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C:\DOS\RUN: Rise of the Triad

4:51 PM on 11.23.2007   |   shipero


[Editor's note: Shipero is old school ya'll (y'all? yoa'll? Whatever, I'm not gangsta enough to know the right way). He loves the era of classic PC gaming. On this edition of C:\DOS\RUN, he talks about a game that looks like a hell of a lot of fun. Who knows, maybe if this game became more successful than Doom, then maybe The Rock would have starred in a RoTT movie. Now there's something to think about. -- CTZ]

One thing I realized looking back my early computer gaming experiences is that I have played a lot of Wolfenstein 3D clones. Some were good, some were bad, but all of them were usually nothing more than Wolfenstein in a different setting with some new sprites. You can’t really blame developers, when a game that popular comes along, it just makes sense to copy the core gameplay and change a few key elements to distinguish your game from the rest. Sometimes, however, a game rises far above the others and can even outshine its predecessor by adding a slew of unique features that make it stand out not only as a good clone, but a good game in its own right. A great example of one of those games is 1994’s Rise of the Triad.


Rise of the Triad was the brainchild of Tom Hall, one of the co-founders of id Software. During the development of Doom, Hall had written a design document called the Doom Bible detailing what he thought the game should be like. His ideas included multiple player characters with different stats and personalities, a central hub world, and a rich detailed story. John Carmack disapproved, he felt that the game would be too complex and wanted instead to make a simple shooter like they had done with Wolfenstein. Hall, tired of making simple, plot-less, shooters, resigned from id and went to work for Apogee.

Hall took some of the ideas from the Doom Bible and stared work on a sequel to Wolfenstein 3D called Rise of the Triad: Wolfenstein 3D 2. Eventually all associations with Wolfenstein were dropped but a few elements remained, such as the nazi-esque enemies and a few World War II era weapons. You play as a member of H.U.N.T. (High-risk United Nations Task-force) and your team is sent to San Nicolas Island to stop a cult from destroying Los Angeles. Since you are U.N. agents, you must accomplish this task through the cunning use of diplomacy and the threat of sanctions. Just kidding, it’s a FPS, so the only course of action is horrific bloody violence using an array of high-powered weaponry.

The U.N. would get more respect if Hans Blix would have carried a flame cannon.

The game’s arsenal of weapons is split into three categories: bullet weapons, missiles, and magic. The basic armament choices consist of a pistol, pistols akimbo, and a machinegun -- all of which have infinite ammo. The missile weapons are slightly more varied; you have a basic bazooka, heat seeking rounds, and missiles that send out waves of flame when they connect with the ground. The magic weapons are where things get interesting. There’s a staff that shoots orbs of energy that disintegrates any enemies they come in contact with and the Excalibat, a magical baseball bat that launches exploding baseballs. With cache of weapons like this you would think that it should be a breeze to liquefy anyone that dares stand in your way. However, there’s a catch, only four weapons can be carried at a time, forcing the player to choose how to most effectively murder cultists.

The weapons aren’t the only interesting feature that ROTT has to offer. Enemies have some impressive A.I.; they beg for mercy if dealt enough damage and some even fake their deaths and will continue to attack after your back is turned. The elite guards even display advanced tactics; they will roll and dodge your shots, lie prone behind obstacles, ambush you as you run past, and even trap you in nets. This was a large step up from the typical stronger enemy in a different uniform style of enemy progression found in other games at the time.

The environments are also unique; the levels are littered with destructible objects and various traps. The destructible objects seem to serve two major purposes: to block off hidden paths and hinder you in combat. There are several occasion throughout the game where your heat seeking rocket will fly off and blow up a candle instead of the cultist you were originally aiming for. The traps are more inventive than your typical acid floors and bottomless pits: there are spikes that shoot out of the ground, large pillars of blades that traverse hallways, and bounce pads that launch people several feet into the air. Both you and the enemies can fall victim to these traps. There’s even a stage in the shareware version that if you stand around for a few seconds after the stage begins, you can watch an entire room full of cultists get ground up by some blade pillars.

Blendtec has gone too far.

ROTT was one of those great games that no one seemed to play. I always turned to when I grew tired of generic FPSes. It was overshadowed by the juggernaut that was Doom, which is a shame as I would have loved to see a sequel. While playing the shareware version to get reacquainted, all I could think is how much I wished I still had the full game. I’m still tempted to buy it off of 3D Realms’ website. If you are interested in playing the game that Doom killed, you can play it either via DOSBox or one of the many programs made to port it to modern operating systems like WinROTT.

Watch for yourself:
Gory isn’t it? I hope you enjoyed this trip back to the early days of computer gaming. A time before DirectX, Mouse Look, or everything else PC gamers now take for granted. Next week, we’ll take a look at another game that no one cares about but me. Until then, just remember WASD is for wussies.

