Primal Carnage: Extinction
- April 3, 2015
- Pub Games
- 15h median play time
A simple, but fun, FPS that could have been so much better. The dinosaurs are certainly fun, but it won't take long for you to grow tired of the game at large.
"Primal Carnage: Extinction" is a multiplayer-focused, team-based shooter where players battle it out as humans or dinosaurs. Humans are equipped with a variety of weapons to take down the dinosaurs, while the dinosaurs have their own abilities and strengths to use against the humans. The game features several different game modes, maps, and playable characters to keep the action fresh and exciting.
Reviews
- gameplay393 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Primal Carnage: Extinction" is described as fun and engaging, particularly for fans of asymmetric shooters, with a variety of classes for both dinosaurs and humans that offer unique mechanics. However, many players note issues with balance, clunky controls, and bugs that detract from the overall experience, leading to a mixed reception. While the core gameplay can be enjoyable, especially in team-based modes, the game's age and the community's toxicity are significant drawbacks that may affect new players' enjoyment.
“Each class of both dinos and humans feels different and purposeful, and each playable has several different mechanics making it unique, fun, and challenging to use.”
“The gameplay is genuinely fun, the maps are small, obviously; but still an adventure to go through.”
“The core gameplay idea of the game is very fun, and through many patches, the game's balance is much better than it used to be.”
“The gameplay is just terrible; you do not understand where you're aiming at because even if your cursor is on the target, you shoot, and it misses.”
“The controls and mechanics are clunky as hell, and it all just feels unfinished.”
“Gameplay is slow, and the quality of players is terrible.”
- graphics318 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the overall visual quality and detailed models, particularly for the dinosaurs. However, some users note that the graphics can feel dated or inconsistent, especially on lower-end systems, and there are calls for further updates to enhance the visual experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for the game's price, they may not meet the expectations of players looking for cutting-edge visuals.
“The graphics are amazing, the models are amazing and suggested to use the rex!”
“The graphics are exquisite and animations are medal-worthy.”
“This game is beautiful, but you need a good graphics card to enjoy it.”
“Do not buy, not worth it, very unbalanced, graphics look like the first Doom game that ever came out.”
“The graphics are terrible, since it's on UE3.”
“This game is terribly optimized and runs like shit especially for how bad the graphics are, the gameplay is inconsistent and every server has lag issues.”
- stability110 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable despite these problems, many express frustration over unresolved issues and a lack of developer support for fixes. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with significant room for improvement in stability and balance.
“This game gets the blood rushing; it runs great!”
“I have to say this game is pretty good right now, unless you must have a completely bug-free experience.”
“The game is far too janky and buggy.”
“A dead and buggy mess of the game, would not recommend.”
“This game is buggy and horribly unbalanced.”
- optimization46 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Primal Carnage" has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and lag, even on lower graphical settings. While some updates have improved optimization for certain users, others still experience poor performance and bugs, leading to frustration within the community. Overall, the game appears to struggle with optimization compared to its predecessor, despite some players noting improvements in graphics and performance over time.
“Edit: since the November 15th update, optimization of this game has been improved dramatically, so even if you don't have a great PC or laptop, it should run just fine now.”
“Most realistic dino game so far and it's very fun, though there are a lot of things to fix in this game, but it works just fine and the developers did a great job optimizing the performance of this game.”
“This game has come a long way in terms of polish and optimization.”
“This game is terribly optimized and runs like shit, especially for how bad the graphics are. The gameplay is inconsistent and every server has lag issues.”
“As for optimization, I can run games like Overwatch, Avengers, GTAV, Cyberpunk, Apex, etc. all at the highest graphical settings, but this game, even at low settings, finds a way to have stutters and frame drops.”
“Another problem I have with this game is that it has slightly worse optimization than the original, which is odd considering this had more time to improve its optimization.”
- humor43 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the antics of dinosaurs, ragdoll physics, and various in-game taunts to be consistently hilarious. Many reviews highlight the fun of playing with friends, where wacky humor enhances the experience, while others enjoy the game's silly references and creative player interactions. Despite some criticisms regarding bugs and gameplay balance, the overall sentiment is that the game delivers a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“It's fun, fast-paced and for myself personally I find it hilarious when I get KO'd by dinos or grenades.”
“Is fun playing as a dinosaur: you can ram people, hook them from the shoulders then throw them to the abyss or eat them, ambush players from the bushes, it's so freaking hilarious and I never get tired of it.”
“To top all of that off; there are a handful of Jurassic Park references, some silly humor, a friendly community, and this game has a really great item drop system.”
- story40 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is widely criticized, with many players noting a lack of a coherent narrative or engaging storyline. While some missions and game modes offer a semblance of plot, the overall consensus is that the game feels more like a series of disconnected challenges rather than a cohesive story experience. Players express a desire for a more developed single-player story mode and additional content to enhance the narrative depth.
“The story and graphics are good.”
“This game is absolutely awesome; the only thing it's missing is more dinosaurs/humans, and a single-player story mode would be awesome.”
“Such as allowing an endless number of folks to be dinosaurs or humans, picking out maps that were made with tons of little hidey holes and good storytelling scenes.”
“☑️ This game has no story.”
“There is simply no story line to this game at all!”
