Bring critters back into the game (with a system)

[lilac sail]

Sorry for any spelling mistakes.

Critters, like hares, squirrels and weasels, were small animals that roamed around the map that made the world feel more alive. You could shoot these critters, but not harvest them.

To my knowledge there are several reasons why critters were removed;

1. Players would think they were harvestable animals that you could shoot for money just like any other animal in the game. Which would confuse a lot of new players after they end up not being able to harvest it.
2. It was heavy to handle for lower end devices. They were after all animated animals that moved around and had 3d models.
3. This one I'm not to sure about, but it could be that they removed the critters to make them actually huntable, which already happened with hares.

My suggestion to add critters back would be to of course, not add back the hares, but do add back squirrels and weasels on their respective maps. So every critter gets map(s) that fits their real life habitat and area. Addressing the problems, you can see that in problem 1 players didn't know if they were real animals that you could hunt or not. To prevent this, you could make it so the first time you see a critter, a text pops up just like a text would pop up if you spot a new animal. In this text it would also be addressed that these animals can be shot, and not be hunted.

Than problem 2. The lower performance caused by these critters. In the same text that would pop up when you spot a critter for the first time, you could also tell the player that you can switch these critters spawning on and off in settings. So you would need to make a option to switch these critters on and off. That or make it a free dlc that could be optional to download.

Problem 3. Hares have already been added, how long till squirrels and weasels will be added? A simple solution is remove the critter as soon as the actual huntable part is added, so it can be hunted as an actual animal.

[wet ermine]

I totally forgot the weasels were ever even in the game. It was such a cool time when they were though

[covert python]

I really miss seeing the little buggers on Medved. Always thought it was cool to see something like that.

[glad parrot]

Honestly ambient more insects and birds could fit here too
Maybe fireflies, butterflies or some seagulls or any other bird

[lilac sail]

seagulls are already on older maps, but tbh they are so low quality it doesnt really help with the immersion

[crisp shell]

Even just seeing weasels and squirrels come back as class 1 animals would be enough for me

[last glacier]

I think it would be cool if you spooked an animal and it went beating through the bush if a flock of birds would pop out of the trees to get a general direction (visual clue other than tracks) as to the direction they darted off in

[lilac sail]

ooh that would be cool

[rustic tiger]

There's a FPS game called Arma Reforger and I believe they have a detail that when a player runs in a treeline or bushes birds will be disturbed and fly out. At least that's what I think but I haven't heard much about the game and its details for a while now.

[sullen tide]

I disagree, not that they're low poly, but I do think they add to immersion. The birds of prey and insects even more so. It's part of why Layton and Hirsch still seem a higher quality than new maps, to me personally.

[jovial coral]

Now there are players complaining about the fake birds. 🙄 😒

In real life, you see animals that can’t be hunted, and you respect them. Enjoy the real-life experience while playing.

[supple escarp]

Why does this rabbit looks better then some hares we have now ?

[glad parrot]

Cuz the hares got left behind

[hollow lodge]

Only thing I don’t like about the fake birds is they’re way too numerous, it’s obnoxious on Layton and Hirsch they need toned down a bit.

[soft trail]

Maybe birds of prey soaring and sometimes in trees

[lilac sail]

seems like a mustelid was added after all, 3 even. Just not as a critter, but huntable animal! even better

[jovial coral]

Did you know there are European Perch in the Hirschfelden River?

Credits: Images by @jovial coral

[lilac sail]

woww thats actually really cool, how did you find out?

[jovial coral]

I discovered it purely by chance. I was hunting at night on the riverbank when, suddenly, something caught my attention because of its bright color in the dark water, thanks to the light from my headlamp. I went closer to take some screenshots, and that’s how it happened. I didn’t expect or even think there could be fish in the river, since I believed rivers were “dead,” with no fish.

[viral thicket]

It's been there since the beginning of the game. If I remember correctly, there are some for Layton Lake District too. Not everywhere though.