DEMO
   I must say that when I downloaded the demo I was delightfully surprised by having one full level (or island) of the game complete with a variety of Allosaurus, Velociraptors, Stegosaurus, Galimimus, Moschops, and flying Dimorphodons to hunt or be hunted by.  With the shotgun provided, I scouted the island searching for a worthy target.  I found one, a rather hungry Allosaurus, who soon turned me into a complete meal.  Ah, the joys of gaming -- to live another day!   In no time at all, I was back on the hunt.  This time I was searching for place which I could climb and shoot my target before being seen.  Success came after a few tries, of course.  I soon came to grips that this was no ordinary action game where I can shoot ten thousand bullets off into any direction.  Unlike “UNREAL” ammunition was limited to the stock on hand.  This led me to shoot with more care and added a new challenge to the game play. It was as if I was really on a hunt, so I had to think of new strategies in detecting my target.  The demo was undiminished with complete use of binoculars, a radar mapping device, and a calling apparatus.  So, with these in my booty I came to fully appreciate the Carnivores Demo.

FULL GAME

GRAPHICS

In 3Dfx    9.5 out of 10
In DirectX6    8 out of 10
    First, allow me to make this very clear – This game was made to Fascinate the player!  The true gaming fan out there with a 3Dfx card will truly ravish this game.  Fortunately, the prices for these 3Dfx cards have falling below the $90 mark.  My Creative 3Dfx Labs Banshee played the graphics extremely smoothly, showing all of the fine details in the environment and the low lying fog.  When walking up to a downed or tranquilized dinosaur, the skins remain crystal clear and not pixilated as so many other games do.  These skins look real enough to make the hunter feel as if he/she was really on a hunt.  The environment is comprehensive enough to have many, many different kinds of trees, plants, and shrubs.  Rocks, hills, and mountains share the scene with riverbeds, deserts, sand dunes, and shorelines.  Each of these elements are as complex as the dinosaurs you are hunting.   The sky is an ever-moving sea of clouds, which casts shadows upon the terrain.  Without 3Dfx, the graphics are not as swift, and the detail level in lowered by a degree.  Overall, the graphics are top notch and worth the $$ for the game.
 
 

ACTORS
9 out of 10
    The dinosaurs are the real gems in this sport.  They show distinct behaviors and possess some intelligence.  For example, the Triceratops “look for” fibrous plants to eat and when they find them stop and chew these plants.  The restless Allosaurus and Velociraptors are always searching for a meal and use their sight, smell, and hearing to guide them to their next feast.  The Tyrannosaurus stop and sniff the air to spot your presence. All in all, these movements are quite realistic and give this game a boost.  The only thing I would add are more dinosaurs to hunt!  Currently, there are seven dinosaurs to hunt for points and trophies with three others to hunt without points.
 
 

SOUNDS AND MUSIC
9 out of 10
    If the graphics are complete, the sound is as complete or even more so. The environmental stereo sound makes it very easy to detect which direction the dinosaurs are traveling and their distance from the hunter.  There are three voices for each dinosaur, which adds to the realism.  The hunter can even gage the size of the beast by the deepness of the footfalls.  Background noises include distant dinosaur calls, insects, wind, and running water.
 
 

GAMEPLAY
10 out of 10
    Gameplay is very important in the longevity of any game.  Carnivores is unique in that you are limited to the ammunition you have on hand, and there are no “free weapons” lying about.  This trains the hunter to use this ammunition very wisely, which is a good thing.   Movement around the environment is always by foot and easy.  The controls are not difficult to manage as in “TRESPASSER,” which allows the hunter to concentrate on the tasks at hand. All in all, this game will stay on my computer.
 
 

SYSTEMS USED TO TEST THE GAME
SYSTEM ONE
PII - 400
Creative Labs 3Dfx Graphics Card
128 Megs of Ram

SYSTEM TWO
AMD K6-2 300
ATI Expert@work Graphics Card
64 Megs of Ram

SYSTEM THREE
P-200 'CLASSIC'
STB Graphics Card
32 Megs of Ram

Recommended System
Any CPU above 233MHz
with a 3Dfx Graphics Card
32 Megs or more of Ram
 

CARNIVORES' MENU

July 1999
Daniel Berry