40: Hunter

Number 40
(138.4 points)
Hunter
1992: 24 (15.4)
1993: 34 (26.8)
1994: 18 (49.8)
1995: 78 (18.4)
1996: 73 (28.0)

We all think of Grand Theft Auto when it comes to open world games where you can commandeer a range of vehicles, but Hunter was doing it over a decade before that - and in three dimensions, too.

The game is played within a three-dimensional landscape of islands and water, and your character must roam the land collecting items, riding in vehicles and accomplishing different tasks. The missions may vary but the vast world remains the same, and despite a time limit you are free to wander as you please: making notes of the locations of certain places and vehicles will come in handy in future playthroughs.

I thought that this would be a plodding strategy that would have me thumbing a thick manual, but in fact I had a whale of a time flying around the place. It's totally non-linear, you can go wherever you like, but rather than feeling lost, you end up exploring to see what you can find. Way ahead of its time, there's a real proto-GTA feel about this one, so you really ought to give it a go.

Recommended TOSEC disk(s):
Hunter (1991)(Activision)[cr FLT]