Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
Encyclopedia
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is a first-person shooter
video game originally released for the Nintendo 64
in late 1998. A port
was released for Windows OS
shortly afterwards, in 1999. It is the sequel to the successful Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
and was followed by the 2000 entry in the series, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
. It is one of the first Nintendo 64
games to allow use with the RAM Expansion Pak and it was known as Violence Killer: Turok New Generation in Japan. A separate game, also titled Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, was released for the Game Boy Color in December 1998. Although set in the same fictional universe
, it follows a different storyline.
The game was well received, garnering an 89% from the review collator Game Rankings
for the Nintendo 64 version and labeled as a "must-buy" from GameSpot
. However, the Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Color versions did not score as high when subsequently released.
.
The Primagen is a creature imprisoned long ago in the wreckage of his spacecraft
after attempting to conquer a place called the Lost Lands; a bizarre and barbarian world where "Time has no meaning". Sealed in the ruined craft with five devices called Energy Totem
s, the Primagen has mobilized several races of creatures in an attempt to destroy these objects. Turok's task is thus clear; he must locate the Energy Totems and destroy all forces mobilized to attack them, and then destroy the Primagen himself to end the threat he poses to the Lost Land once and for all. In the process, he must defeat the Primagen's armies and acquire ancient magical powers from the Talisman chambers.
Eventually, Turok faces the Primagen himself. How the Primagen dies and the game's ending depends on what the player did during the game. If not all of the objectives are completed, the Primagen will collapse from his fatal injuries. When talking to Adon, she thanks Joshua for his efforts, but states that although the Primagen's body was fatally injured, traces of his psychic
powers seem to remain, causing her to wonder if he's really dead. If all of the objectives are completed, the Primagen will be obliterated by a series of energy blasts from the totems. Adon will give a greater thanks to Joshua and state the Primagen's body is destroyed and no traces of his powers remain. Once the credits have finished rolling, the player will hear Oblivion say "It is inevitable."
Throughout the game, a mysterious entity calling itself "Oblivion" attempts to thwart Turok's quest by creating false copies of the Talisman chamber portals that lead to areas populated by its servants, the Flesh Eaters. This sets up the plot for the sequel
, in which two new Turoks must take on Oblivion itself.
Like its predecessor, in Turok 2 the player is armed with different types of weapons in order to kill enemies. New to the game are mission objectives to perform, such as destroying ammunition dump
s or activating beacon
s. These objectives have to be completed in order to finish the level. After doing so, the player must protect an Energy Totem from enemy onslaught, and then can proceed to the next level. Introduced in Turok 2 are five types of talisman
s scattered throughout the levels. These give Turok various powers, such as the Leap of Faith, allowing him to jump long distances, and Firewalk, granting him the ability to walk over lava
.
New types of enemies appear in Seeds of Evil, such as the humanoid
Endtrails, the Blind Ones, large spider
s, and the Primagen's semi-robot
ic Troopers. The enemy artificial intelligence
has been significantly enhanced, and some foes will run away if the player is brandishing a particularly powerful weapon. In some other cases, enemies can sporadically get into lethal fights with one another. Seeds of Evil also has a dismemberment
system, where arms, legs, heads, and other body parts can be removed by targeting specific points on enemy bodies.
The game features a large arsenal, ranging from Dinosaur Hunter' s bow and arrow
to the Cerebral Bore, which was inspired by the Tall Man's weapons from the movie Phantasm
. The flamethrower
is noted as the first of its kind in video game history to include polygonal
fire. Included in the sequel are weapons specifically for underwater use, such as the speargun
and torpedo launcher
. Fireseed also has the ability to mount various different kinds of Dinosaurs; such as a Styracosaurus
equipped with plasma canons, machine guns and flame-throwers; and a machine gun
-studded Herrerasaurus
(GBC version). The final weapon, the Nuke
, is broken up into pieces that the player can find throughout the game, similar to the Chronosceptor from the previous installment.
, which is limited to close-range attacks, but extremely fast and agile. Also available is Tal'Set, the protagonist of Dinosaur Hunter, and various enemies from the game.
