's strongest aspects. On console, there are two hunting reserves. Both are a pleasure to explore and offer a variety of sights and points of interest.

    The actual hunting gameplay is a bit of a mixed bag. Guns are relatively fun to use, and can be upgraded with a small selection of sights and ammunition. You'll earn money for each confirmed kill, gaining extra money for quick and clean kills based on shot placement and the stats of your weapons and ammunition. Use a gun too powerful, and you'll ruin the quality of your trophy.

    Sound is an important gameplay mechanic. Moving slowly and avoiding the rustling of foliage and the crunch of your footing is critical to stalking your prey. Wind and scent must also be accounted for. You have a multitude of lures at your disposal. Unfortunately, the best strategy is usually to just spam the correct call until you attract something.

    There are quite a few bugs, mainly pertaining to animal behavior. You'll see creatures getting stuck on rocks and trees extremely often. The animations of the animals leave something to be desired, as well. The roster of species available to hunt is a little thin.

    Multiplayer is much appreciated, but lacking. You cannot discover points of interest when in another player's game. This essentially kills any hope of coop exploration.

    TheHunter is a solid game, and the basic template it establishes is one that should be followed for all hunting games to come. Yet, this is a game lacking in polish. One is left thinking another studio, one with more resources, perhaps, could do this great idea justice.    … Expand
  3. SaviorGaming
    Dec 7, 2017
    7
    This game is honestly one of the best hunting games ever created, tho the competition isn't exactly stiff. At times the game actually feels more like a walking simulator. The reason for that is as anyone that has ever been hunting will tell you is most of your time is spent just hanging out in the woods surrounding by the beauty of nature. I have been hunting, I love hunting. I enjoy thisThis game is honestly one of the best hunting games ever created, tho the competition isn't exactly stiff. At times the game actually feels more like a walking simulator. The reason for that is as anyone that has ever been hunting will tell you is most of your time is spent just hanging out in the woods surrounding by the beauty of nature. I have been hunting, I love hunting. I enjoy this game. But not every activity makes for a fun game. The Hunter is a beautiful amazing hunting simulator, but it isn't always fun.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. DarkStation
    Nov 27, 2017
    70
    While it suffers from seriously botched progression and a smattering of poor design choices, theHunter: Call of the Wild consistently provides a deep and satisfying hunting experience. Not only is it a dramatic departure from the mindless schlock we've been conditioned to seeing; it brings hunting to a height of simulation and strategy that I've never seen before. The game holds a special reverence not just for hunting, but for the spirit of the outdoors in general, making it a relevant testament to our natural landscapes in the modern era. If you're going into theHunter expecting to navigate smooth menus and unlock things at a steady pace, you're in for disappointment. If you're looking for an immersive and dignified hunting experience, you'll be absolutely hooked for hours on end. Falling into both camps, I know that the latter sensation ultimately prevails over the former. I'll be playing this one for a long time going forward, and not just because it takes forever to get new gear.
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  2. GamePro Germany
    Oct 9, 2017
    75
    Quotation forthcoming.
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  3. PlayStation Universe
    Oct 9, 2017
    75
    A mixture of realistic hunting simulation and literal walking simulator with a fairly gentle introduction, The Hunter: Call of the Wild is certainly not a game for the impatient. It's beautiful vistas and sedate pace make it a very chilled out experience for the most part, full of relaxing exploration, but to engage in the hunt itself is a tremendously time-consuming act.
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