Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion #21 2 years after Turok 2 Seeds of Evil

Gameplay & Walkthrough

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion #21

N64® Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion game box front.

Developer: Acclaim Studios Austin
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment
Game Rating: M (Mature) for Blood and Gore, Mild Language, and Violence
Release Date:August 31, 2000
Players: 1 - 4
Miscellaneous Attributes: Vibration
Features: Over 24 upgradable weapons to battle 40 new and original enemies! Intense multiplayer action - over 8 modes and 48 maps!

Storyline

The storyline for Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion takes place two years after Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, after Joshua Fireseed was first introduced to Oblivion and its lackeys, the Flesh Eaters. Oblivion is a monstrous cosmic entity that consumed everything in its path. Oblivion fed on the very energy of the dead and dying, invading the bodies of the living and devouring them from the inside-out. When the Primagen's Lightship was destroyed, the resulting chain reaction it triggered was so powerful that the universe as it existed was completely eradicated, and the almighty Oblivion was pushed to the very brink of destruction. For the first time, Oblivion felt pain, fear, and hatred. Though totally ravaged, Oblivion survived and now desperately seeks a means to punch through the Netherscape that separates our world from the Lost Land and the Lost Land from countless others.

The last shreds of the pure energy source that created our world and nearly wiped out Oblivion are contained within the Light Burden, the bag that every member of the Turok lineage has carried. The death of the Turok mantle will signal the beginning of the end, the rebirth of Oblivion. To help it in its quest, Oblivion has utilized the aid of hundreds of its offspring. These creatures, collectively known as the "Sons of Darkness," are fanatical worshipers of their creator. Deep within the Lost Land, Oblivion's henchmen have a massive headquarters from where they assemble their armies, direct their operations, and center their cult. The player will eventually have to infiltrate this headquarters to destroy the scourge of the universe. It is here that their destiny will unfold, here that they must bring oblivion to that which was thought eternal, Oblivion itself.

The game begins with Joshua Fireseed (the current Turok), his sister Danielle Fireseed, and brother Joseph Fireseed. Danielle's husband has just died, and Joshua has dreams of a child who must be protected, as he is the last of the Fireseed lineage. During the night, a group of Oblivion Spawn teleport into their home and try to kill Joshua in his sleep. He catches them and fights back, but is soon outnumbered. He tells Danielle and Joseph to escape, while he stays behind with a grenade in his hand to blow both the Spawn and himself away. He is apparently killed in doing so, as Danielle and Joseph drive away. The siblings are attacked by a Mummite, but Adon arrives to save them, then teleports them to a meeting with the Council of Voices. The Council decides that either Danielle or Joseph must become the next Turok, and the player gets to choose their character. Danielle is a character more built on firepower with a grappling hook, while Joseph is more of a stealth-type character with night-vision goggles. In the cinematics, however, it is implied that they go together in their missions.

Older than time itself, a savage cosmic entity called Oblivion exists only to devour everything in its path. Two new Turok warriors, Danielle and Joseph Fireseed must face this evil. The heritage of Turok and all humankind depends on them. Join the legacy.

Introduction

Josh, Danielle and Joseph Fireseed are the last remaining keepers of the Turok bloodline. If that sacred Turok lineage dies the balance will falter and Oblivion will cast its deadly shadow across the face of the earth. Josh wakes up from a nightmare, he is trying to rescue a child from a prison cell. As he is trying to escape with the child he is killed by a red eyed demonic Oblivion mutant. Josh awakes and knows its coming and the end for him is near. That night Josh is attacked by a group of red eyed demonic Oblivion mutants as he is sleeping alone in his bed in his house.

Josh manages to kill a few of Oblivion's minions but gets killed, as he is ordering his brother Joseph and his sister Danielle to get out of the house. As Josh is lying dying on the floor he pulls the pin out of a grenade. Waiting a few seconds until his brother and sister are out of the danger zone. Josh release's his grip on the grenade and kabooooom. Danielle sees the house and her brother reduced to ash in the rear view truck mirror. Out of nowhere another Oblivion monster attacks the truck, the truck rolls off the road and Danielle and Joseph crash into the dirt.

