Credit: Universal PicturesThe Jurassic Park movies might feature more dangerous prehistoric predators than you can shake a stick at (which, oddly enough, is something Dennis Nedry actually tries to do in the original 1993 film), from smart and cunning Velociraptors to the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex, but they’re still just mortal animals. In other words, if it comes down to it, they can be killed.
Of course, killing a dinosaur in Jurassic is no easy feat, which is why it rarely happens. Though there are examples (Kelly drop-kicking a raptor onto a spike in The Lost World, the ACU killing one of Owen’s raptors in Jurassic World), it’s mostly other dinosaurs that end up killing them (the original T-Rex has racked up the highest dino-on-dino kill-count so far).
This trend is set to continue in the first-person game “Jurassic Park: Survival”, which will feature “intense science fiction terror with death and violence from dinosaurs against humans and against other dinosaurs.” Okay, this is hardly surprising, but what’s interesting is that it doesn’t mention anything about violence from humans against dinosaurs.
“Jurassic Park: Survival” takes place 24 hours after the events of the 1993 film, pitting InGen scientist Dr. Maya Joshi, “who was unable to evacuate Isla Nublar”, against the island’s prehistoric inhabitants. Exploring locations familiar and new, players must navigate “a fully realized Isla Nublar filled with reactive wildlife, dinosaurs, and other surprising threats.”
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Using “your ingenuity through distraction and stealth” and “all the resources at your disposal”, you’ll need to “outsmart, escape, and interact” with “some of the deadliest creatures to ever walk the earth,” which will include dinosaurs from the film. But while the game is a survival adventure, we don’t know if we’ll be able to use any lethal weapons.
Currently, there’s no information on the official website, or in the trailer that premiered last December, that suggests Dr. Maya Joshi will be able to pick up firearms during her time on Isla Nublar. While the idea of having no guns or other effective weapons while dealing with dinosaurs, of all things, sounds ridiculous, there may be a number of reasons behind this.
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Firstly, this is a survival game (the clue’s in the name), and though many such titles before it include deadly weapons, it’s unlikely they’ll simply be lying around on Isla Nublar. That’s not to say there aren’t any guns on the island (there are rifles in the 1993 film, after all), but the developers may have omitted, or at least restricted, access to firearms, to up the ante.
Secondly, this game is canon. And, as it takes place 24 hours after Jurassic Park, and is set on the same island and with one particular dinosaur from the film that goes on to appear in several sequels (the Jurassic World trilogy and the animated shows, Camp Cretaceous and Chaos Theory), the game won’t allow players to break canon in any way, shape, or form.
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As such, the original T-Rex will be an “unkillable” dinosaur. While there may very well be guns in the game, we’ve no doubt that the developers have set barriers in place designed to prevent Dr. Maya Joshi from applying lethal force to the tyrant lizard.
Being unable to take out a dinosaur like T-Rex will certainly ramp up the tension, but, more importantly, it proves that the developers are being respectful of the original film. But don’t worry, because, just as the trailer suggests, we’re sure you’ll be able to use plenty of flares.
Whether or not the upcoming film, Jurassic World Rebirth (2025), will feature any actual invincible dinosaurs remains to be seen, but here’s to hoping the film series has moved on from genetic hybrids and, like the upcoming game, will focus on more authentic dinosaurs.
Watch the official trailer for “Jurassic Park: Survival” below:
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Here’s the official synopsis:
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.
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.
The game is expected to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime in 2025.
Do you think “Jurassic Park: Survival” will break any canon? Let us know in the comments!