Based on a heavily modified Wolfenstein 3D engine, Rise of the Triad adds a number of new features, and was originally planned as a sequel. Whereas Wolf3D was flat, ROTT truly entered the third dimension by adding height: it was now possible to move up and down! Players can fall or be launched into the air, the environment displays damage (bullet holes), and the graphics and sound are a step up. Explosive weapons can blast enemies into giblets (gibs), and characters are more lifelike, sometimes begging for mercy. There are also multiplayer levels! The number of improvements and additions to this engine is really quite amazing. As for the story, this time you must infiltrate a cult that plans to destroy Los Angeles, using one of five playable characters who have different attributes (only one character is available in the shareware version). The registered version is known as "Rise of the Triad: Dark War". There are 5 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version.
Episode 1: The HUNT Begins
Episode 2: Approach
Episode 3: Monastery
Episode 4: Caves Below
Episode 5: The Slow and the Dead
Added by DOSGuy
Downloads
Complete version history:
| Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins v1.3 Shareware Episode (3,668,139 bytes) | 1995-08-08 | DOS | Play online  |
| Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins v1.2a Shareware Episode (Still searching) | 1995-02-25 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins v1.2 Shareware Episode (3,660,945 bytes) | 1995-02-17 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins v1.1 Shareware Episode (Still searching) | 1995-02-08 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins v1.0 Shareware Episode (3,890,787 bytes) | 1994-12-21 | DOS |
Source code
| Source code for Rise of the Triad v1.3 in Watcom C v10.0b (4,037,414 bytes) | xxxx |
Patches
| Rise of the Triad Shareware v1.2/1.2a to v1.3 patch (806,715 bytes) | 1995-08-01 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad Shareware v1.2 to v1.2a patch (220,497 bytes) | 1995-02-15 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad Shareware v1.1 to v1.2 patch (565,252 bytes) | 1995-02-15 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad Shareware v1.0 to v1.1 patch (894,918 bytes) | 1995-02-08 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad Registered v1.2 to v1.3 patch for site license CD-ROM owners (768,088 bytes) | 1995-08-01 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad Registered v1.2 to v1.3 patch for floppy disk owners who have not used the Power Pack (827,737 bytes) | 1995-08-01 | DOS | |
| Rise of the Triad Registered v1.2 to v1.3 patch for CD-ROM or Power Pack owners (908,373 bytes) | 1995-08-01 | DOS |
Availability
Apogee still sells the registered version of this game for $5.99 by download.
It can be downloaded in a Windows-compatible format from GOG for $5.99.