Adon a woman sent by The Council of Voices to bring Danielle and Joseph to the Chamber of Voices shoots and kills the monster. Adon requests Danielle and Joseph come with her to talk with the Council. Danielle has heard Josh mention Adon before. Danielle and Joseph debate in the Chamber of Voices with the Council. Which one of the remaining Turok family must now become the Son of Stone? The Turok bloodline must continue and either Danielle or Joseph will become the Keeper of Light for they are the Turok. A new course must be set in stone. Whoever takes the burden of the Turok must fight and destroy Oblivion. Be warned that burden is heavy, that mantle can consume you.

Controls

Control Stick

Rotate characters view 360 degrees and target weapons

Z

Fire weapon

A

Hold down to select weapon and press to change weapon

B

Hold down to select item

R

Press to jump

Start

Press to save and pause the game

C Buttons

, , , Use to move your character around

D-Pad Down

Crouch down

D-Pad Right

Sniper on/off

Weapons

The game has 23 weapons total (25 if including the deathmatch-exclusive Spear and Claws), with players receiving specific weapons based on their chosen character. In the Campaign Mode, players can upgrade most of their weapons to their character's special counterpart.

Unlike Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, all weapons work underwater and no weapons have alternate firing modes (although some have scope) or secondary ammo.

Tomahawk (Danielle) / Blade (Joseph) - Standard melee weapon for silent close-ranged kills. Both of them can be upgraded to the Razor Wind: a three-blade chakram that is thrown and returned like a boomerang for slightly longer ranges.
Bow - Simple hunting bow for silently launching arrows a long distance. it is distance and trajectory is based on how long the arrow is drawn before firing (by holding down the Fire button, then releasing it). Players can retrieve arrows from enemies killed by it. Danielle can upgrade it to the Tek Bow, which use special explosive arrows. Joseph can replace it with the Storm Bow: a high-tech scoped crossbow that allows players to fire immediately without needing to draw an arrow. It also sports a usable scope.
Pistol - Standard mid-range semi-automatic handgun. Danielle can replace it with the Mag 60, which fires in three-round bursts. Joseph can replace it with the Silenced Pistol, which has both a suppressor and laser sight and can be "zoomed in" like scoped weapons.
Assault Rifle - Standard mid-to-long range assault rifle that fires in three-round bursts. Danielle can replace it with the Firestorm Cannon: a fully-automatic minigun with a very high rate-of-fire. Joseph can replace it with the Sniper Rifle: a single-shot bolt-action rifle with a long-zoom scope.
Shotgun - Standard close-to-mid range double-barreled shotgun. Danielle can upgrade it to the Fireswarm, which fires explosive projectiles that can engulf enemies on fire. Joseph can upgrade it to the Shredder, which fires ricocheting projectiles that can stun enemies.
Grenade Launcher - Standard grenade launcher that fires explosive ordnance at a trajectory. Danielle can replace it with the RPG: a rocket-propelled grenade launcher that fires explosive ordnance in a completely straight trajectory. Joseph can upgrade it to the Napalm Cannon, which fires explosive ordnance that sticks onto surfaces and is remotely-detonated (by pressing the Fire button a second time).
Cerebral Bore - A strange limited-use device that launches spheres (called "bores") that home into most enemies, latch onto their heads, drill into their skulls, and deliver a small explosion for a bloody execution. Danielle can upgrade it to the Cerebral Burst, which deliver a larger explosive payload. Joseph can upgrade it to the Cerebral Possessor, which allow players to temporarily take control of their victim (allowing them to be guided towards other enemies for the explosive payload).
Vampire Gun - A unique and strange close-ranged device that leeches off of enemies, draining their health and giving it back to the user. Although it uses no ammo, failing to leech off of enemies drains the user's health instead.
Personal Singularity Generator - An endgame high-tech super-powered weapon that generates black holes (which absorb nearby enemies, vaporize those inside, and release a powerful explosion). Although it uses no ammo, it has a lengthy recharge time (roughly one minute normally, or 20 seconds with the Unlimited Ammo cheat enabled). Like the Chronoscepter in Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and the Nuke in Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, the weapon must be fully-assembled before use (with pieces scattered throughout each of the five chapters).

Items

To pick up items walk over them when they are lying on the floor. If they are in the air, jump through them.

Lifeforce

These yellow diamonds are located all throughout the game. Always pick them up, as they will increase your Lifeforce. They also act as markers as to which way to go in levels. Every 100 collected will restore full health to your character.

