The $3 hunting simulator has you tracking game in three locations--the American Midwest, Northern Europe and Western Russia--with a variety of unlockable weapons. (A bolt-action rifle, shotgun, single- shot rifle, compound bow, black powder rifle, and an AK-47 can all be yours.) You can also unlock deer calls, musks, and other items to help you sneak up on your prey. (In , you're limited to a woodland setting and a bonus round.)

sports Quick Game and Hunting modes, wherein you can either quickly choose from a level, difficulty setting and weapon you've unlocked for a quick round or continue a more formal hunting campaign.

The game pulls all this off in fine style, thanks to good graphics, detailed terrain, and realistic sound effects (though, unless a framed photo of Ted Nugent adorns your mantle, the '80s-style rock ballad theme will be of minimal entertainment). Additional bells and whistles include a well-constructed hit engine that demands more accurate hits as the difficulty levels increase and additional bonus points for using less wieldy or shorter range weapons such as the shotgun or compound bow.

While Deer Hunter 3D has its strong points, there are also a few drawbacks to keep in mind. Tracking prey is as simple as following footsteps on an overhead map, but the game's objectives feel limited in that the only way you can fail is to shoot does; the game punishes you by awarding you none of the bonus points necessary to advance to the next level.

More significantly, Deer Hunter 3D's controls feel shaky and unreliable. It's far too easy when attempting to hit the Scope button to fire off a round by mistake, which scares away your prey. The Steady button, which temporarily centers the rifle, feels awkward to access in its current central location.