Game Review Data
 
Game Title
Turok Evolution
Publisher
Acclaim
Features
1 - 2 Players. Password Save.
Format
Platformer
Reviewer
Andrew Blanchard


RATING

Good!


Ratings Scale:

Excellent!

Good!

Playable!

Ho-Hum!

Yuck!


Archived Game Reviews:

From A - Z

 

 
Introduction

Turok has always been a huge license for Nintendo, but even though the games have appeared on almost every bit of hardware they've released, this is its first appearance on the GBA. As with the Gamecube version, there was probably a huge temptation to produce a handheld First Person Shooter (FPS), but wisely the developers have stuck with what the Gameboy does best and presented us with a platformer-come-shooter version of this classic hunting title. Anyone who's sampled the delights of Turok on the GBC will feel right at home here. As for everyone else, read on to find out if the game the entire gaming community's been talking about all year has lived up to the hype.

Screen Shots

GamePlay

You tackle two different types of gameplay playing Turok. The first, and most common is the platformer section, where you travel from left to right blasting everything in your path. The real challenge here is that you also get troops appearing from behind just when there's a tricky dinosaur to deal with. There are also many things to avoid as stuff like mines, smart bombs and barbed wire will sap your health instantly. Help is at hand with various weapon upgrades, but as some of these are limited in the amount of time or ammo they offer, you still have to be a pretty sharp shooter in order to reach the end of the level.

The other sections can best be described as a kind of Cabal shooter from the early days of arcade games. Here the screen automatically scrolls and you control a crosshair onscreen in order to fire at everything that attacks. This is actually slightly easier than the platform sections as there are a lot of extra weapons lying around to aid you in your quest. Things do get considerably tougher though, so if you reach an end of level boss you'll usually have to work out exactly where its weak point is before defeating it.

There are some downsides to Turok, which severely hamper what could have been a classic title. The first is one that we've come to expect, where the multiplayer option requires two copies of the game to indulge in extended gameplay. The second is the unforgivable password system, which not only has far too many digits but also requires two separate codes--one for the level and the other for weapons, health status, etc. This is far too complicated; selecting a "continue?" prompt would have been easier and a lot more satisfying in the long run. This really is a game that would have benefited so much from a battery backup and it's a huge oversight by Acclaim that it doesn't have one.

Controls

Considering the number of weapons that can be collected and utilized, Turok features some very intelligent interface and control systems. This is mostly provided by an 'inventory wheel', which is entered via the shoulder buttons so rather than having to scroll through masses of options in order to select your weapon (which can take some time in other titles), the 'wheel' only highlights your current available weapons, saving time and frustration. Everything else is just as you'd expect and classic platform controls have been implemented, which are both simple to use and responsive in play.

Graphics

From the comic book style intro to the actual in-game graphics, there's enough eye candy in Turok Evolution to satisfy even the most cynical of gamers. The animation is excellent and everything moves in an extremely fluid manner, even the sizable dinosaurs. Where this title really shines though is in the special effects department. The developers have tapped into the GBA’s considerable graphical power to produce some wonderful transparency effects and multi-parallax scrolling backgrounds. If all this isn't enough, you have the weapons and explosions, all of which are truly outstanding, even occasionally reflecting on surrounding objects when fired--brilliant.

Sound & Music

The audio department seems to be a gaming aspect ignored by some developers and as a result, often feels like an afterthought. Great sound though can make an average game better and a good game great. Turok Evolution approaches the sound in a George Lucas fashion so every section of the audio--from the soundtrack to the various sound effects--complements the gameplay wonderfully. This is another game where it's essential to root out a good set of headphones to get maximum effect, so if you haven't got any then now's probably a good time to invest in this essential GBA accessory.

Final Comments

Turok is a tough game even on the 'normal' setting, although this is no bad thing as most platformers suffer from being too simple and therefore, too short. Minor quibbles aside, the good news is that it was definitely worth the wait. The game is full of great audio, visuals, and some impressive level design. The two player option adds greater longevity and rather than being an afterthought it's obvious that this aspect was intended to be included from the start. If you're fed up with platformers that only last a day and are thirsty for a solid gaming challenge then Turok could be just what you're looking for. Casual hunters need not apply.

@ EAGB Advance 2002. All rights reserved.