There are three available multiplayer game modes: a regular free-for-all deathmatch
, team deathmatch, and a unique "Frag Tag" mode. The Frag Tag mode starts with a random player transformed into a monkey
, with no attacks and very little health. This player's task is to get to a specific point in the level; at this point, they would be returned to their normal character and another player made to become the monkey. If they were killed, they would remain a monkey when they reappeared.
The PC version of the game includes an online multiplayer that differs from the Nintendo 64
version. The weapons of the online multiplayer are almost the same as the single player, except for the Scorpion Missile Launcher not having its lock on, No Razor Wind and Mine weapons. The multiplayer has three versions of online play. Arena, Capture The Flag, and Rok (Deathmatch). Arena lets two teams or players face each other in a small level. The host is allowed to edit what weapons and how much health a player can receive. Capture the flag gives points for Frags, and capturing the opponents flags. A team is unable to score points for a flag capture if a teams own flag is captured. Rok is the same thing as deathmatch; multiple players trying to accomplish the frag/pain (Damage) limit.
The base idea for the Cerebral Bore weapon was created during a brainstorming session concerning weapon design. The original concept had the weapon "being slow and agonizing". An artist suggested a Leech gun, which was rejected by project manager, David Dienstbier: however, a "Vampire Gun" was eventually added to the sequel, Turok 3. The game also aimed to offer less fog with a wider field of vision so that play would not feel as claustrophobic as the original. Iguana, having received Nintendo 64DD
development kits which included the 4MB Expansion Pak, added a high-resolution mode to the game early on in the development timeline. This was demonstrated to Nintendo at E3 98, running at a resolution of 640 x 480, a technical accomplishment for the Nintendo 64 at the time. Before the official unveiling of the Expansion Pak, IGN asked Dienstbier about the possibility of the game running in the high resolution mode in the leadup to the 1998 E3. He stated that it ran in the same resolution as the first Turok game.
Acclaim missed the original cartridge production slot for the game, forcing a delay from November to December 98. This delay was due to problems in fitting the game on a 32MB cartridge.
, GameSpot, and Game Informer
awarded a 90%. Retailers worldwide ordered 1.75 million before launch, with the game going on to sell over 1 million copies in the United States.
In Next Generation Magazine
, the game was awarded a perfect five out of five stars. The magazine noted that "the artistic range is remarkable" and that "GoldenEye 007 now seems simple" when comparing the enemy AI
. The game's framerate was a consistent complaint, as Peer Schneider
of IGN wrote "While Turok 1 was an exercise in smoothness, T2 forgoes framerate for detail so often, some gamers will definitely be put off by the choppiness." The game's large arsenal was highly praised, as GameSpot said that the Cerebral Bore is "possibly the grossest weapon ever conceived". The Game Boy Color version was given a 5.0 out of 10 from IGN. This version was also reviewed by Peer Schneider, who said that the game is "an E-rated cookie-cutter sidescroller with decent controls and unimpressive visuals." Edge magazine infamously gave the game a 9/10 score, in a review which was essentially redacted in a retrospective some years later ("The 100 most significant reviews from the first 100 issues").
, the game is a hybrid Game Boy/Color software featuring a separate storyline than the console version involving the Amaranthine Accordance trying to bring a massive Dinosoid army to Earth from the Lost World with Joshua Fireseed trying to stop them . The gameplay spread over 8 levels and four boss encounters which involves platform levels very similar to the first Game Boy title utilising familiar weaponry such as the bow and arrow, shotgun and grenade. Other levels have Turok on the back of a Pterodactyl with horizontal shooter gameplay while another has him riding downriver in a canoe avoiding enemies. The standard platform levels of the game were first created on graph paper, then replicated on a PC level editor before becoming a playable level on the Game Boy hardware. The distinctive music was produced by Alberto Gonzalez, who produced music for the other Gameboy based Turok games.
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
video game originally released for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
in late 1998. A port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
was released for Windows OS
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
shortly afterwards, in 1999. It is the sequel to the successful Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is a first-person shooter video game developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim for the Nintendo 64 console and personal computer platforms. It was released in 1997 in North America and Europe. Turok is an adaptation of the Acclaim Comics comic book series of...
and was followed by the 2000 entry in the series, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is a Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color video game released in August 2000. It is a sequel to Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, and is itself followed by the 2002 entry in the Turok video games series, Turok: Evolution.-Gameplay:...