Health

These Red Cross packages are to be found on the floor on every level. Always pick them up as they will restore your Health.

Full Health

This item gives you full health when you pick it up. The Full Health is lying on the floor in Red Cross boxes.

Ultrahealth

You find Ultrahealth when you kill bosses later in the game. Ultrahealth gives you a huge boost of health in some cases it double your health.

Clips

Pick up the clips from the floor. They are to be found all through out the game. Always keep a full clip. Clips are for the Pistol only.

Shotgun Bullets

You can find the Shotgun Bullets in green rectangular boxes lying on the floor in every level. Again keep your shotgun fully loaded at all times. These bullets also count for the Fireswarm Shotgun.

Rifle Bullets

Collect these bullets for your Assault Rifle and your Firestorm cannon. You will find the Rifle Bullets lying on the floor on every level of the game.

Sniper Gunsight

Press the d-pad to the right to activate this item. You can use the sight with any weapon that fires i.e. Pistol, Crossbow, and Rifle. The sight magnifies enemies. Aim for there heads always. This kills them simply and quickly.

Arrows

Find them on the walls of every level in quivers of five. Use them for your Crossbow and the Tek Crossbow.

Grenades

You will find the Grenades lying on the floor in every level after Level 2. They can be used for the RPG as well as the Grenade Launcher.

Grapple Pistol

This is pistol essential for you to get across rooftops and over obstacles. The Grapple Pistol is located in Level 1 on the rooftop of the Office Building. If you play Danielle you will have this item.

Night Vision Goggles

You will get to use this item if you play Joseph. The goggles are located on the rooftop in Level 1. These goggles come in very useful where ever there is a power outage.

Cerebral Bore Upgrades

These are drill bullets for the Cerebral Bore. They are lying around on the floor in the last level of the game in Oblivion's HQ.

Tips

p>Collect all the yellow Lifeforce diamonds. Just walk, run or jump through them to add them to your total. Every 100 Lifeforce diamonds collected will fully restore your health.
Stay away from the S.W.A.T. cops, they will kill you. You cannot kill the cops. Avoid cops at all costs.
You can save your game anywhere in any level throughout the game so all the time.
A good tactic for killing enemies in this game is to run straight at them, blasting your weapons Rambo style. This way reduces the amount of demons you have to fight. For example if you stand still and try to kill the demons they will just keep coming. However in some circumstances like on watchtowers you can kill monsters from a distance and they will not come back. I found the Rambo tactic works best when you play as Danielle as you can use explosive weapons and the Firestorm Cannon.
Use the strafe buttons to side step enemy incoming fire. This tactic is the one to use against bosses.
Arrows can be picked up after you have shot them. Pick them out of enemies or pick them back up off the floor.
Pick up everything you can i.e. Clips, Weapons, Health etc. Keep a fully stocked and loaded arsenal of firepower and Health at all times. Weapons and Items are mainly lying on the floor throughout all the levels.
Weapons and Items sparkle so that you can see them in dark places like corridors and caves.
Shoot monsters from a distance where you can. This will allow you time to aim and if you miss you will have time to re-aim before they are on top of you. Monsters you can pick off from a distance are usually guards in watchtowers. This tactic is more relevant when you play as Joseph as Joseph is quieter than Danielle and can sneak up on enemies. Always secure an area before you explore it for Items and Weapons. Basically kill all the enemies first then go exploring.
Look for the yellow diamonds in levels as they highlight the way to go.
Shoot the crates as sometimes they contain Clips, Door Keys and Health.
Shoot the barrels, as they will blow holes in the wall. You can then walk through these holes to access the way to go.
Walk right into switches to activate them. This applies when opening doors, calling elevators etc. Some switches are colored orange.
Stand well back when getting into elevators as there is probably a mutant inside waiting to kill you.
When you fire grenades at enemies in corridors bounce the grenade off the floor or the wall onto targets. This way the grenade will not bounce back onto you.
Explore every area, as there are lots of Items and Weapons lying around on the floor.
Your targeting system will lock automatically on enemies. When an enemy is in your target it will flash red. Keep your target on the enemy and press fire.
Use the corners of walls for cover. Use automatic doors as cover also. This will reduce the chances of getting hit by monsters firepower when they are attacking you.
Work out numerically in taps on the weapons button where a weapon is located in your arsenal. If you know where your weapons are you can select them quicker. When you are in battle you will not have time to look for a weapon. If you waste time selecting the wrong weapon you chances of dying are higher.
I have specified my choice of weapons to kill enemies in this guide. However you have the choice of many weapons and please select the weapon you feel fit to do the job. All the Weapons are very effective. My personal favorites are the RPG, Razor Wind, Firestorm Cannon and the Cerebral Bore when you play as Danielle. The Laser Sighted Pistol, The Shredder, The Stormbow and The Napalm Cannon when you play as Joseph.

