Game Reviews

Dino Hunter: Deadly Shores

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Dino Hunter: Deadly Shores

Glu's previous hunting games, like the Deer Hunter series, may have been a little too much for those of a delicate disposition.

Indeed, hunting is a controversial topic. So what's the best way to distance a hunting game from the real-life 'sport'? That's right - dinosaurs.

What we have here is a first-person gallery shooter of sorts. You're dropped into a level with a goal like "kill two young hadrosaurus with a lung shot", and given a time limit within which to complete the grisly challenge.

Fluff the shot and your prehistoric prey will either run off-screen or turn around and attack you. My dino-knowledge is a tad outdated, but I reckon it's predominantly carnivores that retaliate while herbivores tend to leg it.

If you have multiple targets - as many as eight by the end of the game - you'll have to employ certain strategies to clear out each area. Will you start with the furthest away and work your way forward or vice-versa?

Only a flesh wound

Morbid as it sounds, hitting a target is immensely satisfying in Dino Hunter. The final shot of each stage is slowed down for effect, flying across the map before lodging in the eye socket of some magnificent beast.

Upon completing each challenge the game plays you a celebratory guitar-solo fanfare. It's then that you realise that if you were shooting the lungs of any other group of animals, this would all be rather horrific.

There are three regions in the game - a beach, a jungle, and a wasteland. Each area has a series of quests for each weapon type in the game (rifle, assault rifle, and shotgun). There's also Trophy Hunt mode, which has several bosses you can only fight after unlocking specific upgrades for your weapons.

There are also contract hunts with each of the three main weapon types, and the exotic series challenges. You'll be offered one free taster for each exotic series, but to play them in full you have to purchase overpowered and overpriced exotic weapons.

A new 'Lost Fortress' area is already being teased in-game, so it seems Glu has every intention of updating the game with new areas and weapons regularly.

Free at what price?

The game is free to play. As such, expect ads and 'exclusive' offers encouraging you to spend money to pop up intermittently.

While a system for levelling up is included, all it ever awards is one measly gold and an energy refill. That's the same as opting to watch a 20 second ad in the game, and 1/360th of the amount you need for one exotic weapon.

Dino Hunter: Deadly Shores is a slick, polished FPS that proves to be rather moreish. It is, however, held back by its ads, energy system, and expensive special weapons.

It's worth playing for exhilarating moments, like trying to land a heart shot on a T-rex as it slowly clomps towards you, but only just.

Dino Hunter: Deadly Shores

If Dino Hunters: Deadly Shores weren't free to play, it might be something approaching outstanding
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Danny Russell
Danny Russell
After spending years in Japan collecting game developers' business cards, Danny has returned to the UK to breed Pokemon. He spends his time championing elusive region-exclusive games while shaking his fist at the whole region-locking thing.