C:\DOS\RUN\DIR
Directory of C:\DOS\RUN\

WaynesWorld.exe
BlakeStone.exe
HalloweenPP2007.exe
MonsterBash.exe
BattleChess.exe
Boppin.exe
MegaRace.exe
[Editor's note: No, these are not actually .exe files. They're links to Shipero's past works. I just know some of you are actually going to think these are .exe files ...








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50 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 16:50
Excel-2011
Somehow I recall seeing gore like this in a CompUSA display panel. Also, just about anyone can earn mad cred with a flame cannon.
Demios's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 16:51
Demios
Thank you jesus, finally somebody else showing this game some love!

Excellent post, seriously, we should give props to DOS-based games of years gone by too methinks on site. (Even though Retroforce Go! do a bloody good job too)
IvoryShipping's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 16:57
IvoryShipping
Looks like fun, but Commander Keen FTW!!
Alael's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:00
Alael
I remember it took twelve 3.44 floppy disks and an hour or so to zip it. Insane!
bluki's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:00
bluki
aaah i remember this, awesome game, this is the first FPS where i can blow the walls with bazooka... *sniff* brings back my lovely childhood memories
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:09
Holyetheline
OMG I REMEMBER PLAYING THIS AS A KID! This game was great. =)
Demios's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:18
Demios
Possibly had one of the greatest weapons ever too, 'the hand of god'. It just vaporised anyone who was in front of you and all your character did was yawn while killing. ROFL!
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:20
Wedge
I played the hell out of the Shareware version that was on my... Ultimate Doom disc of all things XD. Definitely up there with Blood for forgotten totally kickass shooters.
Lewzr's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:20
Lewzr
I think I played more LAN deathmatches on this game than I did Doom. Those bounce pads...drunk missles...Dog Mode...I mean, seriously, how could Doom even compare to this thing?

It was also probably one of the first time I found myself regularly busting a gut while being killed repeatedly with rockets. Because, in spite of the gore, it was pretty darn funny too (I lovee the occasional eyeball that would go flying by after you blew someone into chunks).
shipero's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:26
shipero
Lewzr

I agree, this game had some really interesting multiplayer options. I really liked playing tag.
Futuris7's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:31
Futuris7
(Claps) Great tribute to a game that made me addicted to gratuitous violence. I still remember getting an erection when those eyeballs fell down the screen. I still probably would...
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:49
Maurice Tan
RoTT was the tits. Shrooooms!
Excremento's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 17:50
Excremento
@ Shipero

I'm giving you some love with my Top 10 tonight...
Butmac's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 18:10
Butmac
Shipero - you have won over my respecks - well done sir. Knowledge of old PC gaming is CLUTCH
Nukkus's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 18:14
Nukkus
please may i has excalibat?
fetusmilk's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 18:24
fetusmilk
proof there was duel wielding long before halo. also jump pads. hehe also shadow warrior was pretty cool.
boylie's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 18:29
boylie
This game was awesome

LUDRICOUS GIBS!
Rabite's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 18:31
Rabite
RotT was awesome. You could play an FPS without worrying about using the mouse. Back when you used the arrow keys instead of some half-assed setup of letters or some crap.

*gets his cane*
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 18:47
king3vbo
WOOHOO SHIPERO! I know that guy!
Orionsaint's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 19:55
Orionsaint
OMG that reminds me! I have to make a boot disk floppy for my AT&T 486 4 meg ram 33mhz so I can run DOOM. hehe, those were the days. Days I wanna forget. I did manage to get, 'Under a Killing Moon', starring Margot Kidder to work on this computer, but at a cost.
Das Inchworm's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 20:01
Das Inchworm
the realistic hands are so puke worthy.
jerrt's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 20:13
jerrt
thanks for this trip down memory lane. this was one of my most played fps games next to duke 3d and the original half life on pc [i'm referencing mainly my childhood games, not more recent stuff]

i've got the rott windows runtime. it is amazing.
boylie's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 20:20
boylie
God now I want to play it again.
I wish I still had my copy... Anyone still have the game and wanna hook a brotha up? Anyone? ....... Anyone??
dafusion's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 20:40
dafusion
I remember hating this game.
jerrt's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 20:47
jerrt
my favorite part had to be either the god mode which turned on wicked killing ability and crazy moaning or the fact that if you played the whole game, and didn't blow up all the eggs on the last level you really didn't win.

also the fact that the loading screens had a date trigger on them to change on certain holidays. [when the characters were shown, it would change for major holidays] again, great read
Lord_Satorious's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 21:24
Lord_Satorious
I had this game. It had a lot of features that didn't become standard until much later. Unlike DOOM, you could look around, jump, and actually go under objects. However, the levels were using the same design as Wolfenstein 3D, i.e. all the walls were right-angle zig-zags. Still, the weapons were awesome, the action was great, and the game had a TON of multiplayer modes. I think Rise of the Triad should make a comeback.
LethalHairdo's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 21:42
LethalHairdo
I FUCKING LOVED THIS GAME! Seriously...when the eyeballs flew at the screen it was PURE tits. Especially when you turned on the max gore and four eyeballs flew out of one guy for some reason. LOL. I didn't think ANYONE played this...Doom was so dominating back then.