Deathmatch

Weapons

All players (except the Raptor) spawn with the Spear, along with any weapon set that is set in the options to be given on spawn. By finding weapon pickups scattered throughout each map (and dropped by enemies), players can acquire new sets of weaponry for use. By collecting the same type of pickups, players can pick up ammo for their weapons.

Five of the weapon sets include two weapons: the basic version of the weapon and one of the single-player upgrades (which is determined by the character used). Both of these versions share the same ammo pool.

Bow (and either the Tek Bow or the Storm Bow)
Pistol (and either the Mag 60 or the Silenced Pistol)
Assault Rifle (and either the Firestorm Cannon or the Sniper Rifle)
Shotgun (and either the Fireswarm or the Shredder)
Vampire Gun
Grenade Launcher (and either the RPG or the Napalm Cannon)
Cerebral Bore

Players who use the Raptor start out with their own unique weapon: their Claws. They cannot pick up or use any other weapon set.

Powerups

Red Health (+10 health)
White Health (+20 health)
Blue Health (+100 health)
Ultra Health (+100 health, bypasses maximum health restriction)
Berserk (temporary speed and damage increase, but player is restricted to Spear/Claws)
Cloak (temporary invisibility)
Shield (temporary invincibility)

Characters

Players choose from 16 characters, the only difference being their own set of alternate weapons that they can equip in specific weapon slots. Multiple players can choose the same character. Alternatively, players can pick the Raptor (who has increased maneuverability, but is restricted to their unique melee weapon: their Claws).

Danielle (Tek Bow, Mag 60, Firestorm Cannon, Fireswarm, RPG)
Joseph (Storm Bow, Silenced Pistol, Sniper Rifle, Shredder, Napalm Cannon)
Joshua (Storm Bow, Silenced Pistol, Sniper Rifle, Fireswarm, RPG)
Adon (Tek Bow, Mag 60, Firestorm Cannon, Shredder, RPG)
Spawn (Tek Bow, Mag 60, Firestorm Cannon, Fireswarm, Napalm Cannon)
Spawn Grunt (Storm Bow, Silenced Pistol, Sniper Rifle, Shredder, Napalm Cannon)
Guard (Tek Bow, Mag 60, Firestorm Cannon, Fireswarm, RPG)
Warrior (Storm Bow, Silenced Pistol, Sniper Rifle, Shredder, RPG)
Ancient (Tek Bow, Silenced Pistol, Sniper Rifle, Fireswarm, Napalm Cannon)
Scientist (Storm Bow, Mag 60, Firestorm Cannon, Shredder, Napalm Cannon)
Legionnaire (Tek Bow, Mag 60, Sniper Rifle, Fireswarm, RPG)
Magmite (Storm Bow, Silenced Pistol, Firestorm Cannon, Shredder, Napalm Cannon)
Lost One (Tek Bow, Silenced Pistol, Sniper Rifle, Fireswarm, RPG)
Infestoid (Storm Bow, Mag 60, Firestorm Cannon, Shredder, Napalm Cannon)
Slave (Tek Bow, Silenced Pistol, Firestorm Cannon, Fireswarm, RPG)
SWAT (Storm Bow, Silenced Pistol, Sniper Rifle, Fireswarm, RPG)
Raptor (unique, only uses Claws)

Game Modes

All of these modes are played in team format. In order to play free-for-all, each player would have to choose a team with only them in it.

