Platform: Nintendo Switch
Publisher: Tripwire Interactive, Deep Silver
At 46 feet, the largest shark is the Whale Shark, which is about the size of a school bus. This is just one of the many facts I learned as a child about these majestic predators of the ocean. Like Dinosaurs and Racing Cars alongside them, Sharks are one of those topics which seem to naturally appeal to young boys, and I had hats, shirts, colouring books and even some toys featuring pictures of the carnivores.
Of course, none of this has anything to do with 'Maneater', but it's a good place to start. I purchased this title because the box art (yes, they still have that!) featured pictures of a great white leaping in furious attack upon an unfortunate and unwitting beachgoer. What I got in return was the first - and possibly last - Shark RPG action adventure. Assuming the role of a young Pup, whose has been orphaned and disfigured at the cruel hands of an awful fisherman (more on him later), you play a female Shark hunting for both survival and revenge.
A quick tutorial as 'Mother' prepares you little for what you're about to face, but gives you just enough of a flavour as to what and why we're here.
To give the game some human elements, and a little dialogue, the story is modelled on a fictional reality show about the beasts of the ocean. Something you'll often forget. A fisherman, Scaly Pete, is the greatest shark hunter in these here waters and he looks like a cross between Bruce Willis and LeChuck's Revenge. Chris Parnell, of Rick and Morty fame, appears off screen as the shows (and the players) narrator - giving us unusual facts and making absurd quips as we traverse - as the shark - from Bayou to Ocean. Your mission is to attack and devour anything that stands in your way, from Alligators to Barracudas to, yes, you've guessed it; even humans.
As you play the game your appetite will expand, thanks in part to the rare mutagens (the product of Industrial Dumping no less) and albino fish that you'll encounter, eventually what seemed like a formidable snack as a Pup will barely make you pause for breath etc. You'll complete quests, unlock side missions and hunt down various members of the local Port Clovis community, most of whom are looking to have you intimately connected with a harpoon.
This feature in itself can lead to some insane battles, featuring hunters, level bosses and lots of shooting. Like any RPG before it, you need to play the long game here, slowly building up your strength before you can challenge larger creatures. In some cases you'll have to purposefully avoid your fights, pick your battles, but how satisfying it can be to return later several levels higher and destroy your opponent.
I've played this game on both PS4 and Nintendo Switch, with the Switch version (which was initially delayed until May 2021) struggling to keep up at times. Glitches - particularly in handheld mode - mean that sometimes you'll find enemies just disappear from the screen and other times they freeze. It's enough of a problem to make you realise that it's a miracle Tripwire were able to fit the game onto the system.
Regardless of the version on which you choose to play, control of the shark handles quite well, with the shoulder buttons taking ultimate control. The juxtaposition of gameplay too is quite special, both moving seamlessly between under water and surface, as well as the beautifully artistic way each level has been designed. From the Bayou's murky claustrophobic waters to the Gulf's pristine open space; it lends the game a true sense of realism few enjoy.
Another added benefit of progression in the game is unlockable "evolutions", which range from electric teeth to a very fetching Tiger Shark Skin. This was a particular favourite ability of mine as you often find only a specific evolution can work to your advantage with a chosen foe. Everyone who falls foul to the Orca Apex will know exactly what I'm talking about.
Parnell is the games standout however, his audio commentary lends so much humour and mischief that I found myself continuing to play just to hear what he had to say, rather than to see this Shark get its ultimate revenge. The political satire of talking about overfishing, illegal dumping and the destruction of these animals natural habitat is also - in itself - a really important inclusion to give you pause for thought.
Take a bite and get this game!
Rating: 4/5