Lock. Load. Laugh.

I used to love this game back in teh 90's and I thought it would be a good AI project to try and recreate it. Hope you enjoy!  

Step into the pixelated prairie and take aim in this retro-inspired shooter where cheeky prairie dogs pop up fast—and sometimes come armed! Swap between three classic weapons, rack up high scores, and uncover hidden Easter eggs (did someone say banjo?). Built with help from AI, this chaotic arcade tribute blends nostalgia, humor, and sharpshooting action.

Instructions

A retro-style prairie dog hunting game with classic Windows 3.1 aesthetics!

🎯 Game Objective

Hunt as many prairie dogs as possible in 60 seconds to achieve the highest score! But beware - some prairie dogs are tougher than others and require strategy to defeat.

🕹️ Controls

Mouse Controls

• Move Mouse - Aim your crosshair (only appears over the hunting area)
• Left Click - Fire your weapon
• Click Buttons - Interact with game interface

Keyboard Controls

• R Key - Reload your current weapon
• Mouse Only - All other controls use mouse clicks

🔫 Weapons System

Choose your weapon wisely! Each has different strengths:

🔸 Pellet Gun (Starting Weapon)

• Damage: 1 point per shot
• Ammo: 25 rounds

• ⚠️ Warning: Cannot damage armored prairie dogs!

🔸 .44 Magnum

• Damage: 2 points per shot
• Ammo: 6 rounds
• Best For: Balanced power and precision
• Can damage: All prairie dog types

🔸 Shotgun

• Damage: 3 points per shot
• Ammo: 2 rounds
• Best For: Maximum stopping power
• Can damage: All prairie dog types (most effective vs armored)

🔄 Reloading

• Click the green RELOAD button or press R key
• Instantly refills your current weapon's ammo
• No penalty for reloading - do it often!

🐾 Prairie Dog Types

🟤 Regular Prairie Dogs

• Health: 2 points
• Behavior: Pop up, look around, then duck down
• Strategy: Any weapon works, but powerful weapons kill in one shot

🖤 Terminator Dog

• Health: 6 points
• Behavior: Same as regular, but much tougher
• Weakness: Only .44 Magnum and Shotgun can damage them
• Strategy: Pellet gun shots bounce off harmlessly!
• Reward: 50 bonus points when killed

⚙️ Game Features

🎙️ Custom Sound Recording! (Chrome & Firefox Only)

1. Click "Record Hi" in Options menu
2. Record a 2-second sound when prairie dogs appear
3. Click "Record Ouch" for when they get shot
4. Your custom sounds will be used for special prairie dogs
5. Click "Restore Defaults" to return to original sounds

 🪕 Banjo Mode!

1. Shoot the BANJO when it appears in the top left corner
2. For 10 seconds the dogs will increase in number.
3. Switch to the Pellet Gun,  it will be overpowered in Banjo Mode.

⚔️ Difficulty Levels

🟢 EASY Mode

• Prairie dogs stay up 1.2-2.0 seconds (plenty of time to aim)
• New prairie dog spawns every 2.5 seconds
• 10% chance for armored prairie dogs
• Perfect for: Learning the game mechanics

🟡 NORMAL Mode (Default)

• Prairie dogs stay up 0.8-1.5 seconds (moderate timing)
• New prairie dog spawns every 2.0 seconds
• 15% chance for armored prairie dogs
• Perfect for: Balanced challenge

🔴 HARD Mode

• Prairie dogs stay up 0.5-1.0 seconds (lightning fast!)
• New prairie dog spawns every 1.5 seconds (intense action)
• 25% chance for armored prairie dogs
• Perfect for: Expert players seeking maximum challenge

📊 Scoring System

Points Per Kill

• Regular Prairie Dogs: 10 × weapon damage
  • Pellet Gun: 10 points
  • .44 Magnum: 20 points
  • Shotgun: 30 points
• Armored Prairie Dogs: 50 points (bonus for difficulty)

Statistics Tracked

• Score - Total points earned
• Shots - Total shots fired
• Hits - Successful hits on prairie dogs
• Misses - Shots that hit nothing
• Accuracy - Percentage of shots that hit targets
• High Score - Best score ever achieved (saved between games)

🎮 How to Play

Starting a Game

1. Choose Difficulty - Click OPTIONS to select Easy/Normal/Hard
2. Select Weapon - Click weapon buttons on left panel
3. Click START GAME - Begin your 60-second hunt!

During Gameplay

1. Watch for Movement - Prairie dogs pop up randomly from holes
2. Aim Quickly - Move mouse to position crosshair
3. Click to Shoot - Fire at prairie dogs before they disappear
4. Manage Ammo - Keep track of remaining shots
5. Reload Often - Don't get caught with empty weapons
6. Target Armored Dogs - Switch to Magnum/Shotgun for dark prairie dogs

Game End

• Time runs out after 60 seconds
• Final statistics displayed
• New high score celebration if you beat your record
• Click RESET to clear stats and try again

Good luck, and happy hunting! 🤠