'the classic hits next-gen'
 Developer: Propaganda Games
Publisher: EA
Category: : FPS
Multiplayer: Xbox Live
Official Site
Platform: X-Box 360
Might look like: /
Date posted: 3 April 2008
Written By: Bjorn
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Back from the dead
Many, many years ago, publisher "Acclaim" released the original "Turok" game for the Nintendo64 and PC. At that time, the game was a huge success thanks to its unique jungle environments, its powerful weaponry and of course its massive dinosaurs.
A few sequels later, the success was just average and when the developer/publisher came into financial problems, everybody thought that this franchise won't see the light anymore.
Now, thanks to publisher "Touchstone" and developer "Propaganda Games", the 'Turok' franchise is back again to tell the original story all over but with better sound and of course HD graphics.
The question is, is the gameplay any good and are gamers still waiting to play "Turok" again ?
Say Hello to Turok
You play the role of a "Joseph Turok", a former black ops commando from the Wolk Pack team. Since you have betrayed your old buddies you're now in a new military group, the "Whiskey Company" where you have to eliminate your former mentor, 'Roland Kane' and his Mendel-Gruman Corporation soldiers who have settled themselves on a planet where dinosaurs and other huge insects populate the environment.
Of course things go wrong since your ship is suddenly hit by an incoming missile and it crashes on the planet. Since you're probably the only survivor, it'll be your job to finish Kane and his army ... and kill those dinosaurs and insects.
  
The story is told through several flashback sequences and cutscenes which are entertaining at first but later in the game it just starts to peter out.
There isn't also any more detailed explanation why Kane is changing the planet and bringing back dinosaurs. I wish the developer pointed that issue out in the story since it's pretty important.
Turok's Dinosaur Weapons
In earlier incarnations of "Turok", the player always had a huge amount of weapons and this last Turok game is no different.
One of the very first weapons you'll use is a mean looking 'knife'. Used for fast stealth kills on humans, the knife is also a perfect weapon for throat slicing dinosaurs. Beware since larger dinosaurs won't be killed with just your knife.
Another, almost famous weapon in Turok, is 'bow and arrow'. With the bow you have the ability to use stealth to take down enemies. It's silent and comes into standard and explosive varieties.
Other weapons featured in the game are 'plasma rifle', 'bazooka', 'submachines gun', 'shotgun', 'flamethrower',... Thankfully Turok can carry two weapons at the same time but its useful with the SMG's since they also have secondary abilities. For example the plasma rifle can also, as a secondary ability, fire explosive grenades of energy.
All the weapons are well balanced in the game and while many will use the knife as a stealth kill, it may become cheap after a while.
Smart A.I. ?
Well yes ! Turok is not a 100% stealth game like "Splinter Cell" but you'll certainly need to plan your attacks carefully. If you just run & shoot you will be shot in no time ... or eaten by a dinosaur a few seconds.
Your enemies, the soldiers will take cover, dive from incoming grenades and even flank. Still some won't do that, sitting just behind their cover, doing nothing, waiting to be killed but most of time, the A.I. is good.
  
Whats good (and sarcastic), is that you can fire a dino-attract flare at your human enemies and if there's a dinosaur in the area, be sure that your enemies will be eaten while you just watch and enjoy. Funny !
Classic or next-gen graphics
Visually Turok is pretty impressing especially all the dinosaurs. The other characters are well detailed, lip synchronisation is well done but sometimes you'll experience weird pop-up textures, jagging and other graphical flaws.
The several environments will give you the feeling that you are really in the jungle but after a while it gets a bit too repetitive. A shame since Turok always had a plus for its environments. Without the appropriate settings, a game like Turok would instantly fail. Gladly the developer gets the job "well" done but like I said, it could have been a bit more detailed and less repetitive. Otherwise great work in re-creating the same classic Turok atmosphere.
All of the dinos look great and believe it or not, but it gave me some "Jurassic Park" deju-vu here. Great !
The sound work in Turok is good with strong voice-overs, appropriate weapon sounds and great dinosaurs effects. Several famous actors such as Ron Perlman, Donnie Wahlberg and many others lend their voices to the game which greatly benefits in actual gameplay.
Hunt or be hunted Multiplayer
"Turok" features 16-player online matches through Xbox Live. The basic standard MP modes are present here such as "Deathmatch", "Team Deathmatch, "CTF", "Assault CTF" and "Objective based". These can be played on the available 7 maps.
You can either play as the 'good guys' (aka Whisky Company) or the 'bad guys' (aka Wolf Pack). Before you ask, no you can't play as a 'dinosaur'. Still it would be very cool if this could be unlocked or added.
In most of the maps you'll encounter dinosaurs and other insects but they're NPC's.
A "co-op mode" exists where you and a buddy can join in taking down enemies but unfortunately there are only three missions.
When playing you might get some lag from time to time but it's not a guarantee. The moments we played, mostly in the morning, we witnessed almost no lag but sometimes difficulties to get into an online game. It's good but not as good as any other top titles like 'COD4' or 'Frontlines FOW'.
Conclusion
"Turok" from developer Propaganda Games and published by Touchstone (and EA) is a nice effort to blow new life into an old and classic franchise.
There is still need for some polishing here and there which could have been nicely done if the developer had some more time.
Graphics are OK but don't expect any COD4 or even Frontlines. Audio and sound effects are excellent with great voice-overs and stunning effects.
The dinosaurs are the real stars in this game and we're glad that Propaganda Games made an effort in re-creatings these prehistoric beasts so authentic. They look absolutely aweomse, especially the big T-Rex.
Perhaps not the best FPS of Q1 2008 but it's definitely above average and worth playing.
-Bjorn
Ratings
Manual:
85 % |
Graphics:
83% |
Music & Sfx:
89% |
GamePlay:
79% |
|
This game scores
 
on our 5-point Rating System
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