Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 24.22.212.250 (talk) at 02:30, 5 November 2006 (Supply Drop). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Carnivores" video game series – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Carnivores games were a series of three games released by Action Forms Ltd.: Carnivores, which was released in 1998, Carnivores 2, released in 1999, and Carnivores: Ice Age, released in 2001, all for the PC. In addition, Carnivores Cityscape was released in 2002, but it was developed by a different company and is considered by many fans to be little more than an attempt to share the limelight with its predecessors.

Carnivores

Carnivores is a Fantasy First-Person Shooter developed by Action Forms Ltd. in 1998 for the PC. Carnivores, released shortly after WizardWork's successful Deer Hunter, proves itself to be more than "just another Deer Hunter clone" by adding two major twists to the genre: allowing the hunter to hunt dinosaurs, and allowing the dinosaurs to hunt the hunter as well. The Carnivores 2 sequel gives slightly better graphics, a new format, more dinosaurs and weapons, and brand new maps. The AI is also improved. The second sequel, titled 'Carnivores: Ice Age', adds a brand new list of animals to hunt, a new format, new abilities, new maps, and a vastly improved AI. The graphics of Ice Age show some improvement.

Storyline

Carnivores, once one starts playing, doesn't really provide much in the way of a story line - the player picks a weapon, a dinosaur, and a hunting area, and they hunt. This basic formula of the absence of a storyline in gameplay is continued by Carnivores' two sequels. However, there is an 'official' storyline behind the game, as provided below:

On a routine exploration mission in 2190 A.D., science vessel FMM UV discovered a planet with suitable climate for humankind. During the initial scouting expedition, this young planet, code-named FMM UV-32, was declared inhospitable for colony life, due to its unstable terrain and immense population of prehistoric reptiles. News of this amazing planet spread, and articles on the "Dinosaur Planet" lead an earth corporation to purchase the rights to the planet and create DinoHunt Corp. DinoHunt creates the opportunity for paying customers to become dinosaur hunters for the first time in 50 million years. You are the newest client of DinoHunt Corp.

Animals

Throughout the series, the animals are divided into two groups: Those that can be hunted for points, and those that can't. Each game has a unique set of animals.

For Carnivores:

Animals that are not worth points:

• Moschops
• Gallimimus
• Dimorphodon

Animals that are worth points:

• Parasaurolophus
• Pachycephalosaurus
• Stegosaurus
• Triceratops
• Allosaurus
• Velociraptor
• Tyrannosaurus Rex

Gameplay

The gameplay of the original Carnivores remained constant throughout the series, with little changes. The game opens with a login screen, where users can make a new account or load a previous one. If creating a new account, they will be asked to read and approve a "waiver", stating that the player releases DinoHunt Corp. of any responsibility in the case the player is injured or killed. If accepted, the game precedes to the main menu. If declined, the program exits. From the main menu players can adjust options, quit, look at their hunt statistics, hunt, or go to the Trophy room to view their kills. In the hunt screen, you must pick a time of day, location, animal(s) to hunt, weapon(s), and supplies, which decrease from the total amount of points per kill. Information on each item is provided. You can also pick to use a tranquilizer, which increases the amount of points per kill but the animal cannot be taken as a trophy, or observation mode, which is designed to familiarize the player with dinosaur behavior, controls, and terrain. Supplies are free, but locations, animals, and weapons cost points. The player starts with 100 points, which increase per kill. After the player has selected their settings, they can hunt. The Hunt screen has a compass and a reading of the wind-direction. Sometimes the player spawns near a huntable animal, which is bad if the animal is a carnivore. The player can also draw weapons, look at the island map, or use binoculars. When a kill is made, the player's trophy is picked up by a ship. If the player is killed, all points and trophies earned in that session are lost. The player can choose to exit the map or respawn on the map anytime, but it is required if the player is killed. The player can be killed by drowning or being attacked.

Carnivores 2

The storyline of Carnivores 2 is almost identical to that of the first one, and the game gives the impression that the DinoHunt Corp. has found new dinosaurs and built new technology.

Animals

Animals that are not worth points:

• Moschops
• Gallimimus
• Dimetrodon
• Dimorphodon
• Pteranodon
• Brachiosaurus

Animals that are worth points:

• Parasaurolophus
• Ankylosaurus
• Stegosaurus
• Chasmosaurus
• Allosaurus
• Velociraptor
• Spinosaurus
• Ceratosaurus
• Tyrannosaurus Rex

Maps

Five hunting locations are available in the game, each with a unique difficulty and setting. The descriptions provided are from the game's hunt menu.

• Delphaeus Hills

The smallest island on the tour. The rolling hills surround an enormous bay. Impassible mountains make deadly traps for the unwary. In the center of the island is a large chasm of unknown origin, and the deserted remains of an archaeology outpost.

• Fort Ciskin

A good sized area consisting of dense pine forests encircling a murky swamp. In the southwest corner lies an abandoned settlement guarded by a towering "Dinosaur Wall", that now lies in ruins from the fury of a T-Rex.

• Vengar Fjords

Lush pockets of vegetation, and thousands of inlets cover this area. This beautiful but treacherous piece of land includes an ancient volcano. Be careful when wandering the virtual maze of water and mountains created by glaciers millions of years ago.

• Manya Jungle

Ringed with snow-capped mountains, this hunting area is rumored to be a nesting ground for some of the larger dinosaurs. Muddy marshes to the southwest, and a long abandoned "Dinosaur Wall" make this one of the most mysterious areas on the tour.

• Mount Ravan

This island, broken by waterways and mountains is the most difficult by far. The frozen peaks of Mt. Ravan overlook a thick tropical forest that may quickly become a deadly maze where hidden danger abounds. Be careful of the active lavaflow to the south as well.

