Rise of the Triad: Dark War

Ah, 1994: Games released the previous year (such as Doom and Blake Stone) had proven that the FPS genre could be lucrative. The result was the golden age of FPS, with several solid (and successful) releases as Heretic, Corridor 7, System Shock, Spear of Destiny, Alien Vs Predator, Doom II. There were also about 25 other games released, most of which were less than great. The problem was that many of these games licensed outdated technology; in simply a single year's time one can see the leaps that these engines made (compare Doom I to Doom II, for example). Rise of the Triad (just barely released in time for Christmas '94) eschewed diagonal walls for some nifty advances of its own. Some things could be expected in the genre, such as stellar gore for the day (what Apogee lovingly called "Ludicrous Gibs" mode), and destructible objects (Duke 3D would make such things famous, but they started here, folks). However, RoTT took the FPS and flipped it on its head, adding some pretty creative touches. For example, jump pads scattered throughout the levels catapult both the player and the enemy high into the air, Super Mario style. These not only make combat more strategic and interesting, but they can also be used to access hidden areas (or otherwise inaccessible areas), leap past enemies, or collect life items (spinning ankhs that appear on the ground, ledges, or can hang in the air). Other oddities include bizarre powerup modes such as the expected God mode, and the not-so-expected Dog mode. RoTT also tried hard to improve upon the FPS by tweaking previously existing elements. It was the first game to provide an adjustable violence level (players could kick it all the way up to the aforementioned “ludicrous gibs” or remove the blood and gore altogether). It also was among the first to provide the player with multiple characters to choose from (and, I believe, the first to make some of those choices women). It featured an automap. It also took LAN / network games to an amazing level, providing unique areas and completely customizable games. The designers were some real geeks too, and this always played to my heart. Adding the ability to carry two guns “Woo” style in a time when most Americans had not even heard of John Woo was pretty killer. Changing the load screen during holidays (for example, having the H.U.N.T. Team wear Christmas hats on December 25) was another whimsical touch. And then, there's the “Shroom” mode! Yes, Doom II was scary as hell, but RoTT was just plain fun, and easily one of the most influential games of our time. Grab a copy, throw on the enhanced graphics packs, don't think too hard, and have a blast.

outdated graphic but a great classic game to play with all the excitement and suspense still intact.

Takes me back to the days when I had 4 386's in the house with a simple peer-to-peer network, and the wife and daughters would go head-to-head with me in the maps! Lots of yelling, hooting, and screaming ... what fun!

Back when I had my first computer, a 486 DX2 50 MHz behemoth ... I was in awe that I could run this masterpiece! Still as much fun today as it was back then! Thank you, GOG!

Bought it when it first came out, I had 8 meg of RAM on a 486 DX2 66 and it was underrated even then, the soundtrack using a wavetable soundblaster AWE was brilliant for the day Just hope the Apogee remake isn't a dumbed down console crock like DNF turned out to be. This one is a great play on christmas Morning,.