The gaming landscape is often a burial ground for once-revered franchises, left to fossilize in the annals of memory. Yet, every so often, a familiar roar echoes through the digital wilderness, signaling a rebirth. This time, it`s the distinctive, bone-rattling call of Turok, returning from a nearly two-decade slumber with Turok: Origins, a title promising to reignite the primal joy of dispatching prehistoric beasts with extreme prejudice.
For many, the name Turok conjures images of the Nintendo 64 era, a time when first-person shooters were finding their footing on consoles, and the sheer audacity of hunting dinosaurs with a varied arsenal felt revolutionary. After a mixed reception for its 2008 reboot that, while not a commercial failure, ultimately halted further ventures, one might have thought Turok had finally joined its reptilian adversaries as a fossilized memory. But Saber Interactive, known for their work on various action titles, has boldly stepped up to the plate, aiming to reanimate this classic for a new generation.
A Timeless Concept, Reimagined: The `Origins` Story
Skeptics, myself included, raised an eyebrow when Turok: Origins was first teased as a potential third-person co-op shooter. After all, Turok was, at its heart, a solo journey into the unknown. The good news emanating from Gamescom 2025`s first hands-on impressions is that Saber Interactive appears to be acutely aware of this legacy, offering both first-person and third-person perspectives, with the crucial assurance of a fully-fledged solo campaign without AI companions. It seems the solitary hunt is not lost, merely augmented.
The subtitle “Origins” isn`t just a catchy phrase; it`s a narrative reset. The traditional “Turok” isn`t a singular hero but rather the designation of a tribe of skilled hunters, drawing inspiration from North American indigenous cultures. This fresh approach allows for a broader, more expansive lore, moving the timeline to an era preceding the original games. More importantly, it provides the perfect backdrop for the introduction of a class-based system, a contemporary mechanic that wisely integrates into the tribal theme.
The Evolution of the Hunt: Classes, Combat, and Co-op
Players will choose from distinct classes—Raven, Cougar, and Bison—each embodying a spirit animal and dictating a unique loadout and set of cooldown-based abilities, along with a powerful ultimate. This system brings a tactical layer to the visceral combat, allowing for diverse team compositions in the up-to-three-player cooperative PvE experience. Whether you prefer the automatic fire of the Cougar, the close-quarters brutality of the Bison`s shotgun, or the precision of the Raven`s long-range bow, there’s a style for every hunter.
And what would Turok be without its iconic adversaries? In Origins, the dinosaurs are re-dubbed “Xenia”—a hostile reptilian force that encompasses not only familiar four-legged lizards but also new humanoid enemies and scale-covered trolls. This linguistic shift subtly broadens the bestiary, allowing for creative enemy designs while retaining the core appeal of battling colossal, primeval threats.
Fluid Perspectives and Brutal Finishes
The seamless transition between first-person and third-person perspectives is a standout feature, with developers confirming separate pipelines for each, ensuring both feel distinct and polished. For instance, a sprinting crouch becomes a slide in first-person but a forward roll in third-person. Melee combat, always a satisfying punctuation mark in the Turok series, gets a cinematic upgrade. Landing brutal finishers involves a quick camera pull-back to third-person, allowing players to witness their hunter tear apart a glowing, weakened Xenia with gruesome flair. While undeniably cool, the frantic nature of co-op means your teammates might occasionally beat you to the satisfying kill-prompt, a minor, yet ironically amusing, frustration.
The demo itself was a carefully curated whirlwind: from being dropped into a primordial jungle swarming with raptors to navigating an ancient temple, and culminating in an arena boss fight against a colossal Triceratops. This structured experience highlighted the game`s variety, even showcasing traversal mechanics like grappling and platforming—a welcome nod to the original games` unique blend of shooting and environmental navigation.
The Verdict: A Promising Revival
Initial skepticism surrounding Turok: Origins appears to be dissipating like morning mist in a primeval jungle. Saber Interactive Spain seems to have a firm grasp on what made the original Turok games resonate while skillfully weaving in modern mechanics and a fresh narrative. The focus remains clear: delivering the visceral thrill of hunting monstrous reptiles with an array of powerful weapons, now with the added dimension of cooperative play or the option for a classic solo endeavor.
After 17 years, the franchise many had consigned to the archaeological dig site is showing signs of a vibrant, living return. Turok: Origins isn`t just a nostalgia trip; it`s a calculated effort to build a new foundation for a beloved series. For fans old and new, the prospect of strapping on a plasma rifle and venturing into a world teeming with Xenia is once again within reach, promising a fresh, engaging, and delightfully violent adventure. The hunt is almost back on.
Turok: Origins is set to launch soon on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Ellis Thorne