| Carnivores | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Action Forms |
| Publisher(s) | WizardWorks Software |
| Series | Carnivores series |
| Engine | AtmosFear |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Sport (hunting) First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) |
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| Media/distribution | CD-ROM PSP PlayStation 3 |
Carnivores is a first person shooting video game produced by Action Forms and released by WizardWorks Software in 1998. It is the first of Carnivores series.
Contents |
In the distant future, a science vessel, FMM UV, was looking for new planets to colonize. They discovered a strange planet with remarkably similar conditions to earth. This new planet, named FMM UV-32, almost immediately triggered plans for colonization. But these plans were cancelled when it was discovered that the earth-like planet was not yet past its Mesozoic stage, and due to the carnivorous dinosaurs roaming this world, it was far too dangerous for proper colonization. Nonetheless, news of this prehistoric planet spread, and an Earth corporation, now known as DinoHunt Corp., purchased the planet as its property. DinoHunt allowed for a unique hunting experience, in which wealthy customers could hunt living dinosaurs for a price. The player is a DinoHunt customer.
The player takes the role of a DinoCorp's member. At start of a new game, the player must register a new hunter or continue with a saved hunter. The point of the game is hunting dinosaurs to get trophies and accumulate score. Each dinosaur represents a set number of points. A novice hunter starts with zero points, when his points increase he'll be able to hunt new dinosaurs on additional terrains with more powerful weapons. If the player is killed by a dinosaur, all points accumulated on that specific hunt are forfeited. The payer must be picked up by DinoHunt to keep the points he earned. A hunter will become Advanced after earning 100 points, and Expert with 300. To begin a hunt a player must before choose the locations, the weapon, the dinosaur and some hunting accessories which help the player but will deduct the score during that hunt. Each location is unique, with varying difficulties and terrain. The new hunter will be given three areas, with two more added for the advanced hunter and a final area for the expert hunter, for a total of six locations. After, the player must choose the dinosaur he wants to hunt. A new hunter will be given the choice of Parasaurolophus, the Stegosaurus, the Pachycephalosaurus and the Allosaurus. An advanced hunter gains the ability to hunt the Triceratops and the Velociraptor. The expert hunter gets to hunt the ultimate, Tyrannosaurus Rex. As ultimate thing, the player must choose the weapon, they can be set for kill or tranquilize. The weapons include the shotgun and the Xbow for the beginning hunters, adding the Sniper Rifle in for the advanced and expert hunters. First time hunters may wish to use the Observation Mode to familiarize themselves with dinosaur behaviour and different terrain.
The Woods of Turan Chocks: A mild climate and a good range of sight make this great beginner's map. This was the first island explored on the new planet. Turan Chocks, named for the captain of the science vessel to discover the planet, is a hilly wooded area populated by a variety of dinosaurs.
Basmachee Rocks: This map is a good challenge for beginning hunters. The exact origin this island remains a mystery. Its unique topography of deserts, mountains and lakes makes for a challenging area to hunt in. High hills can be a great place to perch in wait or to hide dinosaur from sight.
The Jungles of Gravitsappa: A great area for beginning hunters. Lava-filled cracks shows prior seismic activity on this island. The tropical jungles on the rest of the island are teeming with dinosaurs, hiding in the ground mists or around the rolling hills.
The Ancient Temple: With only a small temple as a safe zone, this is a map for advanced hunters. The temple, located in the center of the island remains one of the biggest mysteries on the planet. Hieroglyphs on the wall indicate a worship of the velociraptor, calling the beast "fast as the wind, with teeth sharper than any blade".
The Pyramids of Shmu-Hadron: This is a map for experienced hunters. These Pyramids in the desert terrian of this area were built by a long-gone race, and their use remains unknown. These structures are ideal for hunting and hiding, but beware; predators can climb the pyramids too.
The Great Lake: For expert hunters only! Surrounded by an impassible wall of mountains, this is the most difficult terrian to hunt on the planet. The giant meteor-made lake in the center is the only obstacle on this barren, desolate island.
Parasaurolophus: This is a good dinosaur for the beginning hunter. The duckbilled plant eater has a striking head crest that can reach up to six feet (1.8m) long, making it very easy to spot. This herbivore has an average sense of sight, an average sense of smell and an excellent sense of hearing. The target-zones on this specimen are the head, neck and back areas.
Pachycephalosaurus: This is a good dinosaur for the beginning hunter. The name means "thick headed lizard" and it comes from its 10 inch (25 cm) thick skull rimmed with knobby spikes used defensively against other dinosaurs as battering ram. This amazing plant eater has an average sense of sight, a low sense of smell and an average sense if hearing. The target-zones on this specimen are the neck and back areas.
Stegosaurus: This is a good dinosaur for the beginning hunter. This is an easy dinosaur to recognize due to the giant plates protruding from their backs, in two staggered rows and spikes on the end of his tail. This bus-sized herbivore, weighing up to six tons has an average sense of sight, a low sense of smell and an average sense of hearing. The target-zone on this specimen is the head area.
