There’s something to be said for a modern game that doesn’t greet you with superficial mechanics, a complex story or a swath of progression systems – instead favoring a clean, mindlessly fun experience. This is the exact avenue that the upcoming single-player and co-op shooter Turok: Origins feels as though it’s taking. Dinosaurs, aliens, and big-ass guns – what’s not to like?
A recent gamescom build offered the opportunity to explore Turok: Origins‘ world through a single-player lens, but the game’s entire campaign can be experienced with up to three players, a first for a Turok title. Here, Origins serves as a soft reset for the series, taking place way before the events of the first game, and shepherding an evolution from 90’s dinosaur hunting to fast-flowing, futuristic arcade shooter.
Before embarking on a mission, I’m prompted to choose between three classes: Cougar, Bison, and Raven. Each archetype offers a distinct set of weapons and abilities that set their playstyles apart. Cougar presents a build focused on speed and mobility and packs a close-quarters punch with its loadout, while Bison serves as a tankier build, able to deploy huge shields, absorb damage and offer a defensive hand. My personal favorite was Raven, which favours long-range solutions and comes equipped with an extremely satisfying bow as its primary weapon.
While I played alone, it felt immediately clear how multiple players could synergize with each other’s skillsets – using abilities to slow enemies down in combat, create barriers and play with strategic positioning to take down large groups of enemies and ferocious paleo bosses alike.
With minimal ambling, I’m spat out of a portal and into a jungle setting so vibrant and atmospheric I can almost smell the foliage – the aesthetic on show is deeply reminiscent of classic dinosaur media, and by extension, the DNA of previous Turok games. Throughout the mission, I’m tasked with several small objectives that are quick and cleanly sequenced – clear a group of enemies here, blow up some enemy technology there, go to the boss fight at the end. – It’s a loop that keeps you engaged with the combat, with enough context to make your actions feel intentional. With an entire story campaign to come, I’d imagine that the full game offers far more narrative direction to follow.
This tight demo also illustrates another bonus point – Turok: Origins should be a great game to enjoy in short bursts as well as long sessions. The co-op campaign is also drop-in, drop-out, so that other players can come and go seamlessly rather than having to navigate menus and restart if a friend wants to join.
The setup adds an old-school arcade feel to Turok: Origins, like some goofy fun machine you’d hop on after a game of bowling. The structure is delightfully straightforward – pick your character and loadout, and off you go. The meat here is a promising, direct shooting experience that feels satisfying across the board, and I’m curious to see how it works across the full game.
The mission peaks with a boss fight against “Metal Maw”, a hulking therapod strapped with missile launchers, which took some effort to whittle down. This encounter felt like a true spectacle, darting around the arena to hurriedly scoop up ammo and health pick-ups while an apex predator switches between charging at you and firing rockets from afar. If Turok: Origins can carry this intensity into the full release – tight gunplay, digestible co-op and and cinematic showdowns with massive prehistoric, alien beasts, sign me up for more of where that came from, please.
Turok: Origins is coming to XBOX Series X|S. Stay tuned for more updates.
Turok: Origins
Saber Interactive Inc.
Embark on a high-stakes adventure — solo or with friends — to unravel mysteries that hold the key to saving humanity.
Key Features:
– Fight Against Enemies: Battle alone or as a team against a variety of dinosaurs, creatures, and bosses that take to the ground, sky, swamps, and caves to push players’ skills to the limit. Engage in intense combat, where players must use everything at their disposal to ensure success, including melee attacks, special abilities, and fine-tuned weapons.
– Unleash Your Arsenal: Unlock and upgrade your advanced weaponry to dominate your battles and neutralize your enemies. Plasma rifles, ray guns, snipers, bows, shotguns, and more are all at your disposal.
– Unlock DNA Powers: Extract DNA from fallen foes and the environment to unlock game-changing powers that evolve your suit in real-time. Each DNA power not only enhances your look but also offers upgradeable skills and abilities to give you an edge in combat.
– Experience an Epic Story Across the Lost Lands: Throughout Turok’s missions, players will journey across breathtaking yet deadly worlds on various planets. From ancient temples and wasteland canyons to dense jungles, each location holds pieces of an unforgettable story that is packed with twists and turns.
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