Dino Stalker - PS2

Unrelated to the Dino Crisis series of survival horror games, Dino Stalker is Capcom's second lightgun game for PlayStation and pits its players against a prehistoric race of rather large carnivorous dinosaurs.

Set in the conflicted era of World War II, you play the role of an American fighter pilot, struck down during an intense dogfight. After crash landing on an unchartered island in the Atlantic Ocean, you find yourself plunged into an unimaginable fight for survival as you are hunted by oversized T-Rex and unforgiving Velociraptors.

Designed for Namco's popular GunCon 2, Dino Stalker makes great use of the lightgun peripheral. Once you've calibrated the gun and you're happy that the targeting is accurate, you can begin your first mission. Initially, the game is simple; targets are large and enemies are few, but what follows the opening levels isn't just a walk in the Jurassic Park.

What's interesting about Dino Stalker is the unprecedented level of freedom given to the players. Lightgun games are typically linear and strict in the order game must be played. Dino Stalker, however, does not restrict its players, and even has some free roaming sections.

It's a game of survival though, and with progression come greater challenges and more formidable enemies and bosses. Precision targeting becomes increasingly important and the game's Aliens-style radar movement system proves invaluable.

Capcom seems to have mastered the art of frightening people and Dino Stalker stands to reinforce that fact. It's scary but it's great fun too. more