Quake 4
Posted December 8, 2005
Disclaimer: I'm coming into this game fresh, with no previous experiences with other renditions of Quake 4. Please keep that in mind as you read this.
My last experience with a game from the Quake series was "Quake 2". I remember playing this online with my PC, but I never used a PC/mouse combo to control it, instead using a Playstation style controller. It was a total blast online and, yes, I did in fact get my ass kicked using a regular controller going against the keyboard masters. I'm not sure why, but I never "took" to a keyboard/mouse combo for first person shooters. I think that's why I've always been a console FPS gamer before it barely existed as a genre.
"Quake 4" isn't that radical a departure from "Quake 2". The same creepy atmosphere, crazy weapons, and insane violence all remain. Of course the main difference is the graphics, "Quake 2" was cutting edge for its time, and now "Quake 4" is one of the prettiest first person shooters around. Basically the game play remains the same, and depending on your perspective, that's a great thing or a bad thing. In my case, I'm happy with this and I did enjoy this game a lot.
To me the Quake series has always been a mindless frag fest and undeniably fun. When you play it online the experience improves ten fold. "Quake 4" follows this path, so check your brain at the door, strap yourself in and be prepared to satiate your blood thirst as you go through this gorishly demented rollercoaster ride through hell.
If I had to describe "Quake 4" in two words they would be "nightmarishly hallucinogenic". This game is all about ambience and being trapped in some bizarre evil dimension filled with more satanic monsters than you can shake a BFG 10K at. If you like a good frag fest, "Quake 4" shan't disappoint. Playing this game will give you a glimpse at what it's like going head to head with savage murdering machine aliens called "The Strogg" using massive amounts of firepower. Let me tell you it's fun to say the least.
Gameplay:
The game play is pretty straightforward. You basically have to venture through areas, shooting everything that gets in your way, as you plow your way past "The Strogg". You can save anywhere you wish, so don't sweat the checkpoint style of "Halo". Essentially fragging is the name of the game, and frag you must and frag you will. Along the way you can pick up bits of armor, more powerful weapons, weapon upgrades, and secret areas with different items you'll need for along the way.
It took me about 15 hours to beat this game, but from what I've seen on the forum, 10-11 hours is more standard for seasoned first person shooter vets. Little things might bug you along the way, and by that I mean the load times. It takes a healthy 25-30 seconds to load and this must be done every time you die.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Along the way, you'll discover the game is divided into two major parts. The first part you are fighting "The Strogg" and the second part is where you finally you are captured and they turn you into a "Strogg". Think Jean Luc Picard a la the Borg, except with more hardware. Much more.
Along the way you also get to pilot some vehicles which are a total blast to use. There are tanks, Mech Walkers and more. The Mech Walker is probably the most fun to use, and pretty easy too. These sections are more along the lines of game breaks than actually difficult serious parts of the game.
In the second part of the game, you'll notice the game gets faster and harder. Your opponents are the highly skilled "Strogg marines", and you must use all of your resources to defeat them. The speed pickup is especially noticeable, and more along the lines of the typical Quake game than the earlier part of the game. There are slight frame rate problems in this area but nothing too bad. It is also the more enjoyable area of the game, with the increase of difficulty and action, you'll be fragging until your thumbs fall off.
As for the Xbox Live mode for this game, it's addictively maddening fun that you'll be playing all night. Although it only supports 8 players, you'll still be fragging like crazy because the included levels work well with this amount of opponents. The speeds are insane, as to be expected, and the opponents fierce. They even threw in "Quake 2" and "Quake III" maps for fun.
Graphics:
"Quake 4" has terrifyingly fantastic graphics. Walking through dark corridors, never knowing what will pop out next, you gain a new appreciation for next-generation graphics. They really make the game come to life. The game really shines in its use of lighting. It looks brilliant in Hi Def and must be played on a HD Television to truly be appreciated.
Most parts of this game are smooth as silk in terms of the use of aliasing. The anti-aliasing really shines through and you will see very few jaggies. The only part of the game where this isn't true is with the marines. They are laced with jaggies, but don't worry, this isn't a huge deal and the only a tiny bit distracting.
Some parts of the game do show a framerate problem, but I didn't find this overly distracting in the overall scheme of things. It's different for everyone in terms of how it will effect you, bbut it's pretty easy to adjust to and doesn't occur all that much for the most part.
Part of the Hi Def graphics that really will make an impact on you will be the ultra-gore heavily sprinkled throughout the game. The enemies in this game called "The Strogg" commit vile atrocities on you and your fellow soldiers, and it's all shown in gloriously gruesome Hi Def graphics. I can't imagine what the generation after this will be like for displaying hardcore violence! Some will find this game's graphics disturbing, disgusting, and inhumane. Those people probably shouldn't be playing this game.
Audio:
The 5.1 audio shines through with "Quake 4", and will have you looking behind your shoulder as you hear a "Strogg" come at you from behind. It's insanely convincing, and when combined with the great graphics, the game is hellishly immersive and can be a sheer emotionally charged experience. To me this is why console gaming really shines through, using your home theater setup and gaining a new level of realism, so much so that it induces actual fear and adrenaline into your body. You'll hear your heart pounding as you walk down a dark corridor with your flashlight and something scurries toward you from the side and suddenly pops out at you with great ferocity as you try and aim your gun in the heat of the moment. Utterly brilliant.
Conclusion:
"Quake 4" succeeds in bringing "Quake" to the next generation of realism and fun. The atmosphere will increase your heart rate, the despicable violence will make you cringe, and the eerily devilish opponents will make you run for your life. "Quake 4" takes the fun factor to a whole new level and will have you smiling or possibly screaming from beginning to end. It's not for the light hearted or children under 17 due to the violence I've mentioned, so please keep that in mind.