Bloodlust - Standard deathmatch. Score points by killing enemies. Lose points by suicide and teamkilling.
Capture the Flag - Standard capture the flag. Score points by grabbing an enemy flag and returning it to base (with their flag intact).
Last Stand - Last man standing. Games are played in rounds, and players only have one life. Gain points by being the last surviving team in each round. Golden Arrow - Best described as the Oddball mode. A Golden Arrow pickup is located somewhere throughout the map, and players must grab it and hold onto it to score points. Players who hold the Golden Arrow cannot use weapons.
Monkey Tag - Throughout the game, a random player turns into a monkey with low health and no weapons, and must find a special device to change themselves back to normal. When a monkey is turned to normal or killed, another random player is turned into a monkey. Score points by killing a monkey on the enemy team. Lose points by suicide and killing a monkey on the same team.
Arsenal of War - Best described as a combination of last man standing and a reverse Gun Game mode. Games are played in rounds, players have a limited number of lives, and players spawn with both a Spear and a specific weapon set (which gets progressively stronger as the player loses lives). Weapon pickups are disabled. Weapon set order is: None, Bow, Pistol, Assault Rifle, Shotgun, Vampire Gun, Grenade Launcher, Cerebral Bore. Players who choose the Raptor character can only use their Claws, regardless of lives left. Gain points by being the last surviving team in each round.
Color Tag - Games are played in rounds, and players change enemy players to their team by killing them. Gain points by being the last surviving team in each round. Weapon Master - Similar to Bloodlust, but players can only hold one weapon set at a time (and can drop them on the ground by holding down B + Z and releasing).

Chapters

Review - Fran Mirabella III

August 19, 1997

Updated: 12 Dec 2018 7:24 pm

Posted: 5 Sep 2000 5:00 pm

it is new, it is Turok, and it is a first-person shooter. Will it satisfy your thirst for blood?

it is been nearly four years since the release of the original Turok title the game that defined "The Dinosaur Hunter." Back in 1996 this first-person shooter was about as gruesome as you would find on the N64. There wasn't too much blood, and not necessarily too little. Then Acclaim upped the ante with Turok 2: Seeds of Evil. The game was one of the first to implement the benefits of the RAM Expansion Pak, which produced some of the best visuals seen on the N64 to date. It featured an amazing soundtrack and brilliant animation by N64's standards. However, in Turok 2 we could see that the series was putting on a new face. The game thrust itself into a new world of twisted monsters and evil aliens. While the storyline made up for the drastic change in appearance, the feel of the original Turok that we all knew and loved started to fade.

Queue Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion. This new take on the N64-bred franchise couldn't be farther from its roots. But, the fact remains that it is one of the only first-person shooters to be found on the N64, and a decent one at that. So, press on and find out if this new turn in the Turok series is for you.

Facts

More than 20 levels spanning five dark and menacing environments, including the ruins of a futuristic city, an underwater military base, and a return to the wild jungles of the Lost Lands.
Gamers have the option of controlling two main characters while unlocking over 25 hidden game features.
Save Anywhere and Autosave functions Fully interactive storyline to be portrayed through the use of both scripted in-game events and carefully detailed cinemas.
24 intricately modeled and animated weapons that are upgradable, including the Stealth Rifle, Eviscerator, and Inferno Cannon.
More than 40 wild and ferocious enemies to stand in the way of Turok.
Intense multiplayer action, featuring over 48 unique maps and 8 modes of play, including Blood Lust, Monkey Tag, Capture the Flag, and Color Tag.
Fully orchestrated musical score and extensive use of digital speech.
Turok 3 supports, but will not require use of the Expansion Pak.

Story

In this world the theory of creation does not revolve around a bang, but a scream. So many years before the inception the world there was Oblivion. This "thing" drifted throughout the never-ending sea of space consuming everything in its path. It invaded the bodies of the living and consumed them from the inside. In Turok 2 when Primagen's Lightship was destroyed, the explosion created a power blast that triggered a chain reaction that destroyed the entire universe. This explosion tore Oblivion into shreds and nearly annihilated it.

In the wake of this devastation a new universe was created. Oblivion barely survived and now searches for a way to enter the Lost Land from this universe. The Lost Land has long been the source of Oblivion's pain and suffering, but is also the key to its rebirth. But, Oblivion must be wary for the Lost Land is also the for its destruction. The last trace of pure energy lies within the Light Burden that every member of the Turok lineage carries. For Oblivion, the only way to be reborn is to sever the Turok line, ending it forever.

