The tyrannosaurus rex is the least of this dinosaur hunter's worries.
Touchstone and Propaganda Games' prehistoric escapade, Turok, is a satisfying first-person shooter. The hunter, however, falls prey to a genre saturated with similar or better FPS fare.
Joseph Turok joins the elite commando squad Whiskey Company to hunt down mentor Roland Kane. Turok's ship is ambushed by Kane's troops and sent hurtling toward an unknown planet where vicious dinosaurs roam. Your goal is to escape alive and capture Kane.
The planet's jungle environments are vast and colorful. But when you've been spoiled by the lush greenery in games like Crysis or Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, you may find yourself underwhelmed. The sounds of branches crackling under feet while you rustle through thick bushes are crisp.
Turok's foes fall under two types: troops led by Kane and bloodthirsty dinosaurs. Your arsenal consists of the standard array of guns and grenades. But the two weapons that truly stand out are the knife and compound bow. Using your blade, you'll sneak behind targets and quickly kill them with a timed press of the trigger. Finishing off an opponent with a long-range bow strike is incredibly rewarding.
For a dinosaur hunter, Turok is rather sluggish. It takes a second before he begins running, and even then you feel you're in quicksand. It's particularly noticeable when contrasted with a fast-moving target reticle. Prepare to adjust settings to slow the speed.
Enemy intelligence is inconsistent. Dinosaurs only know to lunge the second you're in their view, which is what you would expect. But human smarts are where the problems lie. Occasionally, they'll find cover the second they hear gunfire, or chase you down when you're severely injured. Troops are far too easy to take by surprise. Don't worry about sneaking up for knife strikes. You can literally run full speed for a quick stab, as long as they don't see you. They're also oblivious when a live grenade heads their way.
Consistent artificial intelligence isn't the only thing extinct in Turok. The story lacks a lot of background detail, particularly the origins of Turok and the dinosaur-laden planet.
Turok's single-player mission is solid. The mix between troops and dinosaurs is even. You'll often run through maps and find carnivorous beasts pouncing from the brush ready to bite your head off. Turok also boasts some entertaining clashes with larger game, including a T-Rex and underwater behemoth.
Multiplayer is fun as well. The standard team and solo death matches are available, as well as co-operative missions. The addition of dinosaurs and your knife attacks keep combat interesting.
Aficionados of the first-person shooter should enjoy a fresh entry to the genre. Unfortunately, when lined up with the recent crop of top-notch FPS titles, Turok's footprint is easy to overlook.
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