“Worst game ever, don't have story, it's like shit, don't buy it!”
- monetization23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling it relies heavily on microtransactions for cosmetic items, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the lack of predatory practices like gambling mechanics, the overwhelming presence of expensive skins and a perceived focus on profit over gameplay quality has led to claims of it being a cash grab. Overall, the game's monetization strategy is seen as a major flaw, contributing to a lack of player engagement and dissatisfaction with the developers' priorities.
“It doesn't try to squeeze microtransactions out of players or exploit gambling addictions the way it seems nearly every other game does nowadays.”
“The things in the store/market are definitely cool and I think this game actually works well with in-game purchases, unlike many others.”
“This game has microtransactions but only skins and cosmetics, so nobody needs that in addition: you get drops sometimes.”
“This game is basically a one and done; they put it out for a quick cash grab.”
“The devs don't care, they only care about shop rotations for their shifty cash grab they call a game.”
“It's impossible to play the game as intended, although I don't even know what's intended at this point because the developers are going for a complete cash grab with the amount of children who play this game because they want to fulfill their dinosaur fantasies by putting in new skins every chance they get.”
- grinding23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 74 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as tedious and time-consuming, particularly for players seeking skins and rank-ups, with some noting it can become boring if not fully engaged. While there are alternative methods to acquire cosmetics, many players express frustration over repetitive rewards and the need for extensive grinding, often leading to a reliance on item farming servers. Despite these challenges, some find the grind rewarding, especially when finally obtaining desired skins.
“The concept is good; I loved the idea of being able to deathmatch as a dinosaur or human, and it wasn't tedious or boring to switch between the two.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Needs a lot of grinding.”
“The game is a bit grindy if you are after rank-ups and skins, but it can also be casually played if you're willing to not take it very seriously.”
“I got the same skin three times in a row while grinding levels with no break in between... literally the same skin at levels 15, 16, and 17.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to enjoyable customization and leveling systems, others feel it becomes repetitive without a progression system or unlockables. The potential for future updates, including new modes and playable species, could enhance replay value significantly.
“🔲 infinitely replayable”
“The new customization system and leveling system is enjoyable and makes the game very replayable.”
“The ability to get unlockables from playing grants replay value and a goal to keep playing; it is also fun to actually unlock something as you play that you can use in the game.”
“However, I do think this game is limited in terms of replayability because the modes are very repetitive, but it's a great start and possibly the best multiplayer dino shooter to date.”
“There is no progression system, so you don't unlock anything as you play, so the only replay value is just being in the mood to play.”
“With campaign, there will be more replayability.”
- music7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack has received positive feedback, with players highlighting its enjoyable and fitting music that enhances the gaming experience, particularly during human gameplay. The inclusion of tracks like "madness combat" adds to the fun, making the music a standout feature even in solo play. Overall, the music is described as great and well-suited to various situations within the game.
“The soundtrack is really nice, especially when playing as humans.”
“Listening to Madness Combat music while playing this is pretty fun.”
“Great music that fits well with the situation.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the wholesome community and supportive interactions, others highlight a persistent toxic environment that detracts from the overall experience. The gifting system is seen as a positive feature that fosters connection, but the presence of long-standing negative behaviors raises concerns about mental safety for players.
“A single wholesome community server where people are actually nice.”
“Friendly and wholesome.”
“The gifting system is wholesome and brings the community together, and the fan service to other paleo media such as Walking with Dinosaurs and Dinosaur King is very welcome.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as engaging and immersive, particularly in competitive modes like team deathmatch, where players feel fully enveloped in their roles, whether as a dinosaur or a human. However, some users criticize the overall atmosphere as lacking tension and depth, comparing it unfavorably to the original Primal Carnage, which offered a darker and more atmospheric experience.
“I usually find myself playing team deathmatch, the more competitive game mode, and I find myself encompassed within the game's atmosphere, whether I'm a pteranodon flying and attempting to grab hold of a pesky human, or if I'm a trapper, watching my back for any dinosaurs and shooting a novaraptor.”
“Good Jurassic Park style atmosphere.”
“I still prefer the original Primal Carnage for its darker ambient and atmosphere.”
“I still prefer the original Primal Carnage for its darker ambiance and atmosphere.”
“I find myself encompassed within the game's atmosphere, whether I'm a Pteranodon flying and attempting to grab a pesky human, or a trapper watching my back for any dinosaurs.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development in the game is perceived as lacking depth, with a focus on unrealistic and immature designs rather than meaningful growth or complexity. Players express a desire for more mature and nuanced character portrayals, contrasting sharply with the comical aesthetics reminiscent of Borderlands 2.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a way that feels satisfying or engaging.”
Critic Reviews
Primal Carnage: Extinction Review
Primal Carnage: Extinction feels like a great concept which has just not had enough "shine" put into the end product. Basic menus and average production values could be forgiven if the gameplay was killer, but dinosaurs deserve to be more badass and exciting than this. So while there is some dino fun to be had here, this is a game that will likely be left on the virtual shelf and left to turn extinct.
50%Primal Carnage: Extinction Review - Greenlight Failure
Just don't buy. If you like the concept maybe buy Evolve instead.
25%Primal Carnage: Extinction Review
Dinosaurs are awesome.
50%