theHunter: Call of the Wild Reviews
Boasts some beautiful, convincing countryside to hunt in, but the glacial pace will challenge the limits of most people’s patience.
The Hunter: Call of the Wild aims to be the perfect hunting game thanks to aspects that has improved from its prequel, but it is not very consistent and has some bugs that affect the gameplay.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
When theHunter: Call of the Wild works properly, it’s still going to be a game that only those with the patience of a saint would enjoy. It’s very slow, full of barriers, and isn’t very exciting. That’s not to say it’s not completely without merit as it’s a stunner to look at and there are rare occasions where everything comes together to make a compelling experience. Just note that those rare occasions are few and far between.
theHunter: Call of the Wild isn't for everyone. It takes a lot of patience and can be impenetrable for those without experience in hunting simulators. But for those with the grit to push through the steep learning curve, this game is quite possibly the best hunting game of all time. If you're curious about it, I highly recommend giving it a go.
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.
Frustrating it may be, but this is the nature of hunting and Call of the Wild does a generally excellent job of replicating it. It should be noted that those without patience will absolutely hate the game, as there are no options to allow you to play it in anything other than full-on simulation mode. As such, you might play for an hour and bag a couple of kills, but you just as easily might spend an hour roaming around without even having the chance to get an animal in your sights. However, the general atmosphere provided makes those strike-outs easier to deal with because exploring and improving your tracking skills and knowledge are often reward enough. Indeed, theHunter: Call of the Wild is aimed at a specific target audience, and if you're in that group, you'll be playing this for far longer than you'd expect.
A hunting simulator for consoles, that looks dazzling and fun? Thereupon a Jägermeister!
Review in German | Read full review
theHunter: Call of the Wild is a patient man's game. It can take upwards of 30 minutes from the time you start tracking your prey to the time you claim your trophy. Even then, there is no guarantee that you will kill your target, let alone even find it. I started the game without a background in hunting, but I was able to get by with the educational tutorial popups. One of the few things that put me off was the pace of "sprinting." If you haven't unlocked the outposts then getting from one point to another in such a huge map can take a long time. There is also online multiplayer for up to eight players.
theHunter: Call of the Wild is not just for fans of hunting, but everyone looking for a new and fresh experience. The illusion of the hunt is strong and you'll find yourself holding your breath while aiming.
Review in Polish | Read full review
If you're looking for a hunting game to tide you over, this may be the game for you. It's not for people who don't have patience and want a quick kill.
The Hunter Call of the Wild Simulates hunting down animals, maybe a little to well. If You know what hunting is all about you know what to expect. Long minutes or more stalking before you get a shot.
If hunting is your bag then theHunter is a game which could very much tick all the right boxes for you. Compared to the competition I’ve experienced this is right there at the top of the pile, and it’s a game which is only going to grow as Expansive Worlds continues to layer it with more content.
theHunter: Call of the Wild is a game that will appeal to those who have a genuine passion for hunting, but due to the general lack of content, a poor UI and the horrendous movement speed, I don't think those outside of the hunting world will enjoy it.
If you are a hunting enthusiast, theHunter: Call of the Wild is a game that you must experience.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
It's not that it's a pure niche piece of software, as every single simulation game is like that. theHunter: Call of the Wild's biggest issue is that it got released in a pretty bad state, and still hasn't been fixed… And it's a real shame, because, when it decides to work, it can be quite the immersive experience and feels a lot closer to what it wants to - the best of its kind.
The only thing that I don't like about the game is the DLC policy, meaning that a lot of the interesting stuff can be bought through DLCs, including two entire maps. Otherwise, if I had the time, I would probably lose entire days hunting virtual animals, and having an inexplicable feeling of acomplishment.
If you wouldn't normally touch a hunting game, I'd urge you to view theHunter: Call of the Wild as the ultimate "walking simulator" and give it a fair shake of the shotgun. I don't regret the many rewarding hours I ploughed into this engaging, immersive safari and can see myself returning to theHunter: Call of the Wild's wonderful wilderness again and again.
In the end, theHunter: Call of the Wild is a more defined niche game in what is already a niche category. There isn't much appeal for hunting games to begin with, and an even smaller group wants a hunting simulator, especially when there is already a free-to-play version. However, this is a game that requires patience for both the hunting process and the bugs that come along with it. If you can live with that, and you're lucky enough to get a friend or two to join in, then you'll find the game to be a good time. Otherwise, try out the free-to-play version to see if this pacing is right for you.
I don't understand theHunter: Call of the Wild. That isn't some philosophical remark, I don't understand how to play the game. I don't understand how to hunt effectively. I don't understand how to stalk an animal properly. I don't understand why animals want to mate even after having just been shot. I don't understand why the game is so buggy. I don't understand how it could have been released in the state it is in. theHunter: Call of the Wild is a bad hunting game, and it doesn't have anything else going for it.
Call of the Wild offers an amazing experience, for when you finally do capture your kill: it’s so rewarding. For the players willing to go that extra step, it’s really worth it.