. It is one of the first Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
games to allow use with the RAM Expansion Pak and it was known as Violence Killer: Turok New Generation in Japan. A separate game, also titled Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, was released for the Game Boy Color in December 1998. Although set in the same fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
, it follows a different storyline.
The game was well received, garnering an 89% from the review collator Game Rankings
Game Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
for the Nintendo 64 version and labeled as a "must-buy" from GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
. However, the Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Color versions did not score as high when subsequently released.
Plot
The game begins with the new Turok, Joshua Fireseed, appearing through a portal to face a blue-skinned woman named Adon. She explains he has been called by the Elders of the Lost Lands, the Lazarus Concordance, to defeat a powerful alien entity called the Primagen, which was awakened when Tal'Set destroyed the Chronoscepter in the previous gameTurok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is a first-person shooter video game developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim for the Nintendo 64 console and personal computer platforms. It was released in 1997 in North America and Europe. Turok is an adaptation of the Acclaim Comics comic book series of...
.
The Primagen is a creature imprisoned long ago in the wreckage of his spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
after attempting to conquer a place called the Lost Lands; a bizarre and barbarian world where "Time has no meaning". Sealed in the ruined craft with five devices called Energy Totem
Totem
A totem is a stipulated ancestor of a group of people, such as a family, clan, group, lineage, or tribe.Totems support larger groups than the individual person. In kinship and descent, if the apical ancestor of a clan is nonhuman, it is called a totem...
s, the Primagen has mobilized several races of creatures in an attempt to destroy these objects. Turok's task is thus clear; he must locate the Energy Totems and destroy all forces mobilized to attack them, and then destroy the Primagen himself to end the threat he poses to the Lost Land once and for all. In the process, he must defeat the Primagen's armies and acquire ancient magical powers from the Talisman chambers.
Eventually, Turok faces the Primagen himself. How the Primagen dies and the game's ending depends on what the player did during the game. If not all of the objectives are completed, the Primagen will collapse from his fatal injuries. When talking to Adon, she thanks Joshua for his efforts, but states that although the Primagen's body was fatally injured, traces of his psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
powers seem to remain, causing her to wonder if he's really dead. If all of the objectives are completed, the Primagen will be obliterated by a series of energy blasts from the totems. Adon will give a greater thanks to Joshua and state the Primagen's body is destroyed and no traces of his powers remain. Once the credits have finished rolling, the player will hear Oblivion say "It is inevitable."
Throughout the game, a mysterious entity calling itself "Oblivion" attempts to thwart Turok's quest by creating false copies of the Talisman chamber portals that lead to areas populated by its servants, the Flesh Eaters. This sets up the plot for the sequel
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is a Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color video game released in August 2000. It is a sequel to Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, and is itself followed by the 2002 entry in the Turok video games series, Turok: Evolution.-Gameplay:...
, in which two new Turoks must take on Oblivion itself.
Gameplay
Ammunition dump
An ammunition dump, ammunition compound, ammunition depot, bomb dump, ammunition supply point or ammo dump, is a military storage facility for live ammunition and explosives....
s or activating beacon
Beacon
A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.Beacons can also be combined with semaphoric or other indicators to provide important information, such as the status of an airport, by the colour and rotational pattern of its airport beacon, or of...
s. These objectives have to be completed in order to finish the level. After doing so, the player must protect an Energy Totem from enemy onslaught, and then can proceed to the next level. Introduced in Turok 2 are five types of talisman
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
s scattered throughout the levels. These give Turok various powers, such as the Leap of Faith, allowing him to jump long distances, and Firewalk, granting him the ability to walk over lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
.
New types of enemies appear in Seeds of Evil, such as the humanoid
Humanoid
A humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...
