Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
- November 24, 2000 14:47 PM PST
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The Turok series expands again with Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion. While it can't compete head-to-head with Perfect Dark, the new Turok still has enough going for it to warrant a closer look.
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Are You Ready Turok?
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter was the first first-person shooter on the N64, and many claim it was the first FPS to really work on a console. Since then you've played Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark, and the Turok series has taken a back seat to those quality Rare titles. While Turok 3: Shadows of Oblivion still sits firmly behind Perfect Dark in the N64 FPS rankings, it does manage to pack enough punch to make an impact on the genre. Put simply, Turok 3 seems like an experiment that shows promise, but which doesn't quite deliver as planned.
The last Turok (Rage Wars) was basically a multiplayer mini-game, but Shadows of Oblivion contains a rather well-plotted single-player epic. You take the role of either Danielle or Joseph Fireseed in your quest to save the world from Oblivion. Whichever role you choose, you are the last Turok and the final hope for humanity. The game plays slightly differently depending on which character you choose; Joseph is a sniper and can use nightvision, while Danielle is an expert with explosives. If you're the type to blast your friends, Shadows includes a multiplayer mode that bursts with options. Multiple game modes (ranging from deathmatches to "Monkey Tag" and more) spread out over 48 individual maps. From the list of features, it would seem as though Turok 3 has the best FPS title wrapped up.
Oblivion Ensemble
Turok 3 looks pretty sloppy as far as resolution and frame rate go, but the textures and simple-but-cool level designs manage to keep the bar high. Special effects like rain and nightvision really help keep the graphics score up, but overall, the mediocre quality keeps it from contending with Perfect Dark. Multiplayer games chop up horribly, especially in 4-player mode, and that goes a long way toward discouraging the use of the awesome Deathmatch options.
Turok's sound is about what you'd expect from the N64 if Perfect Dark hadn't come by and destroyed those expectations. The muffled voices and sparse music keep the game from sounding real, but the weapon sounds and monster roars work well enough to keep you immersed.
Turok's controls set the mark for N64 shooters, and they're right on target again in Shadows. Veterans of Turok and Perfect Dark alike will easily walk, slide, and shoot with the best of 'em. The C Buttons move and strafe, and the analog stick controls your view, allowing you easy control over movement while offering pinpoint aiming. The auto-aim feature makes combat a lot more fun, and the level design requires more jumping and precarious-ledge-walking than most other N64 shooters. Most importantly, Turok 3 introduces the innovative "Save Anywhere" feature that some gamers have been shouting for, and the levels are small enough that the game auto-saves for you on a regular basis.
Do You Smell What Turok Is Cookin'?
What you've got here is a decent shooter filled with excellent ideas but blunted by somewhat sloppy execution. Still, anyone who enjoyed previous Turok games will find this one to be the best of the series, and unless Perfect Dark has spoiled you for all other shooters, Turok could make a decent entry into anyone's library.
