Being a big Turok fan growing up, this was a major letdown for me. Just renting this game once from Blockbuster was enough for me to realize this entry couldn't hold a candle to the original entries in the franchise.
Apparently, this was meant to be a prequel explaining how Tal Set from the first game entered the lost land and became Turok, as well as a return to the jungle trotting adventures the series started with in Dinosaur Hunter. While a good idea on paper, it just wasn't handled properly and nothing very new or innovative was introduced to the franchise. If anything, it felt like a step backwards.
While locked in combat, Texas Native American Tal'Set and Confederate Captain Tobias Bruckner both fall into a strange portal. They both are transported to the Lost Land, where the evil reptilian despot Tyrannus and his army of Slegs are trying to achieve world domination. Now, Tal'Set must take up the mantle of the Son of Stone and help the human resistance defeat Tyrannus.
First of all, the story was about as clear as mud and tough to follow. The characters were boring, forgettable, and did little if anything to help you. Even Bruckner is an unimpressive villain compared to the Campaigner in Turok 1 or the Primagen in Turok 2. In fact, Tyrannus is the real villain, but, disappointingly, you never actually fight him.
The enemies were more mundane and limited compared to those from the last game, consisting mostly of dinosaurs and other prehistoric wildlife. Other than that, you constantly encounter reptillian humanoids called Slegs and sometimes recycled Purlinn. Nothing new and there are few supernatural elements involved, unlike the previous games. There weren't even any bosses except the final one.
The weapons were more basic and lacked the unique style from the previous games, despite having secondary features that weren't even that useful. Even worse, they tended to have flawed aiming, like the pistol with it's sniper mode.
The levels were more straightforward, lacking the labyrinthian design of past Turok levels; there were no secondary objectives or key collecting. At least the conventional, platforming levels had solid gameplay and were playable for the most part. What I absolutely hated were the new and excessive Pteranodon riding levels that took up half the game with your mount flying too fast and having tons of obstacles to dodge.
The game was very unpolished and had muddy, poorly textured levels and sloppy graphics. They didn't look any better than those in Turok 3. Even worse, there were lots of bugs and glitches, like weapons disappearing from your inventory and long loading screens. Even the AI of the enemies and your allies is a step-down from previous games.
But, for all of the game's faults, there's no denying that the music is amazing. Did a great job creating an intense soundtrack with powerful and intense sounding woodwind and brass that fit the series perfectly and captured the Turok spirit.
No question, this was the lowest point of the Turok franchise.
Apparently, this was meant to be a prequel explaining how Tal Set from the first game entered the lost land and became Turok, as well as a return to the jungle trotting adventures the series started with in Dinosaur Hunter. While a good idea on paper, it just wasn't handled properly and nothing very new or innovative was introduced to the franchise. If anything, it felt like a step backwards.
While locked in combat, Texas Native American Tal'Set and Confederate Captain Tobias Bruckner both fall into a strange portal. They both are transported to the Lost Land, where the evil reptilian despot Tyrannus and his army of Slegs are trying to achieve world domination. Now, Tal'Set must take up the mantle of the Son of Stone and help the human resistance defeat Tyrannus.
First of all, the story was about as clear as mud and tough to follow. The characters were boring, forgettable, and did little if anything to help you. Even Bruckner is an unimpressive villain compared to the Campaigner in Turok 1 or the Primagen in Turok 2. In fact, Tyrannus is the real villain, but, disappointingly, you never actually fight him.
The enemies were more mundane and limited compared to those from the last game, consisting mostly of dinosaurs and other prehistoric wildlife. Other than that, you constantly encounter reptillian humanoids called Slegs and sometimes recycled Purlinn. Nothing new and there are few supernatural elements involved, unlike the previous games. There weren't even any bosses except the final one.
The weapons were more basic and lacked the unique style from the previous games, despite having secondary features that weren't even that useful. Even worse, they tended to have flawed aiming, like the pistol with it's sniper mode.
The levels were more straightforward, lacking the labyrinthian design of past Turok levels; there were no secondary objectives or key collecting. At least the conventional, platforming levels had solid gameplay and were playable for the most part. What I absolutely hated were the new and excessive Pteranodon riding levels that took up half the game with your mount flying too fast and having tons of obstacles to dodge.
The game was very unpolished and had muddy, poorly textured levels and sloppy graphics. They didn't look any better than those in Turok 3. Even worse, there were lots of bugs and glitches, like weapons disappearing from your inventory and long loading screens. Even the AI of the enemies and your allies is a step-down from previous games.
But, for all of the game's faults, there's no denying that the music is amazing. Did a great job creating an intense soundtrack with powerful and intense sounding woodwind and brass that fit the series perfectly and captured the Turok spirit.
No question, this was the lowest point of the Turok franchise.