Yeah, this a first play for Quake. Couldn't resist. Anyway I guess the original is lost in the great purge. 
Quake is a first person shooter game by a company called id and a legendary programmer who was well on the way to sainthood before he went to Oculus Rift/Facebook. It is among the first 'true' 3D games with polygonal level design and enemies - moving things on from the 2.5D glories of Doom and Duke Nukem. You play as some guy who is armed to the teeth in order to stop inter-dimensional monsters spilling through some experimental portal technology that has gone wrong - exactly the same B movie schtick as Doom and indeed Half-Life (the latter of which is noted as having a good story, for some reason). Notable features of the game include blistering speed and complex, almost puzzle-like levels. But I think everyone here knows this, so...
Why is it appearing here, now? Well, it got given a surprise reissue a few weeks ago to mark its quarter century, and the improvements and additions are well worth noting. In a nutshell they are:
VISUALS
New lighting and shadows, increased resolution options, enhanced modelling, consistent 60FPS, anti-aliasing, ambient occlusion, and various other sliders and visual junk you can mess around with and which I only half understand. You can also switch it all off to enjoy the original ugly.
CONTENT
The game features the main game and the 2 official DLCs ('Scourge of Armagon', 'Dissolution of Eternity'), as well as the 10 level 'Dimension of the Past' commemorative package that was released when the game was a mere 20 years old. It also has a brand new set of DLC levels called 'Dimension of the Machine'. So there's actual new game here! I guess that makes it the definitive Quake collection until the half-centenary edition arrives. Anyway you can play any of these levels straight off the bat.
MULTIPLAYER
Cross-play for all platforms noted above, both competitive (deathmatch) and cooperative multiplayer. Works really well with a quickstart option and match browser for custom matches or private lobbies, but is best if you just set up your own room (they fill really quickly). Local split-screen multiplayer as well, for 2-4. You can't combine local MP with online, however. Tried every MP option and they work seamlessly. Online cooperative in particular is a lot of fun. I did a quick count and there are about 80 multiplayer maps to choose from. The brand new DotM maps are really top notch. MP has got its hooks in my lad, who is an Overwatch fanatic.
Other stuff: extensive control and HUD customization options. I'm playing on the Switch with a bit of gyro and aim assist and I'm not being totally embarrassed in cross-play with PC folk.
Not sure what else to say, really. I'm really enjoying working through the campaign. The levels are fantastic. They look wonderful and are buttery smooth to play. Relatively small but so well designed, and packed with atmosphere and secrets. It's Quake. But the best version of it. 7 quid.
Quake is a first person shooter game by a company called id and a legendary programmer who was well on the way to sainthood before he went to Oculus Rift/Facebook. It is among the first 'true' 3D games with polygonal level design and enemies - moving things on from the 2.5D glories of Doom and Duke Nukem. You play as some guy who is armed to the teeth in order to stop inter-dimensional monsters spilling through some experimental portal technology that has gone wrong - exactly the same B movie schtick as Doom and indeed Half-Life (the latter of which is noted as having a good story, for some reason). Notable features of the game include blistering speed and complex, almost puzzle-like levels. But I think everyone here knows this, so...
Why is it appearing here, now? Well, it got given a surprise reissue a few weeks ago to mark its quarter century, and the improvements and additions are well worth noting. In a nutshell they are:
VISUALS
New lighting and shadows, increased resolution options, enhanced modelling, consistent 60FPS, anti-aliasing, ambient occlusion, and various other sliders and visual junk you can mess around with and which I only half understand. You can also switch it all off to enjoy the original ugly.
CONTENT
The game features the main game and the 2 official DLCs ('Scourge of Armagon', 'Dissolution of Eternity'), as well as the 10 level 'Dimension of the Past' commemorative package that was released when the game was a mere 20 years old. It also has a brand new set of DLC levels called 'Dimension of the Machine'. So there's actual new game here! I guess that makes it the definitive Quake collection until the half-centenary edition arrives. Anyway you can play any of these levels straight off the bat.
MULTIPLAYER
Cross-play for all platforms noted above, both competitive (deathmatch) and cooperative multiplayer. Works really well with a quickstart option and match browser for custom matches or private lobbies, but is best if you just set up your own room (they fill really quickly). Local split-screen multiplayer as well, for 2-4. You can't combine local MP with online, however. Tried every MP option and they work seamlessly. Online cooperative in particular is a lot of fun. I did a quick count and there are about 80 multiplayer maps to choose from. The brand new DotM maps are really top notch. MP has got its hooks in my lad, who is an Overwatch fanatic.
Other stuff: extensive control and HUD customization options. I'm playing on the Switch with a bit of gyro and aim assist and I'm not being totally embarrassed in cross-play with PC folk.
Not sure what else to say, really. I'm really enjoying working through the campaign. The levels are fantastic. They look wonderful and are buttery smooth to play. Relatively small but so well designed, and packed with atmosphere and secrets. It's Quake. But the best version of it. 7 quid.
Comment