Manta (enemy)

This article is about the Unreal and Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali enemy. If you're looking for the Unreal Tournament 2004 and Unreal Tournament 3 vehicle, you might want to check Manta (vehicle).

The Manta is an enemy in Unreal, Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Unreal Tournament 2004.

Overview[]

Mantas are flying reptiles found on the planet of Na Pali. Mantas have large red eyes and are green in coloration. The Manta gets its name from the Terran manta ray due to similar 'wings' that they flap to move swiftly. Another similarity is their long tails. However, the Manta has a stinger, unlike the manta rays of Earth. The Manta uses this stinger as their only form of attack, and they rely on their speed to get close enough to use it effectively. After a successful hit, they will circle their target before planning their next strike.

Appearances[]

Unreal
Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali
Unreal Tournament 2003/2004
- In the Invasion gametype.

Tips and tricks[]

While evasive, Mantas do not have a great amount of health and can be taken down easily if the player uses a hitscan weapon such as the Automag.
The player simply must remember to keep backing up to avoid their melee attacks while always paying attention to its current location.

Trivia[]

Development[]

The Manta is one of the first enemies of the game to be created, and the only monster not to change its basic skin at all ever since its creation. The only thing that might have changed is the skin resolution.
It used to be able to fear and hide from the player on its own, as seen in the October 1996 beta, when most of the game logic was native as opposed to UnrealScript, which was vastly different back then.
The predecessor to the manta used to be a Stingray monster created during the early months of 1996, but its model and skin were only rescued thanks to it being present in model/skin sources of some early versions as leftover, since no actual very early 1996 build got recovered. The stingray monster was obviously meant to be waterborne only, however, because they didn't yet create underwater physics, they experimented with flying first and then the concept for the Manta was born.
They used to be present in beta versions of Chizra - Nali Water God as well, in the room with the Skaarj Scout and the two torches with buttons. They spawned from the ceiling vent shafts. And in unrecovered version of Gateway to Na Pali as well. They are also present in the cut level Morose, including the august 1997 version called "Moros". They are absent in the february 1998 version of the level, being replaced entirely by Gasbags in the room they appear in.

Design Notes[]

"These flying rays are quite fast and extremely agile. They usually hunt in mated pairs, mostly for food. But also from an instinctual hate for all non-avian lifeforms. They attack with the spearlike protrusions on the tips of their tails. They also have the ability to roost, virtually motionless, on any flat surface; making them somewhat difficult to detect."

– UnCreature

Gallery[]

Unreal October '96 monster fear behavior