Primal Carnage: Onslaught

Primal Carnage: Onslaught is an asymmetrical multiplayer first-person shooter that pits armed humans against ferocious dinosaurs in intense combat scenarios. Players can choose to fight as humans, utilizing weapons like shotguns, flamethrowers, and traps, or as dinosaurs, each with unique abilities such as the Tyrannosaurus’s health-boosting roar or the Dilophosaurus’s blinding venom spit. The game blends first-person shooter mechanics for humans with third-person perspective for dinosaurs, emphasizing teamwork and strategy as both sides battle for survival in a prehistoric setting.

Primal Carnage: Onslaught – A Virtual Reality Dinosaur Survival Experience

Introduction: A New Era of Prehistoric Combat

Primal Carnage: Onslaught (2016) represents a bold evolution in the Primal Carnage franchise, transitioning from asymmetrical multiplayer warfare to a virtual reality (VR) survival horror experience. Developed by Pub Games and published by Circle 5 Studios, this Early Access title sought to capitalize on the burgeoning VR market by immersing players in a first-person, wave-based survival shooter where humanity’s last stand against genetically engineered dinosaurs unfolds in visceral, interactive combat.

Unlike its predecessors—Primal Carnage (2012) and Primal Carnage: Extinction (2015)—Onslaught abandons multiplayer in favor of a solo VR experience, prioritizing tactile weapon interaction, dynamic AI behavior, and atmospheric tension. However, its reception has been mixed, with critics and players divided over its repetitive gameplay, limited content, and unfulfilled Early Access promises.

This review dissects Primal Carnage: Onslaught through a historical, mechanical, and thematic lens, evaluating its place in both the Primal Carnage legacy and the broader VR gaming landscape.

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Development History & Context: From Multiplayer Mayhem to VR Experimentation

The Primal Carnage Legacy: A Franchise Built on Asymmetry

The Primal Carnage series began in 2012 with Lukewarm Media’s asymmetrical multiplayer shooter, pitting armed mercenaries against genetically enhanced dinosaurs in a battle for survival. The game’s third-person dinosaur perspective and first-person human combat created a unique dynamic, though it suffered from technical issues, limited content, and mixed reviews (Metacritic: 67/100).

By 2015, Circle 5 Studios acquired the franchise, releasing Primal Carnage: Extinction—a rebuilt, expanded sequel that refined mechanics, added new dinosaurs, and introduced cooperative horde modes. Despite improvements, the series remained niche, struggling to compete with mainstream shooters.

The VR Gambit: Why Onslaught Exists

With VR technology gaining traction in 2016, Pub Games and Circle 5 Studios saw an opportunity to reinvent the franchise for a new medium. Primal Carnage: Onslaught was conceived as:
– A proof-of-concept for VR dinosaur combat.
– A simpler, arcade-style experience compared to the multiplayer-focused predecessors.
– A testbed for future VR mechanics, including haptic feedback and motion controls.

Released in Early Access (December 29, 2016), the game promised:

“A range of new scenarios, environments, and mechanics to explore what VR is truly capable of.”

However, development stalled after the initial release, with the last update occurring over eight years ago. The game remains incomplete, lacking many promised features.

Technological Constraints & VR’s Early Limitations

Onslaught was built using Unreal Engine 4, leveraging VR’s motion-tracked controllers for interactive weapon handling. Yet, early VR hardware (HTC Vive, Oculus Rift) imposed performance limitations:
– Motion sickness risks from rapid movement.
– Limited play areas (seated/standing/room-scale).
– AI and physics optimizations required for smooth VR gameplay.

The result? A streamlined, arcade-like experience that prioritized immersion over depth.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: A Thin Veneer of Lore

The Excuse Plot: Humans vs. Dinosaurs (Again)

Onslaught retains the franchise’s minimalist storytelling, offering no cutscenes, dialogue, or structured campaign. Instead, it relies on environmental storytelling:
– Abandoned Phoenix International facilities (the series’ InGen expy).
– Cloning labs, supply depots, and jungle outposts hinting at a failed genetic experiment.
– Dinosaur nests, bloodstains, and broken equipment suggesting a catastrophic outbreak.

The premise is familiar:

“An experiment in prehistoric virtual reality combat. Fight hordes of hungry dinosaurs with an arsenal of powerful weapons to make them extinct again!”

Themes: Survival, Hubris, and Man vs. Nature

While Onslaught lacks deep narrative, its themes align with the franchise’s B-movie DNA:
1. Human Hubris – Phoenix International’s genetic tampering leads to disaster.
2. Survival Horror – The player is outnumbered, outgunned, and fighting for survival.
3. Predator vs. Prey – The dinosaurs are not mindless monsters but territorial hunters (e.g., Raptors ambush, Dilophosaurus spit venom).
4. Isolation & Desperation – The VR perspective amplifies the loneliness of the last human standing.