Gameplay

As the new Acclaim Studios (Austin) animation loads up, you know something has changed. The logo morphs into a grotesque, skinless, pulsating mass. No longer will you find the light-hearted antics of the iguana, only a prelude to the dark, twisted plot that awaits you. In the beginning of the game you keep asking yourself if you are playing a Turok game, or a new twist on Half-Life. Fortunately the control scheme leaves you feeling right at home. It has the classic Turok-style controls and the easy access weapons menu. Just hold down the A-button and you can quickly choose your weapon by pressing the control stick in the desired direction. Unfortunately, while the control system is still great, the actual movement of your character is not. It seems throughout the Turok series the fluidity in the control has faltered. you will find yourself getting exhausted just watching the character trudge though the levels. In comparison, it feels like your lugging around a sack of rocks in Turok 3, whereas in the first Turok you were gliding around on skates.

To make matters worse, this slow pace is accompanied by an, often times, nasty frame-rate. So not only are you walking slowly, but the visuals are dragging along as well. Acclaim added in a wobble animation (seen via first-person camera) to make it feel like you are really walking: right foot, left foot, wobble, wobble. As true-to-life as it may be, it might annoy some users. It heightens the sticky-feet effect, and makes you question if they added it in to make the slow frame-rate appear normal.

Not all about the control is bad, though. Once you get used to the decidedly more slow-paced movement it is just like any other Turok game. If you are a master of the Turok-style control scheme, you will be blasting enemies in no time. However, another problem arises in this area. Acclaim, for some reason, has opted to tone down the once stomach-turning animations. In fact, Turok 3 uses a very cartoon-style death animation. You kill an enemy, and after a quick fall to the ground a transparent ghost floats quickly away towards the sky. This seems to be Acclaim's solution to quickly get rid of those precious polygons they used in the character model. it is just a hair short of X's over their eyes, and holding daisies. Turok 3 revolves around a world just as dark as Turok 2, which makes it all the more confusing as to why there is less blood and swift death animations. In a crowded first-person shooter genre it was the one cool thing it had going for it. The game is rated M and the story line is full of terror. If the game is going to be dark, then why not be consistent about it? Frankly, we are not sure.

Taking a break from pointing out the bad parts of the game, there is much good to be found. Unlike Turok 2, the game design, levels, and gameplay have been smoothed out. The first thing you will notice about is the ability to save at anytime. In comparison to Turok 2, this game is a dream when it comes to the layout. You can no longer live in fear of playing for 45 minutes only to end up getting whacked before you reach a save beacon. Another great addition is an auto-save. The game will usually pause when you enter a new sector in a level to save your progress. To this we say, "Thank you Acclaim Austin." The level design itself is a lot like Turok 2 with a bit more focus. This time around the gameplay is highly objective-driven. you will constantly see "New Objective: Do this" popping up on the screen. It makes for a much more pleasant experience because you are not wondering if you've went 15 minutes in the wrong direction. Usually if you haven't completed an objective within 5-15 minutes you are doing something wrong. The levels are still huge, though, so there is plenty of surprises and plenty to do.

Speaking of surprises, though, the game is home to some of the worst enemy placement you will find. Your screen will start flashing red and you will be totally baffled as to where the opposition is coming from. Even with stereo sound you will be hard pressed to find your enemy in a timely fashion. Usually they are far away hidden in darkness or crouching behind giant sprite bushes. At least in the first Turok your enemies would pursue you, so after a few devious hits the enemy would present itself; not in Turok 3, no sir. Your enemies will take as much advantage of the darkness as they can, sniping and laughing as you die with a confused look on your face. it is one thing to make a game tough, but if you cannot locate your enemy it can be downright ridiculous. The artificial intelligence (AI) has also taken a turn for the worst. Most enemies run on a track loop or just hurl themselves at you. In this regard, Turok 2 had some of the better AI for this franchise. If you can recall, enemies would hide behind structures or lurk around corners. Unfortunately, most of the opposition in Turok 3 is more annoying than it is challenging. The question is often "How is that fair," as opposed to "What did I do wrong?"

