This is probably so. Well maybe one or two others have joined the ranks of Whiskey Company. But how does the full retail version of the game compare to the demo that was put out for "pre-order" or download?

This is based on me playing the better part of 4 hours of this game including deaths. I will just jump into categories...


Story: This is a very basic overview to not to give anything away in case you want to play it. You are a Native American prisoner put into training to become a deadly war hero in the army group Wolf Pack. For one reason or another, you "left"/betrayed them. Your former mentor of the Wolf Pack is now a criminal and on a planet with his men. Grouped with Whiskey Company, you are on a mission to hunt him down. When you are flying to the planet, your spaceship is attacked and crash lands. Escape into the "Lost Land." A funny Comic stip actually just came out about this...


To explain this, the former mentor is on planet that is being terraforming from the research facility located on it. This speeds up the evolutionary process? Hence the vegetation and dinosaurs.



Graphics: The game is not going to win awards like BioShock did but it isn't wretched. They use the same art style from Gears of War since they both use the Unreal Engine 3. Only real diffence is that this title doesn't have as much details, especially on the enemies. Of course Gears had more detail partly cause you will eventually play as the bad guys in multiplayer. Why dress one up and not the other?

Anyways, the game actually looks better than the demo. I also feel the demo gave a small example of what to expect but picked a kind of lackluster area. That area is pretty bland based on the rest of the areas. "Death Valley" in particular was pretty nice. It was a large open area with a wrecked structure and in the background you could see mountain cliffs that look climbable and not just a picture. Sure there are parts that just have a picture up there but a lot of games do that.

There is a lot more to the graphics and a lot more areas that are full of detail and visuals compare to what was seen in the demo. I wonder if that was just an easy area to just throw into the demo to not give away too much. Or they just wanted you to get some knife action instead of just the weapons.



Weapons: Speaking of weapons, they have them! How many? In Turok: Dinosaur Hunter there was about 15. In Tuork 2: Seeds of Evil it was bumped up to about 26, give or take a few upgrades and limited use weapons like the harpoon. And how does this one stack up? 11? Wait what? As of right now and what the instructions show, there are about 11 weapons. Could there be hidden weapons? I hope so! [i]Don't ruin this for me in the comments.[/b] I haven't stepped foot in multiplayer cause I want to enjoy single player and I don't want to ruin possible new weapons.

Propaganda Games really did make the Bow & Knife essential to the game though, especially the knife. It is very possible to run through this game with the knife killing people and most things left and right. It isn't wise to try to slash someone but the "real-time" kills (RTK) with it work wonders. Plus, people skilled with this ability can actually time RTK before the button impromptu shows on the screen. It is difficult to master but I have done it a few times so it is possible.

The bow is just sweet. There are two features about it that I love. When holding the trigger down, you will notice that the bow and crosshairs move. Once it is upright and you hear the tension built up, shoot the enemy. Not only will it be a one hit kill, but it is possible to pin them against the wall. Is he not standing against a wall? No problem, if there is a wall somewhat close behind him, he will fly back and get pinned to the wall. It is just fun to watch and do.

Did you pull your arrow back but have no target? Well slowly let go of the trigger to disarm your weapon. That is right, if you pull back on the bow, you can lightly lossen up tension and not waste an arrow. Apparently Crackdown did this, but I never played it so I don't know. Regardless it is just sweet in my eyes.



Gameplay: This is more of a focus on levels. Yes, unfortunately this Turok game has levels. They aren't the type like from GoldenEye 007, but more along the lines of a continuous level with titles appearing for sections. There are a few areas that you get to that are big. This is presented to give you different options about proceeding. Will you run out in the open, guns ablazing? Will you hide in the grass with gun and bow? Will you hug the rock walls and go up ledges to snipe with the Sniper Rifle or Bow? That is up to you, the option is there.

Paths are presented to give you a choice. But it is still a matter of how you want to tackle the next challenge. Compared to the original two titles, the game is linear unfortunately. Although like other shooters *cough*BioShock*cough*, it gives you the illusion that it is open-ended at times.

Regardless of the level set-up, there were times when I was just fighting dinos down a corridor that it felt like Turok. I was just thinking, how am I going to kill these dinosaurs. It was bliss for a Turok fan. And there is something terribly sweet when standing in the middle of a tall grassy area with fierce, fast, four-legged dinosaurs are running around, moving the grass and not being able to see where he is.


Oh yeah, AI...soldiers will move around and take cover like most other games. I haven't seen anything too impressive. They usually move when you throw a grenade. Dinosaurs don't play favorites thankfully. If they are attacked, they attack you. Peaceful dinosaurs only attack when provoked. These "pacifist" dinos will knock you over if you get too close though. And becareful when attacking dinos when they are in a pack, it is hard to get-up and get a hit in before youd ie.


Is this game Turok? Yes and no. The guns aspect, as of right now, doesn't seem like it too much. But they could have some stellar guns at the end? They were bragging about it in videos in the past. Storywise, it isn't Turok cause it isn't about transporting through time and space into the Lost World. You traveled through space literally, but not time. And obviously the gameplay doesn't match up to the previous games saddly.

Another aspect of that is missing from this title that makes a Turok game is collecting. I kept looking and looking but there is nothing to collect. No keys, no pieces of anything. The original Turok was about exploring, killing dinosaurs with big guns and finding keys to get to the next area. Saddly this one is about just shooting and killing, which isn't completely bad. I want to find the seven pieces to build a SUPER GUN!


Bottom Line: The game, Turok or not, is not perfect, I never will claim that. There are bugs with some animation and some of the character movement but what game doesn't have that? In the time I have spent with it, it is fun. I have enjoyed myself and it feels better than the demo.

The one thing I am excited about but haven't tried is the multiplayer. Up to 16 players WITH computer controller Dinosaurs running around, yes please! And there is a "co-op" mode that has me intrigued.

As of right now, the best I can give this game is a Rent It. Unless you are a Die Hard fan like me!