#HUNTING SIMULATOR 2 PLATFORMS PLUS#

Campsites are fast-travel locations, only unlocked after discovery, and they're spread out pretty well over the massive maps. I found it relaxing, especially with the ambient sounds of the wind and birds chirping in the distance.Īside from the different animals to hunt, and different scenery and terrain, maps are tied together with campsites, a cabin, and different towers and blinds to discover. Each location has its own different geography and animals, although there is some crossover between them, as is the case in real life (for example, real whitetail deer are damn near everywhere in the US now). There are two Colorado locations, two in Texas, and two European hunting grounds. Initially I didn't think the wind direction made a difference, but after my virtual-scent alerted my presence to a trophy elk, I made sure my item list for the next hunt included a bottle.Īfter you're fully outfitted with your guns and gear (and dog, of course), you select from one of six different locations, grouped into three geographical areas. They're all really useful, particularly the wind indicators. They're easy to use: pushing a button brings up your item wheel and it's a simple matter of hitting the action button to use them. On top of guns and apparel, there are binoculars and range finders, as well as consumables like scent lures, scent-covers, and wind-direction indication sprays. The licensed apparel and firearms make for a more realistic setting, with names instantly recognizable to anyone who hunts as a hobby. The selection of hunting guns is huge, and Hunting Simulator 2 has officially-licensed firearms from companies like Winchester, as well as officially-licensed outdoor gear from outfitters like Browning. There's more than just dogs to add to your hunting lodge: you can purchase gear, new guns, and even bows to spice things up a bit. You can choose to hunt without any companions, but they're super useful for small prey, and if you're going to hit your bag limit, they'll expedite the process by retrieving, pointing, and following scent trails.

I really like how Hunting Simulator 2 requires you to bring along the right dog for the job. No respectable outdoorsman would leave carcasses like that, and I was appropriately fined when I returned to my hunting lodge. I found out the importance of bringing along a retriever (I named him Puppers and he's a good boy) when I went duck hunting and discovered I couldn't swim out to get my trophies. There are zero bloodstains to contend with, which is a bonus. Each dog breed is specialized for a task: pointers will 'point' in the direction of a hidden animal, while retrievers do exactly what their name implies. You start off with a beagle, adept at sniffing out tracks and putting you on the path to a trophy, but you can add more dogs to your kennel as you progress. In fact, it helps build your bond with the canine companions that venture out into the wilderness with you. I'll just get this one out of the way immediately: you can pet the dog. It sacrifices some realism for the sake of quality of life, sure, and it lacks any kind of concrete goals, but at the end of the day, I found Hunting Simulator 2 a fun and oddly relaxing way to spend some time. As a simulation, it does a great job, and as a game, it also succeeds.

#HUNTING SIMULATOR 2 PLATFORMS PLUS#

Plus there are zero bloodstains to contend with, which is another bonus. Hunting Simulator 2 scratches the primordial hunter-itch I didn't know I still had, while allowing me to stalk prey from the comfort of my home office. While I don't go hunting anymore, almost everyone I know is obsessed with it (I still live in Maine), and I have been known to stalk whitetail with a camera rather than a loaded rifle.

Hunting simulator 2 platforms