Ancestors: the odyssey of man is based on maintaining the clan to ensure its survival and continue its evolutionary progress. Of course, you can unlock new skills and abilities, but that's only part of the game. How are you supposed to transition this clan from primitive ape to human if you don't pass on those genes acquired through gameplay?
The programmed mating play for a reason. To continue to progress, you must mate the monkeys of the clan. The character's death is permanent, so if players avoid this mechanic, they risk seeing their clan dwindle quickly.
How to mate and raise ancestors:
It doesn't matter whether the monkey you play is male or female, you need to woo your potential mate and become a couple. Dinner and a movie would be nice, but they are straightforward monkeys and will be content with a nice grooming session.
The first step is to find a potential partner. You will have the possibility to analyze the members of your clan. When you do, information including their name, gender, and possible partner appears. From there, groom them to increase your bond. You will probably need to go back and forth to maximize the bond between them. Once this link is reached to the maximum, they will be paired.
From there, have your companion follow you to your leafy nest and lie down. This will give you the option to mate. The camera will turn very briefly to the sky to give some privacy to our ancestors.
According to IGN, you can also use your senses to check if your partner is female and if they are fertile, which will help you determine when you can successfully reproduce. Their guide seems to imply that only then will the partner option be presented.
Now that you know how to woo all of our very hairy ancestors, go groom all the ladies and see where evolution takes you.
