The latest in the
Deer Hunter line from Wizard Works employs fairly good graphics, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. A wide selection of hunting locations, combined with various combinations of weather and seasons, allows for many hunts without encountering the same environment twice. Trees and bushes often sway in the breeze, leaves drift softly to the ground, and small animals such as squirrels and chipmunks abound, adding a touch of realism. These features are not new to
Deer Hunter 4, however. In fact, the graphics are only modestly improved over
Deer Hunter 3, and some of the shortcomings found in
Deer Hunter 3 persist in the latest version. For example, terrain is still composed of lines that are too straight and with corners that are too sharp. The tops of hills are always formed by infinitely thin lines where the slopes meet. Also, objects resting on steep slopes, such as trees and trucks, often appear to hover just above the ground rather than actually making contact with it.
On the upside, the antler size of a buck can actually be discerned while hunting in Deer Hunter 4. In Deer Hunter 3, all bucks looked like eight points in the woods. Only after they were mounted would they take on the likeness of spikes or four points or monster 18 points or whatever size they actually happened to be. A new feature in Deer Hunter 4 is the shadow feature. Deer cast long, fairly realistic looking shadows when the sun is low, but they are pitch black and often make spotting deer too easy. Fortunately, this feature can be turned off if desired.
In keeping with Wizard Works’ tradition, the sound is terrific. Different types of birds, frogs, and insects can be heard in different regions. The sound is also directional, often making it possible to tell which direction to look for a deer by the sound of its footsteps.
