Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition

Now, I’m not saying this game will be for everyone. There’s quite a few rough edges that are just part of the classic FPS genre, but this is still a sterling example of how to do a remaster. Everything from the original has been kept, made easier to access, and optional new content has been added. What’s not to love?

It bears repeating that if you are already a fan, Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is a fantastic way to play it again. It’s not too much different than the old DOS version but includes cut features and all the content you could want. The new episode is a quality continuation that feels right at home with the rest of the game while still providing something new. It’s a great package all around.

If you're looking to experience some truly old-school gaming, or you're curious about the evolution of FPS games, Rise Of The Triad: Ludicrous Edition provides gamers with an oft-overlooked chapter of gaming history.

Existing fans will feel so well served by this release that there needn’t be any hesitation in picking it up. Those dipping their toes for the first time should know that it operates in a way that has aged differently to other classic first-person shooters. Whereas Doom's combat and fluidity remain free and immediate, its axis of movement more realistic and its stage layouts more controlled, Rise of the Triad functions around its own, unique design parameters, where violence and abstraction reign supreme. Learn its maps, the versatility of its weaponry, and how to make best use of its playgrou...

Ultimately, Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is an excellent port to modern systems of a game that, however, has not aged as well as some other classics. A lot of interesting ideas clash with severely outdated level designs and game mechanics even compared to the original Doom released a whole year earlier, making it more of a Wolfenstein 3D follow-up with more verticality and variety than something modern and truly elaborate. The nostalgia factor is high, and the meme weapons and power-ups remain hilarious to this day, so I can still recommend getting this version of the oddity that is Ri...

Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is a faithful remake of the 1995 shareware adventure. Featuring new and old levels, online multiplayer, a level editor, and quality-of-life fixes for modern systems, this is easily the definitive way to play Rise of the Triad. However, the game is a product of its time and has not aged as gracefully as other shareware shooters.

Rise of the Triad is not a particularly well-known first-person shooter from the dawn of the genre (back when they were still called “DOOM clones”), but it has had a following for nearly three decades. It was the game that kickstarted the career of the makers of Duke Nukem 3D, and it even garnered a reboot ten years ago. I had never played it before, but when I heard of Nightdive doing one of their trademark remastering treatments on this “classic”, I instantly wanted to give it a try...