Clawed

Clawed is a dinosaur survival horror game developed by a small team, drawing strong inspiration from Jurassic Park. Players can explore a large, atmospheric park with a mix of first and third-person perspectives, engaging in tense encounters with various dinosaurs. The game offers a deep lore, fun puzzles, and an immersive environment that many players find captivating. However, the current release is plagued by numerous bugs, including game-breaking issues in co-op mode, save system problems, clipping and collision glitches, and inconsistent AI behavior. Performance optimization is also lacking, with reports of high CPU/GPU usage and frame rate drops over time. Despite these problems, the developers are actively working on patches and the community remains supportive. The game is recommended mainly for single-player fans with patience for rough edges and for dinosaur and horror enthusiasts willing to overlook technical flaws. Many reviewers suggest waiting for future updates before purchasing, as the game feels more like an early access title than a polished 1.0 release.

Highlights

Players praise Clawed's atmospheric and tense gameplay, especially the immersive sound design and environmental visuals. The ability to switch between first and third-person views with solid animations is well received. The expansive park design and roaming dinosaur AI create exciting, unpredictable encounters. The game's deep lore and nods to classic dinosaur and survival horror titles add charm. The developers' dedication and quick response to issues are also appreciated. Fans enjoy the challenging puzzles and the game's refusal to handhold, encouraging exploration and problem-solving. The tribute to Sam Neill and the evident passion for dinosaurs by the devs are noted as thoughtful touches.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on numerous bugs severely impacting gameplay, particularly in co-op mode where desync and save issues frustrate players. The save system is criticized for being sparse and unreliable, sometimes causing players to restart far back. Collision and clipping problems cause players to get stuck or be hit unfairly by enemies. AI behavior is often unrealistic or overly aggressive, reducing immersion. The grapple mechanic is considered clunky and unintuitive. Performance suffers from poor optimization, causing high CPU/GPU usage and frame rate drops. The map UI is confusing and lacks useful features. Quality-of-life aspects like interaction prompts, inventory management, and controls are finicky and frustrating. Many feel the game should have been released as early access given its rough state.