Gladly, the bosses in the game are still very cool. Just as they have been in all the Turok titles. The bosses are usually pretty fun to fight. You not only have to pummel them with your favorite weapon, but you also have to use the level to your advantage. You may have to lock them in a cage, or drop something on their head to finish them off. The downside is, you have to figure this out on your own. There really aren't any clues other than the occasional out of place (usually on the ceiling) glowing object. It turns what could be a very fun experience into something extremely frustrating. You may spend 15 minutes or even a half-hour running in circles trying to figure out how to beat the boss. Acclaim was thoughtful enough to let the ammo boxes and health respawn in the boss arenas, so if it takes you a while to figure out the puzzle, you will at least have the health and means to last that long. The game even has a few glitches, which could send you into a never-ending rage of fury. One of the bosses dives underneath a bed of lava, and you can accidentally trap him underneath if you are not careful. If this happens, he may not resurface and you will have to kill yourself off and try again. There are a few glitches like this that can seriously sour your experience. With that said, you may not run into any at all, and for the sake of your sanity we hope for the best.

There are also two playable characters. You must choose one after a cinema at the beginning of the game. Depending on whom you choose, you will take different paths through the level. Danielle, Joshua Fireseed's wife, is taller and uses a grappling hook to access higher paths, while Joseph, Danielle's brother, is shorter and can crawl underneath certain areas. Joseph also uses night-vision to get through the dark underground paths. Both characters are great to play with, and there are different cut-scenes so there is some added replay value. It should take you about five hours per character to beat, making for a solid 10 hours of gameplay.

The choice of weapons in Turok 3 is a lot less innovative than we saw Turok 2. In fact, it is a step backwards for the series as many of the weapons are just rehashes of the weapons we've seen before. Each character has upgrades for their weapons. For instance, Danielle's grenade launcher upgrades to what is basically a rocket launcher, whereas Joseph's grenade launcher upgrades to a napalm cannon that shoots sticky grenades, which can be triggered manually.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer is similar to that in Rage Wars, but does not have quite as many options like the create-a-character feature. It does have several modes of play including bloodlust, capture the flag, last stand, golden arrow (hold arrow longest), monkey tag, arsenal of war, color tag (convert the most people to your team color), and weapon master (only carry one weapon at a time). Simply put, if you liked Turok 2 multiplayer and Rage Wars you will probably like Turok 3's multiplayer as well.

Graphics

To be fair, this game is very pleasing to the eye. The character design is very cool and the levels look great on the N64. Unfortunately, the framerate can be atrocious at times. Shadow of Oblivion features three resolutions: low, high, and high letterbox. Believe it or not there is little difference between the low and high letterbox resolutions. In which case, we recommend high letterbox. As good as the game looks on the N64, Acclaim didn't make very good use of the two years since Seeds of Evil was published. In fact, Shadow of Oblivion looks worse than Seeds of Evil in some regards. In Seeds of Evil we saw some great texture design and some awesome lighting effects. At the time, they were the best you could see on the Nintendo 64. Here we are two years later, and Shadow of Oblivion has only managed to eliminate the fog that has been known to plague the Turok series. Though, instead of fog now we have a lot of draw-in and darkness to make up for it. Overall, it does look better than all the fog, though. The shady environments make room for this effect, so it works out. On the other hand, the framerate is not worth this draw distance. The first Turok made in 1996 blazes by Turok 3 in the framerate department. it is true you have an unbelievable amount of fog, but at least the framerate is tolerable. Shadow of Oblivion's sticky framerate will leave you out of breath. Even at a low resolution you will feel like you are crawling through the levels.

The game's cinematics are also dazzling. they are chock full of facial animations and clear voice acting. They do a great job of driving the story forward and, occasionally, even frightening you. there is a couple undercooked scenes, but overall they are very nice. In fact, they are top-notch on the Nintendo 64. there is probably a good half-hour of cut-scenes that give you a chance to catch your breath. Overall, they are well used.

Sound

you will find a well-composed epic score that brilliantly captures the mood of almost every level. it is crisp, diverse, and dramatic. The sound wizards at Acclaim Austin almost fool you into thinking you have a modern day orchestra accompanying you as you play. The moody music is an eclectic mix of tribal chants, staccato strings, and techno-beats. All in all, the music in this games shines through brilliantly and we cannot wait to hear what these guys do on Gamecube. The sound effects are also great, even though you will find some sounds have been recycled from the past Turok games. Nonetheless, there are plenty of growls and gurgles to keep your ears occupied. you will often hear a stomping up ahead; this is usually the only way you are going to get an advantage over the enemies.

