When I first strapped into Rise of the Triad, I knew I was signing up for a wild ride. Interceptor Entertainment and Apogee Entertainment delivered a remake of the 1994 cult classic that aims to be louder, faster, and more outrageous than ever. As someone who thrives on big open environments, secret zones, and epic firefights, I dove in eager to see how this modern reboot would stack up against both its predecessor and today’s shooter heavyweights.
Overall Impressions
What stood out immediately was the game’s commitment to old-school mayhem. You sprint, slide, and blast your way through missile silos, pyramids, and high-tech labs, often with five weapons blazing at once. The speed and level design feel rooted in the era of the original—hallways twist into hidden rooms, and traps await the unwary. Yet the level of polish sometimes falls short. I encountered the odd stuck enemy and once had to reload because a door wouldn’t open after a quicksave. Compared to the slick fluidity of modern shooters like Doom and Titanfall 2, Rise of the Triad can feel a bit rough around the edges. But that raw edge is also its charm: it feels like a time capsule with a turbocharged engine.
Gameplay Mechanics
Rise of the Triad’s core is pure run-and-gun action. Weapon handling is solid—the dual Uzis and laser weapons pack a satisfying punch. I loved discovering hidden ammo caches by knocking down breakable walls. The level of verticality in maps keeps you on your toes: one moment you’re on a rooftop sniping enemies, the next you’re ducking into a water crawl space beneath a temple. That said, some mechanics miss the mark. The sprint and slide controls can feel slippery, leading to more than one accidental plunge into bottomless pits. And while user reports of game-breaking bugs are real—I had to disable Steam Overlay to fix a save-load glitch—they’re not so common that they ruin the entire run. On balance, the combat loop is addictive: you die, you learn, you press on.
Story and Characters
The plot is classic ’90s spy thriller: a rogue cult called the H.U.N.T. has stolen a doomsday weapon and threatens global annihilation. You play as one of five agents, each with a tongue-in-cheek personality. Frankly, the narrative is thin, but it doesn’t aim to win awards for depth. Instead, character bios drop in between levels with cheeky one-liners—think comic-book charm more than cinematic drama. World-building is delivered through collectible files hidden in each stage. Finding them adds context, though none of it will make you tear up. Rise of the Triad knows it’s a blood-and-gore fest rather than a character study, and it leans into that. If you crave deep NPC arcs, you may come away wanting more—but if you just want to punch through a series of explosive encounters, you’ll be right at home.
Visuals and Graphics
Interceptor coated this remake in Unreal Engine 3, and the result is a customizable lighting system that bathes each level in neon glow, flickering torches, and industrial spotlights. Textures look crisp up close, and water reflections feel surprisingly modern. You’ll spot nods to the original: pixelated skull glyphs, hidden platforms, and level layouts that mirror the 1994 design. That said, some areas pop with detail while others reuse textures too often. Pop-in issues can appear on lower-end rigs, though most players with mid-range cards will enjoy a steady 60 FPS. The art style strikes a balance—colorful enough to feel lively, dark enough to keep tension high.
Sound and Music
Here is where Rise of the Triad truly shines. The soundtrack, composed by Andrew Hulshult, delivers pounding drums and twisted synth riffs that perfectly match the game’s breakneck pace. Many players have called it “peak” for modern boomer shooters, and I agree. Every burst of gunfire, explosion, and sliding door clank resonates with punch. Voice work is campy but intentional; when your character quips, “I live to bleed,” it’s pure B-movie flair. Interceptor even included a remixed version of the original AdLib tracks for purists. It’s rare that a reboot nails both nostalgia and fresh energy, but the sound team hit the target.
Difficulty and Replayability
Rise of the Triad defaults to a challenging experience. Even on normal difficulty, enemies swarm with relentless AI. Health packs and armor shards are scarce enough to make you strategize ammo use. Hardcore fans will appreciate the high-score leaderboards and time trials for each level. Finding all secrets unlocks bonus modes—my favorite is “Extermination,” where hordes of cultists never stop spawning. While occasional bugs can interrupt progress, multiple quicksave slots and generous checkpointing ease frustration. Personally, I’ve come back to replay levels just to seek hidden passages and better my completion time. If you thrive on mastery and speed runs, this game delivers.
Final Thoughts
Rise of the Triad is a spirited homage to old-school shooters, turbocharged with modern bells and whistles. It doesn’t match the seamless polish of top AAA titles, and load-in bugs or control quirks may knock you off your stride. Yet between the explosive combat, killer soundtrack, and labyrinthine maps, I found myself grinning through every firefight. For a fan of high-velocity action and secret-packed levels, this reboot is a worthy, if somewhat raw, adventure.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Trivia & Behind the Scenes
In 2013, Interceptor Entertainment’s Kickstarter campaign raised over $500,000 to reboot the classic, with original designer Tom Hall consulting on level layouts to honor the 1994 missions. Inspired by Slipgate Ironworks—founded by former Apogee developers—the project drew mixed reviews from veteran players, some calling it “half baked” compared to later works. A free 2014 DLC pack delighted fans by adding the much-requested Orbital Laser weapon, expanding the game’s arsenal.
Whether you jump in day one or pick it up on sale, Rise of the Triad remains a thrilling, if imperfect, return to classic boomer shooter roots. As someone always on the lookout for explosive open arenas and secret finds, I’m already plotting my next run through H.U.N.T.’s lair—guns blazing, synth beats high.
