In some way, a sequel to one in every of my favorite daft video games was introduced proper underneath my nostril and I utterly missed it. Maneater 2 is actual, it’s coming in 2027 and I’m absurdly excited to turn out to be an enormous underwater homicide machine over again.
Tripwire Interactive and Demiurge Studios introduced Maneater 2 throughout Sony’s State of Play on September 3. It’s at present in growth for PS5, Xbox Sequence X|S, Nintendo Change 2 and PC by way of Steam and the Epic Video games Retailer, though a extra particular launch date has not been introduced.
This time, a brand new feminine bull shark finds herself trapped inside Neptune’s Kingdom, an ultra-luxury non-public island and theme park the place the wealthy have apparently mixed the surplus of Las Vegas, the whimsy of Anaheim and the grandeur of Historical Rome. Naturally, all of that cash has additionally been spent screwing round with nature, creating altered arctic and volcanic biomes alongside genetically modified creatures.
The essential thought stays acquainted: eat, discover and evolve till the shark is highly effective sufficient to flee, leaving Neptune’s Kingdom coated in blood, hearth and presumably some very awkward insurance coverage claims. Tripwire says the park will embody points of interest to destroy, secrets and techniques beneath the water, enhanced apex predators and closely armed safety forces decided to cease you. Chris Parnell can also be returning as disgraced actuality TV host Journey Westhaven, offering the identical nature-documentary commentary that gave the primary recreation a lot of its character.
Gameplay sensible, all the things appears largely acquainted, however there are a couple of twists: at one level the shark immediately transforms right into a mutated model of itself, and in one other scene performs what can solely be described as a wallride. It’s shark parkour. Sharkour?
Maneater 2 is being inbuilt Unreal Engine 5, with Tripwire promising extra detailed underwater environments and improved NPC behaviour. The Steam web page additionally describes a totally open aquatic sandbox and loads of genetic experimentation, so hopefully the sequel will push the unique’s splendidly silly mutations even additional.
I’m personally very excited for this one. Maneater is sort of the right definition of a superb AA recreation: goofy, bizarre and prepared to take an opportunity on an thought {that a} large writer would most likely dismiss after someone stated the phrase “open-world shark RPG” out loud. It had loads of issues, particularly repetitive missions and messy fight, as I complained about in my authentic evaluation, however the easy pleasure of changing into a bone-armoured megashark and utilizing people as bowling balls was tough to disclaim.
Maneater 2 is because of launch in 2027. I’ll have extra ideas as soon as I’ve correctly sat down with the trailer, however for now: sure. Give me the shark recreation.
