I went on a road trip...

Cow Killer

For some strange reason, I realised I hadn't played Hunter in years. A real shame because it's one of the best Atari ST games ever. Perhaps that's the price of running AtariCrypt - either play, write, and post stuff, or just play, and AtariCrypt dies. Nooo! So I decided to boot it up and use a fantastic trainer by Pompey Pirates. I wasn’t keen on playing it properly - I just wanted to explore, steal vehicles, and blow things up.

Playing Hunter again was a revelation. It’s so far ahead of its time, and I'd forgotten how incredible its open-world was. Riding a bicycle through the land was, oddly, my favourite way to get around. A strange thing to say, as there are jeeps, boats, tanks, and more! However, I still cannot fly a helicopter properly!!

So basically, I went around the island in cheat mode, exploding buildings and killing everything from enemy soldiers to rabbits, seagulls, and cows (these are so funny, but I wonder what Paul Holmes had against them lol). I love how they relentlessly chase you. Weirdly, my rockets never hit it, but bullets did.

In short, this is probably the best Atari game out there. Well, along with Dungeon Master, Shadowlands, Turrican, Rick Dangerous, Stardust, Rogue, Oids, North & South... Ah, ignore me:-)

Hey, click that link above!! Done? Okay, I thought you’d enjoy these screenshots and a video....

Just me out for a bike ride in the lush countryside.

Hey, what's that tower, I wonder...

I didn't like the look of it, so I fired rockets to see what would happen. BOOM!!

Come on, who expected to find a rabid cow that chases them?

That cow destroyed my bike!! Not to worry, as I see a tank!

Only in Hunter will a Red Cross truck try to run you down!

Lots of different clips bundled together for your entertainment.

Look, just play the game for yourself! ;)

HUNTER

Behold, the best 16-bit game

Hunter was developed by Paul Holmes for Activision in 1991, and many consider it one of the first open-world/sandbox 3D productions. Now, that's a pretty big claim when you think about it for any 16-bit computer. It's also relevant to today's younger gamer who might assume there was nothing before the likes of GTA or Battlefield. I wonder if anyone under 40 reads my stuff... As if. Bah, kids today!

This game takes place within a huge three-dimensional world filled with wonder and danger. This is also a game of objects, many vehicles, and gadgets. We are essentially a James Bond dude with various mission objectives to complete (should you decide to play the game properly - no pressure). All of these are far-reaching, with the key to success being careful exploration, interaction, communication, and often quick reactions.

Oh, and common sense won't go amiss before heading out into the wild landscapes:

• I wouldn't drive off in a jeep without carrying a spare jerrycan!
• It might be a good idea to find a medkit, as it's dangerous out there.
• It's always a good idea to stock up on ammo.
• Hey, use the map!

Never will you play a game that offers so many different types of vehicles to drive, pilot, ride, etc...

I knew this was gonna be good, and it wasn't long before I was Howling Mad Murdock!!

I start well, but it's going dark, and I'm on foot. Then I got rundown!

No rules, only fun!

Hunter provides an incredible array of vehicles to hop into. I love riding a wonky bike, tearing up the land in my jeep, and even stopping to watch birds. However, something like a helicopter might take practice. The hippie in you might fancy a swim with the fish? Why not chase rabbits? Why? Well, why not!

But why would you do any of this when you can drive an army vehicle, steer a speedboat, or pilot a helicopter? Heck, you can even hop into a tank and blow stuff up, like somebody's house!! Release your inner psychopath and terrorise the world. Your options are almost endless. This game will rock your world.

You can ignore the missions and go for your own adventure. I often boot up Hunter to drive around its fascinating landscape - what's better than exploring a new world, with the option of blowing stuff up? So, create mayhem and have yourself some fun. It's this freedom that is the best aspect of Hunter - because we are completely free to roam. Go anywhere and choose to do anything you like. Just don't get shot or blown up!

Hunter is limited only by your imagination. Be heroic. Be ambitious. Be an explorer...

There's nothing quite like this game - jump into a jeep and be a Mud Muppet for a day?

Armoured cars are every bit as good as they sound. Love these so much!

Polygons and squeaks?

Hunter's world is fantastic thanks to a concise design by Paul and Christian Roux, who have the Atari ST exhibiting fast and fluent visuals. The 3D objects look cool with an array of vehicles and buildings. I love the superb details, everything from the chequered landscapes to your bike looks and moves great.

Faster computers will benefit; like my 16Mhz Mega STe that performs exceptionally well.

Sonically, we have sampled music on the title screen. Everyone knows I prefer Chip, but I quite enjoyed this tune. However, it's the kind of thing you leave playing once, because we wanna play!! In-game sound effects are nice, with some funky booming effects. Along with hilariously silly ones - like the seagulls!

Much love went into Hunter with its stunning aesthetics. So let's see more screenshots...

Forget the objective, I'm going sailing on the open oceans. It's up to you what you wanna do!!

Hangers are always worth checking out. Always.

The CryptO'pinion?

In some respects, this is years ahead of its time, with comparisons already made to later games, like GTA and Battlefield 1942. It's remarkable exploring this strange new world. It's immense, and heading out into the unknown never fails to please, so who knows what you might find out there? Wear a good pair of walking boots, tread carefully, and leave no stone unturned in this thrilling and dangerous world.

Even when played properly (yeah, I should do that more!), this is an engrossing experience with taxing missions that require a tactical and careful approach. The emphasis is always on your freedom, and this priority extends into how you choose to complete a mission - there are no linear paths to blindly follow. That, I find utterly enthralling, to say the least. Yes, they're difficult, but never boring and always enjoyable.

An extraordinary adventure, and I guarantee it's one of the best 16-bit games you'll play. Hunter is epic.

Epic is a strong word. But it's also very true, so Hunter earns the accolade of an AtariCrypy SMASH!

Download FLOPPY and HDD.

 

~~~ Interesting Map Coordinates ~~~

Security pass = 90, 153

Master key = 164, 169

Old man = 181, 197

Second man = 99, 61

Third man (In rock) = 195, 119

Professor = 49, 115

Prisoner = 135, 239

Injured man = 10, 36

Antibiotics and saw = 151, 121

Monk (in tree stump) = 85, 174

Scroll = 91, 173

Disk = 100, 225

Computer = 244, 199

General's bunker = 135, 239

Officer's red uniform = 190, 65