Way Of The Hunter Review (Xbox Series S)

by Jim Smale · August 16, 2022

For this Way Of The Hunter Review, we explore and hunt in large open-world environments in the USA and Europe. We become the new owner of a hunting lodge nestled among gorgeous habitats and rich animal populations. Hunt with a premium selection of firearms and equipment and generally live out the hunters dream.

Way Of The Hunter Review Pros:

Nice graphics.
11GB Download size.
1000 Gamerscore.
Graphic settings – performance and visual quality choices.
Hunting gameplay.
First person view.
3 difficulties that effect animal senses and spook rate, can be changed from the main menu.
Vehicles have behind car and dashboard views.
Tutorial as you play, you start off at the range then hunting small animals etc.
Guns using the zeroing, zoom and hold breath mechanics.
Claim your kill and either sell it for cash or taxidermy it to show off in your lodge.
Your lodge can be customised with taxidermy and their placement.
Shop sells new equipment and guns.
Day/night cycle but you can change the time in your lodge.
Fast travel points between lodges, camps and points of interest.
In game cutscenes.
There is an overarching story.
Question marks generally show a place you need to visit whether it be a point of interest, hunting stand or camp. You can get more question marks to appear by interacting with new camp maps.
Mission markers show on the screen and populate the map as you find them.
Ethical shooting is encouraged so going for organs and using the right gun go a long way.
On the animal kill screen you see stats on the animal, your hunt and an animation of where the bullet went.
Track animals by blood, footprints and even poop and urine.
Perks are earned by doing something, for example walk 30km and get better stamina or track 20 animals get better senses etc.
Hunter senses can be activated and they show the things needed like nesting spots or places animals feed.
You can actually sit there and watch animals go about their business.
The population will change due to how many male or female animals you harvest.
Freely jump between the two reserves.
Boundary passes are needed to hunt in other areas of the reserve. You can explore and analyse but not hunt.
Tagging – at the press of a button you can drop a custom marker, sounds redundant but it’s a game changer as you can pinpoint where you shot an animal or where to go and it just makes life a hell of a lot easier.
The perk system works better because you actually feel like you are getting better plus you are being rewarded for how you play.
They cut out ammo type so it’s a more streamlined experience.
Callers/lures are used to attract animals, it has a bar underneath when using it to show when is a safe time to use it again in order to mimic real life.
Play how you want.
The story is well integrated.
Binoculars will tell you the distance of an animal, what they are, sex, breed and trophy star rating.
Hunter senses can tell you brief info on animals such as what they are, sex, rough distance and current state so calm or spooked.
Wide range of animals to hunt.
Time just evaporates.
Weather effects animal instincts, your ability to track and you get winds and rain.
Multiplayer allows you to setup a open or closed room, set the difficulty and which reserve.
Performance is a lot better than the PC version.
Better loading times over the PC version.

Way Of The Hunter Review Cons:

Performance issues aren’t as prevalent as the PC version and in fact it’s mostly broken animal animations.
Cannot rebind controls.
I get why boundary passes exist but man it takes ages to get them.
The controller misses out with no auto run/walk buttons and slow animations.
The spawn rates seem worse on the Xbox with me not seeing animals for ages even if I’m in a stand staying still against the wind.
The World doesn’t feel as populated as you would like, you can go ages without seeing anything.
Had the Hollywood mission bug out and no matter how many times I shoot him he never seems to die and instead just runs off!
The lures are not working as intended. (I believe a patch is due shortly)
Takes a while to get used to everything.
To change reservations you have to quit back to the menu.
No hard save function.
Had my car and animals just dissappear magically and in relation to the car, I was in it at the time!
No customisation options.
Doesn’t have clothing to help with disguised approaches.
Hardly ever rains!
Basic multiplayer room options.