No other comic book character seems to have a history as turbulent or as trying as the Native American dinosaur hunter. The unusual protagonist "a mix of Rambo and 'Alien's' Ripley" has gone through numerous successes, failures and incarnations.
In "Turok," the developer eschews the cartoonishness of its predecessors. There is no Cerebral Bore to horrifically decapitate your foes. In its place, players will have to blast them with an armory of conventional weapons. Instead of a cookie cutter plot, there's a gritty survival story. It's a smart move for a first-person shooter in need of a fresh start. Although there will be some alienated fans, they should appreciate the mature tone of the game.
Perhaps Turok hasn't been a raging success because he's a one-dimensional dinosaur hunter. He's the embodiment of the warrior mascot, who lives only to crush, kill, and destroy his enemies. Macho action figures are a dime a dozen, so why should anyone care about him?
If Turok had a personality, a culture, and a life, maybe he'd be more successful in various media. Maybe he'd be as well-known as Tarzan or Conan. But if he were a well-rounded character, he probably wouldn't be wasting time fighting dinosaurs. He'd be writing bestsellers, serving in Congress, or flying space shuttles like other Indians.
1 comment:
The final episode of "Land of the Lost", which featured an Indian and dinosaurs, presented Turok-like opportunities for such battle, but were never pursued.
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