FTR...I miss DOS...it was so much easier back then.
vandamguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 21:44
vandamguy
Asbestos armor! OHH so itchy!!
UNDERSTAR's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 21:52
UNDERSTAR
OMG!! Some one remembers this game. I thought it was man and my friend that enjoy the shit out of this game.
Spykron's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 21:58
Spykron
this game rocked so hard. im late to the party but it doesnt matter. god hand, dog mode, el cid. and i remember the code for the bae bazooka was vanilla, plain and simple. and the gore mode! omg with the eyeballs flying past the screen. ok now im going to actually read your fine article. sorry, i was too excited, i had to comment first.
Android8675's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 22:03
Android8675
Game had a level editor as well, since all the walls were right-angles, there was a level editor where you just dropped in blocks of walls and passageways like Legos to make your own levels.

Meh, was OK.
TwinkieFGR's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 22:11
TwinkieFGR
I have to mention, if you have a homebrew device you CAN play this on your DS as well, and it runs pretty great.

http://vespenegas.com/rott.html
Sk8nOB's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 22:41
Sk8nOB
This game was so ballin'.
TheExit's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 22:42
TheExit
RoTT was dyno! So good! Those duel pistols were the shit! We used to play the shareware version all the time, cause we couldn't find the full one anywhere here. One day on a P2P, I downloaded one of this classic FPS (full version) again, and it was glorious!
Big Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 23:08
Big Z
People other than me played this game?!
junkie's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/23/2007 23:47
junkie
Yeah, if you really want to play the full version, the-underdogs or abandonia probably has it. Most of those old dos games are abandonware.

But honestly, I hated the level design in this game. There were some good shooters out there that weren't called Doom, but this wasn't one of them...
Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 00:17
Aaron Mxy Yost
God, loved this game back in the day. Been forever since I even thought about it.
Grimspoon's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 00:54
Grimspoon
I didnt realize there were so many other ppl who enjoyed this game.

pro tip: You can actually get this game to run on your PSP.

Totally worth the effort!
Tino's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 01:30
Tino
All I remember about this game is EXTREME VIOLENCE.

I loved it.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 07:59
wardrox
Wonder if there is a port for the DS yet
SourGr8pes's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 09:15
SourGr8pes
This game was cool because of the gore, and the jumping that was absent from Doom.

Now do an article on Heretic!!
xmetninjax's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 09:34
xmetninjax
I remember playing this game as a kid, it simply killed DOOM. Funny was that whenever you'd choose to quit the game I think, you'd get a story of your death, like driving your car off a cliff or having the plug pulled. I always got a kick out of that.
baphomet_irl's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 10:15
baphomet_irl
absolutely brilliant game - I loved the way it spinned around your character and made you dizzy as a death animation :)
PetiePal's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 11:17
PetiePal
I'm with you...loved that game and I've got the full version somewhere. All I can say is...HAND OF GOD!!!
PetiePal's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 11:18
PetiePal
I'm with you...loved that game and I've got the full version somewhere. All I can say is...HAND OF GOD!!!
baphomet_irl's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 14:11
baphomet_irl
that dude on the wheelchair was pretty awesome too :D
brosef's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2007 18:27
brosef
This was the first game I played online. Ah dial-up, you failed me so very much.

I can has Dark Castle c-blog maybe? You know the one: throw rocks at bats, swing from vines, black & white Macintosh game. That game rocked my 3rd grade.
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2007 05:03
Fading Star
This game looks so awesome. Good job.
jaded cynic's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2007 11:42
jaded cynic
Funny thing.. I was cleaning out my bedroom at my parents house this weekend and found a copy of this. The jump pads were what really set this game apart from the rest for me. I'd love to see this ported to XBLA but that'll never happen.
cynicalllama's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2007 17:14
cynicalllama
Another great thing that I loved about this game was the fact that it had a cheat code that was John Woo. This gave the akimbo pistols and really struck me as one of the first moments I saw a game pay tribute to a man who forever changed the shape of all forms of action entertainment (be it games, movies or whatever). There is a really well done port of it for the Dreamcast that used to be available on DCforums... Ill see if it's still there and if not keep an eye out on the "usual" places for an upload... hehehe.
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