Endtrails, the Blind Ones, large spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s, and the Primagen's semi-robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
ic Troopers. The enemy artificial intelligence
Game artificial intelligence
Game artificial intelligence refers to techniques used in computer and video games to produce the illusion of intelligence in the behavior of non-player characters . The techniques used typically draw upon existing methods from the field of artificial intelligence...
has been significantly enhanced, and some foes will run away if the player is brandishing a particularly powerful weapon. In some other cases, enemies can sporadically get into lethal fights with one another. Seeds of Evil also has a dismemberment
Dismemberment
Dismemberment is the act of cutting, tearing, pulling, wrenching or otherwise removing, the limbs of a living thing. It may be practiced upon human beings as a form of capital punishment, as a result of a traumatic accident, or in connection with murder, suicide, or cannibalism...
system, where arms, legs, heads, and other body parts can be removed by targeting specific points on enemy bodies.
The game features a large arsenal, ranging from Dinosaur Hunter
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
to the Cerebral Bore, which was inspired by the Tall Man's weapons from the movie Phantasm
Phantasm (film)
Phantasm is a low-budget "cult classic" horror film produced in 1977 and released in 1979. The film was directed, written, photographed, co-produced and edited by Don Coscarelli...
. The flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
is noted as the first of its kind in video game history to include polygonal
Polygon (computer graphics)
Polygons are used in computer graphics to compose images that are three-dimensional in appearance. Usually triangular, polygons arise when an object's surface is modeled, vertices are selected, and the object is rendered in a wire frame model. This is quicker to display than a shaded model; thus...
fire. Included in the sequel are weapons specifically for underwater use, such as the speargun
Speargun
A speargun is an underwater fishing implement designed to fire a spear at fish.The basic components of a speargun are:A spear, a stock/barrel, and a handle/grip containing a trigger mechanism...
and torpedo launcher
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
. Fireseed also has the ability to mount various different kinds of Dinosaurs; such as a Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period , about 76.5 to 75.0 million years ago...
equipped with plasma canons, machine guns and flame-throwers; and a machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
-studded Herrerasaurus
Herrerasaurus
Herrerasaurus was one of the earliest dinosaurs. All known specimens of this carnivore have been discovered in rocks of late Ladinian age in northwestern Argentina...
(GBC version). The final weapon, the Nuke
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
, is broken up into pieces that the player can find throughout the game, similar to the Chronosceptor from the previous installment.
Multiplayer
The game features a multiplayer mode for up to four players. There are various characters to pick from; they each had certain strengths and weaknesses, some being able to regenerate health. Most notable is the RaptorVelociraptor
Velociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
, which is limited to close-range attacks, but extremely fast and agile. Also available is Tal'Set, the protagonist of Dinosaur Hunter, and various enemies from the game.
Deathmatch (gaming)
Deathmatch or Player vs All is a widely-used gameplay mode integrated into many shooter and real-time strategy computer games...
, team deathmatch, and a unique "Frag Tag" mode. The Frag Tag mode starts with a random player transformed into a monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
, with no attacks and very little health. This player's task is to get to a specific point in the level; at this point, they would be returned to their normal character and another player made to become the monkey. If they were killed, they would remain a monkey when they reappeared.
The PC version of the game includes an online multiplayer that differs from the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
version. The weapons of the online multiplayer are almost the same as the single player, except for the Scorpion Missile Launcher not having its lock on, No Razor Wind and Mine weapons. The multiplayer has three versions of online play. Arena, Capture The Flag, and Rok (Deathmatch). Arena lets two teams or players face each other in a small level. The host is allowed to edit what weapons and how much health a player can receive. Capture the flag gives points for Frags, and capturing the opponents flags. A team is unable to score points for a flag capture if a teams own flag is captured. Rok is the same thing as deathmatch; multiple players trying to accomplish the frag/pain (Damage) limit.
