Credit: Universal PicturesIn 1993, Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi blockbuster Jurassic Park brought us the closest we’ll probably ever be to living dinosaurs. Created using state-of-the-art animatronics and ground-breaking digital effects that transformed the cinematic landscape forever, it felt like real, living, breathing prehistoric beasts were actually in front of the camera.
There are even moments in the film that leave you wondering, ‘Was that a real dinosaur?’
Several Jurassic films later, and the magic has sadly worn off a little. Somehow, even with today’s technology, filmmakers seem unable to capture the startling realism of the dinosaurs in that first film, whether practical or digital. Still, the original classic stands the test of time.
Whether or not the upcoming sequel Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) will manage to capture that same magic remains to be seen, but fans looking to feel as though dinosaurs are alive again should probably turn their attention to another Jurassic sequel instead.
“Jurassic Park: Survival” is a first-person action-adventure video game that promises to plunge players deep into the world of Isla Nublar, just 24 hours after the events of the original 1993 film that saw John Hammond’s dream come crashing down.
The official cinematic trailer for the game dropped in December 2023, and though a release date is nowhere in sight, fans are excited to see what this new story will add to the long-running Jurassic franchise.
But it’s not just the fact that it’s a new Jurassic chapter that’s appealing–fans are excited to finally be able to experience what it’s like to be lost in Jurassic Park and surrounded by all its prehistoric inhabitants.
Watch the trailer for “Jurassic Park: Survival” below:
“Return to Isla Nublar the day after the events of the beloved 1993 Jurassic Park film in an original adventure 65 million years in the making,” the synopsis for the game reads.
“Survive thrilling first-person action as InGen scientist Dr. Maya Joshi, who was unable to evacuate Isla Nublar, in this single-player action-adventure game and discover a never-before-told story. Through thrilling encounters, experience the wonder and danger of dinosaurs, each with their own distinct and adaptive behaviors brought to life by John Hammond’s vision.”
They had us at “Isla Nublar,” but it’s really that last sentence that’s the most promising.
Not unlike the popular first-person survival-horror video game “Alien: Isolation” (2014), whose titular “xenomorph” is managed with AI (artificial intelligence), which allows the creature to be unpredictable and adaptive, “Jurassic Park: Survival” is expected to feature smart, cunning, and “reactive” dinosaurs that players will need to “outsmart, escape, and interact with the film’s iconic dinosaurs” through “ingenuity” and “stealth”.
Related: Universal’s Immersive New ‘Jurassic Park’ Experience Will Include Themed Hotel for Guests
In “Alien: Isolation,” players are forced to hide in tight spaces such as lockers, under desks, and in air-vents to evade their deadly pursuer. The gameplay footage at the end of the trailer for “Survival” implies some very similar tactics.
As such, it’s highly likely the Velociraptors will be just as smart as they are in the 1993 film (better keep those doors locked behind you), and that the Tyrannosaurus Rex’s vision is still based on movement.
Exactly how similar to “Alien: Isolation” the new Jurassic game will be remains to be seen (they’re from completely different studios), however, while Universal and Saber Interactive promise a “fully realized Isla Nublar” with both iconic and new locations to explore, “Survival” appears to have a similar environment to the Alien title, which is not a complete open-world game but allows players to move back and forth along its semi-linear map.
But just remember–you won’t be the only one on Isla Nublar who knows how to open doors.
“Jurassic Park: Survival” will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and other popular gaming platforms such as Steam. There’s no release date.
Are you excited to go up against highly intelligent dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park: Survival”? Let us know in the comments!