Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition from Nightdive Studios, Apogee Entertainment, and New Blood Interactive brings us the definitive edition of the 3D FPS classic. Check our Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition review!
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Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition from Nightdive Studios, Apogee Entertainment, and New Blood Interactive brings us the definitive edition of the 3D FPS classic. The original full version of this game was released way back in 1995, and it actually started as a sequel to the classic Wolfenstein 3D but was later spun into its own thing, with id Software selling the rights for the game to then Apogee Software. It’s now 2023, and we’re getting a revamped, improved, and expanded version of Rise of the Triad on PlayStation 4.
You can play through each campaign – more on these in a bit – as one of five different characters: Taradino Cassatt, Thi Barrett, Doug Wendt, Lorelei Ni, and Ian Paul Freely. Each of them will have different stats for you to consider so that they can better match your playing style. Taradino Cassatt has average speed and health but better accuracy. Thi Barrett has fast speed, poor health, and good accuracy. Doug Wendt has very slow speed, health like a tank, and good accuracy. Lorelei Ni has very fast speed, fragile health, and better accuracy. As for Ian Paul Freely, he has slow speed, great health, and good accuracy.
The last step before diving into any of the different campaigns in Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is to choose your difficulty. What would be your options? Easy, Medium, Hard, and Creezzy. The first one is called I Am a Chew toy. The second is called Will of Iron, Knees of Gelatin. The third one is known as I’m in my Element: Lead. As for the last one? Two words: Reaper Man. What’s your poison?
Since this is a first-person shooter, you’ll control your character with the left analog stick as you aim and look around with the right one. There’s also the possibility of using motion controls for this. You can run by pressing and holding down the L2 button. The X button will be for interacting to, for example, open up a door. The Circle button is for doing a quick 180° turn. You can fire your weapon with the R2 button and can switch between weapons by using the L1 and R1 buttons as needed. Once you collect a special item, you’ll be able to fly up or down by pressing in on the right or left analog sticks as needed.
This release has four different campaigns for you to choose from. There’s The Hunt Begin, which has you investigating signs of cult activity somewhere in the Gulf of Santa Catalina. This one consists of two episodes and has 11 levels to offer. Next up is Dark War, a story in which the Triad has managed to take over San Nicolas Island and has now set its sights on taking over LA! This campaign is split into four episodes and features 34 levels for you to complete.
Then we have Extreme Rott, the most challenging and longest of all of the campaigns available in Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition. In Extreme Rott, months after his defeat, Oscuro’s dark rite completes, sending time backwards and setting the Dark War into motion. It’s a journey that will be split into 4 episodes, featuring a whopping 40 levels to complete! The last campaign is an interesting one. In The Hunt Continues you’ll be taking on a campaign with 4 episodes split into all-new 24 levels to complete!
There are some options to customize your experience. For accessibility purposes, you can activate an alternative font, enable or disable camera shake, muzzle flash, lighting flash, thunder sound, low health sounds, and even select the violence level between low, medium, high, and no blood. You can also decide on the crosshair style and scale and even choose a custom color for it. There’s also the possibility of changing the HUB and selecting the one you like the most from the different available options.
Since this is one is Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition, we’re getting some extra bells and whistles to consider. There’s an uncapped framerate option so that the game runs at much higher framerates compared to the original, light sources that use lightmaps instead of the original method, and even floor and ceiling textures! The game offers the original 1994 MIDI soundtrack, 1994 original OPL, and a 2013 reboot option. Oh, and there’s a very useful Secret Code section where you can input some secret codes to unlock some secret stuff.
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition features a full trophy list with a Platinum trophy waiting for you. It’s a long list with 14 Bronze trophies, 15 Silver trophies, and 4 Gold trophies for you to work on. There are trophies for completing each of the campaigns that the game has to offer, for beating the different bosses the game will throw at you, for beating the final boss in specific ways, for defeating two enemies with a split missile, defeating an enemy by landing on its head or getting an extra life by collecting enough Ankhs.
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition brings us the definitive edition of the 3D FPS classic, ready for a new generation. It’s certainly a game of its era, which means this one is not going to be for everyone. Do also know that because of the option for having an uncapped framerate, the potential for motion sickness is considerably higher. If you’re looking for an old-school FPS that feels right at home alongside Wolfenstein 3D and DOOM on your console, then you can definitely give this one a go. Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is out today on PlayStation 4.
Disclaimer
This Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition review is based on a PlayStation 4 copy provided by Apogee Entertainment.
