Carnivores 2

Last updated

Carnivores 2
Carnivores 2 cover.jpg
Developer(s) Action Forms
Publisher(s) WizardWorks, Infogrames
Series Carnivores series
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s) Sport (hunting), first-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Carnivores 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Action Forms and published by WizardWorks in North America on October 21, 1999. [1] It is the sequel to the 1998 video game Carnivores and is the second in the Carnivores series.

Contents

The source code became available on Assembla in 2013. [2]

Gameplay

The DinoHunt Corporation continues to allow people to hunt dinosaurs on the planet FMM UV-32. After further exploration of the dinosaur planet, more islands have been opened to a growing number of customers. [3] [4]

Gameplay is similar to the original Carnivores , with some changes. At the start of the game, the player must register a hunter or continue with a saved hunter. The point of the game is similar to the previous Carnivores game: the player must hunt dinosaurs to get trophies and accumulate credits. A new hunter is given 100 credits. The player uses credits to select a hunting area, a dinosaur to hunt and a weapon to use. Levels include a forest, a jungle and a swamp; weapons include a pistol, a shotgun, a crossbow, and a sniper rifle. Each dinosaur, area, and weapon has its own cost; the player's remaining credits determine what the player can and cannot bring on the hunt. The dinosaurs that are available to hunt, from the lowest to the highest price, are the Parasaurolophus , Ankylosaurus , Stegosaurus , Allosaurus , Chasmosaurus , Velociraptor , Spinosaurus , Ceratosaurus , and Tyrannosaurus rex . When the player chooses an item from the menu, other selections may become unavailable depending on the amount of remaining credits. Available selections are highlighted in blue, selected items are yellow and unavailable items are gray.

The player can easily have several dinosaurs to hunt, with several weapons selected at the same time as he advances in his hunting skills. As the player hunts the selected dinosaurs, each successful kill will result in a number of credits added to the player's account. The player can kill more than one dinosaur per hunting expedition, allowing him to earn enough credits to move into more advanced areas with more expensive weapons and more dangerous dinosaurs. However, if the player is killed by a dinosaur, all credits accumulated on the specific hunt are forfeited. The player must be evacuated by DinoHunt and survive the hunt to keep the credits he earned. There are various methods of increasing or decreasing the credits per dinosaur.

When the player kills or tranquilizes a dinosaur, he receives credits that are dependent on the type of dinosaur and on his selected equipment usage. For example, killing a dinosaur that was not selected in the menu will give only half of that dinosaur's total available credits. Tranquilizing rather than killing a dinosaur will increase the player's credits per hunt by 25 percent. Hunting accessories such as camouflage and a dinosaur-detecting radar can be used during hunting, but will deduct points if utilized. First time hunters can use the Observation Mode to familiarize themselves with dinosaur behavior and different terrain.

Each dinosaur will react to a hunter differently depending on its nature. Some are more adept at detecting the player's scent, while others may see him in the distance, or hear his footsteps. Once a dinosaur takes note of the player, a number of reactions can happen. Herbivores may run away or attack the player if they feel cornered. Carnivores may attack the player head on, or gather in an organized pack to flank the player and take him out. Regardless of which dinosaur the player is hunting, there are others that do not appear on the radar that can launch a surprise attack. Harmless, ambient animals such as appear on every hunt but cannot be selected from the main hunting menu. These are the Moschops , Gallimimus , Edaphosaurus , Dimorphodon , Pteranodon , and Brachiosaurus . They are worth zero points and can be killed with a single shot, excluding the Brachiosaurus, which cannot be killed.

Reception

The game received average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [5] Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised its "carefully detailed and almost disturbingly lifelike" dinosaurs, as well as the creatures' convincing, hypothetical noises. [10]

Marc Saltzman, writing for IGN and The Electric Playground , praised its dinosaur animation and realistic environments, [9] [3] but criticized the A.I. as one of the game's major weaknesses, saying: "Very rarely did I feel like I was being hunted by the beasts themselves – one of the main reasons why you'd play this game instead of another. Even while constantly running and not using any camouflage, carnivore attacks were extremely rare. I would've liked the option to hunt smarter, tougher beasts." [3] Andrew S. Bub of CNET Gamecenter praised the improved graphics and additional features in the sequel, but criticized the A.I. and stated that the game could have been better. Bub also wrote that it takes too long to gain the ability to hunt larger dinosaurs such as the T. rex, stating that this "feels like an artificial attempt to extend the game's longevity and results only in frustration." [7]

Benjamin E. Sones of Computer Games Strategy Plus praised the large environments but was critical of the dinosaur A.I. Sones concluded that the game was fun for a while but he believed that players would likely become tired of the game long before they gain sufficient points to hunt larger animals. [8] Li C. Kuo of PC Gamer praised the graphics, atmosphere and dinosaurs, but noted some graphical glitches and criticized the limited weapon choices. Kuo concluded that it was one of the better hunting games available at the time. [11]