Supplies and Weapons

The supply list is almost identical to that of the original, with a few additions.

• Radar
• Cover Scent
• Double Ammo
• Camouflage

• Pistol
• Shotgun
• Crossbow
• Double-Barrel Shotgun
• Rifle
• Sniper Rifle

• Tranquilizer

Carnivores Ice Age

For the Ice Age sequel, the storyline is an addition to the original storyline. DinoHunt Corp. scientists discover Ice Age animals living in the Arctic regions of the planet, and they set up a separate hunting program for big game that existed after the dinosaurs. It also features better gameplay and a new supply drop feature, which can be used once per hunt and refreshes the player's supplies.

Animals

Animals that are not worth points:

• Archaeopteryx
• Wild Pig

Animals that are worth points:

• Brontoteriy
• Giant Deer
• Wild Hog
• Sabre-Toothed Tiger
• Wolf
• Diatryma
• Cave Bear
• Woolly Mammoth
• Woolly Rhinoceros
• Yeti

Maps

Along with its predecessors, the Ice Age sequel has five maps with a unique difficulty and setting.

• McRath Island

This island covered with lakes and frigid swamps is swarming with icy formation. Primitive trees cover this otherwise barren area, making good cover for hunter and prey alike.

• Ravaren's Bridge

This series of islands covered with lakes and frigid swamps is connected by an elevated bridge system. Pine trees cover this otherwise barren area, making good cover for hunter and prey alike.

• Ring of Infernus

Naturally secluded by a ring of extinct volcanoes, this area is a unique blend of desolate tundra and beaches that contrast sharply with the snow-covered peaks.

• Dry Nodus Lake

Small mounds and swamp are all that remain of a disappearing lake on this snowy island. Cut by glaciers into treacherous canyons and rivers, an unwary hunter can easily become trapped in the narrow areas.

• The Giant's Boot

This area is named for the boot print-shaped lake in the western part of the island. Thick forests and numerous rolling hills make perfect hiding spots for dangerous prey. It is the most dangerous island available to hunt.

Mistakes and Trivia

As with most dinosaur games, there are inaccuracies.

Carnivores 1 and 2

• All the animals are sized wrong, most notably the carnivores like Velociraptor and Ceratosaurus, which are too big, and Spinosaurus and Allosaurus, which are too small.
• The dinosaurs are all from different periods, and Pteranodon, Dimorphodon, Moschops, and Dimetrodon are not dinosaurs at all (although the game never says they are).
• Edaphosaurus, Velociraptor, and Chasmosaurus appear to be Dimetrodon, Utahraptor, and Triceratops, respectively, instead of the animal they are identified as.
• the Tyrannosaurus can only be killed by being shot in the eye.
• The Brachiosaurus also cannot be killed.
• Some of the herbivores that are dangerous in reality are harmless in the game, like Ankylosaurus and Stegosaurus.

Carnivores Ice Age

• The Yeti is portrayed as a giant ruthless killer that has superior senses.
• The Archaeopteryx is the main 'aerial' animal, yet it is from the Age of Dinosaurs and was extinct before the other animals in the game.
• Brontotherium and Megaloceros are identified as harmless, which they are not.

The Series

• The dinosaurs do not eat each other or live in groups or leave a trail of blood or tracks when they are shot at and run away.
• There are spelling errors, with Brontotherium being spelled Brontoteriy, Archaeopteryx being spelled Archeopterics, and so on.
• The animals that can't be killed for points do not attack.
• The carnivores always go after only you and not the other animals (even when they run straight into a dead carcass or feeding animal).
• If you shoot a animal with tranquilizers, they always never wake up from their slumber, no matter how long you stand right by them.

Trivia

Each animal has a unique attack animation which plays whenever the player is killed by that animal. The attack animations for each dinosaur is as follows:

• Stegosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Pteranodon, Archaeopteryx, Dimorphodon, Dimetrodon, Gallimimus, Moschops, and the Wild Pig have no attack.
• Allosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Spinosaurus, Velociraptor, and Diatryma all chew on the player while he is face-up on the ground.
• Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Wolf, Smilodon, and the Cave Bear grabs the player in its jaws and swings him around with some bamming it into the ground periodically.
• Chasmosaurus and Triceratops simply run over the player.
• Brontotherium stomps repeatedly onto the player with its front legs.
• Megaloceros hooks the player onto its antlers and swings him around.
• The Mammoth swings the player around with its trunk, banging him into the ground.
• The Rhino gores the player on its horn, then tries to buck the carcass off.
• The Yeti grabs the player by the legs and bangs it into the ground very hard.

Carnivores: Cityscape

This game, as its name suggests, takes place in the city of a future world. The storyline is that a ship carrying dinosaurs from a faraway planet to a secret facility crashes in the city, with the dinosaurs escaping and causing pandemonium. Several levels exist, such as the Subway, the Sewers, and The City. Players have the opportunity to play as either a hunter or a carnivorous dinosaur. It did poorly compared to its namesakes, as the gameplay and storyline had the characteristics of a B-Movie.

Featured Creatures

• Coelophysis
• Oviraptor
• Nanotyrannus
• Suchomimus
• Giganotosaurus
• Tylosaurus
• Tapejara

External Links

The Official Sites:

• Carnivores
• Carnivores 2
• Carnivores: Ice Age

Fan Sites:

• La Saga de Carnivores (in English and Spanish)
• The Carnivores Saga: Forum (the "official" unofficial fan board)

Template:Shooter-cvg-stub

• 1998 computer and video games
• 1999 computer and video games
• 2001 computer and video games
• Windows games