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Rise Of The Triad returns to the PC later this year

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Way back in 1995 Apogee Software quietly released a little shooter known as Rise Of The Triad. Though the game was originally meant to be an expansion pack for id Software’s Wolfenstein 3D, these initial plans were scrapped when id co-founder John Carmack decided to cancel the project, lest it distract shooter fans from a then-upcoming id title known simply as DOOM. Having put so much work into the project however, Apogee decided to strip out all the parts of the game that were id property and instead release the title as an unrelated first-person shooter known as Rise Of The Triad.

In doing so however, Apogee needed some way to compete in the increasingly overpopulated shooter market, and Rise Of The Triad’s solution is as simple as it is ingenious: Instead of a small collection of relatively realistic weaponry, players can find an in-game arsenal full of over-the-top explosives, man-portable columns of flame and the hilariously blasphemous “Dog Mode” which turns the idea of video game invulnerability on its head by transforming players not into an indestructible deity, but instead into an angry, ravenous pooch. Though Rise Of The Triad never managed to draw attention away from the most beloved shooter of all time, it did cultivate a very dedicated niche fan base, and the game is remembered fondly to this day.

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That should come as a boon to Apogee Software, as the developer has just announced a nascent agreement with Interceptor Entertainment to bring a new Rise Of The Triad sequel to store shelves. The official press release offers an in-depth list of the game’s features:

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Set for release on PC via Steam late this year, “Rise of the Triad” is packed with features that are sure to melt your face off:

  • Step into the shoes of the H.U.N.T. (High-Risk United Nations Taskforce) with five unique characters, each with different play styles.
  • Blast through over 20 of levels of explosive single-player action.
  • Unique multiplayer maps bring back all the fun and excitement of classic ROTT.
  • The full arsenal of over-the top weapons is back, including the Flamewall, Firebomb, Split Missile, Drunk Missile and, of course, the Excalibat! 
  • The maniacal modes return, too, with God mode, Elasto mode, Mercury mode, Shrooms mode and everyone’s favorite, Dog mode!
  • Build your own levels, mods and share them with Valve’s Steamworks.
  • Offline single-player and multiplayer allows for instant action.
  • Find tons of secrets, collectables, special events and hidden areas to explore.
  • Get more than 100 achievements to add to your score, which is tracked on our worldwide leaderboard and stat-tracking system.
  • ROTT is bloodier and more ludicrous than ever, with full character and enemy dismemberment.
  • The iconic original soundtrack has been completely re-forged in the fires of heavy metal!
  • Nostalgia abounds with the option to play with all the original sounds and music.
  • Built on fully-licensed Unreal Engine 3 technology, ROTT will run on low-end PCs and push high-end PCs to their limits!
Despite the typical PR hyper-positivity, that’s a rather impressive list. Unreal Engine 3 is starting to look a bit long in the tooth, but it’s still certainly capable of powering a gorgeous, modern video game. Likewise, though the original Rise Of The Triad may seem woefully dated compared to more recent titles, its key trope (read: crazy, unrealistic, intensely fun violence) is timeless, and based on this list it seems as if Apogee’s development team is well aware of what it needs to accomplish to appease fans of the original.
 
That said, this list reads much like a list of highlights from the original Rise Of The Triad. Outside of the Unreal Engine 3 technology and the screaming nü-metal soundtrack, there isn’t much here to indicate that this game is being released on the PC platform in 2012. Presumably this Rise Of The Triad sequel will offer a host of new features alongside all the classic ideas it contains, but at the moment it doesn’t seem as if the development team is too keen on discussing such things.
 
We’re probably going to be waiting a while before we learn how this game differentiates itself from its predecessor, so in the meantime we invite you to have a look at the game’s newly released trailer. It’s early work, but should offer a solid idea of what the team is going for with this game.

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Earnest Cavalli
Earnest Cavalli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Earnest Cavalli has been writing about games, tech and digital culture since 2005 for outlets including Wired, Joystiq…
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