Simulator or Arcade?

[Nosferatu]

Hello,

I like outdoor simulators, just because of the realism and atmosphere you get. You can try out tactics in a virtual setting to get -if only a small- idea what to expect what will work in a real environment. But Cabela games have always been arcady surreal games, and they don't even try to be realistic.
I read some reviews and this one seems to be at least open world. Is this true? And how does the AI behave? Are there tracking techniques or camo options and lures?
Only serious answers please.

Thanks for input.

[Omnimous]

Just read all the reviews on steam store page. Lots of info there.

[out_erik]

It is more arcade then sim, but still fun.

[Omnimous]

It's much more sim than arcade...I would consider previous cabela's titles arcadey, but not this one. The open hunt feels very realistic.

[out_erik]

What ? I played alot of hunt sim before and this is far from a real sim.

[iangelortiz]

You should try out thehunter, it seems to be pretty good and free to play, thehunter.com, you only get to hunt mule deer unless you buy a membership :)

[Nosferatu]

There doesn't seem to be a consensus. For reference, how does it compare to the Deer Hunter series?

[Jack Greedy]

As a retried real world hunter, i must say go buy it.
Best hunting game since Deer Hunter 2005.
This game have great nature feeling (sounds- you could set it to max when in forest and walk away from computer to have relaxing sounds around! graphics! feeling!), wide selection of animals, guns and bows, lot of scopes, lot of ammunition types and great wide ♥♥♥ kicking MAPS, in a dream of every european hunter, United States of America, we have all main regions of this beautiful country here with 4 gigantic maps.
And these maps are truly wonderful, when You walk trough the forest you meet like real landscape with all types of terrain, large and small lakes, rivers, waterfalls or streams, full range of hills, plain fields, small valleys with trees around, it feels like true nature not some generated map. Just awesome. Game is very rewarding too and you could choose to hunt specified game or just go to "open hunt". Lads this game is every hunter's dream, especially when season is out or You are too old or ill to hunt again.
It contains a nice online ranking which let us to compete with Friends.
And shooting, well its a poetry in this title. Also you could learn a lot about proper hunting shoots here.
Animals wonders between feeding / drinking and resting areas, we have wild boars here, elks, deers (whitetail , blactail), black bears, grizzly bears, proghorns, foxes, ducks, roosters, wolves, rabbits, moose , male and female, with random weights etc.
Animals acts naturally, sound of moving bushes could alarm them, you can walk straight, crouched or crawl, you can use blends, tree stands or huntings stands etc, we have different parts of the day here, in different lightning moods.
Animals just like in Deer hunter 2005 are generated randomly and each hunt is different.
They can see you , hear you (watch for bushes) and smell you (watch the wind, use scent cover).
This game is perfect. Great deal between realism and gameplay, and you can feel it was made by real outdoor lovers. Graphics are really good, nice effects and top notch natural feeling, colours are great, boars have almost real fur etc.
It is truly wonderful adventure.
I ve been playing almost all hunting games too (including Deer hunter series, The Hunter, HU, Bird Hunter, Rocky Mountain, Trophy Hunter etc.) and this newest Cabela's game is one of the best hunting simulators.
Keep in mind that any game couldn't be even close to the reality. The Hunter is very mediocre game from the point of view of real hunter, a lot microtransactions, ugly and plastic graphics compared to Pro Hunts (this game) (animals do not have any fur there etc.) and broken shooting mechanics, it is only acceptable as a free to play game and then very limited too. If i have to choose a hunting game to spend time on before release Pro Hunts i will choose old Deer hunter 2005 instead The Hunter, it is much better game with much more options than this online crap.
To back on topic, Pro Hunts is very well spend money. This game have great shooting mechanics ( wide selection of ammunition types [caliber, power, weight, speed really matter snow], process of shooting, balistics, wounds [ good luck with finding bear or deer who was hitted on "soft" and you lost it's track], tracking), maybe it lacks only ability to set optics or tune your gun like in DH2005, and it could be more firearms here (we have selection of few rifles, one shotgun and two types of bow [ recurve and compund], wonderful audio-video. We have really big and climatic, well designed maps, realistically acting animals, nice selection of gear (calls, few types of stands - already on maps, blinds) wide selection of ammunition, and open end style game, with a addon of theme hunts if You want more directed hunt. And You pay for it only one time (but i really hope for any dlc or next title as good as this one).
It offers ideal harmony between realism and gameplay too, it is not arcade, more of simulator but you don't have to sit all night long to spot the animal when you know something about hunting.
But keep in mind that many time you may walk away with empty hands too.
So please stop empty threads about which game is simualtion and which is stupid game, there will be never any game even close to real hunting, but as for a game about a hunting Pro Hunts is as close to real as it can gets, maybe some younger players could get the love for nature from it, and maybe become one of the great hunting family in the future.
If you looking for other games worth of attention i place my fabourite list here:

1. Deer Hunter 2005 (just visit hagadoo.com, people still compete) and Cabela's Pro Hunts
2. Bird Hunter 2003
3. As a "introduction" games and some less demanding while still keeping sense are Cabela's Expeditions and Cabela's African Adventures
4. Rocky Mountain Trophy Hunter
5. Trophy Hunter 2007
6. Hunter's Trophy: Europe & America
And at last place The Hunter just as a interesting idea with messed mechanics.
(Not to mention "pay for every step" politics)

Anyone who thinks about The Hunter in more seriously way please stop, here is example of "simulation" of the moose watch about 3:10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsrJT40fUsg.
AI of the animals in this game is at level 0.

Games like Dangerous Hunts, Hunting unlimited etc. are not worth to play in my opinion.

Have no fear If You like hunting you will be thrilled by this game.

[Nosferatu]

Thank you Hubertus, your review is explanation what I needed you should put it in a review. Deer Hunter 2005 is indeed a good reference and if this game compares I will buy it soon. I've only been dissapointed with other games since then, that's the reason for my inquiry.
Thanks again!

[Jack Greedy]

No problem, there is no such diversity here in weapon customization and gear like in DH2005,
and game itself is not moddable for now, also a less demanding than DH2005 on expert mode
[but nowhere near previous Cabela's crappy games], it is more like DH2005 on medium level.
When playing on "authentic" level You can have trouble to hunt a game, also you can hunt more species here and ballistic itself is much more detailed.
Great experience and really good game.
Not to mention much better audio-video and overall immersion.
This and DH2005 are my two favourite hunting games right now.