The second of the set's two CD-ROMs includes six dinosaur habitats built in a 3-D environment. Controlling the mouse moves you through the environment like a ghost, watching the dinosaurs in a given habitat as they move about. Everything here is both well rendered and animated, and while this part is fun, it's almost too good--it will leave you hungry for more when you reach a wall (i.e. the limit of the environment). An especially nice touch: embedded throughout the program are video clips of scientists at work, actually uncovering and preparing dinosaur bones in the desert. It's a terrific glimpse into the process, a look at all the hard work that comes long before the final stage of exhibition in a museum.

Designed only for Windows, 3D Dinosaur Hunter takes full advantage of any contemporary computer with a decent monitor, video card and good speakers (especially if you have a three-piece speaker set that includes a subwoofer). The soundtrack is filled with ambient noise and at times we could not only hear the prehistoric noises, but feel the tremors of approaching carnivores. --Mike Caputo