Christopher Michael Baker of AllGame stated that Carnivores 2 was "almost exactly the same" as its predecessor aside from new weapons, landscapes and dinosaurs, writing, "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 WizardWorks didn't even bother to change the opening menu screen! [...] In essence, Carnivores 2 is more of an expansion disc than a sequel." Baker considered the game's sound to be the most impressive part of the game. He also praised the graphics but noted that they were nearly identical to the game's predecessor. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Starsiege</i> 1999 video game

Starsiege is a mecha-style vehicle simulation game developed by Dynamix and released in 1999. Starsiege is set in the Metaltech/Earthsiege universe, which contains its predecessors Earthsiege (1994), Battledrome (1994), and Earthsiege 2 (1996). This universe also includes action game Hunter Hunted (1996), strategy games Mission Force: Cyberstorm (1996) and Cyberstorm 2: Corporate Wars (1998). It also includes the sequelsStarsiege: Tribes and all subsequent Tribes titles. In 2015, this game and the rest of the Metaltech/Tribes series were released as freeware by Hi-Rez Studios, but Battledrome and the Cyberstorm series were not.

<i>The Nomad Soul</i> 1999 adventure game

The Nomad Soul is an adventure game developed by Quantic Dream and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released for Microsoft Windows in 1999 and Dreamcast in 2000. The player can engage in unarmed and armed combat, explore the three-dimensional environment of Omikron City, and talk with non-player characters to progress the story. It follows an investigation into a case of serial killings, which unravels the supernatural truth behind the city's ancient history.

<i>Worms Armageddon</i> 1999 video game

Worms Armageddon is a 1999 turn-based strategy video game developed and published by Team17. It was originally released for the Microsoft Windows operating system, and was later ported to the PlayStation, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color. Worms Armageddon is the third installment in the Worms series. In the game, the player controls a team of up to eight earthworms tasked with defeating an opposing team using a wide range of weapons at their disposal. The game takes place on a destructible and customizable two-dimensional board and is characterized by cartoonish graphics and a unique brand of humour.

<i>Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis</i> 2003 video game

Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis is a construction and management simulation video game based on the Jurassic Park series developed by Blue Tongue Entertainment and published by Universal Interactive, with the console versions being co-published with Konami in Japan. It was released for Windows, Xbox, and PlayStation 2. The game's primary goal is to construct a five-star rated dinosaur theme park named Jurassic Park on custom-generated islands by hatching dinosaurs, building attractions, keeping visitors entertained, and ensuring the park's safety.

<i>Dino Crisis 2</i> 2000 action-adventure video game

Dino Crisis 2 is an action-adventure video game developed by Capcom Production Studio 4 and published by Capcom for the PlayStation in 2000. It is the second installment in the Dino Crisis series, with designer Shu Takumi taking over as game director from Shinji Mikami from the first game. The narrative continues the story of special operative Regina, who must deal with the fallout of a time-distorting event which transports a research base and the surrounding area through time. Regina and team leader Dylan Morton must battle against dinosaurs in order to find a way to get back to the present.

Deer Hunter is a series of hunting simulation video games. Originally available for Windows platform published by WizardWorks, it has since been published on MacOS, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2, and mobile phones. The first Deer Hunter game was an early success in the casual game market.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War</i> 1999 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War is a turn-based strategy game based on the Panzer General 2 engine by SSI. It is set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. It was produced by Games Workshop in 1999, and concerns the invasion of a Tyranid Hive fleet and the Eldar and Imperial efforts to defeat it. The game was re-released in 2015 on GOG.com.

<i>MechWarrior 4: Vengeance</i> 2000 video game

MechWarrior 4: Vengeance is a vehicle simulation game, developed by FASA Interactive and published by Microsoft. It was released on November 22, 2000. It is the fourth game in MechWarrior series. It takes place in BattleTech universe where the pinnacle of all war machines are huge, heavily armed robots called BattleMechs. The player pilots one of these "'Mechs" and uses variety of available weapons to battle enemy 'Mechs, tanks and other vehicles. An expansion pack, MechWarrior 4: Black Knight, was released in 2001, and a subsequent stand-alone expansion, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, was released on November 7, 2002. Two smaller expansions, Inner Sphere Mech Pak and Clan Mech Pak, were also released in 2002.

<i>Cabelas Big Game Hunter 2005 Adventures</i> 2004 video game

Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2005 Adventures is a 2004 hunting video game published by Activision Value for Microsoft Windows, Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance. It is also a backwards-compatible title for the Xbox 360. It is the first story-driven hunting adventure game.

