Recent reviews by JSquared

Simply put, this isn't worthy of having the word "Simulator" in its title... HS2 looked promising based on the trailers and screenshots of playtime on the steam store. But the game falls quite short of delivering a realistic simulated hunting experience. I won't wade deep into the game mechanics or ui quality, other than to say they're sub-par considering the price this title is being sold for. Frankly I wouldn't care about that, if the game actually "simulated" hunting in a realistic way... That's where HS2 falls way short. There's so many aspects to hunting that are clearly missed here.

Starting with the low hanging fruit... The firearms simulation is horrible... It seems the developers only goal was to attempt to give a somewhat accurate visible representation of the firearm make and model used. Getting licensed makes and models of real firearms was a commendable start. Beyond that however, everything else was left at the table. I'd love to see an accurate representation of firearms handling simulated some day. A hunting Simulator isn't a FPS game. Fast twitch, unrealistic firearm mechanics inclusive only of a reload button need not apply here... It would be cool to see a realistic modeling of manipulating a firearms action (use of a saftey, removing/replacing/loading individual rounds in a magazine, opening of an action, zeroing with various types of ammo/optics, for shotguns, choke, shot size, load selection, shell length, slugs, buckshot, ect... ect... would be very refreshing to see implemented). I'll digress there, a list of realistic functions related to safe firearms handling could go on forever, I know... The point is, outside of the listed gauge or caliber, noting else is really simulated with respect to firearms and their mechanics.

On the actual hunting side of the game,... well... This is just pure arcade fantasy. It amounts to stumble around, follow your hunting companion (dog) and take shots at whatever game animal presents itself (that you have a licence for)... There's so much missing here. And so much that decades old PC Hunting Sims simulated better... There should be seasons, when you start a new game, you should start on a date well in the preseason. Scouting, use of trail cameras, planting food plots or bait stations, consideration for private property or property lines. ability to purchase property or obtain permission to hunt a property. There's so much missing here that's part of the actual hunting experience. All I can say is that it was really a let down... Not to mention the horribly unrealistic animal behaviour...

Maybe I set the bar way to high with the over 25 years of hunting and firearms related experience I have... I know I was eager to pay the extra $3 for the Beretta 486 Parallelo (How cool would it be to have my favorite gun thats in my safe simulated...) and would be willing to pay a lot more for something that actually delivers a realistic hunting experience... What we need developed here is a simulator that is to hunting, what Arma 3 and the Ace 3 mod is to small arms combat. Something developed with a similar level of attention to detail to hunting... Unfortunately, this title falls way way short.