Development
The game was announced even before Dinosaur Hunter was released, under the title Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Part Two. The game was completed in 21 months with a team of roughly the same size as that who worked on Dinosaur Hunter, which was composed of 18 people. During development, more staff were brought onboard to assist in completing the game. Reportedly, over 10,000 hours of game testing was conducted during its creation. The game was originally designed with a 12MB cartridge in mind. When cartridges prices fell, the storage was increased to 16MB allowing the team to add a multiplayer mode. Eventually, the cartridge size was increased again, and was finalised at 32MB.The base idea for the Cerebral Bore weapon was created during a brainstorming session concerning weapon design. The original concept had the weapon "being slow and agonizing". An artist suggested a Leech gun, which was rejected by project manager, David Dienstbier: however, a "Vampire Gun" was eventually added to the sequel, Turok 3. The game also aimed to offer less fog with a wider field of vision so that play would not feel as claustrophobic as the original. Iguana, having received Nintendo 64DD
Nintendo 64DD
The is a peripheral for the Nintendo 64 game console. It plugged into the N64 through the EXTension Port on the Nintendo 64's underside, and allowed the N64 to use proprietary 64 MB magneto-optical discs for expanded data storage...
development kits which included the 4MB Expansion Pak, added a high-resolution mode to the game early on in the development timeline. This was demonstrated to Nintendo at E3 98, running at a resolution of 640 x 480, a technical accomplishment for the Nintendo 64 at the time. Before the official unveiling of the Expansion Pak, IGN asked Dienstbier about the possibility of the game running in the high resolution mode in the leadup to the 1998 E3. He stated that it ran in the same resolution as the first Turok game.
Acclaim missed the original cartridge production slot for the game, forcing a delay from November to December 98. This delay was due to problems in fitting the game on a 32MB cartridge.
Reception
Response to Turok 2 immediately after release was largely positive, with 9.0 out of 10 from both IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, GameSpot, and Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
awarded a 90%. Retailers worldwide ordered 1.75 million before launch, with the game going on to sell over 1 million copies in the United States.
In Next Generation Magazine
Next Generation Magazine
Next Generation Magazine was a video game magazine that was made by Imagine Media publishing company . It was affiliated to and shared editorial with the UK's Edge magazine. Next Generation ran from January 1995 until January 2002. It was published by Jonathan Simpson-Bint and edited by Neil West...
, the game was awarded a perfect five out of five stars. The magazine noted that "the artistic range is remarkable" and that "GoldenEye 007 now seems simple" when comparing the enemy AI
Game artificial intelligence
Game artificial intelligence refers to techniques used in computer and video games to produce the illusion of intelligence in the behavior of non-player characters . The techniques used typically draw upon existing methods from the field of artificial intelligence...
. The game's framerate was a consistent complaint, as Peer Schneider
Peer Schneider
Peer Schneider is one of the founders of videogames and entertainment website IGN. He is currently Senior Vice President of Content & Publisher at IGN Entertainment...
of IGN wrote "While Turok 1 was an exercise in smoothness, T2 forgoes framerate for detail so often, some gamers will definitely be put off by the choppiness." The game's large arsenal was highly praised, as GameSpot said that the Cerebral Bore is "possibly the grossest weapon ever conceived". The Game Boy Color version was given a 5.0 out of 10 from IGN. This version was also reviewed by Peer Schneider, who said that the game is "an E-rated cookie-cutter sidescroller with decent controls and unimpressive visuals." Edge magazine infamously gave the game a 9/10 score, in a review which was essentially redacted in a retrospective some years later ("The 100 most significant reviews from the first 100 issues").
Game Boy Color
Developed by Bit ManagersBit Managers
Bit Managers, formerly known as New Frontier, was a video game developer based in Barcelona . It was co-founded by Alberto José González, who also made the music for all of their games ....
, the game is a hybrid Game Boy/Color software featuring a separate storyline than the console version involving the Amaranthine Accordance trying to bring a massive Dinosoid army to Earth from the Lost World with Joshua Fireseed trying to stop them . The gameplay spread over 8 levels and four boss encounters which involves platform levels very similar to the first Game Boy title utilising familiar weaponry such as the bow and arrow, shotgun and grenade. Other levels have Turok on the back of a Pterodactyl with horizontal shooter gameplay while another has him riding downriver in a canoe avoiding enemies. The standard platform levels of the game were first created on graph paper, then replicated on a PC level editor before becoming a playable level on the Game Boy hardware. The distinctive music was produced by Alberto Gonzalez, who produced music for the other Gameboy based Turok games.