Rise of the Triad: Dark War

Rise of the Triad was originally slated to be a sequel to the well known Wolfenstein 3D- a fact that is evident based on the soldiers and MP40 sub machine gun that is still present in the game; the Wolf3D engine was enhanced to a point where it is no longer distinguishable in comparison to Wolfenstein 3D, but that doesn't really contribute to the game's entertainment value. Minds were changed- this game was not meant to be a sequel for Wolf3D- so, instead of being a Nazi killing fest, the plot was instead reworked into telling the stories of several characters in a organization known as H.U.N.T, who are sent to investigate suspicious activities on San Nicolas Island. They are met with hostility as their boat is destroyed, forcing them to fight their way out, while stopping the cult at the same time. ROTT has an atmosphere that is similar to Arcade and Platformers from the Apogee catalog- moving platforms, discrete traps placed in (somewhat) hidden locations, including numerous powerups and obstacles: a recognizable trait inserted into a lot of old-school FPS's- however, it doesn't pack the same punch as other memorable and well designed titles of the 90's. Level design in ROTT is nearly as interesting as its color palette (several shades of brown and gray, hooray), and the weapons are decent, but not anything incredibly memorable and interesting, which is important for this genre. Aside from this, some technical aspects are notable, including bullet holes, fog, panoramic skies and the like, but is also shackled from earlier limits set by the Wolf3D engine. In other words, you may find that you appreciate the old school charm that ROTT has- but this is really a taste that varies from person to person. As for me, my time will be spent elsewhere. Unless you REALLY love potted plants.

I love this game. It brings me right back to my childhood.

Fun game, great graphics for the time but I hate dying and have to go all the way back to the beginning

Rise of the Triad is a game that positively revels in how ridiculous it is. It never lets you forget that you're playing a video game, but this isn't a negative point - rather, it embraces all the nonsense that videogames have led us to expect over the years. We have the "collect 100 things for an extra life" mechanic from Mario and Sonic. We have bouncy jump pads. We have precarious platforming sections. We have some of the most inventive weapons out there. And then we have a whole ton of levels to play through. This game is BIG, and if you enjoy it, it will certainly keep you busy for some time, particularly as GOG's package contains all the additional level packs that were available. Sure, the engine is nothing special, being an evolution of Wolfenstein 3D's tile-based architecture, but that doesn't mean it's an inferior game. Just don't compare it to titles like Doom, as it should become clear almost immediately that you're dealing with a different kind of FPS - one that doesn't take itself too seriously and is very keen on making sure the player has a good time. Oh, and it also has a great soundtrack.

Rise of the Triad is one of those shooters that you just can't take seriously. By no means is it a bad thing, but the game is over the top and on purpose. You can tell the developers had humour in mind when making this. Rise of the Triad is a first person shooter from the early days of when people were releasing "DOOM Clones" and it managed to get popular with a good reason: It's just so damned fun. The game boasts stacks of neat and again, over-the-top weaponry. Acquire heat seekers, bazookas, magic staffs that will destroy anything in its' path, and the ridiculous drunk missile! ROTT also boasts a ridiculous amount of gameplay. The game has about 50 maps to play through, and the Comm-Batt (tm) or multiplayer/deathmatch mode contains about 50 more with about 10 different modes to try. So if you'd like to try an interesting "Doom Clone", give ROTT a shot, it's still bloody good.