Items can’t be added indefinitely to the backpack – you have a weight limit, exceed that and you won’t be able to move until enough objects are discarded to drop below it. The weight limit increases as strength is gained from completing quests. Progressing to the higher levels isn’t quick or easy; even with sufficient strength for a high weight limit, the only way to accommodate the amount of food and equipment needed to survive the advanced quests is to purchase the lightweight but very expensive versions, hence plenty of gold credits need to be accumulated first.

Very photorealistic graphics are used for the quests, with the option of overlaying the map on the scene in front of you (although it's your task to orient the map properly. Navigation is only part of the skill required. Enough food needs to be consumed and regular water supplies located to keep your energy and hydration levels up; if either falls below critical level, your strength will start to drop, meaning you may not be able to keep carrying as much. Variable weather is well simulated, with your energy decreasing faster in extreme hot or cold conditions, and visibility ranging from crystal clear to white-out as shown in the screenshots to the left. Blizzards, flooded rivers, bushfires and scaling sheer cliffs are some of the challenges likely to be encountered on the more difficult quests.

A controversial part of World of WalkCraft is the combat that begins once the fourth level is reached. As rival bushwalking gangs encroach on your territory, it’s kill or be killed using whatever means are at your disposal. These range from making use of the natural surroundings (eg dropping rocks or flinging snakes onto your enemies), to acquiring weaponry ranging from broadswords (titanium alloy of course) to bazookas. Beware of being lured into traps; some of the gear found lying around may not quite be what it appears to be. Being maimed by a pair of exploding gaiters is particularly nasty and not for the squeamish. Responding to criticism that this aspect of the game isn’t a realistic depiction of bushwalking, the game’s creators claim that it is meant to be a futuristic vision, "Bushwalking 2030"; more likely it is put there to appeal to their main target market. For those who prefer their bushwalking a bit less apocalyptic and just want to concentrate on challenging nature and themselves, combat mode can be disabled in the game's set-up menu.

Verdict: * * * * *
Price: $79.95
For: Spectacular graphics, some challenging and exciting simulations, weeks of entertainment.
Against: Some of the longer quests can become a bit tedious, violence may not appeal to all tastes.

Minimum System Requirements 2.8GHz Intel Pentium D or equivalent * 1GB RAM * 15GB hard disk space * Nvidia GeForce 6800/ATI Radeon X700 graphics or better * Windows XP SP3