Tripwire Interactive’s innovative shark-themed action RPG Maneater releases this coming Friday on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Maneater—the video game that puts you in the shoes (or fins) of a ferocious shark—is due on consoles and PC in just a couple of days.
In anticipation of the upcoming release, developer Tripwire Interactive unveiled a new launch trailer highlighting some of the game’s locations and giving players a glimpse at a few flashy evolutions.
What to expect from the sharky adventure
Maneater takes place in the Gulf Coast and is a single-player action title with various RPG elements mixed in. Players will have to devour humans and acquire precious loot to evolve their sharks in ways nature never intended.
Different evolutions will be unlocked as the player progresses through the campaign, enhancing the shark’s strength and abilities as well as altering its overall appearance.
The developers promise a large open world spanning seven different regions including bayous, beach resorts, and stretches of open water. The aquatic adventure is also set to include a full day and night cycle, giving players a more dynamic world to explore.
For gamers who think Maneater is just a brainless feeding-frenzy, think again. The game features a story-based campaign that, going by the launch trailer, features a fisherman villain who loses his hand to an infant shark which is eventually controlled by the player.
As an added bonus, the entire experience is narrated by Chris Parnell— the Saturday Night Live comic who was a staple in the 30 Rock TV show and also voiced Jerry in the Rick and Morty adult cartoon series.
Maneater’s development cycle
Maneater was first announced back in June 2018 and was initially imagined as an expansion for Depth—an asymmetrical multiplayer game where players could choose to be either sharks or divers and would have to fight one another.
The project would later turn into a standalone title after members of the Depth development team left to work on a single-player narrative that utilized the mechanics established by the original game.
Calling all Divers! Captain Stubbs needs a special type of treasure and he needs it urgently! The only thing stopping him are sharks… Sharks with Frickin' Laser Beams! Which side will you fight for? 🧻🦈https://t.co/SrV2jZ2LGk#Depth #Steam #Sharks #FrickinLaserBeams pic.twitter.com/esOHsAVX41
— Depth (@DepthGame) April 1, 2020
When asked to comment about Maneater’s realism, Alex Quick—one of the leads on the project—stated that the shark title is “skirting the line between plausible and ridiculous.” Tripwire interactive revealed the game’s first trailer during the PC Gaming Show at E3 2018.
Maneater will be making its way to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on May 22. A Switch version is expected to release later this year, although the release date remains tentative.
Image courtesy of Maneater/Tripwire Interactive