Missed Opportunities: Where’s the Story?

Unlike Primal Carnage: Evolution (a canceled sequel that expanded lore via intel documents), Onslaught ignores narrative depth, focusing solely on gameplay loops. This was a conscious design choice—VR in 2016 was not yet suited for complex storytelling—but it leaves the experience feeling hollow.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: Arcade Survival in VR

Core Gameplay Loop: Wave-Based Survival

Onslaught strips the franchise down to its most basic form:
1. Select a weapon loadout (pistols, shotguns, flamethrowers, grenade launchers).
2. Fight off waves of AI-controlled dinosaurs (Raptors, Dilophosaurus, Compys, etc.).
3. Survive as long as possible, earning Steam Leaderboard rankings.

VR Interaction: The Game’s Greatest Strength

The standout feature is physical weapon interaction:
– Manual reloading (racking shotguns, inserting magazines).
– Dual-wielding (pistols, knives).
– Melee combat (stabbing, slashing).
– Grenade throwing (physically pulling pins).

This tactile feedback makes combat visceral and engaging, though fatigue sets in due to repetitive motions.

Dinosaur AI: Smart but Repetitive

The dinosaurs exhibit distinct behaviors:
– Raptors – Flank and pounce.
– Dilophosaurus – Spit venom from range.
– Compys – Swarm in groups.
– Tyrants (T-Rex, Spino) – Boss encounters requiring focused fire.

However, AI pathfinding issues and predictable patterns make encounters less thrilling over time.

Progression & Replayability: A Shallow System

• No character progression (no unlocks, no upgrades).
• Leaderboards are the only long-term incentive.
• Two maps (cloning lab, jungle outpost) with minimal variation.

This lack of depth was a common Early Access criticism.

UI & Controls: Functional but Clunky

• Radial menus for weapon selection.
• No HUD (health, ammo displayed diegetically).
• Motion controls can feel imprecise (e.g., melee swings missing targets).

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Jurassic Nightmare

Visual Design: A Decaying Dystopia

Onslaught’s environments are detailed but limited:
– Phoenix International’s ruined facilities (rusted metal, flickering lights).
– Jungle overgrowth (vines, fallen trees).
– Dinosaur nests (eggs, bones, blood).

The art style is gritty and realistic, though textures are dated by modern standards.

Sound Design: Roars, Gunfire, and Terror

The audio is exceptional:
– Dinosaur roars (deep, guttural T-Rex growls).
– Gunfire echoes (shotguns, flamethrowers).
– Ambient sounds (distant screams, rustling foliage).

The 3D audio in VR enhances immersion, making players jump at sudden attacks.

Atmosphere: A Tense, Isolated Experience

The VR perspective amplifies claustrophobia and dread:
– No allies (unlike Extinction’s co-op).
– Dinosaurs lurk in shadows, forcing constant vigilance.
– Limited ammo creates desperate last stands.

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Reception & Legacy: A Mixed Bag

Critical Reception: “A Fun but Flawed VR Experiment”

• Steam Reviews: Mixed (50% positive).
• Common Praise:
  • “VR weapon interaction is fantastic.”
  • “Tense, immersive survival experience.”
• Common Criticisms:
  • “Repetitive and shallow.”
  • “Lacks content—feels like a tech demo.”
  • “Early Access promises were abandoned.”

Commercial Performance: A Niche VR Title

• No sales data available, but Steam player counts remain low.
• Overshadowed by bigger VR titles (Half-Life: Alyx, Boneworks).

Legacy: A Footnote in VR History

Onslaught’s biggest impact was proving VR could handle dinosaur survival horror, but its incomplete state prevented it from becoming a classic.

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Conclusion: A Flawed but Fascinating VR Experiment

Final Verdict: 6/10 – “A Promising but Unfinished VR Thrill Ride”

Primal Carnage: Onslaught is a victim of its own ambition. It nailed VR weapon interaction and created tense survival moments, but its lack of depth, repetitive gameplay, and abandoned Early Access promises hold it back.

Who Should Play It?

✅ VR enthusiasts who love physical weapon mechanics.
✅ Dinosaur survival fans who want a short, intense experience.
❌ Players seeking deep progression or narrative.
❌ Those expecting a polished, complete game.

Where Does It Stand in Gaming History?

• A pioneering (if flawed) VR survival shooter.
• A cautionary tale about Early Access abandonment.
• A missed opportunity to evolve the Primal Carnage franchise.

Had Onslaught received post-launch support, it could have been a VR classic. Instead, it remains a fascinating relic—a glimpse of what could have been.

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Final Thought:
“Primal Carnage: Onslaught proves that fighting dinosaurs in VR is terrifyingly fun—but without more content and polish, it’s just a *prehistoric tease.” 🦖🔫