Deer Hunter

This was the USA's top-selling game for several weeks, a fact that says a lot more about the state of the American national psyche than it does about the quality of the game. The word game' is used in its loosest sense, as according to the box it is actually an interactive hunting experience,' one of a worryingly expanding series centering around perpetrating acts of violence against a variety of dumb beasts. As the warning on the box states, Deer Hunter rewards injuring non-threatening creatures. Which is nice.

As you may by now have guessed, this is the boxed copy we are reviewing. This drastic course of action is down to the fact that we weren't sent a review copy, probably due to the inevitability of us strongly advising that you steer clear of it. If you've already made the heinous error of buying it, you'll know why, unless of course you are a check-shirted redneck with a gun rack in your pick-up truck and a ball of well-chewed tobacco in your cheek. By the way, the game has nothing to do with the similarly named film, but everything to do with hunting deer.

As well as a target range, there are three hillbilly locations in which to hunt, namely Arkansas Autumn Woodlands, Colorado Alpine Forests and Indiana Winter, each comprising disparate terrain and conditions. Having selected either a rifle, shotgun or bow, you click randomly on a map until you find some deer shit. You then convene to the action screen, have a look for some deer and try to shoot them. If you miss, they run away. If you hit them, they die and can be mounted.

You might be a redneck if...you buy a Game Boy Color for Deer Hunter by Vatical Entertainment and Morning Star Multimedia. This July release allows you to hunt deer in various locations, using scents and different weaponry, just like the PC version. Note: This game is not backward-compatible.