Need to Shoot Something? Try the Entertaining and Affordable Nintendo Wii Game, Cabela's Big Game Hunter

Stressed? Had a frustrating day? Shoot something - virtually. Wanting a challenging Wii game that I could perhaps do well at, I thought a shooting game would be perfect. Not wanting a standard shooting gallery game, I opted for Cabela's Big Game Hunter, where I can virtually travel to five continents and bag the world's trophy animals. The game does not disappoint and I highly recommend it.

Why Cabela's Big Game Hunter is Challenging and Fun

Cabela's Big Game Hunter for Wii is perfect for people who like a challenge, enjoy learning skills to do well at a game, prefer realistic game scenarios, like to achieve goals, and frankly, are grown ups who want something else to play besides Mario games. Full disclosure: our teenagers love Big Game Hunter too.

Playing Cabela's Big Game Hunter

Let me give you a moment to say "wow" about the graphics. That's practice for when you say it for real when you play Big Game Hunter. You play the game from your point of view and your goal is to qualify for entry into the exclusive "Orion Order" hunting club. You aren't saving the world here or involved in a complicated scenario. To achieve points and medals as you move toward your ultimate goal you must pass through a series of hunting challenges that combine missions with mini-games. Your virtual guide gives you hints along the way and you need them because the environment is dangerous (sheer cliffs, roaring rivers, avalanches, etc.) and the animals come at you fast and several at a time. Thus, you need to learn to track animals, navigate, hide, and use "hunter's sense" - a slowed down visual where you can see evidence of where the animal is heading. To add to the realism, your breathing is simulated, you can use cross hairs, and you can change weapons - even using a crossbow when appropriate. You can select the type of animal you want to hunt and even practice in a mini-game that is like a shooting gallery, but in a natural setting rather than the carnival-type game.

You get instant feedback of your results, which for me is a bit embarrassing right now because I just started and there is a part with cheetahs and they keep killing me. Luckily, Cabela's Big Game Hunter offers 13 mini-games where you can practice your skills without hurting your cumulative score, so soon I will kill the cheetahs and move on to practicing on birds before I go after a buffalo.

Like most Wii games, earning points unlocks new areas.

My husband and I have a lot of fun watching each other shoot and cheering each other for great shots and laughing at the not-so-great shots. If we were cats, we would have each used up our nine lives the first night we played Big Game Hunter. We like it that we have to develop skills to do well - it's more rewarding that way.

Details about the Wii Big Game Hunter Game

Do not buy Cabela's Big Game Hunter if:

a. simulated killing of animals offends you. Mercifully, this Wii game lacks gore; however, killing animals to be accepted into an exclusive hunting club is the point of Big Game Hunter;

b. you want to be instantly good at a game rather than learning the skills to do well at it; or

c. you refuse to buy anything that is branded. If you won't wear a shirt that announces to the world that you are wearing Ralph Lauren, you might not want a game that is clearly advertising a major hunting outfitter.

If you decide to buy Big Game Hunter, here is what you should know.

1. Wal-Mart and Amazon.com seem to have the best prices - around $45 for Cabela's Big Game Hunter with Gun Bundle. You can also buy used on Amazon.com to save money.

2. The voice of your guide can get tiresome after a while.

3. Cabela's Big Game Hunter is rated T (teen) for blood and violence.

4. The Big Game Hunter mission is for a single player; however four players can play the 13 shooting gallery mini-games.

5. Get the gun. I opted to buy Cabela's Big Game Hunter with Gun Bundle. It cost only $10 more than the game alone, and the Wii Sure Shot Rifle costs three times as much. The bright orange plastic sawed off shotgun that comes with Big Game Hunter holds the Wii Remote in the barrel and the Wii Nunchuck in the stock. The B button on the Wii Remote acts as the trigger and with that near the end of the gun barrel you'll have an adjustment period if you are used to real guns. That said, the gun is necessary for live action accuracy.

6. To see before you buy, watch this short (35 seconds) video.