Shortly before Turok 2 came out, Half-Life released PC, with a big focus on a linear, but more cinematic, first person shooter. This was too late to have any influence on Turok 2, but it’s clear to see the influence of Half-Life on Turok 3, very much to the detriment of the series. I played the Nightdive remaster, which has some nice QoL features (and the cut gore from the original restored) but is still the same game.

In the previous games, story is more of a background aspect that you won’t see much of, if you just play the game. It’s front and centre here, with voice acted cutscenes. Joshua (Turok from 2, although he was featured in the box of Turok 1 despite not being the Turok in the game) gets killed, and one of his siblings must take up the mantle.

You can pick between his sister (who can jump higher and has a grappling hook) or his annoying brother (who can crawl lower and use night vision), then get thrust into the first level of stopping Oblivion in a modern day city. Here, the Half-Life influence becomes immediately clear, as this level is linear, and features NPCs (which you can briefly interact with). It’s a really good Half-Life style level with set pieces and a lot of variety, it’s just very different to the previous Turok games.

Later levels in the game are much closer to what you’d expect Turok levels to look like, with no friendly NPCs to interact with, but they’re still very straightforward and linear. The game gives you objectives which, instead of being something to figure out, are just something to guide you through the levels, telling you to press the required buttons or find the keys you need to progress.

Another let-down in Turok 3 are the weapons. Some weapons are exclusive to each character, and there are more “regular” weapons, with very few that feel over the top, with the coolest being a spinning blade that you throw and it flies back to you (although I’m not sure if it actually does damage on the way back). The gunfights are propped up by some more varied enemies, but using your guns isn’t as exciting.

Turok 3 is still a fun game, but it’s a game that has lost its identity by chasing trends, instead of sticking to what it was good at. Fun weapons would have helped bridge the gap between the two styles a bit more, or perhaps co-op would have helped a lot (no matter who you pick, the other character tags along in cutscenes, despite never seeing them in-game). Turok managed to be its own thing in a sea of DOOM clones, so its sad to see it sacrifice so much to be more like Half-Life.

Fun

Turok 3’s failure to topple PD isn’t for want of Acclaim trying, though – they’ve blatantly stolen ideas from a wealth of big-name games in an effort to make this the greatest Turok ever. You’ll spot a less-than-subtle not to a rival developer at every turn, whether you’re careening over sheer drops with the Grapple Hook (The Legend of Zelda), exploring a pneumatically-driven mechanical alien factory (Quake II), navigating an area that’s unique to the character you’re controlling (Resident Evil II), or watching civilians and scientists fall pray to all manner of hilarious mishaps (the PC’s Half-Life).

Mark Green, N64 Magazine #46

Remake or remaster?

The Nightdive remaster does a great job at making the game more playable, although it’s lacking the multiplayer.

Official ways to get the game.

The remaster of Turok 3 is available on GOG, Steam, Switch, Xbox One/Series and PS3/4.