Turok 2: Seeds of Evil

I really do not like having to start off with this, but I think nostalgia is blinding some people to the flaws of this game. I did not play Turok 2 as a kid (I did play Turok: Evolution), but after taking a chance on the first Turok and having a wonderful time playing that game I was intrigued at trying this one (especially with the praise on GOG and Steam). It has been quite a disappointment. Let's get the positives out of the way. As an originally 1998 N64 game, this remaster is very pleasing to look at graphically. It also runs incredibly smoothly, and I don't think I have had a single slowdown. There is a good variety of enemies to fight and weapons to use, and there can be legitimately fun moments in the gameplay. The AI is also fairly intelligent. But the biggest issue (though certainly not the only one) that sinks this game is the level design, which is downright atrocious at some points. This is particularly noticeable when having to backtrack later on to get some items that you missed (and you WILL have to go back to levels to access these items that you could not get to initially). When first running through them, it can be very easy to skip past areas that are either required to go to for the levels' missions or to get these other miscellaneous items that you eventually need to access the final boss. Couple this level design with an awful map system and it can be downright infuriating to navigate back through levels to get to areas you missed. Corridors and platforms often overlap each other and can be colored the same way, and it is often easy to miss areas that you haven't explored. (Hive of the Mantids is perhaps the worst offender in level design). As of this review, I still have a couple Primagen keys and a nuke part left to get. I do plan on finishing the game since I am so close to the end, but it is certainly going to be tedious. I don't want to trash the good memories that people have for this game, but I unfortunately cannot recommend this.

Seriously, I have no idea how I ever tolerated the N64 version. This remaster fixes so many issues while retaining the classic gameplay that STILL holds up well today. Fixed issues include: - You can save anywhere now instead of relying on the extremely sparse checkpoints! This alone makes it worth getting IMO. - Higher/modern resolutions - Can choose from CD or N64 soundtrack (both have their own merits) - Mouse and keyboard controls. Anyone who played these on the N64 remembers the, ahem, unique (read: awful) controls XD It's so much easier to aim now, it's ridiculous - MUCH longer draw distance - 60 FPS (there's a few hiccups currently, but 99% of the time it's fine; N64 version's framerate was abysmal) - Faster loading times (not that they were long to begin with, but they were kinda there all the same, and there's options to shorten them further here) - Gameplay in general is unchanged, but it feels so much smoother now. - In game option to skip all the intro videos. Just get this game. It's amazing how well it holds up, and how good the combat feels, especially now that the game has been brought up to modern standards.

How do you follow up a satisfying Shooter about battling dinosaurs with a ridiculous arsenal? By battling more dinosaurs, hybrids, mantis aliens, and robots with a LUDICROUS arsenal. You have bows with explosive arrows and sniper scopes, homing missile launchers, flamethrowers, plasma gatling guns, and jet-powered torpedo launchers, just to name a few, along with weapons you couldn't even imagine, like the Shredder and the Cerebral Bore. Better yet, enemies are no longer just one static hitbox; you can blow off arms, legs, and even heads for an instant kill. The bosses are generally more interesting, too, since you have to figure out how to kill them, rather than just shoot. It's not a terribly deep puzzle, but it's a but more engaging than the usual. Levels are fewer in number, but generally smarter in design, as compared to its predecessor. There are additional objectives to complete along the way, like rescuing prisoners, purifying toxic rivers, or destroying weapons storage facilities. New to the series are the talismans, which give you special abilities, which are activated at special tiles throughout the levels. This does lead to a bit of backtracking, but in my opinion, it's exciting seeing a new tile, wondering what kinds of strange new areas lie behind it. My only real gripe with the level design is that some things are a bit too well hidden, and with levels this long with so many things that you are required to find, it does lead to the occasional frustration. If you liked the original, you'll probably like this one even more; it takes everything that made its predecessor fun, multiplies it, and throws in some great new ideas. This is where it also starts to build up a pretty interesting mythos, but future entries sadly don't compare in my eyes.

OK, let's get the most important thing out of the way - there are two Turok2 factions: people that love this game (nostalgia/old skool crew) and people that hate this game (maze like level design haters) and nothing in between...unfortunately. I am a die hard turok fan an loved this game when it came out on N64 20 years ago (oh boy...). It was even advertised at this time with its maze like levels and it was great at that time. You hadn't a library with 200 games and gamers weren't spoiled at this time with games that hold your hand. You had to backtrack and invest more time in this game which also meant you got more game for your money (I know this argument falls flat today, but there was this time, just you know where this game comes from). Now why do I not give 5 stars then as a die hard fan? All love aside there a issues with this remaster I have to mention: like missing sound files (when you die and revive at the shrine for example), you cannot launch dead enemies in the air with your g launcher, missing fog which makes some parts visible that shouldn't be visible, textures overlapping and causing visual glitches. PC music files are cut off which only makes the N64 music viable to chose (although I think it's better anyways). These are all small things but add up to subtract a star in the end even for a fan like I me. For all other (let's call em normies) this game is more a 3 star or 2,5 star experience. If you don't like mazes, if you don't like small ammo pools, if you don't like respawning enemies, better stay away from this game and play something more modern. Technically the game ran fine for me, no crashes, no major bugs, nothing to complain here. It's a pretty remaster, they should have just implemented the fog in a better way instead of inceasing the view distance statically.

Coming from the first Turok, Turok 2 may take some getting used to. Turok no longer moves at supersonic speeds, there are proper cutscenes now, and the game even tries to a tell a story. Thankfully, none of this lasts long enough to detract from what made the first game so enjoyable: meaty shooting against well-animated foes with more than two dozen weapons, with many of them exploding into gibs and bloods when shot. Turok 2 easily has the most enjoyable shooting in the series, and still holds up today in this regard. Those who disliked the platforming in Turok will be pleased to hear that this has mostly been done away with. The hub-based system, on the other hand, has been retained, as you visit each level from a hub, and you need to find keys to unlock new levels. The number of levels has been reduced to six, but they are much larger and more complex compared to the first Turok. On top of finding keys, one also has to solve additional objectives, such as shutting down devices or rescuing prisoners, and none of these may be missed. The main challenge therefore becomes finding all these things, and this is where Turok 2 overdoes it. As the game progresses, the levels only become larger and more complex, and the last three levels in particular test one's patience, as they consist almost exclusively of samey looking corridors over, and over, and over again. In addition, in classic Metroidvania fashion certain sections only become accessible later on, so good luck finding those specific spots many hours later without consulting a walkthrough. Accordingly, the greatest addition introduced by this remaster are the objective markers, which purists may detest, but which make the game merely playable in the first place, as you could be wandering a level for hours looking for some switch in a dark corner without them. Overall, Turok 2 oozes ambition, but you'll likely do yourself a favor quitting after the first three levels, as it'll only get worse from that point on.