Video games offer players the chance to do everything from become a goofy animal to rampage like there’s no tomorrow.Maneater, which has released early access copies this May, allows players to do both at the same time as they play a shark. Most of what everyone needed to know about the game was answered inManeater’s hilariously violent debut trailer, and now players can experience it for themselves.
Actual gameplay forManeaterinvolves players swimming through the ocean as a shark while devouring just about everything they come across. Humans, fish, and even other sharks and ocean predators are all fair game provided the player’s shark is strong enough. Eating leads to the shark evolving and gaining the ability to eat and expand even further in a gameplay loop as solid as it is simple.
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Maneaterofficially released this month to select playersthrough early access, with the full release coming soon. One question that has been on players' minds, especially when considering whether to purchase the game, is how long it is. According to players who have already received and completed the game, it takes around 10 hours to complete the main story. Additional quests and collectibles raise the playtime to around 15 hours at most, and there is no new game plus.
While some are saying that 15 hours is exactly the right amount of shark action, other critics have claimed it is too long. Specifically, someManeaterreviewssay the game cannot carry its length due to repetitive gameplay and writing that is good for a chuckle, but not exceptional. 10 hours to complete the main campaign is not a very long run, and while being a shark is fun, the general opinion is that it is not fun enough to fill even that short time commitment.
Of course sometimes, players only need a little bit of monster shark action to be fully satisfied. Thegame does feature an RPG mutation systemthat has drawn no complaints, and the satirical documentary style has garnered praise. There is definitely fun to be had withManeater, players will just have to decide if it is enough fun for them.
For many players, the answer will undoubtedly be that it is not enough fun. WhenManeaterwas first introduced, some people were comparing it toGTA 5, which has many more hours of fun packed inside. The idea was that it would be similar in sandbox scope and violence, likeGTAwith a shark, but it seems that’s not the case. Opinions will likely be solidified when the game’s retail price is made known.
Maneateris available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