Triceratops: This is a dinosaur for advanced hunters. Meaning "three-horned face", this is another dinosaur that is very easy to spot. As big as an elephant, the short nose horn and two long hollow horns sticking out from above the eyes can make this dinosaur a dangerous animal when wounded. This plant eater has an average sense of sight, a low sense of smell and an average sense of hearing. The target-zones on this specimen are the neck, back, and eyes areas, as well as left side of the heart.
Allosaurus: This is a good carnivore for the beginning hunter, but beware, it will attack the player at close range. A dangerous dinosaur indeed, this saw-toothed meat eater with its immense expandable jaws and claw bearing toes is a challenge to hunt. This muscular dinosaur has an average sense of sight, an excellent sense of smell and a low sense of hearing. The target-zones on this specimen are the head, neck and back areas.
Velociraptor: This is a dinosaur for advanced hunters. It may not be the biggest dinosaur, but its retractable sickle shaped claw, used to slash open the bellies of its prey, make this carnivore deadly and a challenge to all hunters. The dinosaur has an average sense of sight, an excellent sense of smell, and an average sense of hearing. The target-zones on this specimen are the head, neck, and the back areas.
Tyrannosaurus Rex: The only dinosaur in the game that isn't remotely afraid of the player, this ravenous beast is for expert hunters only! Possibly the most feared of all dinosaurs, the monster is two stories tall, with razor sharp teeth in its enormous jaws. It is an extremely aggressive carnivore that will eat anything in its sight. Shooting this dinosaur anywhere but the targeted eye area will only make it more aggressive, so beware of this dangerous beast. It has excellent sight, excellent scent and excellent hearing. The target-zone on this specimen is only the eye area.
Note: The player must keep in mind that regardless of which dinosaurs he chooses to hunt, there are others living on the island that do not appear on the radar. The player may be hunting a Stegosaurus and be surprised by a Velociraptor!
Moschops
Gallimimus
Dimorphodon
These animals, although they can be killed, are generally not thought of as huntable and will not increase a player's score. None are dangerous. However, there have been few accounts of a Moschops attacking a player. This was likely the result of a very rare glitch.
Shotgun: The target area for this weapon is the center of the sighting circle. Although powerful, the player must aim your shot well. The shotgun will scare plants eaters, causing them to scatter, but the noise will alert carnivores, which can be dangerous for the player. There are six shots in the shotgun, and any hunter can use it.
X-Bow: This weapon has two target areas, called aiming pins. The top pin is for sighted in for 40 meters, and the bottom pin is sighted for 80 meters. This weapon is relatively silent, and can be shot several times without alerting dinosaurs, but the complex aiming takes some practice. There are eight shots in the X-Bow and any hunter can use it.
Sniper Rifle: This weapon is very accurate, and will shoot exactly where the crosshairs are placed. Its range goes as far as the binoculars, but is extremely narrow. This is not a weapon for charging meat eater, but fantastic for distance shots. Holding six shots, this weapon is for advanced and expert hunters only.
(These accessories can be chosen from the main menu and will deduct points from the player's hunt, with the exception of the tranquilizer, which actually adds points)
Radar: This allows the player to view the dinosaur locations on the map during your hunt. A dinosaur is depicted on the map as a green dot. Player's location is shown as the red dot with a green circle surrounding it. The map shows only the dinosaurs the player is hunting. All other dinosaurs are masked. Use of the radar deducts 30% from the total points acquired during that hunt.
Cover Scent: This item allows the player to mask his scent from all dinosaurs reducing the likelihood of his being spotted. Use of Cover Scent deducts 20% from the total points acquired during that hunt.
Camouflage: This special suit decreases the dinosaur's ability to detect the player through sight. Use of the Camouflage deducts 15% from the total points acquired during that night.
Tranquilizer: Tranquilizing a dinosaur is an alternative to killing it. This will drop the dinosaur where it stands with a quick-acting drug. Use of the Tranquilizer increases 25% for the total points acquired during that hunt, but the player is unable to include a tranquilized dinosaur in his trophy room.
(These items are always carried on the hunt and do not deduct or add points)
Binoculars: There are no points deducted for the use of binoculars in the hunt. With this item, the player can see just outside of his normal viewable range, and centering the crosshairs on a dinosaur will show the animal's size.
Map: The map allows the player to pinpoint his location on any island. There are no points deducted from the score for using it. It is used with the radar, as stated above to point out locations of the dinosaurs.
Dinosaur Call: This item is used to use the dinosaur's native calls, to attract the animals. There are no points deducted from the score for using the Dinosaur Call. The call, when overused, can scare plant eaters, or attract meat eaters to player's location.
Wind Indicator and Compass: These items are standard for a hunter, and do not deduct points from the score. The Wind Indicator shows wind direction with an arrow, and the length of the arrow denotes the force of the wind. The Compass shows the direction that the player is facing on top of the device.