On the N64 Turok was big. Not just big big, but Godzilla-big. For a console deemed "kiddy" by the mainstream public, the Turok games were a godsend. Plant a skeptical friend in front of the telly and show him a Cerebral Bore drilling through a enemy's throat, sending blood splattering all over the place and sit with a smug smile on you, daring him to call the N64 "kiddy". But it wasn't just the violence that made the Turok games brilliant (although it certainly contributed to it!), it was the vast landscapes, the gorgeous graphics and the awe-inspiring bosses. The Turok series was pure unfiltered mayhem. And guess what? It's coming to Gamecube...

The year is 1886. Tal'Set and what remains of his Saquin Nation tribe are fleeing from Mexico, trying to escape a group bloodthirsty US Cavalry men, led by hunter Tobias Bruckler, a madman with nothing but hatred for Tal-Sets tribe. During an ambush all but Tal'Set and Bruckler all killed, prompting a bloody fight between the two leaders. All of a sudden, a freak electrical storm renders both men unconscious. They both awake in The Lost Land, a primitive land ruled by the evil, tyrannic Tyranus. Naturally enough, Bruckler ends up in the evil part of the land and after being healed by Tyrannus' minions he sets out finish what he started; the killing of Tal'Set. But Tal'Set ends up in a village where the River Villagers live in fear of Tyrannus and his army of thousands. A priest there, Tarkeen, believes Tal'Set is the prophecised Turok, a warrior who will bring peace to the land. Reluctantly, Tal'Set agrees and sets out to help the oppressed people by overthrowing the tyrannic Tyrannus. The plot hasn't really been a major point in previous Turok games but in Evolution it seems Acclaim Austin have spent more than a couple of minutes pondering on it. It really suits the Turok series and sets the stage for a grand, epic quest.

For fans of the original game, the best news is yet to come. Turok Evolution takes the series back to its roots with everything that made the 97 original so damn great. The jungles, insane weapons, huge bosses and the vast, detailed worlds are all here, bigger, bolder and better than ever. Gone are the sci-fi, futuristic undertones of the third game. They have been replaced by humid, luscious jungles stretching as far as the eye can see, packed with detailed, believable vegetation and more than a couple of surprises. What's amazing about the jungle is not just the eye candy, everything is interactive and full of life. Walk through a bush and its movement will attract enemies. Insects crawl all over the place, birds soar above and call out in the distance and dinos go about their lives around you. Evolutions developers have spent time to make sure that the game environment is positively alive with prehistoric activity. Evolutions world will suck you in.

But you'll certainly have no time to admire this breathtaking world, as every level is full to the brim of the usual nasties. From the classic dinos to armed reptilian guards Evolution has combined the enemies of the first two games. Confirmed dinos include the classic Raptor, the horned Styracosaurus, the tail-swinging Ankylosaurus, the swimming minching-machine Kronosaur and the flying Pteranodon that dives at you at 60kph. Because the dinosaurs range so much, you have to treat each one differently. Little Compies can be taken out by a pistol shot but an Ankysosaurus will need something like a missile launcher to take it down. And incredibly, Tyrannus' troops have adapted some of the dinos, we've already seen an already-tough Ankylosaurus armed with missile launchers, who knows what else we'll see. And the dinos look fantastic, Acclaim Austin have applied soft-skinning to them all to make them look as if they've come straight out of Walking With Dinosaurs. The way they walk, they way their flesh wobbles from side to side, there isn't a trace of blockiness on them. But they don't just look good, they're smart too, Raptors especially. They hunt in packs in can even set traps for you. If you see a Raptor sitting on its own, chances are his mates are hiding in nearby bushes, waiting to ambush you when you reveal yourself. As well as this, some enemies don't attack you, they run to get help and alert everyone to your presence.

Because of this intelligence, you're encouraged to take a more stealthy approach to the game. You can go in charging if you want but if you're not careful, chances are you'll be slaughtered. Luckily, you can manipulate the environment to your advantage. By creeping through bushes, you can avoid the attention of various nasties roaming near you and by keeping an eye out, you can spot birds getting frightened by enemies or bushes being rustled by sneaky enemies.

Once you notice something like this, you can whip out your sniper-scope weapons and scan the area. In most areas there are shadows and plenty of places to hide so creeping up on enemies and getting rid of them with some silent weaponry like your club or bow is a big part of the game. Details about weaponry are quite scarce but this is what we know. Evolution has abandoned the fiddly option of a selection wheel used in the previous games for an upgrade scheme. Many weapons can be upgraded, giving them up to three different functions. The pistol now doubles as a sniper rifle, the club has a sharp edge and a spiky edge, and the bow fires different arrows, Tech and poison included. New weapons include a remote mechanical spider. Players can control it and get a spiders-eye view as they crawl up to the enemies. Then it can be detonated as a bomb, release poisonous gas or used to lure guards away from critical areas or their mates. This is all we know but rest assured, guns as violent as the Cerebral Bore will be available. Just imagine the possibilities.

Because of GameCube's power and space, the designers are able to include everything they couldn't put into previous Turok games. One such example is the inclusion of four colossal flying sections. Turok can saddle up on a giant Quetzacoatlus armed with rocket launchers and machine guns and soar with high speeds through canyons, cliff dives and take part in assaults of enemy strongholds. It sounds awesome. Also, there is a multiplayer mode included that is supposed to be as good as Rage Wars, unfortunately of which nothing has been disclosed yet.

Turok Evolution is going to have stiff competition upon its release this winter with Metroid Prime and Die Hard Vendetta. But if it is as good as it looks to be it'll be more than good enough for both games. Acclaim Austin are onto something big with Evolution. It has gorgeous graphics, stunning enemies, vast landscapes and everything that made previous Turoks' so damn great. Believe me, Turok Evolution is going to blow you away.