Quake 4
- November 21, 2005 16:01 PM PST
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Wretched excess reigns supreme in Quake 4, a gore-drenched Xbox 360 shooter that neatly achieves cult classic status.
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The Gore War
From the grotesque opening cinema to the brain-splattered finale, there's never a doubt that Quake 4 is truly a next-gen title--there's just no way to squeeze these luscious visuals onto a PS2 or Xbox. Quake 4 showcases every mind-blowing special effect in the book, but the slightly herky-jerky framerate shows that the developers were perhaps a bit too ambitious at times. Still, out of all the Xbox 360 launch titles, Quake 4 is easily one of the flashiest.
Quake 4's rousing soundtrack summons the kind of square-jawed heroic overtones that are usually reserved for WW II games like Medal of Honor. The uninspiring assortment of stomps, clomps, and gurgles add little to the sonic environment, while the booming weapon sound effects mostly just grate on your nerves: why does the machinegun sound like a couple of homeless guys whacking on a rusty trash can?
Say it Loud: Strogg and Proud
Your adversaries are vicious alien cyborgs called the Strogg, and they prove to be far more resourceful than Doom 3's demonoid dummies. Though they're hardly deep thinkers, the Strogg are more fun to fight because they're capable of launching crude ambushes and rudimentary flanking maneuvers. Quake 4's arsenal has received a nice overhaul, too. You'll snag the usual hyperblasters, rocket launchers, and railguns, but you can now upgrade your weapons with various modifications, such as chain lightning or homing capabilities. Niiiice.
The key plot twist--though it's hardly a secret at this point--is that you get transformed into a vile enemy Strogg late in the game. But aside from that little surprise, and a few quickie vehicle segments, Quake 4's straightforward gameplay is old school to a fault. If you were hoping for a more strategic, Halo-esque experience, you might be disappointed by Quake 4's simple run-and-gun action. If your trigger finger is itchy, though, Quake 4 will scratch scratch scratch you 'til you bleed.
'Borg to Be Wild
There's a lot to like about Quake 4: vivid (and violent) visuals, comfortable controls, and a surprisingly addictive multiplayer mode. And as a cool bonus, Activision even threw in a gorgeously high-definition version of Quake II. So what more do you want?
KEY MOMENT: Watching helplessly as rusty buzzsaws hack off your legs during the Stroggification process. Good times, good times.