Carnivores is a series of hunting simulation video games featuring prehistoric species ranging from dinosaurs to extinct megafauna. The first three games – Carnivores (1998), Carnivores 2 (1999), and Carnivores: Ice Age (2001) – were developed for the PC by Action Forms and published by WizardWorks. The fourth game, Carnivores: Cityscape, was developed by Sunstorm Interactive and released by Infogrames in 2002.

<i>Jurassic Park III: Danger Zone!</i> 2001 video game

Jurassic Park III: Danger Zone! is a 2001 video game developed and published by Knowledge Adventure for Microsoft Windows. It is based on the 2001 film Jurassic Park III. Gameplay consists of the player(s) going around on a virtual board game map. Knowledge Adventure also concurrently developed and published Jurassic Park III: Dino Defender. Certain aspects of Dino Defender were re-used for Danger Zone!.

<i>Warlords III</i> 1997 video game

Warlords III: Reign of Heroes is a computer wargame released in 1997, and the third release in the Warlords video game series. In 1998 it was followed by the expansion Warlords III: Darklords Rising.

<i>Redneck Deer Huntin</i> 1998 video game

Redneck Deer Huntin' is a hunting simulation video game developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay Entertainment for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows in 1998. It is a spinoff of the 1997 first-person shooter Redneck Rampage. It was later re-released for Steam in 2017.

<i>Carnivores</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Carnivores is a 1998 first-person shooter video game developed by Action Forms and published by WizardWorks for Microsoft Windows. It is the first video game in the Carnivores series of hunting games.

<i>Wizards & Warriors</i> (2000 video game) 2000 role-playing video game

Wizards & Warriors is a role-playing video game for Microsoft Windows designed by David W. Bradley.

<i>Carnivores: Ice Age</i> 2001 video game

Carnivores: Ice Age is a first-person shooter video game developed by Action Forms and published by WizardWorks for Microsoft Windows. It is the third game in the Carnivores series. Unlike the previous games, in which the player must hunt dinosaurs, Carnivores: Ice Age allows the player to stalk large Cenozoic animals such as mammoths and saber-toothed cats. In 2011, the game was ported to iOS and Android devices by Tatem Games, and to PlayStation Portable by WizardWorks.

<i>Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter</i> 2010 video game

Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter is a first-person shooter video game and the fifth installment in the Carnivores series. The game was initially developed by Tatem Games and released for iOS in 2010, as an enhanced port of the original 1998 Carnivores game. Later that year, Tatem Games' version was ported by Beatshapers to the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation Portable (PSP), as a PlayStation Minis. Tatem Games then brought its iOS port to Android in 2012.

<i>Carnivores: Cityscape</i> 2002 video game

Carnivores: Cityscape is a 2002 first-person shooter video game developed by Sunstorm Interactive and published by Infogrames for Microsoft Windows. It is the fourth entry in the Carnivores series.

<i>Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter HD</i> 2013 video game

Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter HD, sometimes known as Carnivores HD: Dinosaur Hunter, is a 2013 first-person shooter video game developed and published by Vogster Entertainment. It is the sixth game in the Carnivores series of dinosaur-hunting games, serving as a sequel as well as a modern remake of the original game, Carnivores (1998). The game was released for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) via the PlayStation Network (PSN).

<i>Deer Hunter II: The Hunt Continues</i> 1998 video game

Deer Hunter II: The Hunt Continues is a 1998 video game from WizardWorks. An add-on for the game titled Deer Hunter II Extended Season was released in May 1999.

References

  1. 1 2 "HUNT IN A WHOLE NEW WORLD WITH PREHISTORIC CREATURES IN GT INTERACTIVE'S 'CARNIVORES 2' PC GAME". WizardWorks . October 21, 1999. Archived from the original on March 5, 2000. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  2. "Carnivores 2". Assembla .
  3. 1 2 3 4 Saltzman, Marc (January 25, 2000). "Carnivores II". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  4. "Carnivores 2 - Manual". ReplacementDocs. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Carnivores 2 for PC". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Baker, Christopher Michael. "Carnivores 2 - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Bub, Andrew S. (November 23, 1999). "Carnivores 2". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Sones, Benjamin E. (November 23, 1999). "Carnivores 2". Computer Games Strategy Plus . Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 2, 2003. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Saltzman, Marc (January 14, 2000). "Carnivores 2". The Electric Playground . Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on June 1, 2004. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Kasavin, Greg (November 12, 1999). "Carnivores 2 Review". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on January 31, 2005. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Kuo, Li C. (2000). "Carnivores 2". PC Gamer . Imagine Media. Archived from the original on December 31, 2002. Retrieved June 23, 2019.