If you were gaming on PC way back in 1995, chances are you might have played Rise of the Triad. Reportedly conceived as a sequel to Wolfenstein 3D before becoming its own thing, Rise of the Triad boasted many advancements and new features. It had multiple agents that players could select, for example, each with their own stats for things like health, speed and accuracy. Enemies could beg for their lives or play dead. And thanks to its enhanced game engine, new graphical effects such as dynamic lighting were possible.
After being rebooted in 2013, the original Rise of the Triad makes a return this year in the form of a Ludicrous Edition. Even better, it’s making its way to consoles as well as PC. This enhanced version of the game has been remastered in 4K, and on PC at least it has an unlimited framerate. On top of that, it includes all of the game’s expansions, and additional content that was previously cut has been restored. It’s essentially the ultimate edition of the game, and that will undoubtedly please its fans.
Having played a demo of Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous, however, we worry that’s where the excitement might end. Despite the work done to the game to make it as complete as possible and a tad more modern, it’s still a near-30 year old game at its core. And it’s one that’s perhaps not quite as well remembered or iconic as the likes of DOOM or indeed even Wolfenstein 3D. And so as you blast your way through its now drab and largely flat levels, tedium quickly sets in.
Still, we don’t want to be too down about Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition. Retro shooters are all the rage at the moment, so some may appreciate being able to revisit this blast from the past. But unless you’re a fan, we’re not sure why you’d opt to play this instead of something like the recent (and excellent) Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun for it. Well, there’s perhaps one reason: multiplayer. With both online and local multiplayer options, you can get competitive with Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition if you want.
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition launches 31st July on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC. You don’t have to wait until then to give it a try as long as you have a PC capable of running it, however: a demo will be available on Steam from 19th June, allowing players to get a taste of what it offers. If it’s something that appeals to you, it’s certainly worth giving a try.
