Quake 4 Member Review for the PC

That was just terrible, here is an extended review: If there are images in this attachment, they will not be displayed. Download the original attachment Quake 4: Pc First off, if you are a fan of the original Quake and QuakeII games, then for you, Quake4 has been a long, long time coming. Since 1997 people have been longing for more Strogg-Fragging, and Quake3 did not deliver. The cinematic opening is enough to captivate even the non-Quake literate gamer. In this we learn Earth is under attack by the Strogg, and surprise surprise, YOUR ship has been sent to the Strogg planet to bring the fight to them. As you are flying over the planet, the cliche crash landing takes place, and your first mission is given: recover your crew. From the very start of the game, it comes apparent just how Doom-Like the graphics engine is, and the fact is, it IS the same graphics engine. But the game itself is so much different, nay, better than Doom3 could ever be, even with its expansion packs. Doom3 was a terribly slow burn before the action really kicked in, but Quake, well, Its instant. As soon as you decide to walk through the first door, you're up against one big freak-beast of a Strogg, and right there and then, for the rest of the game, the adrenaline starts to rush. You start with your average pistol, standard issue. And once you recover your team, the game designers intelligently throw an array of different mission types at you. These range of missions include solo work, escorting fellow marines or even jumping into a Mech or Tank. Once again I must stress how much, for lack of a better word, "cooler" Quake 4 is compared to Doom3. Doom was merely a "walk down a corridor, shoot, and keep walking", while Quake takes you out in the open, in giant hangars where massive gunfights ensue, and even the occasional restricting catwalk (just for a challenge). But even while all these amazingly entertaining scenarios unfold before you, you are forced to acknowledge the amazing detail that goes into the game. Highly intelligent lighting systems simulate shadows and depth perfectly, while blood splatters follow the laws of physics perfectly. As great as I am making this game sound, I always attempt to find the faults in games (as nothing is perfect). So I will nitpick on the tiny details, for example, there is no Melee weapon! Not even the Axe from the original Quake. But then again, to make up for this, they have included the Gravity Gun, which sucks everything into a small vortex, sending it flying out in a mighty explosion. And I'm certain of the reason why there is no axe in this game: You sure as hell don't want to get that close to a Strogg. Another tiny problem is the fact that only two of the firearms come with built in torches, which are very much required during those "fear-inducing" scenarios. BUT, once again, the flashlight situation has been greatly improved since DOOM3. In Doom, you had to hold the flashlight in one hand, and switch between it and your gun whenever required. At least Quake4 was smart enough to build them into the guns. They are about the only problems. The amazing thing about this game is, no matter how absolutely gruesome you think your guns are, the more your progress, the meaner the enemies get, hence the upgrades to even more wicked guns. Now, more on the vehicles I mentioned earlier. The Hovertank is equipped with some pretty mean guns, and when you first get into it, you think to yourself "Heh, these Strogg have no chance"...Until you round the corner. There, standing about 75 Feet high, are Strogg Spider-Walkers. Things like this are what makes the game surpass itself ever second that passes. And the more gruesome these weaponry and enemies become, the more you want to BECOME the enemy. And you just about get your wish. About 1/3 into the game, you meet up with The Makron, the Boss from Quake and Quake2, who you supposedly killed in those games. Just as you seem to have the upper hand on this dude (who is about 50ft tall), he grabs you in his vice-like grip and shocks you, putting you onto a conveyor belt. And here comes the most awesome scene of the game: your conversion. You are still in first person, lying on the conveyor belt, when you start to wake up. The mouse sensitivity has increased ten-fold, to simulate a groggy head, and the screen is slightly blurred. Through your blurred vision you watch as the unlucky sap in front of you is given exponential amounts of steroids (to keep him alive), while he is carved to pieces and his innards are replaced with Strogg machinery: he is being converted into a Strogg. Just when you think the scene is over, the conveyor belt moves, and you get to WATCH, in FIRST PERSON, your body getting to chopped to bits, your limbs replaced with Strogg machinery. And just when you are about to have your brain reprogrammed so you fight for the Strogg, your marine buddies bust in and haul you out. You quickly realise that you are now working with twice the speed you normally have, and 25 more health points than usual. So you have all the strength of the Strogg, but still fighting for Earth. Onto the multiplayer aspect of Quake 4. One word, 'turbo'. While Doom3 was 10 minutes of searching for your enemy, 4 seconds of exchanging bullets, and then starting all over again, Quake 4 is fast, furious, and a constant gunfight. It is just simply fun, and uses much of Quake3: Arena's successful multiplayer style. In the end, Quake cannot be put down in the area of adrenaline. It is something just short of perfect, with seamless visuals and great gameplay. So if you're looking for an adrenaline-rush, just load up Quake4, and you'll be making Beef Strogganoff in not time. Mortel3's Rating: Great sequel to a great series, seamless graphics, better use of Doom3 Engine. 9.4/10 -- <> www.crystalinferno.com

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