Primal Carnage

 PC
  • Publisher: Reverb
  • Release Date: Oct 29, 2012
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. ZTGD
    Feb 20, 2013
    80
    Lukewarm Media set out to do one simple thing with Primal Carnage: let people play, as and fight, dinosaurs. They hit that mark and then some. Even with no level progression, I still come back to it just to eat some humans. For $15, you get the closest thing there is to a Jurassic Park multiplayer game, and it also happens to be a lot of fun.
  2. IGN
    Nov 6, 2012
    76
    It's good, stupid fun no matter which side you play on, although a questionable option to switch sides midmatch occasionally leaves too many players stacked on the dino side.
  3. DarkStation
    Nov 26, 2012
    70
    Parkouring dinosaurs, sub-horror moments of Velociraptor terror, and picking up a human as a Pteranodon and dropping them to their death are just a few reasons I love the concept and execution of Primal Carnage. It's just too bad that there's not more here to flesh out the more positive qualities and suppress the negative ones from seeping through.
  5. DarkZero
    Nov 19, 2012
    70
    Well worth the fifteen dollar purchase, especially if you're the type that gets a thrill from being torn to bits by creatures we were never meant to encounter. Happy hunting.
  6. Multiplayer.it
    Nov 19, 2012
    70
    While Primal Carnage doesn't offer a wide range of game modes, playing as both a human or as a dinosaur is a really fun experience. The survival of this game on the market will depend on Lukewarm Media, and on the support that the indie team will bring ahead for its game.
  7. GameSpy
    Nov 6, 2012
    70
    Still, the single mode and the tiny useful areas of the massive maps make Primal Carnage a bit of a one-trick dinosaur. What's there is terrific, there just needs to be more of it. Here's hoping it doesn't go extinct before it evolves into something really great.
  8. Joystiq
    Nov 6, 2012
    70
    Primal Carnage could become a better beast with updates, but at launch it's missing some key elements and polish. Despite those issues, Primal Carnage is still an entertaining experience.
  9. Cheat Code Central
    Nov 2, 2012
    70
    The idea is great, but there's not a lot to this game yet.
  10. Vandal
    Feb 7, 2013
    68
    Just fun in a straight-forwarded way. Having dinosaurs is one of the key elements that makes it different and enjoyable, however, we think there's no enough content to keep us playing after a few hours.
  11. PC Gamer
    Feb 1, 2013
    65
    The result is a Jurassic Park worth visiting once, but not for a long stay. [March 2013, p.73]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. CD-Action
    Mar 5, 2013
    60
    An interesting subject of humans and dinosaurs pitched against each other is the only unique thing this game has to offer. [CD-Action 03/2013, p.68]
    All this publication's reviews
  13. Riot Pixels
    Jan 29, 2013
    60
    Primal Carnage is not a bad game, but you'll get tired of it after a couple of days. If you want to find out what is feels like to be a monster, try Natural Selection 2.
  14. Machinima
    Nov 8, 2012
    60
    There's a little more depth to Primal Carnage than its premise might imply, but only a little. The interplay of the game's classes provide some intelligent play, but at the end of the day there's simply not enough game here to justify its cost.
  15. IncGamers
    Nov 10, 2012
    50
    Cheap and fairly entertaining, but Primal Carnage needs to solve some rather large problems before it lives up to its sizeable potential.
  16. GameWatcher
    Nov 6, 2012
    50
    There is no single-player, only a handful of maps, and a relentless focus on deathmatch. There are no modern bells and whistles, no character customization, and no real thought past the concept of dinosaurs vs humans.

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
69
#69 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 133 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 133
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 133
  3. Negative: 18 out of 133
  1. kaotikrys
    Nov 1, 2012
    9
    This game is great. They did an absolutely amazing job at making the dinosaurs scary as hell, yet not overpowered. Playing each of themThis game is great. They did an absolutely amazing job at making the dinosaurs scary as hell, yet not overpowered. Playing each of them feels great, intuitive and natural. Playing the humans is truly a tense experience. Many times the games will end up with the humans huddled around an ammo crate fending off the dinosaurs as they try to break up the group. The thing is, when you get picked off from the group (which will inevitably happen), you will spawn away from the group. Now all of a sudden you are out in the open alone, heading toward the same point on the map as all of the dinosaurs, this is where the real fun begins, as invariably a dino (or multiple) will be hard on your tail before you make it back to the group.

    I'm loving this game, and I can't wait for more maps and a new mode or two. Definitely worth the price of admission; I'll get more hours out of this game than most of the blockbusters in the last year combined.    … Full Review »
  2. Damanxxx
    Oct 31, 2012
    10
    Primal Carnage is everything Dino beat down isPrimal Carnage is everything Dino beat down is not..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................… Full Review »
  3. ahamling27
    Nov 1, 2012
    4
    This game is terrible. Don't get me wrong, the prospect of a great asymmetrical game sounds great, but the game is just not polished and theThis game is terrible. Don't get me wrong, the prospect of a great asymmetrical game sounds great, but the game is just not polished and the shooting feels terrible. The dinosaurs are even worse, the T-Rex is the most clunky of them all and it's movements seem to run at about 15 frames per second, usually jilting around like your having a seizure. This game needs some major improvements before it is even close to the 9.0 rating that the users have given it here so far.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »