Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins (Deluxe Edition) delivers a breakneck blend of run-and-gun action with an arsenal of over-the-top weaponry. Players dive into ten classic single-player shareware levels and three brand-new stages exclusive to this release, each showcasing clever enemy placement and labyrinthine corridors. From the moment you grab the iconic auto-targeting pistol or the hallucinogenic Tachyon Disruptor, the frantic pace never lets up.

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The addition of three fresh multiplayer maps complements the eight original arenas, injecting new life into LAN and modem matches. Whether you’re navigating tight corridors in the “Death Duel” style free-for-all or capturing flags in team modes, the Deluxe Edition’s balance tweaks and level tweaks feel designed to keep every encounter unpredictable. Secret areas and vertical interior spaces reward exploration, while booby-trapped rooms push reflexes to the max.

Enemy variety remains a highlight: nimble assassin robots, hulking mutant brutes and teleporting assassins force you to adapt tactics on the fly. You’ll juggle proximity mines, timed bombs and decoy grenades just to stay alive. The six additional levels aren’t mere reskins—they introduce custom puzzles, unique power-ups and mid-battle environmental hazards that ensure veteran hunters face fresh challenges.

Overall, the Deluxe Edition’s gameplay is a masterclass in old-school design. It’s a perfect storm of speed, firepower and secret-hunting that rewards both new players and series veterans. The seamless blend of legacy content with exclusive new stages makes this package a can’t-miss for those who crave non-stop thrills.

Graphics

Although built on a mid-’90s engine, Rise of the Triad’s visuals still impress with a vibrant 256-color palette and inventive sprite work. The Deluxe Edition’s CD format allows for smoother screen transitions and faster loading of richly detailed walls, ceilings and floor textures. Each environment—from sun-drenched beach resorts to shadow-drenched laboratories—boasts its own distinct color scheme and mood.

Character and monster sprites pop off the screen with fluid animations. Enemies writhe, leap and explode into gory chunks, maintaining a cheeky sense of humor even in their demise. Key interactive elements such as pressure pads, sliding doors and breakable objects are clear and consistent, aiding navigation and puzzle solving in the more intricate levels.

Lighting and special effects, while rudimentary by modern standards, add plenty of drama. Flickering torches, force-field glows and the Pulsar cannon’s static-charge bursts create atmospheric set pieces. The Deluxe Edition doesn’t add high-resolution support by default, but the streamlined CD data means fewer graphical hiccups and a more polished presentation overall.

For today’s gamer, Rise of the Triad’s graphics are a nostalgic time capsule. Yet the playful art direction, creative enemy designs and bold use of color still stand out, proving that a small development team with a vivid imagination can outshine technical limitations.

Story

At its core, Rise of the Triad tells a straightforward tale: a terrorist group known as the H.U.N.T. (High-risk United Nations Team) has kidnapped a government scientist and threatens global catastrophe. You lead a crack H.U.N.T. squad of five all-star commandos across hazardous locales to recover stolen technology and thwart the villains’ megalomaniacal plans. It’s archetypal ’90s action-movie fare, delivered with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

The Deluxe Edition doesn’t expand the narrative with full-blown cutscenes, but it does include a handful of extra briefing texts and end-of-level snippets that flesh out character backstories. You’ll learn about Claymore’s trigger-happy past, Star Raven’s martial-arts prowess, and Trish’s penchant for explosive personality. These scraps of lore give each mission extra personality, spurring you onward to the next challenging stronghold.

Level design often doubles as storytelling: infiltrating a beachfront hotel under siege, raiding a jungle compound teeming with mutated henchmen, or descending into subterranean caverns rigged to collapse. Environmental cues—blood-spattered walls, flickering monitors, smashed chemical barrels—help convey rising stakes even without elaborate cinematics. The result is a lean, mean narrative framework that propels the action without ever overstaying its welcome.

While die-hard RPG fans might yearn for deeper dialogue or branching plotlines, Rise of the Triad’s brisk pacing and madcap tone make up for it. The Deluxe Edition’s minor story enhancements reward players who appreciate context with every explosive encounter.

Overall Experience

Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins (Deluxe Edition) remains a shining example of mid-’90s first-person mayhem. Between the ten original single-player levels, eight classic multiplayer arenas and six brand-new stages, this package delivers over a dozen hours of blistering action—and that’s before you factor in LAN deathmatches and competitive skirmishes.

Lasersoft’s exclusive CD release streamlines performance and loading times, making it easier than ever to jump in and out of chaotic firefights. The Deluxe Edition stands as the definitive home of Rise of the Triad’s shareware era content, preserving the series’ irreverent charm in a single, convenient format.

Whether you’re revisiting this cult favorite or discovering it for the first time, ROTT’s frantic gunplay, secret-laden corridors, and outrageous enemy roster still deliver a potent adrenaline rush. The Deluxe Edition’s new levels feel thoughtfully integrated, offering fresh twists without betraying the spirit of the originals.

For players seeking a slice of FPS history with modern convenience, Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins (Deluxe Edition) is a must-own. Its enduring gameplay loop and bold aesthetic make it an engaging purchase for collectors, retro enthusiasts, and anyone itching for an unapologetically old-school shooter experience.

Retro Replay Score

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