The cut-scenes feature plenty of voice so you won't be bored by page after page of text. Most of it is very clear except for some of the more demented monologues. It gets a bit too distorted on occasion and it'll be a task to decipher what's going on, but its overshadowed by the majority of awesome sound in this game. You will easily forgive it.

All sound in stereo, and you do not have the option to choose mono. Again, the game sounds great so there is no need to be worried.

You can pop in your Rumble Pak which shakes when you get hit or fire your weapon. The Controller Pak is, unfortunately, required so make sure you have 16 pages and one note free before you start the game. You should be glad to know that this is 74 pages less than you needed for Turok 2. Be glad for that much.

Verdict

Turok 3 definitely delivers an enjoyable experience in the first-person shooter arena, but it has finally drifted away from its roots. The original Turok was great because you were hunting dinosaurs. That is what defined it. Two generations later, however, the series has morphed into a commonplace first-person shooter. Part of the original Turok team left for other companies and Retro Studios, which is probably part of the reason the design philosophy got malformed. When all is said and done the game isn't the Turok we once knew. I'd love to see this franchise return to where it came from: the jungle. Turok 3 features a grotesque, twisted storyline, as opposed to the more toned down storyline that the original Turok had, and it almost seems like they were trying too hard to make the game fit in with other first-person shooters. Conversely, the game is one of the only first-person shooters you are going to find on the N64. If you are a fan of the genre and must satisfy your gun-wielding urge then pick the game up. However, if you are looking for a return to the series' roots you will probably just want to rent the game. I can only say that as a fan of the first game, the thrill is gone. You have to decide what it is about the series you like: the fact that it is a first-person shooter a Nintendo system or the fact that it is a game based on Turok: The Dinosaur Hunter.

Cheats

Big Cheat

At the title screen select 'secrets' then select 'enter new secret' then input [Elk] [Lizard] [Dragonfly] [Lizard] [Hawk] [Owl] select 'enter new secret' again and input [Horse] [Bull] [Wolf] [Raven] [Eagle] [Rabbit]

Play As Joshua Mode

Complete Joseph and Danielles quest on the same game note to unlock this mode. Joshua can have both upgrades of each weapon when he collects one, instead of just one. (When you complete a game, start a new one with the other character, then save the note)

All Keys

Lizard, Dragonfly, Bull, Bear, Wolf, Eagle

All Weapons

Owl, Bear, Owl, Insect, Hawk, Owl

Big Hands and Feet Mode

Lizard. Lizard. Dragonfly. Horse. Lizard. Coyote

Big Head Mode

Cougar, Wolf, Snake, Rabbit, Lizard, Coyote

Death match Mannequins

Dragonfly, Bull, Rabbit, Salmon, Eagle, Raven

Gouraud Mode

Lizard. Fish. Insect. Fish. Wolf. Dragonfly

Invincibility

Raven, Salmon, Eagle, Bear, Lizard, Rabbit

Invincible/All Keys/Infinite Ammo/All Weapons

Elk, Lizard, Dragonfly, Lizard, Hawk, Owl

Headless Enemies

Lizard, Elk, Eagle, Owl, Fish, Horse.

Pen and Ink Mode

Cougar, Horse, Elk, Salmon, Cougar, Hawk

Clean Pause Screen

Rabbit, Owl, Lizard, Elk, Fish, Rabbit.

Secret Menus

Rabbit, Owl, Horse, Bug, Bear, Bear

Short Characters

Frog, Frog, Salmon, Insect, Wolf, Cougar

Skinny Enemies

Horse, Eagle, Snake, Cougar, Insect, Salmon

Unlimited Ammo

Salmon, Elk, Bull, Snake, Eagle, Salmon

View Credits

Elk, Elk, Elk, Elk, Elk, Elk

Warp Level 1

Frog, Elk, Horse, Dragonfly, Wolf, Rabbit

Warp Level 2

Owl, Owl, Horse, Elk, Elk, Elk

Warp Level 3

Owl, Rabbit, Bear, Insect, Frog, Cougar

Warp Level 4

Bear, Horse, Raven, Eagle, Horse, Coyote

Warp Level 5

Bear, Dragonfly, Horse, Bear, Frog, Elk

Chapters

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion game box back cover