Contributions > Descriptions by Star Gem (98)

This is the fifth game in the Deer Hunter series, and the last published by WizardWorks before it got acquired by Infogrames (later Atari.)

As in the previous games, you play the role of a hunter who roams through several maps around the world in search of bucks and does to kill and add to his or her trophy collection.

The main addition to this sequel is the presence of more species of wild animals - elk, grizzly bears, black bears, and mountain lions - who can also be hunted. While deer tend to run away from hunters, these other wild animals may attack the player. They are rare, though, and not as threatening or dangerous as in some other Sunstorm hunting titles, like the Rocky Mountain Trophy Hunter series.

There's also a Tournament mode where other AI hunters are present in the field hunting (or scaring the hunt) with you for a set amount of time, and the Hunting Season, which appeared before in Deer Hunter 3 and 4, which has now been expanded so that you can spend several years (in game time) managing a herd.

Another difference, on the minus side, is that Deer Hunter 4's option to play the game as the deer (the hunted instead of the hunter), has since been removed.

You still play the role of a hunter searching for bucks and does to kill, all in first-person perspective, only this time you are allowed to move yourself around the hunting areas.

Other additions to the previous game include new accessories and weapons, as well as the ability to adjust the sights of said weapons. Also, a character registry allows you keep track of some game statistics like shots fired, hit ratio, and time played.

Odyssey's game card #6 is used to play two games: Roulette and States.

In Roulette, you place bets and spin a light dot on the screen that should fall inside the roulette overlay. The winner is the one to get away with the most money.

In States, you get to play an educational quiz game about the 50 North American states, with the help of a deck of cards (provided with the game).

Submarine requires Odyssey's game card #5.

One player controls a group of ships and must follow a path in the screen overlay, while a second player controls the submarine and must try to sink those ships. Players change roles and the one to sink the most ships is the winner.

Odyssey's game card #4 is used to play three games: Cat and Mouse, Football and Haunted House.

In Cat and Mouse, two players chase each other in a maze, taking turns. At any one time, one will play the Mouse who's objective is to reach his home, while the other player plays the Cat who tries to catch the Mouse before that happens.

Football is probably the first rendition of American Football on videogame form. With the assistance of deck cards (provided with the game) you choose the moves (Pass, Kick or Run) and play them out on screen. Passing and Kicking require game card #3 to be inserted.

In Haunted House, one player will act as detective while the other plays as a ghost. The objective of the detective is to gather the most Clue cards and find the hidden treasure in the mansion, while the objective of the ghost is to slow the detective down.

Odyssey's game card #3 is used to play four different games: Tennis, Analogic, Hockey and Football.

Tennis is basically the same game as Table Tennis (game card #1), only now you use a screen overlay to simulate a tennis field and traditional tennis rules apply.

Analogic is a brain teaser played on a galactic map made of numbered squares. One player starts in planet ODD while the other starts in planet EVEN and the objective is to be the first to reach the opponent's planet. The ODD player is only allowed to move to a square if it's number summed with EVEN's current square totals an ODD number, and vice-versa.

Hockey is another evolution of Table Tennis, but this time around your objective is to hit the ball into the net of the opposing player's side.

Football is probably the first rendition of American Football on videogame form. With the assistance of deck cards (provided with the game) you choose the moves (Pass, Kick or Run) and play them out on screen. Running requires game card #4 to be inserted.

Odyssey's game card #2 is used to play two games: Ski and Simon Says.

In Ski, the player must follow a line that simulates a snow course, suffering penalty points by going out of bounds.

In Simon Says, one player holds a deck of cards (provided with the game) with depictions of several body parts and must then indicate them to the other players by saying something like "Simon says... touch your right hand". The other players will then rush to the specified place as quickly as possible, the winner being the one to touch the most body parts before his/her opponent.

Table Tennis requires Odyssey's game card #1, and is an early father of Pong.

Each player controls one "paddle" on opposite sides of the screen. The objective is to hit the moving ball past your opponent's side, winning a point, while preventing your opponent from doing the same to you. At all times, the players must avoid the top or bottom of the screen (otherwise, it's called "ball off the table").

There's no score keeping on screen, so the players must keep score by themselves. The first player to get 21 points with a two point margin, wins the match. Otherwise, play is continued until that margin is attained by one of the players.