My last experience with a game from the Quake series was "Quake 2". I remember playing this online with my PC, but I never used a PC/mouse combo to control it, instead using a Playstation style controller. It was a total blast online and, yes, I did in fact get my ass kicked using a regular controller going against the keyboard masters. I'm not sure why, but I never "took" to a keyboard/mouse combo for first person shooters. I think that's why I've always been a console FPS gamer before it barely existed as a genre.
"Quake 4" isn't that radical a departure from "Quake 2". The same creepy atmosphere, crazy weapons, and insane violence all remain. Of course the main difference is the graphics, "Quake 2" was cutting edge for its time, and now "Quake 4" is one of the prettiest first person shooters around. Basically the game play remains the same, and depending on your perspective, that's a great thing or a bad thing. In my case, I'm happy with this and I did enjoy this game a lot.
To me the Quake series has always been a mindless frag fest and undeniably fun. When you play it online the experience improves ten fold. "Quake 4" follows this path, so check your brain at the door, strap yourself in and be prepared to satiate your blood thirst as you go through this gorishly demented rollercoaster ride through hell.
If I had to describe "Quake 4" in two words they would be "nightmarishly hallucinogenic". This game is all about ambience and being trapped in some bizarre evil dimension filled with more satanic monsters than you can shake a BFG 10K at. If you like a good frag fest, "Quake 4" shan't disappoint. Playing this game will give you a glimpse at what it's like going head to head with savage murdering machine aliens called "The Strogg" using massive amounts of firepower. Let me tell you it's fun to say the least.
Gameplay:
The game play is pretty straightforward. You basically have to venture through areas, shooting everything that gets in your way, as you plow your way past "The Strogg". You can save anywhere you wish, so don't sweat the checkpoint style of "Halo". Essentially fragging is the name of the game, and frag you must and frag you will. Along the way you can pick up bits of armor, more powerful weapons, weapon upgrades, and secret areas with different items you'll need for along the way.
It took me about 15 hours to beat this game, but from what I've seen on the forum, 10-11 hours is more standard for seasoned first person shooter vets. Little things might bug you along the way, and by that I mean the load times. It takes a healthy 25-30 seconds to load and this must be done every time you die.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Along the way, you'll discover the game is divided into two major parts. The first part you are fighting "The Strogg" and the second part is where you finally you are captured and they turn you into a "Strogg". Think Jean Luc Picard a la the Borg, except with more hardware. Much more.
Along the way you also get to pilot some vehicles which are a total blast to use. There are tanks, Mech Walkers and more. The Mech Walker is probably the most fun to use, and pretty easy too. These sections are more along the lines of game breaks than actually difficult serious parts of the game.
In the second part of the game, you'll notice the game gets faster and harder. Your opponents are the highly skilled "Strogg marines", and you must use all of your resources to defeat them. The speed pickup is especially noticeable, and more along the lines of the typical Quake game than the earlier part of the game. There are slight frame rate problems in this area but nothing too bad. It is also the more enjoyable area of the game, with the increase of difficulty and action, you'll be fragging until your thumbs fall off.
As for the Xbox Live mode for this game, it's addictively maddening fun that you'll be playing all night. Although it only supports 8 players, you'll still be fragging like crazy because the included levels work well with this amount of opponents. The speeds are insane, as to be expected, and the opponents fierce. They even threw in "Quake 2" and "Quake III" maps for fun.
Graphics:
"Quake 4" has terrifyingly fantastic graphics. Walking through dark corridors, never knowing what will pop out next, you gain a new appreciation for next-generation graphics. They really make the game come to life. The game really shines in its use of lighting. It looks brilliant in Hi Def and must be played on a HD Television to truly be appreciated.
Most parts of this game are smooth as silk in terms of the use of aliasing. The anti-aliasing really shines through and you will see very few jaggies. The only part of the game where this isn't true is with the marines. They are laced with jaggies, but don't worry, this isn't a huge deal and the only a tiny bit distracting.
Some parts of the game do show a framerate problem, but I didn't find this overly distracting in the overall scheme of things. It's different for everyone in terms of how it will effect you, bbut it's pretty easy to adjust to and doesn't occur all that much for the most part.
Part of the Hi Def graphics that really will make an impact on you will be the ultra-gore heavily sprinkled throughout the game. The enemies in this game called "The Strogg" commit vile atrocities on you and your fellow soldiers, and it's all shown in gloriously gruesome Hi Def graphics. I can't imagine what the generation after this will be like for displaying hardcore violence! Some will find this game's graphics disturbing, disgusting, and inhumane. Those people probably shouldn't be playing this game.
Audio:
The 5.1 audio shines through with "Quake 4", and will have you looking behind your shoulder as you hear a "Strogg" come at you from behind. It's insanely convincing, and when combined with the great graphics, the game is hellishly immersive and can be a sheer emotionally charged experience. To me this is why console gaming really shines through, using your home theater setup and gaining a new level of realism, so much so that it induces actual fear and adrenaline into your body. You'll hear your heart pounding as you walk down a dark corridor with your flashlight and something scurries toward you from the side and suddenly pops out at you with great ferocity as you try and aim your gun in the heat of the moment. Utterly brilliant.
Conclusion:
"Quake 4" succeeds in bringing "Quake" to the next generation of realism and fun. The atmosphere will increase your heart rate, the despicable violence will make you cringe, and the eerily devilish opponents will make you run for your life. "Quake 4" takes the fun factor to a whole new level and will have you smiling or possibly screaming from beginning to end. It's not for the light hearted or children under 17 due to the violence I've mentioned, so please keep that in mind.