Carnivores 2

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: 1999
• Genre: Sports
• Style: Hunting
• Similar Games: Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (IBM PC Compatible), Trespasser (IBM PC Compatible), Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (IBM PC Compatible), Carnivores (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

You just couldn't hunt enough of 'em the first time, could you? Carnivores 2 continues the pursuit of the type of prey that sportsmen can only dream about (unless they've got a time machine capable of traveling back 65 million years) -- dinosaurs! With nine total species (two more than in the original version) and five new areas to explore, virtual hunters will have ample opportunity to test out the six types of weapons and four different hunting accessories.

At the start of each hunt, you have 100 credits to spare as you choose your hunting area, your targeted prey, and your weapons and accessories. As you succeed in your efforts and perfect your skills, you'll earn more credits to allocate toward each area. Eventually, the challenge of shooting down a Parasaurolophus (or one of the three other herbivores) may seem like nothing when compared to the pursuit of carnivores like the Velociraptor and Tyrannosaurus Rex, which might even pursue you instead!

Your weapons range in effectiveness from the up-close capabilities of a 9mm pistol to the long-range accuracy of a sniper rifle. Others arms include a standard shotgun, a double-barreled shotgun, a crossbow, and a standard rifle. To assist in your efforts, you can also accessorize with camouflage, radar, cover scent (masking your scent from dinosaurs) and double ammo. When seeking out a target, you might also want to zero in with your trusty binoculars or attract it with your dinosaur call.

When not out in the midst of the action, you can always check out how you've fared with a quick visit to the trophy room. It's your job to decorate with all nine species.

Roots & Influences

As with the first Carnivores, this game aims to capitalize on the popular hunting genre by using dinosaurs as prey instead of deer, turkey, squirrels and other game.

Review: Overall

Wizard Works demonstrates that hunting games can be interesting with its Carnivores series. How, you ask? Quite simply, hunting dinosaurs is not exactly something you can do in real life and these games provide a totally unique hunting experience.

If you've played the first Carnivores, then don't expect much to be different with its first sequel, Carnivores 2. In fact, it's almost exactly the same. The only new features are a few new weapons, landscapes and dinosaurs. If you were to look at screenshots of the two side by side, actually, you might not even be able to tell the difference. And Wizard Works didn't even bother to change the opening menu screen!

Hunting game fanatics will still get to crouch, use binoculars, sound their dino-calls, and more as they stalk a few different types of prehistoric beasts than before. Meanwhile, those who might not necessarily understand the hunting game craze of the late '90s can still be entertained with the whole "this-could-never-happen-but-it-is" feeling to it.

But are the new additions to this outing really worth your hard-earned money if you own the first one? It really depends on how much you liked the original. In essence, Carnivores 2 is more of an expansion disc than a sequel. Are two new dinosaurs, five new environments and four new weapons enough to get you excited about purchasing it? Only you can answer that question for yourself but for most gamers, the answer is probably "no."

All in all, Carnivores 2 represents a solid hunting game with a great twist. If you didn't play the first one and think you might like a hunting sim featuring prehistoric animals that can also hunt you, then it might be worth your time. Otherwise, you need to be a true fan of the first Carnivores to relish the few enhancements that this second release brings.

Review: Enjoyment

It's a hunting game -- but it's a DINOSAUR hunting game.

Review: Graphics

Like the first outing, the graphics are quite nice. Unfortunately, they are relatively identical and show no attempt at improvement.

Review: Sound

Definitely the most impressive part of the game. If you've got surround speakers, you're in for a treat.

Review: Replay Value

Even though you have only five areas to choose from, the dinos are spread out differently each time.

Review: Documentation

While good for the most part, the instruction booklet left me confused as to how exactly to collect my rewards for good hunting.

Production Credits

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