Let's go hunting! 

Way of the Hunter is one of the most authentic experiences when it comes to hunting games. With amazing graphics and immersive gameplay, Way of the Hunter offers a unique experience for those who want to venture into the world of hunting. The game offers a variety of animal species, each with its own behaviors and habits, requiring the player to have their own hunting skills and strategies. In the new expansion called "Aurora Shores," players will have the opportunity to hunt in the beautiful, cold lands of Alaska. Do you have what it takes to be a true hunter?

Produced by Nine Rocks Games and published by THQ Nordic, Way of the Hunter Aurora Shores was released on February 23, 2023, and is available for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. 



Get to work, cadet.

In Aurora Shores, as in its predecessors, we do not have a very complex narrative, but we are introduced to the background of our character through missions, dialogues, and letters throughout the game. In this edition, we play the first female protagonist of the series, the newly graduated cadet Jacke Mackovich, whose duty is to take care of Aurora's natural resources, ensure the safety of the population living near the wilderness areas, and fight illegal hunters. 

Jacke is one of those people who loves what she does and would live a lonely life in the Alaskan wilderness if it were not for her friend Nina, with whom she exchanges words about her routine and various other matters. Jacke also faces the grief of the loss of a loved one, accidentally killed while hiking with her son in the hunting country, when he was mistaken for a wild animal. She continues to place flowers at the site of the accident, where she also placed a warning letter to other hunters that they should always consider all sounds or movements as human noises until proven otherwise. 

Jacke's personality, as well as her internal issues, put me in a place of empathy with the character. Even though there is not as in-depth a construction, I can put myself in the shoes of someone who has lost a loved one in a situation like the one she faced, and I imagine how stubborn she must be to take care of the fields and the safety of the people and animals in the place. The letter also serves as a warning, a caution about our stance in these places. For people who are in the habit of sport hunting, and who are divided between real and digital hunting grounds, it will probably leave a message to be taken into consideration.

The other characters in the game, in turn, appear as locals or hunters who contact our cadet to ask for her support in tasks that only a ranger can do, such as hunting certain animals or ensuring their safety. These missions give a direction to the gameplay but are free for the player to carry out at will. And speaking of freedom...



Be free to hunt as you wish!

In Aurora Shores, as in the previous maps, the player will be able to explore huge maps with a great variety of animals. Although the map in this edition is considerably smaller than the version of its predecessors, the abundance of animals gives the game a much greater dynamic and is more rewarding. There are 14 new types of animals available for hunting, such as the Canadian deer, the Kodiak bear, and the wood bison. 

I could feel the difference in the pace of the hunts from the very first hour of play. Unlike the classic Way of the Hunter, where finding the first animals can take a long time, in Aurora Shores I had contact with various types of animals very briefly. The number of deer and their flocks seemed more numerous, which encouraged me to search for them more actively than in the classic version, which rewarded me if I opted for a more static style of play. 

In particular, I really enjoyed this new way of hunting, especially since it made me feel like I was in a place vibrant with animal life. Still, I consider Way of the Hunter Aurora Shores, like its previous versions, to be game for a very specific audience. So, if you have no interest or familiarity with games of the genre, you will probably be bored within a short time of playing.

The hunting features, such as the callers, also seemed more effective to me, as with the abundance of animals surrounding in a smaller area, they make our encounters more frequent. The open fields also encourage shooting at long distances, which adds value to our weapons and brings a sense of achievement when we hit targets beyond 500 meters.

In addition to the traditional weapons that already accompany us on all maps, the expansion brought us two new weapons, the Harpe WonderHit crossbows and the Apex Predator, which will be available as we progress through the story in this DLC. We also have four new whistles for hunting and a new vehicle. 

It is worth noting that in Aurora Shores, the beautiful scenery will sometimes give way to unfavorable weather that will change the course of the hunt considerably. So be aware and plan ahead if you want to be successful in your forays into the wilds.  



The beauties of Alaska

Aurora Shores is a unique visual spectacle. Each landscape is a work of art in itself. The icy mountains that descend over verdant valleys and meet with crystal clear, flowing rivers put you into such a level of immersion that you feel like you are actually in Alaska. Given the visual quality of the scenarios, who knows, maybe the next game developed by Nine Rocks Games could be called Way of the Photographer? 

Joking aside, despite minor problems loading some textures, such as the clay tracks, I believe that Aurora Shores delivers a cinematic experience visually. The new animals, as well as the old acquaintances, are realistic and convince the player of what they look like in real life. In addition to their impeccable visuals, their habits and routines also add to the experience, especially if you are caught off guard and go from hunter to hunted. Just a warning: Beware of bears. 

The sound effects also add a lot to the gameplay and immersion. Recognizing animal sounds will help you to be much more efficient in your hunt, as well as tell you when you are doing the wrong thing, since the animals, feeling threatened, will run away from you without a second thought. So keep an eye on your eyes and especially your ears. 

Furthermore, when we are not listening to our car radio, the soundtrack will be provided by nature itself. It is amazing how birds have the potential to make everything so much quieter. For hunting enthusiasts, Way of the Hunter will certainly sound like an almost therapeutic experience. 



For this Review, Way of the Hunter Aurora Shores was played on PC through Steam. Huge thanks to EVOLVE PR and Terminals.io for providing us with the access key that made this content possible.