Lives up to the Quake name

Quake 4 is the most recent release in the famous Quake series of video games. It was released in late 2005, many years after Quake 3 Arena. Quake 4 returned to the FPS format and used the game engine from Doom 3 rather than creating its own (as it had done in the past). The Doom 3 engine had proved to be quite powerful, being a vast leap forward in hardware graphics rendering. Quake 4 is the sequel to Quake 2, meaning that the original Quake is still sans-sequel. Quake 4 added vehicular and squad-based combat, something unseen in Doom 3. The multiplayer element is still present, but is no longer bot-based.

Doom 3 is too linear, predictable, and uninspiring. Empathy is impossible with that game, as is the idea of variety. Quake 4 is almost entirely the opposite, despite being a nearly-identical game.

Quake 4 starts with a captivating story: you are space marine Matthew Kane, continuing your fight against the enemy Strogg race. The Strogg are a terrifying enemy. They capture living humans and modify them cybernetically, then reprogram their memories to fight back at the humans. You often flinch when you see an enormous mechanized beast coming at you with scarred and bruised human heads and human appendages. No two Strogg are identical since they are all modified versions of unique humans — this keeps the game interesting since enemies always appear slightly different. The Strogg, in their extreme technology-based movement, have ruined their home planet, and cruelly travel the galaxy using up entire planets for resources. Sure, it’s not 100% unique, but the cruelty of the Strogg and their unwillingness to go quietly is what separates this from similar plot lines. As the game progresses, you only become more and more horrified at how awful the Strogg race is.

The halfway point of the game finds the player captured by the Strogg, slowly and painfully being turned into a Strogg soldier. This is perhaps one of the most unnerving and disturbing video game sequences I have encountered; you watch as Kane gets his limbs amputated (while alive), his chest pierced and implanted with electronics, and a brain stem implant jammed into his skull. Blood squirts, and Kane screams like there’s no tomorrow…not a game for the squeamish. Fortunately, you’re not 100% Strogg since your marine buddies stop the process. The game suddenly becomes more interesting: you can suddenly read Strogg computer displays, operate their equipment, and even receive improved senses and abilities.

Quake 4 contains vehicular combat, which is not used in Doom 3. You can ride along on tanks and carrier ships, gunning down Strogg with enormous cannons. You also get the chance to pilot the machines through minefields and such. Vehicular combat is only a small part, but it helps to break up the monotony of a FPS game. Squad-based combat also keeps the game fun, since your team members possess relatively good AI skills. They fight along side you, give you missions, and can even help heal you and improve weapons you pick up.

What I also enjoyed about Quake 4 was the variety of environments. There are outdoor areas, small crawlspaces, enormous machine rooms, and even terrifying medical labs. Each environment adds a new element of game play — new machines to operate, horrific Strogg mutations, and unique weapons. Although some of the weapons are a carryover from previous Quake games, the modifications you receive throughout the game make the guns more powerful and unique. The machine gun starts off innocently enough, but gets a double-size clip part way through. The rocket launcher receives guided missile capabilities, and so on.

Additionally, Quake 4 is visually stunning, much like Doom 3. It’s one of those games that makes you want to buy an expensive computer just to enjoy it more. But don’t get me wrong, it’s still very fun at lower detail levels. Strogg creatures are not only incredibly unique and amazing to look at, but also terrifying and disgusting at the same time. I still flinch several times a day when I play. Each environment offers new textures and lighting effects, all of which fit together perfectly. Much time and thought went into this game.

There you have it — why Quake 4 is a smashing success, despite being based off a game that was a failure in my mind. Quake 4 can be had for $20 or so at Best Buy right now, and is also available for Mac, Linux, and XBOX 360. Go buy it, you won’t be disappointed.