HUNTER HUNTED

MAN VS. BEAST IN NONSTOP CARNAGE

You are the perfect specimen--the biggest, the baddest, the best of the best. Selected as the representative of your species, you will prove your superiority in bloodsport. Are you man or beast? Make the choice and pursue your enemy through flesh-eating tunnels and booby-trapped sewers. Feel your heart pumping as you run back, forth, in and out of labyrinths on tons of levels. Keep one hand on your gun and your eyes open for more weapons, powerups and ammo--but beware because not only are you the hunter, you're are the hunted and only one of you is coming out alive.

• Guns, grenades, knives, and Ninja stars are friends. (Not to mention good old fashioned fists, feet, fangs and claws!)
• Who do you want to be today? Choose whether to play as Jake or the Beast when battling head-to-head.
• Dodge traps and run a gauntlet of 3-D enemies just to stay alive.
• Engage in head-to-head carnage with the unique two-player split-screen feature.
• Soundtrack includes 10 ass-kickin' tunes, along with stereo sound effects that rule.

~ from the back of the box

Being a PC platformer, Hunter Hunted by Sierra's Dynamix subsidiary had a lot to prove. It's no secret that the genre has been more miss than hit on computers especially when compared to any console's output, but that didn't stop developers from trying. Thankfully, when this gem was released in 1996, it bucked the trend and proved to be very decent.

Over the 65 levels (81 if you include the addon - more if you create your own), you alternate between playing Jake or an alien minotaur species called Garathe Den. They've been selected by the nefarious Masters to take part in a battle to the death for their entertainment. Each stage contains objectives, mostly find said object(s) before reaching the end. They are layered in a maze-like fashion but don't get too convoluted in their set up. It's a testament to the design that I rarely felt lost, though there were more than a few occasions where I didn't know where to go.

The biggest flaw is an increasing number of un-signalled hidden doors and switches. At the end of a corridor, you could push on the wall to reveal a secret room full of goodies, but there are times when such rooms are required to complete the level. This results in you constantly pushing at random walls when you're stuck, annoyed that they're only bonus dead-ends. When it comes to switches, the pixelated sprite used to signal them are often confusing or hidden, especially when the camera zooms out making it even worse. Sometimes, they are highlighted by the occasional graffiti to clue you in, but in your rush to the end, you may still miss them.

I also found controlling each character to be a little imprecise. I often found myself slightly off the mark when I wanted to enter a doorway, flip a switch or climb a wall. I'd suspect this would lessen after extended play, but I found these quirks to be clumsy. That being said, the gameplay isn't exactly action-packed. You do have access to powerful guns and claws, but enemies are more often used as a keenly placed obstacle than an excuse to cause some carnage.

When Hunter Hunted works, it works exceptionally well. At the time of its release, it was lauded for being a well put together platformer and for the most part it remains that to this day.

To download the game, follow the link below. This exclusive installer uses the DOSBox Daum build of DOSBox 0.74 running Windows '95. Addons and Reference Card included. Tested on Windows 10.

IMPORTANT - Remember to shut down the emulated version of Windows before exiting DOSBox. This could potentially result in errors, lost saves and corrupt data. Press Ctrl-F9 when it is safe to do so.

File Size: 247 Mb.  Install Size: 458 Mb.  Need help? Consult the Collection Chamber FAQ

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Hunter Hunted is © Sierra On-Line Inc
Review, Cover Design and Installer created by me

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