Turok feels very much like an action-survival sci-fi flick. There are events throughout the game that will remind you of Pitch Black, Aliens and Predator. Survive your fellow humans as well as an alien element. Turok serves the sci-fi and first-person shooter (FPS) junkie.

Characters:
One of the most memorable characters at your side in the game is Slade. Slade is voiced by Ron Perlman. He's not too happy to have Turok as part of Whiskey Company. You'll found out why early on in the game. As for your adversary, Kane, you won't see too much of the main man other than in the flashbacks. He almost doesn't feel vilified enough. Throughout the game you'll be accompanied by the scattered members of Whiskey Company.

As for the dinos, expect them to mingle amongst many skirmishes. While you do see a few dinosaurs throughout the game, it's mainly raptors you'll be up against. Soon after your rough arrival on the planet, you're introduced to quite an opening landscape of dinosaurs. Just don't expect to interact with most of them for the rest of the game.

Gameplay:
Gameplay takes place in the first-person perspective. You can go the route of stealth kills with knife and bow or go guns blazing with a pulse rifle and gatling gun (one of my favorite weapons). I found the latter method more playable and entertaining. Stealth kills with the knife can be frustrating, leading to stabbing at the air. You are rewarded to various animation sequences if you do successfully creep up and knife your prey.

Aiming feels tough, especially with the SMG. Spraying down enemy soldiers was more effective at times than going for precision aiming. With some of the fast dinos, that won't work. Use your knife for close range attacks, or stay far and make use of the shotgun's alternate flare fire. Nail an enemy with a flare to attract a dino to your target and then go for both. Or do as Slade advises: "Stay quiet until they kill each other off."

Turok uses an auto-regeneration health system. Find cover when wounded until you can get back in the fight. Sometimes you won't be able to, because raptors can be quick. If you are jumped by a raptor, you'll face various sequences of button combos to survive or pull off a kill.

Sometimes you may feel lost in the dense jungles, but luckily a click on the left thumbstick (LS) will show you the navigation point of where you need to go. It's not always there, so you may find yourself running in circles at times, especially during some of the darker lit areas.

Saving can be a bit frustrating. The checkpoints are sometimes spread out, while others can be closer. Expect to go through some lengthy repeats if you die at the wrong moment. There's only one save file as well, but as you unlock chapters you can replay them later on.

Graphics:
It's a dark palette of earthy greens and browns. This is one of those HD games that is best played in a low-lit setting. Some textures look great. At times, as you've likely seen in other Unreal Engine 3 games, the texture load-in is visible. That means graphics may look plain or unfinished for a second or two until the textures pop-in. You've likely seen this in games like Mass Effect, Gears of War or Stranglehold.

The jungle areas are the most impressive, with plenty of rich, varied foliage. The areas where you must make your way through high-grass lead to some tense moments. It builds a tension you've likely felt in a survival horror game, especially when anticipating getting jumped by a raptor.

Audio:
The soundtrack has an epic sci-fi movie feel. Environments sound rich and believable. From buzzing flies to clicking keyboards. Voice-acting is well done too, with the help of some Hollywood talent. If you have a good pair of headphones, wear them to immerse yourself in Turok.

Replay Value:
Developer Propaganda Games extends the gameplay of Turok by adding plenty of multiplayer elements. Modes included are Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Assault Capture The Flag, War Games, and 4-player Co-Op missions. There's 10 maps total. Seven for multiplayer, three for co-op. Co-op missions are challenging, and each has their achievements.

New map packs will be available within the last week of March 2008. Multiplayer maps will include Desolation, Sentinel, Inconclusive Tests. There's also an added new co-op map, "A Rivalry Continues." The map pack will go for 400 Microsoft Points ($5), also coming to the PlayStation Network.

Buy It, Rent It or Hardcore Only?
If you're a hardcore FPS gamer that leans more toward the sci-fi genre, this game is definitely for you. The Turok franchise redeems its name this time around and gets a richer futuristic feel at the same time. The main downside is battling similar enemies and raptors and the clumsy knife attacks and weapon fire. It's the story and rich environments that will keep you going and the online play that will keep you coming back.

Turok, is now available for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and soon for the PC (in April 2008).

See a preview of some gameplay in Turok below. Watch various developer and trailer videos here.

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