http://www.chicoer.com/entertainment/ci_8203139

GIESON CACHO: GAME ON
Latest 'Turok' game less cartoonish

Contra Costa Times
Article Launched: 02/08/2008 03:06:42 AM PST

Perhaps it's a defect in his character or maybe it's a fickle public, but
Turok has always been a hero in flux.

No other comic book character seems to have a history as turbulent or as
trying as the Native American dinosaur hunter. The unusual protagonist "a
mix of Rambo and 'Alien's' Ripley" has gone through numerous successes,
failures and incarnations.

At one point, he starred in a comic book series that lasted almost 30 years
before it ended in the 1980s. A decade later, Valiant Comics reimagined the
dinosaur hunter with a sci-fi twist, and he enjoyed a revival among a new
generation of readers.

When it comes to video games, Turok's forays mirror his history in print.
His first few titles drew some notoriety, but the hero's reputation
declined after a couple of mediocre releases. Now, more than five years
since his last adventure, Turok once again returns, and yes, he's sporting
a different look. Propaganda Games has brought back a dinosaur hunter that
bears little resemblance to the hyper-violent "Mortal Kombat"-style of the
1990s.

In "Turok," the developer eschews the cartoonishness of its predecessors.
There is no Cerebral Bore to horrifically decapitate your foes. In its
place, players will have to blast them with an armory of conventional
weapons. Instead of a cookie cutter plot, there's a gritty survival story.
It's a smart move for a first-person shooter in need of a fresh start.
Although there will be some alienated fans, they should appreciate the
mature tone of the game.

As the titular character, players will find themselves on a routine
mission: As the newest member of Whiskey Company, Turok will have to
apprehend his former mentor, Roland Kane. But on his way to the fugitive's
location, things go horribly awry. Whiskey Company's ship is shot down, and
the unit's objective changes completely.

After crash landing on a planet, Turok and the survivors will have to look
for a way off a rock crawling with dinosaurs, giant insects and an army of
Kane's henchmen. The set-up works fine and it introduces some decent levels
during the 15-hour adventure. Propaganda makes good use of the Unreal 3
engine, creating some memorable moments in the caves, bases and jungle
sprinkled on the planet.

During his journey, Turok will come across the standard mix of shotguns,
machine guns and pulse rifles all with alternate forms of fire. Although
useful, the two weapons that stood out were more on the primitive side --
one was a bow and arrow, and the other was a combat knife. Both let you
silently kill your opponents, but unfortunately, there are few instances in
which the bow is helpful. The knife, meanwhile, gets lots of use, fending
off dinosaurs and stalking soldiers with satisfying kill moves.

The other notable aspect of the combat is the artificial intelligence. In
"Turok," there is supposed to be an ecological AI similar to what is found
in "Bioshock." Predators are supposed to react to prey, and there should be
an opportunity to lure raptors and other creatures onto unsuspecting
squads. But this feature doesn't always work. In an attempt to toss a
dino-attracting flare toward the enemy, the raptor sometimes notices the
player, defeating the purpose. In the end, trying to finesse one's way
through battles was hardly worth the trouble.

In terms of level design, the boss battles highlight an average set of
stages. Battling a Tyrannosaurus Rex was harrowing. Going against a sea
serpent using only a flame thrower was intense. These epic fights are what
makes the license worthwhile. But along the way, the developer also had a
few missteps. Often the environments seem too similar, and a vehicle stage
or an escort mission would have been a nice change of pace to the constant
fighting.

But the biggest missed opportunities are during the flashback scenes, when
players explore Turok's dark past. Instead of an interactive experience,
Propaganda opted for cut-scenes that take players out of the experience. In
an interactive title, this is a cardinal mistake that steals the dramatic
oomph "Turok" needs later in the story. The end game against the two most
cold-blooded killers on the planet didn't really have the impact it needed.

As for the multiplayer experience, "Turok" does have a lot to keep players
happy. There's a co-op with three levels to explore. On the versus side,
players can duke it out in team or free-for-all matches with a slight
twist. Dinosaurs are thrown in mostly as a wild card. They appear randomly,
and though they could have been more of a factor, they really are just
cannon fodder. But still, that doesn't mar a good online mode.

In the end, "Turok" takes the necessary steps to become somewhat relevant
in this generation of consoles. But the real test will come with the
inevitable sequels. Will Turok stay in the limelight or will he once again
fade away?

Gieson Cacho's video game column appears weekly in Now Playing. Reach him
at 510-735-7076 or gcacho@....