Maneater Reviews
A shark RPG sounds like an unlikely idea for a video game and unfortunately the end result is even less entertaining, and far more repetitive, than you might imagine.
Don't get us wrong, watching your shark grow from a "toddler" to a "megalodon with bone fins and electric teeth" is a sight to behold, but it ultimately doesn't feel worth the repetitive hours that one has to put in, to say nothing of the game-crashing glitches you may encounter along the way as we did. The idea of playing as a giant shark is a good one, but Maneater just isn't able to capitalize on it.
Like a sneaky, deadly hunter, Maneater plunges into the turbulent depths of the video game market in search of unsuspecting victims. He intrigues them with the promise of a compelling exploration, attracts them winking at a stimulating progression, opens his jaws to emphasize the exaltation of a fierce predatory experience. But be careful: if someone really had to approach him, he would end up in a lake of blood. Tripwire's dogfish has unseen teeth, moves with unmanageable spasms, and fails to vary either its diet, nor the bleak routine of a boring, mechanical hunt. Stranded on the sand, await the sad fate that touches all the fish left in the sun.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Maneater does not meet the expectations mounted during the PC Gaming Show 2019. The developers fail to give a rolistic cut to an arcade product, missing the appointment with the qualities of both genres. Interesting for the niche audience passionate about B-Movie.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It’s such a cool concept and the core gameplay is absurdly fun at times. But once the initial novelty of biting pesky humans in half wears off you’re left with a meatless carcass. Maybe wait for a sale on this one, unless you’re after a mindless power-fantasy and don’t mind repetitive missions.
The game has its moments, and just roaming around is good for a couple of minutes of watery entertainment. But its clunky combat and repetitive, tedious gameplay means that, despite its toothy protagonist, Maneater lacks any bite.
Maneater starts as an enjoyable, silly concept, making it fun for a couple of hours.
A simplistic and repetitive, but appreciably cathartic shark-em-up that would be the perfect weekend blast if it wasn't so frustratingly undercooked
Maneater may delight some with its appeal to the player's schadenfreude and the quirkiness of playing as a shark, but its simplicity and antiquated nature will leave many wishing for a game that was more evolved.
Maneater delivers on the promise of an open world game featuring a revenge-fueled shark but its shortcomings are not to be overlooked.
Maneater sinks under the weight of repetitive quests and shallow systems
The game starts promisingly based on smooth and fun gameplay but ends up relying entirely on things that make it "another open world game".
Review in Greek | Read full review
Maneater is a slightly greedy shark who hasn't quite figured out how to swim yet. The title of Tripwire makes decent use of its concept to offer a game world full of humor and hilarity while failing in other points of view. Commanding a shark is fun in small sips and in order to complete the title will be necessary to make peace over and over again with the system of movement and fighting, all this, inserted within a playful paradigm twenty years old, closes the circle with a "if you really like sharks this is the game for you ...".
Review in Italian | Read full review
Maneater is one of those rare titles that shows a lot of potential but ultimately just fails to deliver. The game is not "bad" per se, but it's not one I would be quick to recommend. As for the game as it stands right now, I would wait for a sale.
Maneater is the game I never knew I wanted.
Maneater is like a joke that had a great punchline, but is milked for all its worth afterwards.
Maneater really does do what it says on the tin. It’s a hyper-violent, super fun and wonderfully tongue in cheek shark simulator that lets players live out their fantasy of becoming the ocean’s most notorious predator. Yet, it’s beyond that where Maneater struggles, as its repetitive missions and frequent padding prevent it from sustaining its 10-hour runtime.
You can easily boot up Maneater and crush your jaws into the finish line in an afternoon and get some solid laughs out of the revenge story and silly antics. Just be aware of the current technical issues and glitches that are keeping this beached as for the time being.
Ultimately, Maneater is a passable distraction. It features a decent bit of fun with a surprisingly heartfelt plot but that's about it. With long gaps between major releases in this part of the year, Maneater will provide some entertainment for those looking to fill the void.
While Maneater isn't the best RPG or action title I've ever played, it very well could be the best shark game I've ever encountered. Smooth controls, collectibles and exploration, and top-notch animations make ruling the water as a great white shark all the better, but a middling, campy story with monotonous gameplay and light RPG mechanics sink this otherwise visceral shark-action title.