Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins

Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins is the shareware version of Apogee’s
Rise of the Triad. Unlike many other shareware games of the time which were
distributed via the Scott Miller model, The HUNT Begins is a separate
episode that serves as a prequel to the retail game. As Taradino Cassatt,
member of the High-risk United Nations Taskforce (HUNT), the player must
infiltrate the stronghold that El Oscuro’s followers have established on a
small island in the Gulf of Santa Catalina, and shut down their operations.

As the shareware episode was meant to showcase the various features of the
full game, some of the enemies and obstacles encountered in The HUNT Begins
actually only make their first appearance in episodes two and three of the
Dark War. That way, the shareware version allows to sample a substantial
portion of the game’s arsenal, enemy roster, items, traps and other obstacles.

The HUNT Begins contains a total of ten single-player levels (seven regular
levels, one secret level and two “warp-only levels” which can be accessed only
with the use of the level warp cheat), and additionally there are eight levels
designed for online play. Three multi-player (Comm-Bat) modes are available in
the shareware version: Normal, Score Mode, and Collector, and it is possible
to play in these modes not only against the shareware version owners but also
against opponents who have Dark War.

Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins