Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter is a PSN mini title. This game attempts to create a good interpretation of a prehistoric hunting experience. Let’s see how well it holds up.

There is no story to the game you are just dropped into the game to shoot dinosaurs. You would think there is a reason to why you are a seemingly modern hunter in a prehistoric time but no. Regardless it’s the gameplay that matters.

As you play you will notice many things. First off you notice the menu. There is a trophy mode where you can view the trophies you earned in a first-person perspective. The normal mode consists of a point system to select different levels. While you gain points for each dinosaur you kill, you earn points that must be rationed throughout the level and weapon selection screens to determine your guns and where you will go as well as what enemy you will be hunting. Each dinosaur has its own stats as well as each gun. You use the triangle, circle, square, and x buttons to move while using the analog stick to look. Gameplay may be difficult to cope with. In general you use your one gun that is preselected, to kill what every dinosaur that crosses your path. You can only aim not blind fire and have a low amount of ammo which leaves you with no choice but to leave the map once you run out. When you shoot at a dinosaur you can either kill them with one shot or they will run away. You’ll be chasing your target while staring at a map most of the time due to not being able to sprint or follow them through the shallow view. You can’t jump or melee and only when aiming down sights can you shoot your weapon which seems very slow for fighting dinosaurs. If they get to you, you will die in one hit regardless of what is happening. There is a relocate feature if you are in the middle of nowhere to reset you location and spawn somewhere else at random but it doesn’t always help.

Graphics are decent but nothing to admire. Though a PSP title as well, the textures seem shotty and repetitive. In the visual department, you can walk through trees and dinosaurs at most times resulting in a game lacking immersion. Animations of gunfire seem unfinished and dinosaur animations seem mediocre. Yet everything visually remains standard none the less.

Audio is standard as well. There are background noises and sound effects for each action taking place yet they are nothing worth remembering.

Conclusion for this game is while it may have many downsides that take away from the general experience, there is some fun to have. The AI can be dumb at times along with the linear gameplay nagging at you. With five worlds, nine enemies, seven weapons, and small perks like camouflage to preselect, there are options. The compass might not help at most times, and looking down may be an issue considering you can’t – but you can look all the way up. There isn’t much fulfillment in killing an enemy though and there are pointless aspects in Carnivores. Hopefully the prehistoric aspects are enjoyable to some because this game may need it.