The idea of survival as entertainment may be a bit odd to some people, but shows like Survivor and Man vs. Wild have thrust survival into the mainstream. One key difference most viewers appreciate is that Bear Grylls is the real thing, compared to the amateurs on these so-called survival reality shows... He can pit-cook a delicious snake quicker than you can heat up a bag of movie popcorn, and he looks damn good performing his feats of outdoor prowess. Fans of the show will definitely enjoy the chance to walk in Bear's shoes from the safety of their living room, when Man vs. Wild launches across multiple platforms at the end of this year.

The objective of each level of the game is simple: Survive! You'll be set down in environments based on five Man vs. Wild episodes, and will play as Bear while he attempts to live off the land, against the odds. The challenges you'll face along the way include dehydration, aggressive animals, and environmental hazards. Dehydration shows up as a meter that is constantly draining, and that you must constantly refresh to stay alive. Animals can be tasty, but they can also take you out like last night's trash. For parents that may be recoiling at the idea of killing animals, it is done in the interest of teaching survival techniques, much as the violence in Bear's show always serves a specific purpose. As Bear explores in the game, he'll collect items he can use or combine to form helpful tools. The realism of Man vs. Wild is stretched a bit thin through some on-screen hints that help you navigate each level, but Crave definitely is interested in presenting this as a realistic game experience.

Video is used extensively in the Man vs. Wild game. Much as you would expect to unlock a cut-scene during a game, performing special moves or accomplishing difficult tasks will play some video segment from the show, with about 100 such segments in all. There aren't full episodes contained in the game, but the success of episodic games means that a strong property tied to a successful show might spin off a few additional releases. Whether you have a thing for the Man vs. Wild show or not, this game looks like an interesting combination of third-person action and more thoughtful adventure. Perhaps we'll never confirm that scorpion tastes exactly like chicken, but we can at least live vicariously through Bear Grylls once the Man vs. Wild hits stores this year.