For gamers attending the Gamescom trade fair, a preview of the upcoming video game “Turok: Origins” proved that old ideas can be new again. The third-person shooter, which pits players against dinosaurs and aliens, is a reboot of a classic series from the late 1990s.
The original Turok character, a Native American adventurer, first appeared in 1950s comic books before gaining fame on the Nintendo 64 console. After a series of successful games, the franchise faded into obscurity in the 2000s. Now, US-based studio Saber Interactive has revived the character for “Turok: Origins,” a game that blends the action of the “Jurassic Park” and “Predator” movie franchises.
According to Jesus Iglesias, head of Saber Interactive, the studio was “shocked” when Universal Studios—the producer of the “Jurassic Park” movies—approached them in 2020 to develop the Turok intellectual property (IP). Saber Interactive has a history of successfully rebooting memorable but neglected titles, such as “Space Marine” and “Evil Dead.”
A Fresh Take on a Familiar Universe
Presented at Gamescom in Germany, “Turok: Origins” promises a fast-paced, fluid, and cinematic experience that modern players expect. The game, which had a development team of 250 people, will offer both single-player and multi-player modes against AI-controlled enemies.
While the original Turok games were reminiscent of early-stage Lara Croft in a prehistoric setting, Iglesias says the “Origins” reboot will be respectful of the original titles, especially “Turok 1” and “Turok 2,” while adding new elements to create a more consistent universe. He noted that later titles in the series, particularly the “almost a disaster” 2008 game simply titled “Turok,” had moved away from the spirit of the original. A 2019 title followed, but it was not connected to the main series.
There is no official release date yet for “Turok: Origins,” which will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
