Turok: Dinosaur Hunter  

by Acclaim  Reviewed by: Darren Mitchell  

Overview

Forget everything you've learned in the real world. You are a warrior named Turok, in the Saquin language meaning "Son of Stone," defender of the land, protector of the earth. Follow in the footsteps of your ancestors, make your way through the Lost Land fighting ferocious natives, dinosaurs, aliens, demons, and cyborgs, to find all of the pieces of the Chronoscepter and defeat the Campaigner.

Or, just have a screamingly wild time running through the jungle, hacking, slashing and/or blowing away everything that gets in your way!

Although the story of Turok as told in the comic books from Gold Key, Valiant, and Acclaim is an interesting one, it's not as important to gameplay as you might expect, which is perfectly fine. From the moment you turn on the game the objective is clear: EXPLORE. Run across it, climb on/up it, jump up/to it, swim in/around it, or slash/shoot it, all in a jungle environment that's so realistic, you'll be tempted to say "Computer, freeze program" ala the Holodeck on the Enterprise.

Gameplay

The idea behind this one-player, first-person adventure game is to survive the elements long enough to find all of the keys scattered in each level to gain access to each other level (and beat the hell out of all the bad guys too). You can return through the gate of a level you've already explored, to find things you've missed or couldn't reach until you had the right weapon. Watch out for dangers all around you -- the natives are restless, the dinosaurs are hungry, and the bosses, well, they'll make you wish you were playing Ecco the Dolphin instead.

The overwhelming best features of this game pack are the controls, the environment, the map, and the weapons. Let me elaborate:

The Controls: If you own a Nintendo 64, you've probably played Super Mario 64, and you've mastered how to make our plumber run, jump, turn, flip, and do all kinds of tricks using the cool new controller. Well, forget all those Mario moves; there's now a better way to move through life -- the Turok way.

The first 20 minutes I spent playing Turok, I got so dizzy trying to move around, it was like a chimp trying to fly a biplane. The four yellow C buttons control your movement, while the control stick controls your line of sight. I naturally wanted to use the control stick to move, so in effect I kept accidentally moving Turok's head around instead of his body. I wanted to punish the idiot that came up with such a screwed-up button system, but once I got the hang of it I realized the awesomeness of this control set -- to be able to simulate fluid head movements independently from directional movement. Look down at your feet as you cross a narrow bridge. Lean back to aim your Quad Rocket Launcher just a little bit higher and just a hair to the right. Aim perfectly and plunk an exploding arrow into the gut of a trooper on a high cliff 50 feet away. It's virtual reality without the cumbersome suit and headset.

The Environment: To describe what you'll see when you go exploring in the 8 stages of Turok would fill several dozen pages and still not do this game pack justice. This isn't just a game with jungle paths and rooms with doors -- you have to figure out ancient puzzles and find switches to reveal hidden paths and prizes. Dive down deep into a well, swim down a river, climb a 10-story high cliff, jump from pillar to pillar, or crawl through a narrow winding tunnel. And the enemies? Well they aren't just dumb objects simply waiting around the corner for you to come and find them. No, in this game the hunter becomes the HUNTED -- the demons and giant beetles and raptors come looking for you. There's more about it in the Graphics section.

The Map: Press the left shoulder (L) button to reveal this gem. The map is a see-through outline of your immediate surroundings, which will come in so handy that, like me, you may leave it on all the time. It spins as you spin, moves as you move, and reveals your path a few feet in front of you and everywhere you've been, showing walls as solid lines and cliffs (or any structure on a different plane as the one you're standing on) as shaded lines. The map is essential for those tricky jumps when the slightest misstep can cause you to plummet to your doom.

The Weapons: When you press the A or B buttons, a roulette wheel appears and spins to your left, letting you choose from your available weapons. You're limited to a knife and bow at first, but in no time you'll have enough big guns to make a card-carrying NRA member jealous. Watch your ammo levels though; try to find the backpack so you can carry twice as many clips, arrows and shells.

Graphics

Ahh, the heart and soul of a good game, the qualities that will determine if you buy a game from the locked sales counter or from the pile in the clearance bin. You won't be disappointed with Turok. Objects sometimes tend to look a little flat and grainy up close, but you won't have time to notice it. The hazy jungle sky blends evenly with the trees and cliffs, creating a life-like, fascinating environment. You can even follow the glare in your eyes as you look up at the sun. And as any jungle should be, it's teeming with unseen life emitting roars, chirps and other various wildlife sounds from all around. Your enemies have an added touch of realism as well in both sights and sounds. Pump 6 rounds into a charging raptor (before he rips at your gut), and watch him squirm and hear his gargled screeches, all to satisfy your taste for victory. From echoes in darkened corridors to squeals of jeep tires in the arena, your senses will keep you believing you're in another world.

Bottom Line

If you like the feel of first person games (ala DOOM), and you like adventure too (like Tomb Raider), it doesn't get any better than Turok. The smooth controls and fluid all-around head movement make it a real innovation in home video game technology. I wish they would use this game engine and remake some of my other favorite games, like Shadows of the Empire, for instance. Anyway, there's an amazing variety of terrains in eight levels to explore, and a few secret rooms too, so it'll be a long time before you get bored with this one. It's designed for mature audiences, but if you like you can change the blood to green or simply turn it off to soften the carnage. I recommend the following:

• Buy a memory pack. Unless you like getting to level five and starting all over again when you lose your last life. To save your progress, keep an eye out for the "never around when you need one" monoliths scattered throughout the levels.
• Use the biggest screen possible. My brother's projection TV was like a dream.
• Sit in a dimly lit room. You want the full effect but without damaging your eyesight.
• Get surround sound. 'Nuff said.
• Check your heart medication. Don't say I didn't warn you.