The Turok franchise has a storied history of rebirths. While the character first appeared in 1950s comic books, he truly gained prominence with Valiant Comics` `Turok: Dinosaur Hunter` in the early 90s. This comic served as the foundation for the influential N64 game series, widely regarded as one of the most impactful console shooters of its era, second only to GoldenEye. Following a 17-year period of dormancy, after the mixed reception of its 2008 reboot, Saber Interactive is now stepping in to revitalize the series with `Turok: Origins`.
My initial skepticism stemmed from last year`s Game Awards announcement, which suggested `Turok: Origins` would be exclusively a third-person co-op shooter. However, my first hands-on experience at Gamescom 2025 brought reassuring news: the game supports both first- and third-person perspectives. While this preview primarily showcased the three-player co-op PvE, the Madrid-based Saber Interactive team confirmed that a dedicated solo mode, without AI companions, will also be available, staying true to the series` original single-player roots.
Most importantly, `Turok: Origins` successfully distills the fundamental essence of what players desire from a Turok game: slaying dinosaurs with an arsenal of powerful weaponry.
Naturally, the game introduces some innovative twists to this classic formula. As hinted by its subtitle, this iteration delves into an earlier point in the timeline, predating the original game. Here, “Turok” refers not to an individual character but to a tribe of hunters, drawing inspiration from indigenous North American cultures. Players can choose from various classes, each inspired by a different spirit animal—Raven, Cougar, and Bison—which dictate their unique loadouts and abilities. Players retain the flexibility to switch classes before embarking on each mission.
The reptilian antagonists are known as “Xenia,” a hostile force predominantly comprising familiar four-legged lizards. This narrative choice also opens the door for new enemy types, including more humanoid adversaries and a peculiar scaled troll-like creature. Wisely, the demo`s inaugural mission immediately satisfied expectations, dropping us into a prehistoric jungle where we were ambushed by waves of raptors. Dispatching these creatures was a thrilling experience, regardless of whether I utilized the seamlessly switchable first- or third-person perspective. The third-person option further allows for toggling the camera`s shoulder view.
Intense dinosaur hunting action in Turok: Origins.
The exceptional feel of the controls can be attributed to the developers` decision to employ entirely separate pipelines for first-person and third-person mechanics, resulting in distinctly optimized experiences. This differentiation is evident in actions like sprinting and crouching: in first-person, you perform a slide, while in third-person, you execute a forward roll. Melee combat is also a viable option; when playing in first-person, the camera dynamically pulls back to third-person for cinematic and brutal finisher animations. Upon weakening a dinosaur until it glows yellow, players are prompted to perform a visceral execution, tearing the creature apart with a satisfying flourish.
While these execution animations were undeniably cool, I found myself performing them less frequently than desired, often due to teammates delivering the final blow before I could initiate the prompt. In a subsequent mission set within an ancient temple, the team strategically split up to address threats from various directions, affording me more opportunities to dispatch Xenia as I saw fit. During this time, I also experimented with the available classes, first trying the automatic-wielding Cougar, then the more robust, shotgun-equipped Bison.
Consistent with modern class-based shooters, each class is outfitted with three unique cooldown-based abilities, alongside a powerful ultimate. After a few missions, I settled into a comfortable rhythm with the Raven`s long-range bow, landing numerous satisfying headshots. A slight drawback was that if an enemy wasn`t instantly killed, I was often too far to rush in for a finishing blow. Despite this, I confidently utilized the Raven`s abilities, which included a rallying cry that instantly eliminated weaker enemies, summoned a swarm of glowing wasps to attack a nearby target, or erected a temporary barrier against incoming projectiles.
A hunter utilizing unique class abilities in Turok: Origins.
For the demo`s climactic encounter, an arena boss fight against a colossal Triceratops reminiscent of a Monster Hunter battle, I reverted to the Cougar class. Its medium-ranged auto-plasma shots proved highly effective for maintaining distance while chipping away at the boss`s health, and its dodge ability was crucial for evading the Triceratops` powerful charges. The Cougar`s ultimate ability, which temporarily grants a devastating bow with an infinite supply of arrows, was particularly invaluable in this high-stakes confrontation.
The developers masterfully guided us through a varied and finely-tuned experience within a mere 30 minutes. To maintain a brisk pace, players were required to gather within a glowing blue circle to advance to the next segment of a mission, which also meant certain optional paths were deliberately sectioned off for the demo. Despite this more linear structure, I still had ample opportunities to utilize my grapple hook to swing over walls and ascend to higher ground, allowing me to engage out-of-reach enemies—a signature platforming element from the original Turok games that seamlessly translates to `Origins`.
While I still yearn for the chance to experience `Turok: Origins` in a dedicated single-player mode, this initial hands-on session has successfully quelled any lingering doubts I harbored. Under the skilled stewardship of Saber Interactive Spain, a franchise many believed to be a fossil appears poised for a vibrant and enduring revival this time around.
Turok: Origins is slated for release soon on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.