Remington Great American Bird Hunt Review

While a numerous titles have offered complex hunting simulations (namely the Cabela franchise), few console games have taken a more casual approach reminiscent of these arcade coin-ops. Of the titles that have offered a more relaxed interpretation of hunting, players might have to travel back to 1985’s Duck Hunt to find a capable example; contemporary Wii games like Chicken Blaster and Chicken Shoot have been woefully substandard.

Players may use the Wii Zapper, Wiimote and Nunchuck combo, or even a standalone controller to aim a red reticule around the screen. Whereas some Wii titles momentarily lose calibration when a cursor is moved beyond the borders of the screen, Bird Hunt’s cursor is consistently fluid. No matter which input scheme is selected, the “B” button fires a round from one of the game’s shotguns. The title’s main campaign is composed of twelve tournaments, each divided into five smaller sections. Each segment tasks players with shooting a single animal, while avoiding another species or gender. For example, gamers may have to shoot male turkeys, while avoiding hens. In total, the disc has five types of pursuable game, along with eight types of illegal targets.

Visually, each bird is surprisingly well rendered and moves realistically. Ducks, geese, pheasants, and grouse all have distinct flying animations, and conform to identifiable behaviors. Most of the game’s backdrops are full of flora that shifts slightly with a simulated breeze. Arguably, Bird Hunt’s most satisfying feature is the game’s powerful recreation of a discharging shotgun.  Each blast emanates from the Wiimote, followed a split-second later by a solid boom from the television, presenting a gratifying echo effect.