RPGs come in all shapes and sizes these days, but developer Tripwire Interactive has been underway on a truly unusual twist on the genre with the new game Maneater. Presenting the world’s first “Shark-PG,” players inhabit the role of a vengeful undersea predator where a delicious world of both humans and fish await to be terrified, dismembered and ingested. Alongside the game’s feeding frenzy, players’ shark-tagonist will also have numerous means to customize their beasts and make each respective blood lust that much more personal.

Various released footage for Maneater has shown the game to be an infectious blend of over-the-top violence and fin-tastic gameplay, but many are probably wondering how critics have positioned the unique RPG. Well, according to emerging reviews, Maneater provides an undoubted bounty of ridiculous fun, but the experience may be a bit too one-note to make up for a myriad of performance issues present at launch.

GamesRadar+ – 80/100

“This is no worthy exploration of man’s cruelty to the natural world, and I suspect marine biologists would have something to say about much of the science, but it’s the perfect distraction from a world gone mad, and weirdly therapeutic. When you’re not filling the water with blood or launching an innocent human into the air with a flick of your tail, the waters are a pretty playground, and there’s always mischief to be made in the resorts, water parks, and marinas. Just don’t dob me into the killer whale I sponsored when I was 12.”

IGN – 70/100

“It’s absolutely fun to play as mutant Jaws on steroids! Maneater chews the metaphorical scenery as often as it has you devouring humans and the diverse aquatic inhabitants of the Gulf of Mexico, and that’s some good dumb entertainment – for a while. But if you’re wondering whether its shallow combat and simplistic upgrades can sustain that excitement for the roughly 15 hours it takes to become a hulking megashark and reach the end of its uninspired satirical revenge story… it cannot.”

Polygon – “Feels Good”

“It feels good to be a ‘thoughtless’ creature of hunger and rage. You know those novelty rooms humans visit, where they put on protective gear and break stuff with baseball bats and sledgehammers. That is me, that is my life.”

Prima Games – 75/100

“Overall, there is a lot to love about Maneater. I feel like I might be in the minority that will give this game a higher score but I knew what to expect going in: this isn’t your traditional RPG, this is about being a shark. Sharks don’t have detailed love quests, philosophical debates, or politically-driven wars – they eat, they sleep, and they make cute little shark babies. While you can’t make shark babies of your own in this game, you can eat to your heart’s content, and really – at the end of the day – isn’t that the endgame for all of us in life?”

Wccftech – 60/100

“Maneater isn’t exactly Jaws, but it isn’t Sharknado either. Crunching up hapless beachgoers and exploring underwater wonders is fun, even if the game’s bite is often blunted by clunky controls, repetitive missions, and a myriad of technical issues. Proceed with caution, but if you’re into sharks and can keep your expectations in check, Maneater’s treacherous waters may be worth wading into.”

Maneater is AVAILABLE NOW on PC, PS4, and Xbox One! Dive in and get those fins wet! ?

Swim over to https://t.co/V3uBSudhbR to get your copy now! pic.twitter.com/MaJVmHcHKn

— Maneater (@maneatergame) May 22, 2020

Maneater is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store. A Nintendo Switch version is confirmed for sometime later in 2020. Are you excited to try Maneater for yourself, or do you feel this game doesn’t exactly hold water? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day!

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