The Creature is a dangerous monster that follows the player across the island of Eden. The Creature has no official name, but is unofficially being discussed by players in a thread on the Steam Forums[1]. Also, a post from one of the developers mentions that the Creature's AI originated from a pet cat named Milo[2].
AI
The Creature spawns on a hotspot/location trigger system. In other words, it is not traveling around on the island . It will appear near the player in "hotspots" (locations of interest such as near important plants the player needs to finish the story) along with random locations. Running, falling, swimming , and other loud activity that one might think attracts a predator does not cause the Creature to spawn.
However, when the creature does spawn, it acts very much like a predator. It will slowly stalk towards the player, and if spotted, it will growl menacingly and swipe at the player with big, powerful claws that will kill with two hits. When the creature has spotted you, turning your back on the Creature or running from it will cause it to give chase. Tip: It's faster than you.
This is the large graphic overlay seen on your screen when the Creature spawns after you use a mental stimulant or the Brain Emphasis Drug. This graphic turns red when the creature sees you.
If the creature has lost sight of the player, it will walk away and despawn. Occasionally the creature will frantically search the area near where it last spotted you (particularly if you run into camps during a chase) and does not despawn, in which case you need to remain out of the creatures line of sight but distance yourself far enough away. Distancing yourself a certain distance away from the creature, it will despawn, making travel safe again. Because of the spawn mechanics of the Creature, getting up and sprinting in the direction that it despawned will not cause it to respawn.
The simplest and most effective way of getting rid of the creature (even if it has already seen you) is to immediately duck behind an object such as a tree that blocks direct line-of-sight to the creature. More often than not, the creature will circle the object you've chosen to hide behind, so make sure that you're able to move around your hiding place. Thick trees, head-statues, pillars, and rocks are perfect for this. Keep the object between you and the creature's eyes in order to stay out of its vision. If you stay out of view of the creature long enough, it will give up and run off. This is done much easier with a mental stimulant or the Brain Emphasis Drug, as your head will turn to face the creature while crouching and not moving the mouse.
Notes
The following notes are subject to change and are largely based on speculation and experience.
- The Creature is invincible. Attacking it with rocks/knives/axes is ineffective.
- Two hits from the Creature will kill you. The first one sends you tumbling away from it. Click repeatedly to skip this animation and get back on your feet faster.
- The time of day does not affect how often the creature spawns. Daytime is just as dangerous as nighttime. The Creature spawns much more often in the late game. Occasionally, the creature will spawn immediately after despawning.
- Heartbeats - slow when the Creature spawns, fast when the Creature spots you.
- The Creature will spot you easily if you run.
- As long as the creature didn't spot you already (slow heartbeat), hidding in bushes or high-grasses is the most efficient way to get rid of it. If you've been spotted, wait for the creature to turn his back to you, and while it's not watching in your direction[3], jump in a bush or in high-grasses.
- In some cases while travelling and immediately after hearing your heartbeat, turning 180 degrees and running in the opposite direction will cause the Creature to despawn from being too far away from the player. However, the Creature may have spawned behind you...
- When running away from the creature, make use of dense trees, etc - the animal is quite wide, and cannot squeeze through small gaps that the player can. Climbing strong slopes is another good way to evade, the Creature isn't able to climb and has to find another path to reach you.
- It is attracted to fire . Waving a burning torch in front of it will cause it to pause and watch the movement of the flame. Throwing the burning object will cause the Creature to turn and look towards it, then sometimes run over to investigate. Due to this fact, burning sticks or torches seem to be more useful against the creature than conventional weapons such as the knives and axes found throughout the island.
- Throwing items such as rocks at the Creature will cause it to roar and shake its head, but is usually ineffective. But sometimes, if you are lucky, it will make the Creature run away.
- The Creature does not spawn over water. Thus, travelling along the coast is the most effective way to prevent having the Creature spawn near the player.
- Usage of several plants that provide a mental stimulant will help locating the Creature as well as identifying whether or not it can see you. The Brain Emphasis Drug is a permanent solution. When the Creature spawns and your heart starts to beat, crouch immediately to take advantage of the HUD upgrade you get from these effects.
- Turning your back on the Creature or running away from it will cause it to run after you and tackle you. Thus, it is advised to face it and back away if it spots you. Throwing a burning stick behind it might help distract it long enough for you to be able to hide.
- The creature can only swim short distances, so swimming across a span of water far enough will help escape it. Using plants that provide extra swimming strength (to prevent drowning) are useful here - Herculean tonic and Muscle Emphasis Drug.
- Hiding or swimming away from the Creature are the most effective forms of evasion. Hiding behind trees, logs, landmarks , large rocks, or the best option - inside camps where the Creature cannot go - are optimum.[4] High/dense grasses will also work, and will prevent line-of-sight.
- Steam Achievements are available for hitting the Creature with certain objects, such as an apple, a banana, an orange or a tin can.
- Creature can't climb / walk down the hills, so you can climb a hill and run while creature will be finding a road.
- Other animals are afraid of the Creature. If you see a couple of squirrels running past you, it's a good bet the Creature isn't too far away, even if you can't hear your hearbeat.
- After taking the cure, the Creature will no longer be seen. The Creature is rumoured to be just a hallucination.
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