Turok 2: Seeds of Evil

"Could have been a classic, but has MAJOR flaws."

Review Written 10/14/99

I actually would rate this game 6.3

Tested with the RAM expansion pack and rumble pack. Goldeneye style controls. And in Hi-Res mode.

GRAPHICS (8.1) - The graphics are excellent. However there is quite a bit of fogging which detracts from the impressive weapons and dinosaurs. The first level is horrible as the fog really ruins this level! The weapons are amazing, brilliant design and animation.

CONTROL (4) - The framerates with more than 2 enemies on the screen SUCK! You can let go of the joystick and literally watch the screen jump for another second or two. The framerates are FAR WORSE than golden eyes. As for the targeting system, it hard to get those crosshairs exactly where you want them. You push the up or down yellow even a little bit and the crosshairs "jump" up and down. I believe there are options to slow down the speed of your targeting, but they didn't seem to help me. I play golden eye style as the turok style control is VERY UN-NATURAL to me. It also feels a bit akward climbing up ladders. The jumps really irratated me, because I feel there should no be any jump in a first person shooter that will leave you falling to your death all because you can't see your feet! The best part about the control is probably the weapon selection screen it beats golden eyes weapon selection to pieces. Just push blue or green button and a direction and you get the gun. No flipping thru all the guns to find the one you want.

Level Design (2.3) - Turok 2 has horrible level design. Far worse than Quake 2 or Golden Eye. You can literally spend 3 hours walking around with out finding a place to save. And no the girlfriend doesn't understand when she wants to go out and you say 10 more minuites I need to find a place to save the game......90 minuites later you're not going to get any that night, because you still haven't saved the game! The only thing worst than not being able to save for 3 hours is running around the HUGE MAZE levels trying to find a damn switch! If this is suppose to be an action game it could use a WHOLE LOT MORE ACTION and a WHOLE LOT LESS EXPLORING. Yes it great when you first enter a level and get to fight, but how about two weeks later when you're stuck at the same spot in the level because you can't find a switch. I REALLY HATE using a strategy guides, because I don't like to cheat. HOWEVER with this game I sat down and read a FAQ/WALKTHROUGH as I played, otherwise I NEVER would make it past ANY of the levels!

MULTIPLAYER (5) - I prefer Golden Eyes and Quake 2's multiplayer a lot more than Turok 2's. Maybe it is because I use the Golden Eye controls and the crosshairs just plain jump to much. I didn't test multi player extensivly because every time my friends came over they made me take out Turok 2 death match for a Golden Eye or Quake 2 death match. No they didn't like Turok 2's death match either!

Overall (6.3) - The graphics are great, innovative weapon design, and execellent enemy AI. The creatures just don't stand around. They charge you, hide behind boxes, and even run away. This is a make and break type game. The Graphics are Excellent, Gameplay - Horrible, Enemy AI - Excellent, and Level Design - Horrible. Which makes this a medicore game, so I gave it a medicore score. The one player is playable if you don't mind exploring for hours and can live with bad frame rates.

2 Months Later - I don't play this game anymore. Ocassionally I might plug it in and drool over the mind numbing offensive firepower, but then eventually break down in tears, when I realize I can't play this game because of the CRAPPY frame rates, CRAPPY level design, and lack of save points.

My Recommendation - Don't buy it! Don't rent it! If you must then go over to a friend who has it and salivate over the guns and enemies, but take my word you will curse the game when you play!

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99