Maneater is a January PS Plus game for any gamers lucky enough to own a PlayStation 5. Developed by Tripwire Interactive, Maneater is a bizarre RPG that lets players become a shark. The main protagonist is an abnormally large female bull shark. Her goal is to evolve, survive and seek revenge on the shark hunter who killed her mother.

Taking a nod from Jaws, Maneater is all about causing chaos and terrifying humans, making them think twice before heading to the beach. Although Tripwire's RPG is a fun romp, it can be confusing for new players. Here are a few tips and tricks for anyone looking to dive into the open waters of Maneater.

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Eat Everything

Maneater - shark hunting

It might give real sharks a bad name, but in Maneater, the goal is to eat everything. This means chomping down on other sea life, hunters who fall into the water and any humans who dare walk along the shoreline. Not only does eating replenish health, but it also provides nutrients that are critical to leveling up.

Sharks need various nutrients to fulfill their needs, which are divided into four categories: Fat (yellow), minerals (blue), mutagen (green) and protein (red). Each species of sea creature provides different levels of key nutrients. Make sure to eat various foods and check the genetic makeup of prey to see what they offer.

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Maneater - open world

Lost in a cave? No problem. The yellow plants that line underwater tunnels and caverns aren't just for aesthetic purposes. Follow them as a compass to free the shark from dark, confusing areas that are easy to get turned around in.

Use Sonar

Maneater - shark versus hunters

Much like the Batman: Arkham video games, Sonar acts like shark Detective Vision in Maneater. It's ideal for spotting enemies, collectibles and other points of interest in the world. Pinging with Sonar will permanently add locations to the map so they can be returned to later. Players should upgrade the Sonar ability as soon as possible.

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Wreak Havoc, Destroy Hunters

Maneater is all about wreaking havoc on humans by destroying boats and terrifying the masses. Think Sharknado. The more chaos players caus, the more bounty hunters will be alerted to their shark's presence. It may seem scary, but attracting hunters is good because defeating them results in substantial rewards.

Bounty hunters can be overwhelming at times. So, try not to single out any one boat. Instead, continuously switch targets to ensure success. Any hunters that fall overboard should immediately be gobbled up to replenish health. However, if the battle becomes too intense, it's okay to run. Dive deep underwater and simply wait for the bounty hunters to dissipate or return with a deadly bloodlust and reattack.

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Dodge

Maneater - apex alligator

Like a true killing machine, the shark does not have a stamina bar in Maneater. However, in early gameplay, players are still weak, which is where dodge comes in handy. Humans aren't the only enemies in the water. Players will need to be on the lookout for alligators, orcas and other sharks. When engaging in combat, spamming dodge is one way of dealing with predators, particularly early on. Dodge is ideal for bounty hunter encounters too.

Evolutions

Maneater - Shadow Set

Maneater's evolution system is pretty complex. Countless Evolutions can be mixed and matched to fit different playstyles, from faster swimming to defensive buffs. Some Evolutions are better suited for combat, whereas others are ideal for collectible recovery or improving nutrients. There is no right or wrong combination. Individual playstyle will dictate what appeals to players, and the best way to figure that out is to experiment.

In Maneater, most Evolutions fall under three types of mutation sets: Bone Set, Bio-Electric Set and Shadow Set. Defeating other apex predators delivers the Bone Set, which boosts effectiveness against hunters and boats by increasing damage resistance and ramming speed. The Bio-Electric Set is earned by defeating the named bounty hunters. In return, players are rewarded with the ability to electrify nearby opponents, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Lastly, the Shadow Set is gained by locating all landmarks in the different regions of Port Clovis. With this set, sharks can use speed, deception and poison strikes to take down enemies.

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