Dino Hunt

Dino Hunt

Release type: Shareware
Release date: August 17, 1993
Levels: 5
Author: Sherwood Forest
Registration bonus: Two free games + current catalog
Registration price: $15
Related games: none

Structure has never been a strength for Rob Sherwood and Dan Whalen. Within a level there is rarely much, if any, guidance; from one level to the next there is rarely a sense of logical progress. All five levels of Dino Hunt are exactly the same, save some monster placement. The entrances and exits are obscure, making any forward development arbitrary and unrewarding.

From moment to moment, though, the game is crunchy and satisfying. The protagonist Nicky Neanderthal animates well, and his spears land with a satisfying "chernk"; upon death, dinosaurs spout a stone-chiseled score popup. The palette is muted and subtle, reminiscent of an early Seibu Kaihatsu game. The levels are riddled with rivers, bridges, paths, and forests, that all seem to be leading somewhere. Until you explore a little it really feels like anything could be around the next bend in the scenery.

So in reality there's little to find, and little reward for finding it. At least the game is fun to play for a while. You've got dinosaurs, you've got a caveman, and you've got straightforward violent arcade action. It's kind of hard, and as with a certain pedigree of arcade game (say, Ikari Warriors) the player will probably die before the limits to the situation become obvious.

Searching for prey in Dino Hunt

Dino Hunt is simple, and focused very well on its basic premise: forging a violent path through dinosaur-infested wilderness. All the game really needs is some solid and distinctive level design -- using the existing background and monster elements, even -- and we've got a really neat arcade action game. As it is, Dino Hunt displays a bunch of potential.

Story

In Dino Hunt you are Nicky Neanderthal, dino hunter par excellence.

You are the one who has evolved enough to take your spear in hand and travel the land in your pursuit of the dinosaurs, in this prehistoric paradise.

Instructions

The idea behind dino hunt is to make it back to your cave after successfully hunting the dinosaurs that inhabit the area where you live.

You move your caveman around the screen shooting the big dinosaurs that you meet up with.

Yo move your man, use the 4 main arrow keys, or the joystick. you can move through the grass, and the dirt, but not through the water or the trees.

To shoot a spear move in the direction of the target, and then press the spacebar. You will launch a spear in that direction.

Entering your cave will put you in the next level, where the monsters are faster, and more plentiful.

Credits

Dino Hunt is a production of Sherwood Forest Software. It has been produced, directed, drawn, thought up, sweated over, choreographed, written, marketed, and play tested by Rob Sherwood. Of course I am the president of the company so I guess I had to do all of that.

Availability

Available on several shareware compilation CD-ROMs, including:

• Public Software Library PSL Monthly: November 1993 (November 1993),
• Public Software Library PSL Monthly #2-01: Games (January 1994),
• The Chicago Computer Broker's Games 1994 (April 1994),
• Public Software Library PSL Monthly #2-07: Games (July 1994),
• Software Company's MORE - Dosgames 2.0 (1994),
• Software Vault: Platinum (1994),
• Software Vault: The Ruby Collection (1994),
• Software Vault: Emerald (1994-95?),
• Public Software Library PSL Monthly Volume #3-01: Games (January 1995),
• Software Vault: Games 2 (January 1995),
• Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #3-10: Education (August 1995),
• Beachware's 1000 Games for Windows and DOS (November 1995),
• Softkey Entertainment Pack (1996), and
• International Software Values' 10 Tons of Games Mega Collection 1 (June 1997).

Archive History

Discovered on or around October 10, 2010, on the DOS archive site Demu.

Links

Interviews / Articles

• MobyGames entry

Listings

• archive.org entry
• demu.org entry

Misc. Links

• Fuck Yeah Shareware
• Shovelware Diggers #106 - My Warez Sense is Tingling... (YouTube)
• Play Dino Hunt online

Downloads

• Dino Hunt (129.2 kB)
• Level 1 map (326.9 kB)
• Level 2 map (328.0 kB)
• Level 3 map (335.4 kB)
• Level 4 map (332.9 kB)
• Level 5 map (338.1 kB)