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 | Quake 4 PC Raven/id/Activision  The 'Quake' series has occupied a considerable and important position in PC gaming history. 'Quake 2' revolutionized multi-player gaming and had many gamers addicted to LANs in universities around the world. 'Quake 3' failed to continue the single player storyline of the second installment, but that is the main selling point of the fourth interlocution. Some First Person Shooter junkies prefer nothing better than battling it out in multiplayer havoc but there are others, like myself, who really enjoy the cathartic payoffs delivered from achieving success in a linear storyline. 'Quake 4' presents you with the protagonist Corporal Kane of the Space Marines and you land in a drop ship on the planet Stroggos to do epic fisticuffs with the evil Borg-like Strogg. You land in the heat of battle and quickly receive orders from your superiors to perform some pretty straightforward missions. Throughout the game you'll meet several non-player characters who create the dynamic effects needed to keep a linear FPS interesting. Like the moderately successful 'The Thing' for PS2 you will also meet several characters who can provide unique assistance from healing your health, helping you with missions or modifying your equipment. Now that we're talking about equipment: what exactly do you have in the way of boomsticks? This area is a bit of a disappointment: all of the weapons from previous games have been transferred with the cynical inclusion of two new weapons which bear more that a passing similarity to the Plasma gun and BFG from the original 'Doom.' No new weapons made their way through development? I mean, am I the only one who wants to see a Disintegrator Rifle in a sci-fi FPS? This is also the first time that a Quake game has not been the vehicle for a new graphics engine. 'Quake 4' uses the same engine from 'Doom 3' but this game seems to achieve far more with it. There are many outdoor fighting areas and in general the animation detail is fantastic. There have even been flashlights fitted to guns adding some amazing light effects which work well with the emotive orchestral soundtrack. Another interesting addition is the inclusion of vehicle combat in the form of a tank and mech. These sections of the game are a helluva a lot of carnage-tastic fun and break up the pacing of the storyline nicely. This contrasts with one of the biggest problems with 'Quake 4': after a while the levels start to blur into each other.. Bottom line, though, is that this is a hard game to sell. The only people who will really be interested will already be FPS fans and some will enjoy the very adult and confronting storyline, while others will feel cheated by the sheer lack of innovation in this title. Personally I've found the story to be a more than adequate diversion but I can't honestly say I'll be gripped for many more replays or logging many hours online with 'Quake 4'. If you are new to the 'Quake' universe then perhaps you will have the most honest and impartial view of this universe and see it as the entertaining and first-rate shooter it is, but if you prefer a more advanced and engaging FPS then I suggest you stick with the benchmark 'Halo' franchise.  | |
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